The 2025 U.S. Open Cup continues this week, and USL League One will field a record-matching 12 clubs in the Second Round. As the Second Round rolls on, we're taking a look at the best of the tournament's second week from the perspective of each League One team.

Tuesday, April 1

South Georgia overcome stoppage-time equalizer with stoppage-time winner

South Georgia Tormenta FC 3 - 2 FORO SC

The Ibises are flying into the Third Round for the fourth consecutive season after overcoming a stoppage-time equalizer from UPSL side FORO SC with a last-second score of their own. In South Georgia's ninth all-time U.S. Open Cup victory - its fourth against pre-professional opposition - Tormenta FC traded goals with FORO SC throughout the contest before advancing on a clutch stoppage-time score.

The visitors got on the scoresheet twice, as inaugural League One champions Gibran Rayo and Jorge Almaguer connected in the 67th minute to open the scoring for FORO SC, before fellow FC Dallas Academy product Bryan Padilla bagged a crucial equalizer in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. For the hosts, 34-year-old Aaron Walker scored his first U.S. Open Cup goal, Yaniv Bazini scored in his second consecutive tournament after recording a goal for USL League Two's Vermont Green FC in 2024, and it was South Georgia's leading scorer from a season ago, Sebastián Vivas who bagged his first of the season in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to send South Georgia to the Third Round.

Charlotte's stars shine in Second Round Win

Charlotte Independence 2 - 1 Carolina Core FC (a.e.t.)

It took 120 minutes, but the Jacks emerged victorious against MLS NEXT Pro's Carolina Core FC at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews, picking up their 11th all-time U.S. Open Cup win to advance to the Third Round for the sixth time in nine tries. The difference between the pair of intra-state adversaries was the depth of Charlotte's roster.

2024 USL League One All-League First Team midfielder Luis Álvarez got things going early with a second-minute score, before 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jon Bakero tallied his first Independence goal contribution with an assist on former Cameroon international Souaibou Marou's first goal for the club, a 93rd-minute winner chipped over the goalkeeper. On the other end of the pitch, Independence goalkeeper Matt Levy tallied three saves to remain unbeaten with Charlotte across his five starts for the club.

Antelope Valley Tops Los Angeles in first win against professional side

AV ALTA FC 2 - 1 LAFC2 (a.e.t.)

AV ALTA FC secured its first win against a professional opponent in club history, eliminating MLS NEXT Pro's LAFC2 in extra time to become the first of the four remaining 2025 League One expansion sides to punch their ticket to the Third Round. Even through 120 minutes of play, League One veteran Jimmie Villalobos tallied the match-winner, sending Lancaster Municipal Stadium into a frenzy. Even though there were some evident growing pains in what was only AV ALTA FC's fourth competitive match, the team's continued growth on the pitch and the community's increasing support in the stands should set the first-year side up for success.

Wednesday, April 2

Portland show Heart in dramatic shootout victory against Hartford

Portland Hearts of Pine 3 (4) - 2 (2) Hartford Athletic

Against all odds, a crowd of over 3,000 in Lewiston, Maine willed a 10-man Portland side to an incredible penalty kick shootout triumph against USL Championship side and budding New England rival Hartford Athletic. A 96th-minute Portland red card followed by a 107th-minute Hartford goal presented Hearts with a bleak outlook - that was until veteran goalscorer Jake Keegan subbed on and chipped in an incredible equalizer in the 116th minute to send the match to a shootout. A clutch save from Portland's Hunter Morse and a crushing miss from Hartford's Michee Ngalina saw Hearts through to the Third Round and remain unbeaten on the young season.

REcord Crowd witnesses Chattanooga derby Debut

Chattanooga FC 1 (4) - 1 (5) Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

The first-ever meeting between Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and MLS NEXT Pro's Chattanooga FC did not disappoint at all, and that's putting it lightly. The Red Wolves and CFC treated the crowd of over 12,000 to fireworks throughout the duration of the tightly contested match, with both sides scoring on set pieces from outside of the box early. The match was ultimately decided by the consistent play of veteran goalkeepers Ricardo Jérez and Eldin Jakupović, but it was the Red Wolves' Jérez who made the decisive save in the penalty kick shootout to help Chattanooga claim a historic result against CFC and advance to the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second consecutive season.

Owls Outlast Menace in Des Moines

Des Moines Menace 1 - 2 Union Omaha

The star-studded roster of USL League Two's Des Moines Menace proved no match for the defending League One champion Owls, as a 10-man Union Omaha side advanced to the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup for the fourth time in as many tries. Goals from Omaha's own veteran playmakers – Dion Acoff and Aarón Gómez – propelled the Owls beyond Des Moines for the third time and confirmed Omaha's 10th all-time U.S. Open Cup victory.

Naples Extend unbeaten streak with one-sided win

FC Naples 3 - 0 Little Rock Rangers

With its 3-0 victory against USL League Two's Little Rock Rangers, FC Naples becomes only the third team to start their inaugural USL League One season with an unbeaten streak of six matches or more, across all competitions. On the pitch, Naples outpaced the Rangers from start to finish, highlighted by inaugural signing Jayden Onen bagging his first for the club only 41 seconds into the match and 2024 USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year runner-up Lalo Delgado snagging his fourth clean sheet in six matches to start the season.

League One Clash sees Knoxville hit back at Greenville

Greenville Triumph SC 1 - 3 One Knoxville SC

Knoxville made up for a pair of crushing 2024 losses against Greenville in the U.S. Open Cup and the USL League One Playoffs, defeating Triumph SC for the first time since May 2023 to advance to the Third Round of the Open Cup for the first time in club history. One Knox was able to find the back of the net with ease through goal contributions from Stávros Zarokóstas, Mark Doyle, Babacar Diene and Stuart Ritchie, but the difference in the contest was Knoxville 'keeper Johan Garibay;s six saves and one penalty kick stop.

Westchester continue to construct identity as unbeaten streak grows

Westchester SC 3 - 2 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms

Westchester SC has quietly raced out to an unbeaten 3-0-1 start, becoming only the fifth team to kick off its inaugural USL League One campaign with an unbeaten streak of four or greater, across all competitions. In its first official match at The Stadium at Memorial Field, Westchester eliminated the three-time U.S. Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian-Freedoms as the newcomers continued to cement their identity; Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr. now was four goal contributions in his first four matches, and former Jamaica international tallied his first goal contribution in a WSC shirt, assisting Obregón, Jr.’s third-minute opener.

Madison Show promise in loss to first-time foe

Forward Madison FC 1 - 3 FC Tulsa

In its first match against a USL Championship opponent since 2019, Forward Madison FC fell to FC Tulsa at Breese Stevens Field, 3-1. While the loss confirms the third consecutive season the 'Mingos have failed to advance beyond the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup, the match serves as a good indication of Madison's potential this season. If not for a six-save performance from Tulsa's Bryan Dowd, the scoreline likely would've looked a bit different. Once the 'Mingos have their full roster up and running, they should fare just fine in League One and USL Jägermeister Cup play.

Gil, Vinyals connect for first time in Spokane loss at Starfire

Tacoma Defiance 2 - 1 Spokane Velocity FC (a.e.t.)

In its fifth U.S. Open Cup match, Spokane Velocity FC was unable to pull out its signature, last-minute Open Cup winner, falling to MLS NEXT Pro's Tacoma Defiance in extra time. A tough Marcelo Lage own goal in the 99th minute was the difference between the pair of Washington-based sides, though Spokane should feel confident heading back into league play, especially after Luis Gil tallied his fourth goal in as many matches to start the season and Nil Vinyals recorded his first goal contribution for the club.