The U.S. Open Cup served up plenty of drama on Wednesday night, with thrilling matches across the board. Here’s a breakdown of the exciting tournament action that took place.
St. Louis Overcome Chicago in Tense Battle
It’s messy, it’s chaotic…AND IT'S IN 💥
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 30, 2026
Tomas Totland ties it up for @ChicagoFire! pic.twitter.com/rIEjRlyke9
In a match that had fans on edge, St. Louis managed to edge past Chicago 2-1. The game took over an hour to see the deadlock broken, but once it did, the action came thick and fast.
Captain's Contribution: Anton Salétros proved his leadership by rising above the rest to head home the opener.
Quickfire Goals: Thomas Totland quickly responded for Chicago, but Eduard Löwen restored St. Louis' lead just minutes later with a superb back-heel assist and a clinical finish.
Houston and Colorado Battle Through to Quarterfinals
Ezequiel Ponce is on an Open Cup heater 🔥
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 30, 2026
He's scored in each of his last four USOC matches for @HoustonDynamo! pic.twitter.com/3c4IGSFcSL
Both Houston and Colorado were pushed to the limit, facing intense competition from their USL Championship opponents.
Houston's Late Drama: After Louisville City led 1-0 late into the game, Erik Sviatchenko's last-minute header sent the match to extra time, where Ezequiel Ponce's 101st-minute goal sealed the win for Houston.
Colorado's Penalty Drama: Colorado Rapids fought off an upset by edging past Colorado Springs Switchbacks in a penalty shootout. After a dramatic late equalizer, the Rapids secured the win in the shootout after Georgi Minoungou’s late goal seemed to have put them through in regulation.
Orlando's Thrilling Win Over New England in a Seven-Goal Thriller
Brennan Creek’s first for @SwitchbacksFC and it’s a perfect redirect 👏
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 30, 2026
We're tied up in CO! pic.twitter.com/OTAr5djFkO
In one of the most entertaining matches of the round, Orlando City triumphed 4-3 over New England Revolution. The match saw seven goals, with Orlando staging a dramatic comeback.
Back-and-Forth Action: New England initially took the lead, but Orlando responded in style with Griffin Dorsey scoring a stunning long-range effort.
Last-Minute Heroics: The game remained tied at 2-2 going into halftime, but after a 3-2 New England lead, Zakaria Taifi scored the winner in the 92nd minute, marking his first-ever goal in a thrilling finale.
Columbus Cruise Past One Knoxville
Columbus Crew showed their strength against One Knoxville, as they comfortably progressed to the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win.
Early Dominance: Hugo Picard kicked things off with an early goal, and his second brought the score to 2-1 in quick succession.
Late Flourish: Daniel Gazdag added a stunning long-range strike to extend the lead, while young Chase Adams sealed the deal with his first-ever senior goal.
NYCFC Make Light Work of Red Bulls
RISING HIGHEST ONCE AGAIN ✈️ pic.twitter.com/l9xgJYyD56
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) April 29, 2026
In the final match of the night, NYCFC easily dispatched their rivals, New York Red Bulls, with a 3-1 victory.
Efficient Attack: Kai Trewin opened the scoring early, and though Julian Hall leveled for the Red Bulls, NYCFC scored two more goals in the second half to make it 3-1.
Maxi Moralez’s Impact: The standout performance came from Maxi Moralez, whose hat-trick of assists proved invaluable in securing the win for the City side.
With dramatic finishes, late goals, and some thrilling comebacks, the US Open Cup continues to deliver unexpected twists and turns as the teams gear up for the quarterfinals.
