What to know about the amateur teams from in and around the New York area facing off against lower-division professional squads in the First Round of the 110th edition of America's oldest soccer tournament.
Open Cup Digest #12
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is back. The 110th edition of America's oldest soccer tournament kicks off this week with a slate of 32 games all pitting amateur teams against professional sides.
The New York area's top-level professional teams from Major League Soccer are back after both the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC didn't compete in the 2024 tournament. However, neither will enter until the Round of 32 later this spring. The tournament-opening First Round is still full of intriguing match-ups that involve amateur sides from in and around the NYC area.
Will any of the seven local-ish teams pull off a shock Cupset against their professional opponents? Read on as we take you through each game of local interest in this week’s First Round and tell you everything you need to know about it before making some iron-clad Open Cup predictions.
If you can’t go to the games yourself, US Soccer announced on Thursday that First and Second Round matches will be broadcast live, for free on the federation’s YouTube channel. Links to streams of each local game are provided below.
New York City
FC Cincinnati 2 (MLSNP) vs New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (APSL)
Thursday, March 20, 7:30 pm ET at Northern Kentucky University Soccer Stadium, Highland Heights, KY
Watch on YouTube
The defending National Amateur Cup champion, three-time US Open Cup champion, and Astoria, Queens powerhouse Pancyprian-Freedoms are a sneaky bunch in this match. The Freedoms head west to face last season's MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference regular-season champions, FC Cincinnati 2.
After toiling near the bottom of the league in their first two years of existence, head coach Tyrone Marshall and the efforts of FCC's front office seem to have cultivated a strong youth team. The issue here, though, is that consistency is hard to find for a reserve team and FCC 2 has lost its first two games of the season without scoring a goal. Then again, they have Peter Mangione on the squad. Considering his family’s past (alleged) experience with shots in New York, that could be a concern.
The Freedoms are first in the American Premier Soccer League's Metropolitan Conference. Former Houston Dynamo forward Joseph Holland leads the squad with 13 goals and will be with the team in Kentucky. Reportedly, he chose to stay with the Freedoms over joining FC Motown for the Open Cup. The team has a lot of goal scorers, with 50 goals in 14 games this season. It will be tough to get traction against a professional team on the road, but I don’t believe the Freedoms' first Open Cup appearance since 2016 will be a blowout.
Prediction: The Freedoms honestly have the experience edge here. But despite MLSNP being kids, it's still a professional team that trains every day. I expect a 2-1 win for Cincy 2. Maybe Auxilia One will feel some conflict while watching.
Long Island
Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) vs NY Renegades FC (UPSL)
Wed, March 19, 6:00 pm ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH
Watch on YouTube
This has the potential to be the biggest bloodbath of the First Round.
This is not an indictment of the Renegades’ talent. The UPSL side is well-equipped, having beaten New York Greek Americans and Lansdowne Yonkers FC during qualifying last Fall. In the last UPSL season, the team scored 52 goals in ten games in their conference, reaching the Round of 16 in the National Playoffs. Center-back Samuel Cáceres played professionally with clubs such as the New York Cosmos, Club Nacional (Paraguay), and Portuguesa FC in Venezuela. Midfielder Omar Campos had a brief stint with Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship in 2019. Probably most interesting, 36-year-old José Nájera played over 100 games with Colombian side Real Cartagena and has a cap with the Colombia national team.
The issues come down to two things: Crew 2’s talent and the temper of the Renegades.
Columbus Crew 2 has been one of the best teams in the short history of MLS Next Pro. They were inaugural league champions in 2022, reached the Final again in 2023, and even with a weaker side, they still reached the Eastern Conference Final last year. Former MLS forward Federico Higuaín is in his first season with the team as Head Coach, but considering the formula, I wouldn’t be worried. The team’s leading goal scorer from last season, United States Under-17 forward Chase Adams, is back.
The other issue: Past experience with the Renegades points to a team that doesn’t handle losing well. Renegades player Yohance Alexander will be available for this game after serving a three-game suspension by USSF, a punishment that came after he allegedly threatened a referee during a 2024 Open Cup qualifier.
Prediction: Renegades will let in a goal or two, get aggressive, and will be shown a red card before the end of the night. 5-0 to the Capybaras.
Long Island Rough Riders (USL2) vs Charlotte Independence (USL1)
Thur, March 20, 7:00 pm ET at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY
Watch on YouTube
The Rough Riders are back in the USOC for the first time since 2018 and for the 10th time in team history.
The group from South Huntington, Long Island, founded in 1994, is one of the oldest teams in the United Soccer League system. In that time, the group has become a cornerstone of New York soccer - which includes a lot of famous alumni. One recent example is MLS SuperDraft pick Nico Cavallo, who was picked by New York City FC as the 88th pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and signed a MLS contract at the end of preseason, making three appearances to date in 2025.
This year in the USOC, the Rough Riders roster includes past talent, some ex-pros, and a handful of college players. That includes former Chicago Fire II and US Youth National Team defender Carlo Ritaccio, who is returning to his former team for the tournament.
On the other side, the Independence are a fortified, professional bunch. The defense is solid, with experienced veterans like Nick Spielman, Mike DeShields, and Clay Dimick. The team still lacks a top striker, but former MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jon Bakero did join the team for this year. This is a team with time and patience, and one that will piss off defenses. Against college kids, you usually just need to wait them out.
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Open Cup Digest #12
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is back. The 110th edition of America's oldest soccer tournament kicks off this week with a slate of 32 games all pitting amateur teams against professional sides.
The New York area's top-level professional teams from Major League Soccer are back after both the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC didn't compete in the 2024 tournament. However, neither will enter until the Round of 32 later this spring. The tournament-opening First Round is still full of intriguing match-ups that involve amateur sides from in and around the NYC area.
Will any of the seven local-ish teams pull off a shock Cupset against their professional opponents? Read on as we take you through each game of local interest in this week’s First Round and tell you everything you need to know about it before making some iron-clad Open Cup predictions.
If you can’t go to the games yourself, US Soccer announced on Thursday that First and Second Round matches will be broadcast live, for free on the federation’s YouTube channel. Links to streams of each local game are provided below.
New York City
FC Cincinnati 2 (MLSNP) vs New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (APSL)
Thursday, March 20, 7:30 pm ET at Northern Kentucky University Soccer Stadium, Highland Heights, KY
Watch on YouTube
The defending National Amateur Cup champion, three-time US Open Cup champion, and Astoria, Queens powerhouse Pancyprian-Freedoms are a sneaky bunch in this match. The Freedoms head west to face last season's MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference regular-season champions, FC Cincinnati 2.
After toiling near the bottom of the league in their first two years of existence, head coach Tyrone Marshall and the efforts of FCC's front office seem to have cultivated a strong youth team. The issue here, though, is that consistency is hard to find for a reserve team and FCC 2 has lost its first two games of the season without scoring a goal. Then again, they have Peter Mangione on the squad. Considering his family’s past (alleged) experience with shots in New York, that could be a concern.
The Freedoms are first in the American Premier Soccer League's Metropolitan Conference. Former Houston Dynamo forward Joseph Holland leads the squad with 13 goals and will be with the team in Kentucky. Reportedly, he chose to stay with the Freedoms over joining FC Motown for the Open Cup. The team has a lot of goal scorers, with 50 goals in 14 games this season. It will be tough to get traction against a professional team on the road, but I don’t believe the Freedoms' first Open Cup appearance since 2016 will be a blowout.
Prediction: The Freedoms honestly have the experience edge here. But despite MLSNP being kids, it's still a professional team that trains every day. I expect a 2-1 win for Cincy 2. Maybe Auxilia One will feel some conflict while watching.
Long Island
Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) vs NY Renegades FC (UPSL)
Wed, March 19, 6:00 pm ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH
Watch on YouTube
This has the potential to be the biggest bloodbath of the First Round.
This is not an indictment of the Renegades’ talent. The UPSL side is well-equipped, having beaten New York Greek Americans and Lansdowne Yonkers FC during qualifying last Fall. In the last UPSL season, the team scored 52 goals in ten games in their conference, reaching the Round of 16 in the National Playoffs. Center-back Samuel Cáceres played professionally with clubs such as the New York Cosmos, Club Nacional (Paraguay), and Portuguesa FC in Venezuela. Midfielder Omar Campos had a brief stint with Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship in 2019. Probably most interesting, 36-year-old José Nájera played over 100 games with Colombian side Real Cartagena and has a cap with the Colombia national team.
The issues come down to two things: Crew 2’s talent and the temper of the Renegades.
Columbus Crew 2 has been one of the best teams in the short history of MLS Next Pro. They were inaugural league champions in 2022, reached the Final again in 2023, and even with a weaker side, they still reached the Eastern Conference Final last year. Former MLS forward Federico Higuaín is in his first season with the team as Head Coach, but considering the formula, I wouldn’t be worried. The team’s leading goal scorer from last season, United States Under-17 forward Chase Adams, is back.
The other issue: Past experience with the Renegades points to a team that doesn’t handle losing well. Renegades player Yohance Alexander will be available for this game after serving a three-game suspension by USSF, a punishment that came after he allegedly threatened a referee during a 2024 Open Cup qualifier.
Prediction: Renegades will let in a goal or two, get aggressive, and will be shown a red card before the end of the night. 5-0 to the Capybaras.
Long Island Rough Riders (USL2) vs Charlotte Independence (USL1)
Thur, March 20, 7:00 pm ET at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY
Watch on YouTube
The Rough Riders are back in the USOC for the first time since 2018 and for the 10th time in team history.
The group from South Huntington, Long Island, founded in 1994, is one of the oldest teams in the United Soccer League system. In that time, the group has become a cornerstone of New York soccer - which includes a lot of famous alumni. One recent example is MLS SuperDraft pick Nico Cavallo, who was picked by New York City FC as the 88th pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and signed a MLS contract at the end of preseason, making three appearances to date in 2025.
This year in the USOC, the Rough Riders roster includes past talent, some ex-pros, and a handful of college players. That includes former Chicago Fire II and US Youth National Team defender Carlo Ritaccio, who is returning to his former team for the tournament.
On the other side, the Independence are a fortified, professional bunch. The defense is solid, with experienced veterans like Nick Spielman, Mike DeShields, and Clay Dimick. The team still lacks a top striker, but former MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jon Bakero did join the team for this year. This is a team with time and patience, and one that will piss off defenses. Against college kids, you usually just need to wait them out.
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