A Chattanooga Derby that delivered on all the hype thrown its way, late drama at the death down in Statesboro, plenty of red cards, and burritos… lots and lots of burritos, were just some of the magic the Second Round of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup threw our way.
Close to a record breaking attendance for the Second Round saw the first long awaited meeting between Chattanooga Red Wolves and Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium go all the way to a shootout, and the more suburban visitors came away with the win in the midst of all kinds of shenanigans. Elsewhere, Sacha Kljestan got a red card from the bench while Union Omaha narrowly dispatched the Des Moines Menace, 2-1.
In South Georgia, a meeting with amateurs Foro SC brought Tormenta FC to the brink before a 94th minute winner pushed the Ibises through, 3-2. Meanwhile, One Knoxville left Paladin Stadium in Greenville with a 3-1 victory over the Triump, and Open Cup darlings El Farolito pulled off a comeback victory over Monterey Bay FC to make the Burrito Boys the farthest advancing amatuer side.
Now, these winners will face fresh sides from the USL Championship entering the tournament, with a potential date with MLS opponents awaiting in the Round of 32. All sixteen matches over the next couple days will be streamed on Paramount+, with some also featuring on CBS Sports Network and the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
What does the Third Round have in store? Let’s see some particular matchups…
Charlotte Independence vs. North Carolina FC
April 15th, 7 P.M. ET; Sportsplex at Matthews, Matthews, North Carolina
The Dogwood Derby is revived once again as one of the first matches of the round, pitting two familiar teams together despite them each playing in a different league. With an even 8-3-8 record all time between the two North Carolinian sides, this matchup promises fireworks. The last time the Independence and NCFC faced off was in the USL League One Final in 2023, which North Carolina FC won in a penalty shootout before departing for life in the USL Championship. Surely there’s no love lost since then.
Charleston Battery vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC
April 15th, 7:30 P.M. ET; Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
On the topic of rematches, Tormenta heads to Charleston for the third time in the last four Open Cup tournaments, the last being a particularly painful 3-2 loss in the final seconds of extra time in 2024’s Round of 32. The Battery then went on to take Atlanta United to a shootout in the Round of 16, as we here can remember. South Georgia was the winner two years before, a 1-0 result in the Second Round of 2022. Every match of this series has been decided by a single goal, and we can expect another close one at Patriots Point on Tuesday night.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. One Knoxville SC
April 16th, 9 P.M. ET; Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado
One Knox is off to a flying start this season, unbeaten in five matches across all competitions so far despite playing all on the road. Now, they’ll be tasked with a visit to defending USL Championship title holders Colorado Springs Switchbacks, who hold only one win in their first five league matches. Will One Knox’s momentum prevail again in their toughest test yet as they meet the Switchbacks for the first time?
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
April 16th, 10:30 P.M. ET; Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
Speaking of momentum, nothing gives your squad a boost quite like beating your cross-town rival in front of over 12,000 people. The Red Wolves now head across the county to Las Vegas, where they’ll meet the Lights for the first time. Chattanooga has yet to win a game in regulation this year, something they’ll look to overcome against a Las Vegas side that sits sixth in the USL Championship’s Western Conference with a 2-1-2 record. Or, maybe another shootout is in the cards? If it ain’t broke…
Other matchups to watch out for: El Farolito trying to do it all again with a visit to 2023 finalists Sacramento Republic, Portland Hearts of Pine hosting Michael Parkhurst’s Rhode Island FC, and FC Naples welcoming neighboring Tampa Bay Rowdies who recently let go of their head coach.
There’s no telling what awaits in the Third Round of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, so pick a match that strikes your fancy and come along for the ride.
Full U.S. Open Cup Third Round Schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Home vs. Away (League) | Venue | Broadcast |
| April 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | Lower.com Field; Columbus, Ohio | Paramount+ |
| April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Louisville City (USLC) vs. Loudoun United (USLC) | Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, Kentucky | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network |
| April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Portland Hearts of Pine (USL1) vs. Rhode Island FC (USLC) | Franklin Athletic Complex, Lewiston, Maine | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Charlotte Independence (USL1) vs. North Carolina FC (USLC) | Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews; Matthews, North Carolina | Paramount+ |
| April 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1) | Patriots Point Soccer Stadium; Mount Pleasant, South Carolina | Paramount+ |
| April 15 | 8:00 p.m. | Union Omaha (USL1) vs. San Antonio FC (USLC) | Caniglia Field; Omaha, Nebraska | Paramount+ |
| April 15 | 10:00 p.m. | AV Alta FC (USL1) vs. Orange County SC (USLC) | Lancaster Municipal Stadium; Lancaster, California | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| April 15 | 10:30 p.m. | Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP) vs. Oakland Roots (USLC) | Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Washington | Paramount+ |
| April 16 | 7:00 p.m. | FC Naples (USL1) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) | Paradise Coast Sports Complex; Naples, Florida | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| April 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Detroit City FC (USLC) vs. Westchester SC (USLL1) | Keyworth Stadium; Hamtramck, Michigan | Paramount+ |
| April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Indy Eleven (USLC) vs. Miami FC (USLC) | Michael A. Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, Indiana | Paramount+ |
| April 16 | 8:00 p.m. | FC Tulsa (USLC) vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) | Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium; Tulsa, Oklahoma | Paramount+ |
| April 16 | 9:00 p.m. | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) vs. One Knoxville SC (USL1) | Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colorado | Paramount+ |
| April 16 | 9:30 p.m. | New Mexico United (USLC) vs. El Paso Locomotive (USLC) | UNM Track & Field and Soccer Stadium; Albuquerque, New Mexico | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| April 16 | 10:00 p.m. | Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) vs. El Farolito (NPSL) | Heart Health Park; Sacramento, California | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network |
| April 16 | 10:30 p.m. | Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1) | Cashman Field; Las Vegas, Nevada | Paramount+ |