Round 3 of the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup group stage delivered some remarkable drama on Saturday night. Among the 15 contests, five were decided by penalty shootouts – setting up key games in the final round of the stage in July – while another five produced dramatic result-changing finishes in the 90th minute or later to turn the fortunes of some clubs on a dime.

Here’s one storyline we took away from each group as the tournament heads to its final round.

Group 1 – Las Vegas Lights’ hopes of advancement rose dramatically

Going into Saturday night, Las Vegas Lights FC knew it needed to take all three points from its final group stage game against Spokane Velocity FC regardless of how results panned out elsewhere.

By the end of the night, the Lights couldn’t have asked for a better scenario as they prepare to sweat out the final day of action. Las Vegas’ 2-0 win against Spokane delivered by goals from Stefan Stojanovic and Nighte Pickering was compounded by both Sacramento Republic FC and Monterey Bay FC suffering defeats in regulation, leaving the Lights on nine points and in with a chance at either the group win or the wild card.

Nothing’s certain for the Lights – given Sacramento’s head-to-head tiebreaker and teams that are well positioned in other groups going to their final games to reach 10 points in the wild card race, things still need to fall right on July 26 – but that’s beside the point. They’re in with a shot, and that’s all they can ask.

Group 2 – Alex Tambakis’ heroics gave New Mexico an avenue to advance

On the downside for New Mexico United on Saturday night, it let a pair of leads slip away against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to leave a point on the table before Alex Tambakis’ penalty shootout heroics earned a 3-2 shootout result at Isotopes Park.

With San Antonio FC’s victory against Union Omaha, though, the extra point United could have claimed would have proven academic anyway, as a shootout win against SAFC in the final round of group play would still have left New Mexico short of advancement. As it is, they need to take victory in regulation against San Antonio in the final game to pull level with SAFC on 9pts and advance due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

That wouldn’t have been possible without Tambakis’ key stops and the trio of Ousman Jabang, Chris Gloster and Talen Maples keeping their cool to convert. United’s earned three consecutive wins in league play against San Antonio. Do it again, and they’re into the knockout stage.

Group 3 – Birmingham Legion’s alive, but it could have been so much more

Based on the chances Birmingham Legion created against Indy Eleven, there was little question it deserved something out the game, even if the dramatic equalizer came via a bit of good fortune as Tabort Etaka Preston’s flighted free kick eluded everyone and found the right corner of the net in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

That, at least, kept Legion alive in the group – an Indy regulation win would have sealed its place in the knockout stage – but Legion could have put themselves in pole position if not for letting their edge in the ensuing shootout slip away. With the chance to close out the win in the fifth round, Ronaldo Damus’ penalty kick was denied by Indy’s Hunter Sulte to extend the shootout, which Indy eventually claimed 7-6 in eight rounds.

Damus’ miss was a shock – the Haitian had gone 10 of 11 from the spot previously in his USL Championship career. While Birmingham has on paper the easier assignment at home to Forward Madison FC in its final game compared to Indy Eleven hosting a strong FC Tulsa squad, it’s now got to hope for help elsewhere instead of controlling its path.

Group 4 – Hartford Athletic’s margin of error shrunk after its shootout defeat

Given the way the second half played out, Hartford Athletic’s late concession to Detroit City FC at Trinity Health Stadium was almost inevitable. Le Rouge had dominated the chances, putting up eight shots to Hartford’s one before Matt Sheldon finally put one of their chances on target to leave the game in a 2-2 draw.

Shooting first from the spot, however, Hartford was unable to take advantage of its opportunity to set the tone. Three missed penalty kicks left the door open for the visitors, who regardless of result were eliminated from group contention. Michael Bryant’s spot kick sealed victory for Detroit – keeping their slim wild card chances alive – but for Athletic it took one of its paths to win the group off the table.

Had Hartford won from the spot, it would have moved within a point of Rhode Island FC going to the final group game between the two sides at Centreville Bank Stadium. In that scenario, a shootout win would have been enough to send Hartford through on the head-to-head tiebreaker with both teams ending on 10pts. Instead, Hartford’s going to need to win in regulation against its El Clamico rival. It’s not impossible, but the margin for error is much narrower than it could have been.

Group 5 – Loudoun United rediscovered its shooting boots just in time

Loudoun United was disappointed to squander the number of chances it did against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday night – “Obviously feels good to get the win, but we are disappointed we let them hang on in the end there,” said United Head Coach Ryan Martin. “We had some good chances to put that game away, but instead we ended up in penalties.”

The good news for Martin and his crew? They came through from the spot to earn a 4-3 victory, picked up two points and remained in control of their path to the knockout stage. How secure that spot is going to its final group stage contest against North Carolina FC will be determined on Sunday evening due to the rescheduling of NCFC’s visit to Louisville City FC.

While the result left the door open for both NCFC and Louisville should one side claim a regulation victory, Loudoun’s still in very good shape to move on despite the lack of sharpness the side showed on Saturday night in the attacking penalty area.

Group 6 – Greenville Triumph, FC Naples could be on course for collision

The most chaotic group in the tournament continued to live up to that billing on Saturday night, with Greenville Triumph making the jump from fifth place to first with its 2-0 victory against Miami FC at Paladin Stadium. The hosts were fully deserving of their victory, with Rodrigo Robles and Carlos Anguiano each producing outstanding finishes to knock Miami into second.

Now, all eyes will shift to next Friday night’s game between Greenville’s fellow USL League One club FC Naples and the Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies, which is now key to where things will set up for the final round of action. With Triumph set to face Naples in the final game of the stage, it will likely be rooting Head Coach Matt Poland’s side to get a result – preferably in regulation – to give both the potential to advance in a winner-take-all contest.

With League One’s squads likely to get shut out of advancement in the other five groups, this could be the best chance for the division to be represented, and should make for a serious showdown at Paladin Stadium.