The 2025 USL Jagermeister Cup returns on Wednesday, August 20 as the remaining eight teams square off the competition’s Quarterfinals to try and move one step closer to a Shot at Glory.

Before next week’s action, here’s our look back at the nine most memorable games from this year’s group stage, which delivered plenty of drama throughout the four rounds.

9. Portland Hearts of Pine 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2
Hearts of Pine win 5-4 in a penalty shootout / Friday, July 25, Fitzpatrick Stadium

There wasn’t anything but pride on the line when Portland Hearts of Pine hosted Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, but the sides delivered a remarkable back-and-forth contest in front of a packed house at Fitzpatrick Stadium that included a first-half red card for the hosts, a run of three goals in three minutes, 46 seconds in the final 20 minutes, and a dramatic shootout that brought the sellout crowd to its feet on a rousing night in Portland.

8. South Georgia Tormenta FC 3, Charleston Battery 3
Battery win 5-4 in a penalty shootout / Saturday, June 30, Tormenta Stadium

South Georgia Tormenta looked to be down and out going into the final 10 minutes against the Charleston Battery, but a dramatic comeback led by second-half substitute Sebastian Vivas produced a remarkable ending that included two goals and a missed penalty kick as Tormenta outshot their visitors 21-7 over the 90 minutes. In a twist in the tale, however, the Battery prevailed in a penalty shootout, keeping their cool from the spot.

7. AV ALTA FC 2, Oakland Roots SC 2
AV ALTA wins 4-2 in a penalty shootout / Saturday, May 31, Lancaster Municipal Stadium

There has been a fair amount of late-game magic for AV ALTA at The Hangar this season, and Oakland Roots’ visit was no exception. After going behind to two goals in two minutes by the visitors just past the hour-mark, Antelope Valley grabbed a stoppage-time equalizer through 21-year-old Maboumou Alassane before goalkeeper Carlos Ávilez stole the show in the penalty shootout to in a dramatic victory for the hosts.

6. San Antonio FC 2, New Mexico United 2
New Mexico United wins 3-0 in a penalty shootout / Saturday, July 26, Toyota Field

San Antonio needed just a draw to advance to the knockout stage at home to New Mexico and were cruising to victory after an hour behind a pair of goals by Juan Agudelo. United roared back late, though, scoring twice in second-half stoppage time through Valentin Noël and Dayonn Harris, putting a scare into the hosts, before claiming a clean sweep in three rounds in the ensuing penalty shootout.

5. Portland Hearts of Pine 4, Detroit City FC 2
Saturday, May 31, Fitzpatrick Stadium

By the end of May, Detroit City had only suffered three defeats in the first three months of the season – and those were to Louisville City, the Charleston Battery and Chicago Fire. When they looked to add to an opening win in the competition against Portland Hearts of Pine, however, the hosts rose to the moment at Fitzpatrick Stadium as Natty James and Jay Tee Kamara each recorded a pair of assists in a game that featured 36 shots between the two sides.

4. Louisville City FC 2, Lexington SC 1
Saturday, July 26, Lexington SC Stadium

The second leg of the Commonwealth Cup was packed with action as Lexington and LouCity combined for the most shots in a USL Jägermeister Cup game in the tournament’s short history in front of a club-record crowd at Lexington SC Stadium. After the hosts took the lead with three minutes to play through Jacob Greene, however, LouCity roared back on a pair of stoppage-time goals by Jake Morris to claim victory and a sweep of the series between the Bluegrass State clubs.

3. Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, Miami FC 3
Miami wins 4-3 in a penalty shootout / Saturday, April 26, Al Lang Stadium

Miami FC had only one once previously at Al Lang Stadium and trailing by three goals after just over half-an-hour against their Sunshine State rival the prospects weren’t looking great. After a second-half turnaround that included two goals in the space of four minutes and a late equalizer by Lucas Melano with 13 minutes to go, Bill Hamid took center stage for the visitors, making three consecutive saves to end the shootout in sudden death.

2. Phoenix Rising FC 5, Texoma FC 4
Saturday, June 30, Bearcat Stadium

In a contest that saw both sides hold the lead twice, the first meeting between Phoenix Rising and Texoma FC set a USL Jagermeister Cup record with a nine-goal thriller that wasn’t settled until the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. Rising’s Charlie Dennis notched a hat trick for the visitors, and Diego Pepi a brace for the hosts, but the game wasn’t settle until Emil Cuello’s long-range blast grabbed a dramatic victory for Rising.

1. Rhode Island FC 2, Hartford Athletic 2
Athletic wins 4-3 in a penalty shootout / Saturday, July 26, Centreville Bank Stadium

Only a week after the first edition of El Clamico at Centreville Bank Stadium, RIFC and Hartford returned and delivered a classic that saw 10-player Athletic earn a wild card berth to the knockout stage. Reduced to 10 players in the first half, Hartford took the lead moments before the break, but RIFC rallied to go ahead with 11 minutes to go, potentially sinking Hartford’s chances. A dramatic equalizer by Adrian Diz Pe in the 83rd minute sent the game to a shootout, giving Hartford the goal it needed to claim a potential wild card tiebreaker. That came into play when a pair of misses by the hosts were countered by four consecutive makes by Athletic, giving the visitors the bonus point and passage to the Quarterfinals.