On Wednesday, on a collegiate soccer field at the campus of Jacksonville University, two lower-division professional soccer teams will go head to head for a much grander stage: a match against Orlando City SC.
The third round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – the longest running soccer competition in the United States – gets underway tomorrow. Teams from the NASL, USL, NPSL, PDL, and USASA will face off against each other to advance to the fourth round, where play against MLS teams will begin.
The Jacksonville Armada of the NASL will host the Charleston Battery of the USL Wednesday night at 7 P.M. The Armada were originally set to face The Villages SC thanks to their victory over the Battery in the second round, but the match result was nullified after it was revealed that The Villages fielded an ineligible player, putting Charleston through to the next round.
The match will determine Orlando City’s foe in the fourth round, scheduled for two weeks later on June 15. If Jacksonville is victorious, the Lions will travel up to Jacksonville. However, if Charleston wins, City will welcome the Battery to Camping World Stadium.
Orlando City fared well in its first season as an MLS franchise in the Open Cup, winning two matches en route to the quarterfinals of the 2015 tournament. In fact, the Lions have won at least two matches in each of the last three years. This year, with their first season jitters in the rear-view mirror, hopes run high that the men in purple will make a run at the title.
<strong>ROUND 3</strong> |
<strong>AWAY TEAM</strong> |
<strong>TIME</strong> |
<strong>HOME TEAM</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
June 1 |
Richmond Kickers (USL) |
11 a.m. |
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) |
Broward College South – Pembroke Pines, FL |
June 1 |
Charleston Battery (USL) |
7:00 |
Jacksonville Armada (NASL) |
Southern Oak Stadium – Jacksonville, FL |
June 1 |
Lansdowne Bhoys (USASA) |
7:00 |
Rochester Rhinos (USL) |
Rhinos Stadium – Rochester, NY |
June 1 |
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) |
7:30 |
Chattanooga FC (NPSL) |
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, TN |
June 1 |
Jersey Express (PDL) |
7:30 |
New York Cosmos (NASL) |
Belson Stadium – Jamaica, NY |
June 1 |
Charlotte Independence (USL) |
7:30 |
Carolina RailHawks (NASL) |
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC |
June 1 |
FC Cincinnati (USL) |
7:30 |
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) |
Al Lang Stadium – Tampa, FL |
June 1 |
Louisville City (USL) |
7:30 |
Indy Eleven (NASL) |
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN |
June 1 |
Minnesota United FC (NASL) |
8:00 |
Saint Louis FC (USL) |
World Wide Technology Park – Fenton, MO |
June 1 |
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) |
8:00 |
Miami FC (NASL) |
FIU Stadium – Miami, FL |
June 1 |
Oklahoma City Energy (USL) |
8:00 |
Rayo OKC (NASL) |
Yukon Miller Stadium – Yukon, OK |
June 1 |
San Antoinio FC (USL) |
9:00 |
Des Moines Menace (PDL) |
Valley Stadium – West Des Moines, IA |
June 1 |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) |
9:30 |
Arizona United SC (USL) |
Peoria Sports Complex – Peoria, AZ |
June 1 |
Los Angeles Wolves (USASA) |
10:00 |
La Maquina (USASA) |
Westminster HS – Westminster, CA |
June 1 |
Kitsap Pumas (PDL) |
10:30 |
Sacramento Republic (USL) |
Bonney Field – Sacramento, CA |
