The third round of the 2013 US Open Cup wrapped up Wednesday night, with the remaining seven of Major League Soccer's 16 US-based clubs taking on lower-division opposition across the country. There were some stunning upsets, some resounding messages sent and some dazzling debuts. Here's our wrap-up of all the evening's action: (Click here for Tuesday night's roundup »)
Charlotte Eagles 0, Chicago Fire 2
Mike Magee scored his first goal in a Fire uniform in the 11th minute as four-time USOC champs Chicago advanced past their USL Pro opponents. Gonzalo Segares supplied the recently aquired attacker with a cross that Magee headed in at the far post. Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Reed had a nice save on a Dilly Duka shot in the opening 45 minutes before Shaun Francis had a shot go off the post for the Eagles in the 27th minute.
In the second half, Magee got a one-on-one chance, but Reed came up big with a save to keep the score 1-0. Chris Rolfe then doubled the lead for the visitors in the 57th minute with a rocket off a Mike Magee assist.
Complete coverage at Chicago-fire.com
The Fire really turned on the jets as the second half wore on, but Charlotte were never entirely out of the game, and made several forays into their offensive third throughout the game. Reed made a save on a streaking Sherjill MacDonald shot late in the match to preserve the score, but the Fire did what they needed to do to advance to the next round, where they'll host Columbus on June 12.
Carolina RailHawks 2, LA Galaxy 0
For the second year running, the RailHawks played spoilers of the defending MLS Cup champions in USOC play, this time by a 2-0 score. The hosts scored their opening goal in the 59th minute through former New York Red Bull Austin da Luz. The playmaker blasted a shot off a cross from Zack Schilawski that Galaxy 'keeper Brian Rowe couldn’t quite contain, and the ball squirted over the line.
Carolina doubled their lead and made no doubt of their superiority in the match in the 61st minute when Brian Shriver cranked a shot on a breakaway to beat Rowe once more.
Complete coverage at LAgalaxy.com
The Galaxy didn't muster a proper shot on goal until the 71st minute, and as the match wore on, they faded. With the upset, the RailHawks move on to host Chivas USA for the second year running in the fourth round on June 12.
New York Red Bulls 2, Reading United AC 0
It was the John McCarthy show early and the Red Bulls show late in a 2-0 win by the hosts over their PDL visitors. Reading’s goalkeeper saved a shot by Lloyd Sam in the fifth minute, and later made two saves on Connor Lade in the 15th minute to keep it scoreless.
Complete coverage at NewYorkRedBulls.com
Despite McCarthy’s best efforts, New York dominated the match and finally pulled ahead in the second half. Fabián Espíndola notched the first goal for the hosts in the 62nd minute, as he tapped in a diagonal pass in the box from Dax McCarty. he Red Bulls doubled the lead in the 67th minute when Sam and Espíndola connected on a give-and-go before Sam chipped the ball over McCarthy.
The Red Bulls now get a trip to Cambridge, Mass., to face the New England Revolution at Harvard University in the fourth round.
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, Seattle Sounders 0
In what has to be considered the upset of the round, the Sounders were knocked out by the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies, Seattle's earliest exit in the tournament since joining MLS. In the 75th minute, Georgi Hristov scored the winner for the Rowdies, as he followed up a save made by Marcus Hahnemann moments earlier to tap in.
Complete coverage at SoundersFC.com
The Sounders got a break in the 85th minute, when Jordan Gafa handled the ball on the line and got a red card. But Obafemi Martins’ penalty kick was saved by Tampa Bay goalkeeper Diego Restrepo in the 86th minute, and the Rowdies managed to hang on for the upset victory.
Columbus Crew 2, Dayton Dutch Lions 1
This game looked to be firmly in hand for Columbus after the 14th minute, when the Dutch Lions went down a man due to a red card. Brock Granger was the last defender, and brought Eddie Gaven down to give the hosts the man advantage. But Dayton kept the match scoreless through the first half.
Complete coverage at TheCrew.com
In the 52nd minute, Eddie Gaven gave the Crew the 1-0 lead off an assist from Federico Higuaín. The USL PRO Dutch Lions came back, however, when Shane Smith tied with a goal in the 78th minute. But Columbus regained the lead for good in the 84th minute with a goal from Justin Meram, and earned the win and a trip to Chicago in two weeks' time.
Houston Dynamo 2, FC Tucson 0
Having dropped two consecutive home matches, the Houston Dynamo had no intentions of making it three in a row, dominating PDL side FC Tucson 2-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Alex Dixon put the Dynamo up 1-0 in the 26th minute when he tapped home a Mike Chabala cross. Giles Barnes put the game away in the 85th minute when he hooked in a free kick from 25 yards out. Houston wore down Tucson, peppering the goal throughout the final 20 minutes, but 'keeper Dallas Jaye made some big saves to keep the score respectable.
Complete coverage at HoustonDynamo.com
The win set up an all-Texas fourth-round matchup on June 12 when the Dynamo will travel to FC Dallas.
Portland Timbers 5, Wilmington Hammerheads 1
Wednesday night was the Frédéric Piquionne show at JELD-WEN Field as the 34-year-old striker tallied four goals – all in the first half – to pace the Timbers to a 5-1 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL PRO.
Will Johnson set up Piquionne for a pair of headed goals on set pieces, one off a corner in the second minute, the other off a free kick in stoppage time. After a string of more than 10 passes in a row, Piquionne headed home a chipped ball into the box by Michael Harrington in the 17th minute. And in the 34th minute, Piquionne and Kalif Alhassan played a two-man game leading to the striker slotting home a right-footed shot into the far post side netting.
Complete coverage at PortlandTimbers.com
After Wilmington’s Paul Nicholson netted an impressive side-volley in the 61st minute, the Timbers regained their four-goal lead when Mamadou “Futty” Danso headed home a Johnson corner in the 73rd minute. The Timbers will host NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies, who upset the Seattle Sounders, on June 12.
