Hartford Athletic will visit fellow New England-based club and USL League One newcomer Portland Hearts of Pine in the Second Round of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup. | Photo courtesy Axe Zito / Hartford Athletic
CHICAGO – The seven USL Championship clubs that advanced from the opening round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup learned their opponents for the Second Round on Friday, with five clubs set to head out on the road as they seek to avoid being upended by lower-division opponents for a second consecutive outing.
Highlighting the round is the first meeting between Hartford Athletic and USL League One newcomer Portland Hearts of Pine, with the sides set to meet at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 2 at the Franklin Athletic Complex, Lewiston, Me. The meeting will be the first of two this season for the New England-based clubs, with Hartford set to host their encounter in the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday, April 26 at Trinity Health Stadium.
In the round’s other clash between USL Championship and League One sides, FC Tulsa will head to face Forward Madison FC at Breese Stevens Field on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET as the Scissortails aim to at least match their run to the Round of 16 a year ago, the furthest the club has gone in the tournament in its history.
Monterey Bay FC, meanwhile, will remain at home to square off with amateur side El Farolito at Cardinale Stadium on Tuesday, April 1 at 10 p.m. ET, which advanced 3-1 past Real Monarchs SLC after extra time in this week’s opening round. Having claimed victory in each of its opening two home games of the season, MBFC will be aiming to move on against one of the tournament’s best-known underdogs.
Coming off a tricky road test to open the tournament, Loudoun United will remain at home at Segra Field in the Second Round as it also squares off with amateur opposition in the form of Virginia Dream, which eliminated USL League One side the Richmond Kickers on the opening night of the tournament.
The three remaining clubs will all head on the road to face opposition from MLS NEXT Pro, with Lexington SC set to meet Columbus Crew 2 at Lower.com Field and Miami FC set to square off with Inter Miami CF II at Chase Stadium on Tuesday, April 1. The round is set to conclude with El Paso Locomotive FC’s trip to face Ventura County FC at the Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium on Wednesday, April 2 as Locomotive looks to build on its first win in the tournament in club history this past week.
Following the upcoming, the remaining 16 teams participating in the Open Cup will enter the tournament in the Third Round, scheduled for the week of April 15-16.
2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Second Round
Tuesday, April 1
Columbus Crew 2 vs. Lexington SC, 6 p.m. ET, Lower.com Field
South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. FORO SC, 7 p.m. ET, Tormenta Stadium
Westchester SC vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms, 7 p.m. ET, The Stadium at Memorial Field
Inter Miami CF II vs. Miami FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, Chase Stadium
Charlotte Independence vs. Carolina Core, 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsplex at Matthews
Monterey Bay FC vs. El Farolito, 10 p.m. ET, Cardinale Stadium
AV ALTA FC vs. Los Angeles FC 2, 10:30 p.m. ET, Lancaster Municipal Stadium
Wednesday, April 2
Loudoun United FC vs. Virginia Dream, 6:30 p.m. ET, Segra Field
Portland Hearts of Pine vs. Hartford Athletic, 6:30 p.m. ET, Franklin Athletic Complex, Lewiston, Me.
Chattanooga FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 7 p.m. ET, Finley Stadium
Greenville Triumph SC vs. One Knoxville SC, 7 p.m. ET, Paladin Stadium
FC Naples vs. Little Rock Rangers, 7:30 p.m. ET, Paradise Coast Sports Complex
Forward Madison FC vs. FC Tulsa, 7:30 p.m. ET, Breese Stevens Field
Des Moines Menace vs. Flatirons FC/Union Omaha, 8:30 p.m. ET, Valley Stadium
Tacoma Defiance vs. Spokane Velocity FC, 10 p.m. ET, Starfire Sports Complex
Ventura County FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 10:30 p.m. ET, Dignity Health Park Track and Field Stadium