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New Mexico, Saint Louis Face Open Cup Challenges

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/18/19, 12:14PM EDT

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NMU hits road looking for upset of FC Dallas; STLFC welcomes FC Cincinnati to Soccer Park


New Mexico United sprang an upset on the road last Wednesday night against the Colorado Rapids, and will look to repeat the feat when it visits FC Dallas in the Fifth Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The two remaining USL Championship clubs in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will take to the field on Wednesday night aiming at a place in the 106th edition of the tournament’s Quarterfinals, but both Saint Louis FC and New Mexico United have already made a major impression in their respective runs in this year’s tournament.

Saint Louis’ victory against the Chicago Fire last Tuesday night was its first against an opponent from Major League Soccer in its history and earned the club another home tie with former USL Championship rival FC Cincinnati – now a member of Major League Soccer. For New Mexico, a second penalty shootout victory in this year’s tournament against the Colorado Rapids put the side on the verge of history as it heads to face FC Dallas. With a win, New Mexico would become the first USL Championship expansion side to reach the Quarterfinals of the Open Cup in its inaugural season.

FC Dallas vs. New Mexico United
Westcott Field, Dallas, Texas | 8 p.m. ET

After back-to-back victories in Colorado, New Mexico United will head to Texas for the first time in this year’s Open Cup as it looks to defeat a strong FC Dallas side that most recently claimed the Open Cup in 2016. NMU booked its place in the Round of 16 thanks to a dramatic 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout against the Colorado Rapids last Wednesday night that saw Cody Mizell make one save and all four of New Mexico’s shooters find the net at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to upend the Rapids after Kevaughn Frater had scored a stoppage-time equalizer to send the game to extra time at the end of regulation.

New Mexico’s form in the Open Cup hasn’t mirrored its recent league form, where the side has suffered back-to-back defeats over the past two weekends to Sacramento Republic FC and Las Vegas Lights FC while Head Coach Troy Lesesne has endeavored to rest some of his regular starters from a heavy recent workload. With Santi Moar and Devon Sandoval having been spelled by second-half substitutes Frater and Chris Wehan against Las Vegas this past Saturday, the hope is New Mexico will be as close to full-strength as possible as it takes on a Dallas side that defeated Championship club OKC Energy FC 4-0 in the previous round.

Saint Louis FC vs. FC Cincinnati
World Wide Technology Soccer Park | 8:30 p.m. ET

Saint Louis FC will look to continue its deepest run in the Open Cup in the club’s five-season history when it takes on FC Cincinnati back on home turf after last week’s win against the Chicago Fire. Goals by Austin Martz and Guy Abend four minutes apart during the first half proved enough for STLFC to bag its first win against an opponent from Major League Soccer at Harlan C. Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood University that sent a crowd of almost 4,500 fans home happy.

STLFC will get a strong test from an FC Cincinnati side that earned a 2-1 victory after extra time against Louisville City FC in its first game in the Open Cup as an MLS side, with FCC having made the move to MLS from the USL Championship this past offseason. Cincinnati had a happy history against Saint Louis in their previous meetings, winning four out of five contests in league play. With the visitors set to field a strong lineup including last week’s game-winning goalscorer Kekuta Manneh, STLFC could need another big display in goal by St. Louis native Tomas Gomez, who recorded eight saves against the Fire in a standout performance before his hometown crowd.

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