CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE VS. APPALACHIAN FC

Venue: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex; Matthews, N.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82°
Broadcast: Facebook

The Charlotte Independence are set to host in-state NPSL outfit Appalachian FC on Wednesday evening in a return to Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C. While early in the League One season, Charlotte have surged to the top of the table with a 2-0-1 record and a league-high five goals. On the other hand, Appalachian FC has yet to kick off its second NPSL season but did advance to the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup on penalties over USL League Two side North Carolina Fusion U-23. The Jacks will look to avoid a fourth consecutive Second Round exit at the hands of an amateur team and improve upon its record of 11-9-4 against clubs from the Tarheel State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

CLT - Clay Dimick: Making a convincing case early for Defender of the Year, the veteran Charlotte center back bagged his first professional goal a week ago to go along with 19 duels won, 17 recoveries and seven clearances.

APP - Camden Holbrook: Former Appalachian State and Syracuse forward Camden Holbrook won the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's College Cup with the Orange in his hometown of Cary, N.C. For Appalachian FC, the 23-year-old scored 45 seconds into the First Round U.S. Open Cup contest against North Carolina Fusion U-23, eventually recording a brace with a 32nd-minute score.

LOUISVILLE CITY FC VS. LEXINGTON SC

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium; Louisville, Ky.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Thunderstorms, 73°
Broadcast: YouTube, Bleacher Report

In just its third match in club history, League One expansion side Lexington SC will travel northwest on I-64 to battle USL Championship juggernaut Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium. In its two matches to start the League One season, Lexington have dropped a pair of 2-1 road contest. Similarly, Louisville has struggled in league play lately, losing 3-0 to El Paso on March 25 and 5-0 to Sacramento on April 1. In the first time either side have faced an opponent from the Bluegrass State in official competition, LouCity will look to extend its unbeaten streak against lower-division opponents to eight. Assuming the weather holds up, this will undoubtedly be one of the biggest tests Lexington will face all season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

LOU - Brian Ownby: Longtime Louisville winger Brian Ownby leads LouCity with his three combined goals and assists and eight chances created.

LEX - Khalid Balogun: Balogun has contributed to both of Lexington's goals this season, winning the penalty in LSC's opening match in Knoxville and scoring the club's first goal from open play against NCFC a week ago. The 24-year-old forward has won a team-high 22 duels and a league-high 12 fouls.

LOUDOUN UNITED FC VS. NORTH CAROLINA FC

Venue: Segra Field; Leesburg, Va.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 81°

USL Championship side Loudoun United FC is set for its U.S. Open Cup debut as the former D.C. United affiliate is set to host North Carolina FC in the latter's 14th appearance in the tournament. NCFC earned its first win of the season a week ago against Lexington following an opening-week loss to defending champs Tormenta FC. At the same time, Loudoun started the season strong behind the goalscoring abilities of Zach Ryan up top but has been shut out in back-to-back USL Championship contests. NCFC must take care of business against LUFC to avoid a second consecutive Second Round exit.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

LDN - Zach Ryan: Former New York Red Bulls forward Zach Ryan is adjusting well to his new club. In two matches with Loudoun, Ryan has scored three goals and recorded one assist.

NC - Rafa Mentzingen: Mentzingen was named League One's Player of the Week in Week 3 after the Brazilian midfielder scored his first NCFC goal in match-winning fashion. With the goal, Mentzingen became the sixth player in league history to score for three unique League One teams.

CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES SC VS. BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC

Venue: CHI Memorial Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 83°

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will welcome the U.S. Open Cup to CHI Memorial Stadium for the first time, as USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC comes to town eager to avenge its 2022 U.S. Open Cup defeat at the hands of League One side South Georgia. In what's shaping up to be a potential mismatch, Chattanooga have yet to claim a win or score a goal in two League One matches, while Birmingham have looked dominating with a 3-0-1 record to top the Championship's Eastern Conference. In two prior U.S. Open Cup appearances for both sides, Chattanooga has never advanced beyond the Second Round or won a U.S. Open Cup contest, and Birmingham has never exited the tournament before reaching the Third Round. Additionally, both sides are 0-1 against the opposing league.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

CHA - Mekeil Williams: Veteran Trinidad and Tobago international defender Mekeil Williams arrived in Chattanooga in the offseason to address the Red Wolves' defensive concerns. Undefeated in two prior meetings with Legion FC as a member of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Williams most recently faced Birmingham in the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

BHM - Neco Brett: After departing Legion FC following the 2021 season for New Mexico United, Brett has picked up right where he left off, scoring three goals and tallying one assist across his first four matches back in Birmingham.

SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC VS. RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC

Venue: Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium; Statesboro, Ga.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80°
Broadcast: YouTube

South Georiga Tormenta FC will be eager to turn things around in the U.S. Open Cup following a dismal 1-2-0 start to the League One campaign as the Ibises host USL Championship club Rio Grande Valley FC. Unlike the Ibises, the Toros have started their league season strong, reeling off three consecutive 1-1 draws and winning against Detroit last Saturday to remain undefeated. In RGVFC's first U.S. Open Cup appearance a season ago, the Toros bested North Carolina FC in Second Round before falling to Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo FC in the Third Round. The defending League One champions will aim to extend their winning streak against USL Championship opposition to three on Wednesday evening after downing the Charleston Battery and Birmingham Legion FC in last year's tournament.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

TRM - Mukwelle Akale: The only player to tally multiple goals early in the League One season, Akale is filling the void of the injured Kazaiah Sterling well. The former U.S. youth international's two scores account for 100% of Tormenta FC goals thus far, and Akale has added to his impressive start with 14 duals won, nine fouls won and nine recoveries.

RGV - Frank Nodarse: Helping RGVFC remain unbeaten whilst only conceding three goals across four matches, defender Frank Nodarse leads the Toros in tackles won (7), clearances (26), interceptions (12) and blocks (4).

UNION OMAHA VS. EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC

Venue: Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium; Omaha, Neb.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny, 44°
Broadcast: YouTube

The 2022 U.S. Open Cup's third-division darling, Union Omaha, is seeking its first win this year as it hosts El Paso Locomotive FC of the USL Championship. In 2022's tournament, Omaha's first entrance, the Owls became the first third-division side to advance to the Quarterfinals and the first League One side to beat a Major League Soccer club. For an El Paso side positioned at seventh in the Championship's Western Conference, Locomotive FC will aim to exorcise its League One demons. In its two previous Open Cup participations, El Paso was bounced from the tournament in its first game by Madison in 2019 and Central Valley in 2022, earning the distinction of becoming the first USL Championship side to lose to a League One club.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

OMA - Rashid Nuhu: One of the greatest goalkeepers in League One's history, Nuhu was recently signed to a multi-year contract extension to remain at Werner Park for the foreseeable future. The Ghanaian 'keeper will aim to replicate the success he and his side enjoyed in the tournament's 2022 edition.

ELP - Eric Calvillo: The El Salvador international midfielder leads El Paso with his two assists and has proven incredibly efficient with his 90% passing accuracy, 24 recoveries and 20 completed long balls.

COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC VS. NORTHERN COLORADO HAILSTORM FC

Venue: Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo.
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 34°
Broadcast: YouTube, Bleacher Report

364 days after downing USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in its first-ever professional match, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will return to a chilly Weidner Field in the only rematch involving League One clubs. The USL's only professional clubs to call the Centennial State home have enjoyed solid starts to their respective league seasons; Northern Colorado are second in League One with a 1-0-1 record and Colorado Springs are fourth in the Championship's Western Conference with a 2-1-1 record. The Hailstorm's U.S. Open Cup debut saw the first-year club defeat Colorado Springs and MLS side Real Salt Lake before falling to fellow League One club Union Omaha in the Round of 32. The Switchbacks' best finish also came in the Round of 32, but Colorado Springs have failed to advance to that stage since 2016.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

COS - Matt Mahoney: Kicking off his third season in Colorado Springs and seventh in the USL Championship, Switchbacks captain Matt Maney's 37 recoveries, 29 duels won and 13 clearances have helped Colorado Springs concede just three goals across four contests. 

NCO - Rob Cornwall: Departing top-flight European football a season ago to join the Hailstorm ahead of their inaugural campaign, Cornwall has thrived in Northern Colorado. The veteran defender tallied the match-winning goal against defending champions Tormenta FC a week ago and will aim to captain his side to another Second Round upset over the Switchbacks.

CENTRAL VALLEY FUEGO FC VS. MONTEREY BAY F.C.

Venue: Fresno State Soccer Stadium; Fresno, Calif.
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, 60°
Broadcast: ELEVEN

A pair of second-year California sides are set for their first-ever clash as Central Valley Fuego FC is prepped to host Monterey Bay F.C. of the USL Championship. Fuego FC earned its first win of the season on Saturday, and Central Valley will hope to knock off a USL Championship opponent for the second consecutive season. For the visitors, Monterey Bay started the season strong with a 5-3 victory over Hartford but have gone 0-2-1 since. MBFC will aim to grab its first win in the U.S. Open Cup and avoid a second consecutive Second Round loss to a lower-division opponent.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

CV - Mitch North: Starting just seven matches a season ago, North got the starting nod in goal over Ofek Antman in Fuego FC's season-opening victory in Chattanooga a week ago. The relatively inexperienced 'keeper will need to have a strong outing in order to contain the USL Championship's leading scorer.

MB - Alex Dixon: Veteran forward Alex Dixon is proving he's still got it, as the 33-year-old has already equaled his scoring total from a season ago in 28 fewer matches. Dixon's four goals position him atop the USL Championship Golden Boot race.

PHOENIX RISING FC VS. GREENVILLE TRIUMPH SC

Venue: Phoenix Rising Stadium; Phoenix, Ariz.
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear, 62°
Broadcast: YouTube, Bleacher Report

Two of the winningest clubs in their respective leagues are set to do battle in the desert as Phoenix Rising FC and Greenville Triumph SC face off in search of a first victory of 2023. Through three USL Championship matches, Phoenix sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, and Greenville are just one position off of last place after an 0-1-0 start to the League One campaign. In cup play, Phoenix matched its best-ever finish a season ago, advancing to the Round of 32. Greenville enjoyed its best U.S. Open Cup finish in 2022 by taking care of Oakland Roots SC to advance to the Round of 32 and narrowly falling to MLS club Charlotte FC in extra time.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

PHX - Manuel Arteaga: Former Venezuela international Manuel Arteaga leads Rising FC with two goals in three matches. The 28-year-old forward has contributed with a trio of chances created and 15 duels won early in his first season in Phoenix.

GVL - Aaron Walker: An integral member of Triumph SC since the very beginning, veteran midfielder Aaron Walker will aim to lead his side to its second consecutive Second Round upset over a USL Championship Western Conference opponent.