The Tampa Bay Rowdies got a hat trick from Cal Jennings, let a four-goal lead get away in the closing stages as Tyler Pasher scored twice for Birmingham Legion FC, but rebounded through a pair of goals by Manuel Arteaga in extra time to take a wild 6-4 victory in the clash between the USL Championship sides at Al Lang Stadium and earn a trip to the Round of 16 in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night.

The Rowdies got on top early as Damian Rivera opened the scoring in the 25th minute before the side’s high pressure instigated by Rivera resulted in a blocked clearance that fell kindly to Jennings, who finished into an open net eight minutes later. Jennings added his second goal of the game in first-half stoppage time as Blake Bodily picked up his second assist of the night, and then completed his hat trick with 11 minutes to go as the Rowdies appeared to be on cruise control.

Legion quickly found a higher gear, however, and began their comeback with eight minutes to go on a goal by Enzo Martinez before Kobe Hernandez-Foster finished off a chance created by Pasher in the 89th minute. That duo reversed roles in the third minute of stoppage time as Pasher found the net, and after Pasher was fouled in the penalty area in the fifth minute of stoppage time the Canadian slotted home to level and send the game to extra time.

Tampa Bay picked itself up off the mat in spectacular fashion in the 101st minute as Arteaga put home a bicycle kick from 12 yards off a cross by Eddie Munjoma from the right, and the Venezuelan then added his second of the night four minutes into the second period of extra time. While Arteaga’s close to the night was spoiled with a second yellow card, the Rowdies were able to see out their lead second time around and book a meeting with FC Dallas in the next round.

CHARLESTON BATTERY 3, SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC 2: MD Myers completed his hat trick in stoppage time of the second period of extra time as the Battery dodged a challenge to their undefeated record in the 2024 campaign from the League One side at Patriots Point.

Myers opened the scoring for the Battery in the 21st minute as his patience paid off after stealing possession in the Tormenta penalty area. South Georgia hit back with a well-taken counterattack five minutes before halftime that was finished off be Pedro Fonseca, but Myers struck again with a sharp header off a cross by Josh Drack in first-half stoppage time.

Tormenta was unable to manufacture many chances in the second half, but with seven minutes to go the visitors found an equalizer as Niall Watson’s angled pass across the penalty area was tucked home by Gabriel Rodriguez to send the game to extra time. As it appeared the game would head to a shootout, though, Myers popped up to put home a close range chance as the Battery scrambled for a late winner to earn a home contest against Atlanta United FC in the Round of 16.

PHOENIX RISING FC 2, NORTH CAROLINA FC 1: Guilio Doratiotto scored his first goal for Phoenix in the second period of extra time as the visitors took victory against North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in a game that saw both sides lose players to red cards.

Phoenix took an early lead in the ninth minute through Juan Carlos Azocar but were reduced to 10 players in the 24th minute when Laurence Wyke was sent off for a second cautionable offense. NCFC’s player advantage lasted only 16 minutes as Paco Craig was also dismissed for his second yellow card five minutes before halftime, but despite that the hosts were able to find an equalizer with 10 minutes to go on Justin Malou’s first goal for the club.

Phoenix got the chance to play up a player in extra time when North Carolina’s Ezra Armstrong was send off in second-half stoppage time for Denial of a Goalscoring Opportunity, and Rising took advantage in the 111th minute when Doratiotto volleyed home a cross from Erickson Gallardo from the left, and that was enough to send Phoenix into a Round of 16 contest with Seattle Sounders FC.

INDY ELEVEN 2, SAN ANTONIO FC 0: Augustine Williams and Jack Blake each scored in the opening 10 minutes at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl and that proved to be enough for Indy to advance against San Antonio and into the Round of 16.

Williams struck in just the second minute as his turning shot eluded San Antonio goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, and then eight minutes later Blake added a second as the patience showed in their build-up by the hosts gave the English midfielder a golden opportunity he thumped home. San Antonio tried to find a way back into the game but we unable to find a way past Indy goalkeeper Hunter Sulte, who recorded a six-save shutout to help the side into the Round of 16 and a home clash with fellow Championship club Detroit City FC.

LOS ANGELES FC 3, LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC 1: Cristian Olivera scored a pair of goals after coming on as a second-half substitute to lift LAFC to victory despite a game performance by the Lights that saw Shawn Smart find the net for the hosts at Cashman Field.

After a scoreless first half, Los Angeles took the lead through veteran Kai Kamara just two minutes into the second half, but Las Vegas hit back off a well-worked corner kick nine minutes later. A cross from the right by Solomon Asante was flicked on at the near post by Edison Azcona to Smart, who headed home at the back post. LAFC pressed on as it used a number of its regulars in the starting lineup including Denis Bouanga, but it was Olivera that made the difference with what proved to be the game-winner with 20 minutes to go and a stoppage-time marker to seal the result.

NEW YORK CITY FC II 1, COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC 0: New York City FC II scored an early goal through Jonathan Jiménez before goalkeeper Tomás Romero posted a three-save shutout at Belson Stadium to eliminate the Switchbacks from the tournament.

Jiménez scored in just the sixth minute to stake NYCFC II to a lead, and while the Switchbacks more than doubled the overall number of shots of their hosts 14-6 and held advantages in possession and duel success, Colorado Springs only hit the target three times as New York held on to advance into the Round of 16.