Atlanta United will kick off its U.S. Open Cup quest at home against a USL League One opponent. Atlanta will take on the Charlotte Independence in the Open Cup’s Round of 32, set for May 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw.
The Independence secured passage to the Round of 32 on Wednesday after coming out in front in a penalty shootout following a 4-4 draw against the USL Championship’s Rhode Island FC, a team co-founded by former Atlanta and MLS legend Michael Parkhurst.
In league play, the Independence are 2-1-0 on the young USL1 season. They dropped their season opener against expansion side One Knoxville 2-1 on March 16 before a 2-1 win over another 1st-year team, Spokane Velocity, on March 28, and a 1-0 derby win over the Greenville Triumph.
Atlanta, of course, will look to make amends for its disappointing showing in last year’s Open Cup, a 2-1 loss in extra time to former ATL UTD 2 head coach Stephen Glass and Memphis 901.
The winner of this match will travel to face either Charleston Battery or South Georgia Tormenta in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Is the Benz not available on 5/7, or is the team worried we might only half fill the lower bowl for an Open Cup match?
So the inevitable next matchup will be Atlanta vs Charleston. I’ll be able to go since it will be in Charleston. Woooooo!!
South Georgia could end up beating Charleston. Then you should prepare to travel to Statesboro.
Nah Charleston has a squad. They should have won the league last year but blew the penalties at the end 😔. Although Statesboro wouldn’t be a whole lot longer of a drive than Charleston if they do lose.
After last year’s performance against Memphis 901, I’m not making any assumptions.
Should Atlanta play well, at least there won’t be another match in Kennesaw in the round of 16.
By the way, you guys might all remember the super big deal that was made about how MLS wanted MLS Next Pro teams to play in USOC instead of MLS teams, so a deal was arranged that got some of both with something like 7 MLS teams somehow not bothering to send anybody to the tournament this year. MLS Next Pro teams have had their rear ends handed to them in USOC. Only one team (NYRB II) has made it to the final 32 and 3 of the teams managed to get beat by amateurs. So much for all that great experience this was supposed to give MSL Next Pro teams.
Ouch. Losing to amateur teams…
And my mom just moved out of Charleston this week…