LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas native Azriel Gonzalez scored a pair of goals to lead hometown club Las Vegas Lights FC to a comfortable 4-0 victory against the LA Force in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Peter Johann Field on the campus of UNLV, sending the hosts into the Third Round of the tournament for the first time since 2019.

Making his first start of the season, Gonzalez opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a powerfully-struck free kick that found the bottom-left corner of the net. Seven minutes later he added his second of the night, capitalizing on a cross by Eric Oteng to score from inside the penalty area.

Las Vegas added to its lead eight minutes before halftime when Justin Ingram powered home a finish from outside the penalty area into the left corner, and the night was capped by Erick “Cubo” Torres’ second goal of the season midway through the second half.

ORANGE COUNTY SC 5, CAPO FC 0: 17-year-old Bryce Jamison was among the goalscorers as Orange County SC dispatched Capo FC at Championship Soccer Stadium while putting up five goals for a second consecutive year in the Open Cup Second Round.

The hosts almost grabbed an early lead in the 11th minute when Jamison set up fellow teenager and United States U-20 international Korede Osundina for a shot that came back off the crossbar, but Orange County took the lead in the 33rd minute when Emil Nielsen powered down the left side and finished from close range.

Jamison added a second for the hosts shortly before halftime as Jamison got up highest to head home a free kick by Daniel Pedersen from the left. Orange County then pulled away in the second half as Milan Iloski scored twice after being brought on as a substitute around Thomas Amang’s first goal for the club since his late offseason move from San Diego Loyal SC.

SAN DIEGO LOYAL SC 2, ALBION SAN DIEGO 0: Goals either side of halftime by Charlie Adams and Evan Conway send San Diego Loyal SC into the Third Round for a second consecutive year as 16-year-old goalkeeper Duran Ferree posted a shutout at the SDSU Sports Deck.

Another of SD Loyal’s youngsters played a key role in the hosts opening the scoring as 18-year-old Xavi Gnaulati was brought down in the penalty area to earn the side a spot kick. Adams stepped up and calmly converted, giving the side a halftime lead. Conway then added a second seven minutes into the second half as he put home a cross by Adrien Perez from the left flank.  

PHOENIX RISING FC 1, GREENVILLE TRIUMPH SC 0: Panama international Carlos Harvey scored the only goal as Phoenix Rising FC earned its first victory and shutout of the season with victory against USL League One club Greenville Triumph SC at Phoenix Rising Stadium.

Rising FC took the lead in the 21st minute when Eddie Munjoma crossed a ball to the back post for Baboucarr Njie, whose volleyed pass back into the penalty area found Harvey at close range to score his first goal for his new club.

Phoenix had chances to add to its lead in the second half through Jackson Conway and Eddie Munjoma, both of whom were well denied by Greenville goalkeeper Jared Mazzola, but Harvey’s goal ended up being enough to secure advancement to the Third Round.

LOUDOUN UNITED FC 2, NORTH CAROLINA FC 1 (AET): Wesley Leggett scored the game-winner in the 116th minute to lead Loudoun United FC to victory in its Open Cup debut against USL League One club North Carolina FC after extra time at Segra Field.

Loudoun had made a positive start to the contest as Zach Ryan continued his strong start to the season with the opening goal in the seventh minute. North Carolina battled back in the second half, however, when Puerto Rico international Jaden Servania drove a shot into the corner of the goal from the edge of the penalty area.

While both sides had chances to grab victory in regulation, the game went to extra time where Leggett proved the hero. After coming on as a late second-half substitute, Leggett capitalized on a counter-attack led by Abdou Zanne down the left, with Zanne providing a squared ball for Leggett to finish.

INDY ELEVEN 3, MICHIGAN STARS FC 1 (AET): Sebastian Guenzatti scored his first goal for Indy Eleven and it proved to be the game-winner for the Boys in Blue as they defeated Michigan Stars FC at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

Indy controlled most of the play and chances in the first half and Guenzatti was denied twice around the half-hour mark as Michigan blocked chances away. The visitors took the lead just before the break, though, as Nebojsa Popovic scored from the penalty spot after being fouled in the penalty area.

The hosts hit back just before the hour-mark when Harrison Robledo scored his first goal on loan from FC Cincinnati with a shot from the top of the penalty area. Indy was unable to find a way to a winner in regulation, but two minutes into extra time Guenzatti was on hand to tap home from close range as Solomon Asante picked up his second assist of the night. Juan Tejada then put proceedings to bed for the Boys in Blue with a goal in the 111th minute to seal their advancement.

NORTHERN COLORADO HAILSTORM FC 3, COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC 1 (AET): Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC was eliminated in the Second Round of the Open Cup for a second consecutive year by in-state foe Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC at Weidner Field, with Donald Benanma and Marky Hernandez scoring for the visitors in extra time to pull away for victory.

The Switchbacks had to absorb pressure during regulation as goalkeeper Alec Smir made five saves, but it appeared the hosts might be on their way to victory with eight minutes to go. An attack on the right fell for USL Academy signing Marco Rios to drive a low cross into the center where Drew Skundrich was 25-

Colorado Springs’ lead was short-lived, however, as moments after he had hit the right post with a chance to respond, Thomas Amman found the net in the 88th minute to send the game to extra time. Benanma, who last month represented the Central African Republic in Africa Cup of Nationsl Qualifying, then put Hailstorm FC ahead five minutes into extra time before Hernandez provided the insurance marker with nine minutes to go, ending the Switchbacks’ Open Cup run at the first hurdle.

SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC 2, RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC 1: A saved second-half penalty kick proved crucial as Rio Grande Valley FC fell to defending USL League One title holder South Georgia Tormenta FC at Tormenta Stadium at Optim Sports Medicine Field.

Tormenta took the lead six minutes before halftime as James Murphy found the net from the center of the penalty area, but the Toros had a chance to respond with 21 minutes to go when Ricky Ruiz was brought down in the box by a Tormenta defender. Taylor Davila’s penalty kick was saved by South Georgia veteran Pablo Jara, however, with the rebound chance going wide.

South Georgia added an insurance goal with eight minutes to go through Kingsford Adjei, and that proved essential as Ruiz pulled a goal back for the Toros in the first minute of stoppage time. Despite holding a 25-4 advantage in shots, however, RGVFC was unable to force extra time to see its Open Cup come to an end for this year.

UNION OMAHA 2, EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC 0: El Paso Locomotive FC was again unable to solve a League One opponent as second-half goals by Junior Palacios and Steevan Dos Santos sent Union Omaha to victory at Morrison Stadium.

Locomotive FC forced some early pressure on its hosts, forced a key save from Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu just before the hour-mark, but Los Buhos took the lead shortly after as Palacios put home his own rebound after an initial shot was parried. Former Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Dos Santos added a second for the hosts with 15 minutes to go as Omaha joined Forward Madison FC (2019) and Central Valley Fuego FC (2022) in eliminating El Paso in the Second Round.

TULSA ATHLETIC 1, FC TULSA 0: FC Tulsa fell to local amateur club Tulsa Athletic at Hicks Park as a second-half goal by KB Harris proved the difference for the hosts.

Both teams had chances in the opening half with 19-year-old Watz Leazard – a Haiti U-20 international – going closest for the visitors as he made his debut in FC Tulsa colors. Aaron Ugbah also had a good chance for the Athletic in the 24th minute, but just past the hour-mark the hosts found the net as Harris put home a pass from Roman Torres for the decisive finish in the contest.