Charleston Battery VS. South Georgia Tormenta FC

Venue: Patriots Point Soccer Complex; Charleston, S.C.
Kickoff: Wednesday, May 8; 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly sunny, 83°
Series (First Meeting): 1-1-0 (2018)
Broadcast: USLsoccer.com

WHAT MATTERS

• Charleston and South Georgia are meeting for the third time in the U.S. Open Cup. The Battery defeated the then-USL League Two side in the Second Round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup before South Georgia bounced back with a victory over the historic club in the Second Round of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup - the first time Charleston failed to win a U.S. Open Cup match in a single tournament.
• The Battery are one of two undefeated teams in the USL Championship across all competitions and currently sit atop the Players' Shield standings with 24 points through 10 matches.
• South Georgia is seeking its fifth win against USL Championship opposition. Previously in the U.S. Open Cup, the Ibises have defeated the Charleston Battery (2022, Second Round), Birmingham Legion FC (2022, Third Round), Rio Grande Valley FC (2023, Second Round) and Miami FC (Third Round, 2024.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CHS - Nick Markanich: The 24-year-old leads the country in goalscoring among professional players with 12 scores through 10 matches.

TRM - Conor Doyle: One of three current League One players to have won the U.S. Open Cup in their careers, Conor Doyle has scored once in regular season play and is second on his side with eight chances created.

MORE INFO

First Season	1993	2016
Location	Charleston, S.C.	Statesboro, Ga.
League	USL Championship	USL League One
2024 League Record (Standing)	7-0-3, 1st (Eastern)	2-4-1, 7th
Record vs. Opposing League	2-1	4-1
USOC Record (Appearances)	40-22 (23*)	7-4 (5*)
Best USOC Finish (Year)	Runners-up (2008)	Round of 32 (2022, 2024*)

*Tournament ongoing

Union Omaha vs. Sporting Kansas City

Venue: Caniglia Field; Omaha, Neb.
Kickoff: Wednesday, May 8; 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Mostly sunny, 70°
Series (First Meeting): 1-0-0, SKC (2022)
Broadcast: USLsoccer.com

WHAT MATTERS

• Union Omaha became the first USL League One team to defeat an MLS opponent in official competition, downing Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on penalties in the Round of 32 of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. Not long after, the Owls defeated Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16 to became the only League One club to add multiple victories against MLS opposition to its resume.
• Sporting Kansas City are five wins away from becoming the first MLS side to win five U.S. Open Cup titles. Sporting would join Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles as the only clubs with five titles across the tournament's 109 installments.
• Union Omaha and Sporting Kansas City - both each other's closest men's professional soccer neighbor - have met once before, back in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals in which the MLS side won, 6-0. The pair will become the first USL League One and MLS clubs to meet on multiple occasions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

OMA - Rashid Nuhu: The Owls' leader between the posts will aim to avenge his worst career loss which came in the form of a 6-0 thrashing at Children's Mercy Park in 2022. In regular season play this season, Nuhu is third in the league with 16 saves and tied for first with two clean sheets.

SKC - Erik Thommy: The German midfielder leads SKC with his four goals on the season through 11 matches - the 29-year-old tallied five goals through 34 MLS matches a season ago.

MORE INFO

First Season	2020	1996
Location	Papillion, Neb.	Kansas City, Kan.
League	USL League One	MLS
2024 League Record (Standing)	3-0-1, 2nd	2-4-5, 10th (Western)
Record vs. Opposing League	2-2	1-0
USOC Record (Appearances)	8-2 (3*)	27-14 (26*)
Best USOC Finish (Year)	Quarterfinals (2022)	Champion (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)

*Tournament ongoing