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US Open Cup Quarterfinals Odds & Picks: Can a USL Championship Side Reach the Semis?

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in Soccer News

Updated Apr 8, 2020 · 3:58 PM PDT

Minnesota United
Minnesota United have won five straight games and will face the USL's New Mexico United Wednesday night in USOC play. Photo By @MNUFC (Twitter)
  • The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has reached the quarterfinal stage on July 10
  • Of the eight remaining teams, six MLS teams are left, with two sides coming from the USL Championship division
  • The last match of the night should be a classic between LAFC and Portland

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (USOC) has reached its quarterfinal stages with the final eight teams playing their quarterfinal matches on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

The oldest soccer competition in America is contested between teams representing various leagues and divisions of the sport in the country, and offers the winner a place in the group stage at next year’s CONCACAF Champions League.

The four quarterfinals will take place Wednesday and we break down some best bets from each match.

Orlando City vs New York City Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Orlando pk, -1/2 (-108) -119 Ov 3 (-101)
New York pk, -1/2 (-128) +186 Un 3 (-119)
Draw N/A +240 N/A

*All odds taken July 10, 2019

Orlando city will host New York City FC at Exploria Stadium at 7:30 pm EST on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

One Team Will Reach First USOC Semi

One thing is for sure, there will be a first-time winner of the USOC this year as none of the remaining teams have ever won the trophy. But before that, another first will certainly come for one of Orlando or New York City, and that is a spot in the semifinals.

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It’s the second straight appearance in the quarters for Orlando, who’ll play host to an opponent they’ve faced twice already this MLS season. These teams met in their season opener in Orlando which ended in a 2-2 draw. They also played in late April in New York in another draw, this time, 1-1.

MLS teams entered in the fourth round of the USOC competition. Orlando defeated Memphis 901 by a 3-1 scoreline, before winning 2-1 over MLS side New England Revolution in the round of 16

For New York, they brushed aside North Carolina FC 4-0 at home, before edging past DC United 2-1 on the road last round.

Someone will have to win this time to earn passage into the next round. Orlando have won just once in their past four MLS matches and tied Philadelphia 2-2 on the weekend. Though they vastly rotated their side on the weekend to prepare for this mid-week tilt.

NYCFC had been unbeaten in 12 straight MLS matches and 14 overall, before falling at home 1-0 to Portland on Sunday.

I struggle to not see both teams finding the back of the net here. And this weekend’s loss notwithstandings, NYCFC have been one of the hottest teams in the league having only lost twice all season. I’d lean on them to advance should they field a starting eleven with most of their starters.

Pick: Draw, both teams to score

Atlanta United vs Saint Louis FC Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Atlanta -1.5 (-108) -294 Ov 3 (-125)
Saint Louis +1.5 (-112) +540 Un 3 (+105)
Draw N/A +400 N/A

Atlanta United hosts USL side Saint Louis FC also at 7:30 pm EST on Wednesday.

USL Side Visit MLS Cup Champs

After a slow start to the season, Atlanta United have been climbing the MLS standings and now sit third in the East. At home, they’ve lost just once all season with a 6-3-1 record, scoring 17 and allowing just eight.

The Five Stripes are coming off a wild 3-3 draw with Eastern Conference finalist New York Red Bulls on Sunday. Fatigue could become a factor with the short turnaround, coupled with the fact they also played last Wednesday in a 5-1 loss to Chicago, in a game they played a man down for most of the match.

For Atlanta to reach the USOC quarters, they were 3-1 victors over the Charleston Battery at home, before taking a 3-2 road win in Columbus in the round of 16.

In the USL, Saint Louis sit outside the Eastern playoff spots in tenth, with 21 points from 15 games. They played out a 2-2 draw on Saturday with Loudon. On the road, they’ve been average, going 2-3-3 with six goals scored compared to seven allowed.

Saint Louis began play in the tournament in the second round with a win in penalties over Des Moines Menace. Next was a 3-1 home win over Forward Madison, before another home win (2-1) over the Chicago Fire. In the round of 16 they defeated MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati 1-0 at home.

Saint Louis have had the luxury of playing their past three matches at home. Their lone road match was in the first round, where they needed penalties to advance. Playing on the road to the defending MLS Cup champs will be no easy task.

Pick: Atlanta -1.5, or Atlanta to win & score two goals 

Minnesota United vs New Mexico United Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Minnesota -1, -1.5 (-122) -263 Ov 3, 3.5 (-110)
New Mexico +1, +1.5 (+102) +480 Un 3, 3.5 (-110)
Draw N/A +380 N/A

Kicking off right after the previous two matches, will be Minnesota at home to USL side New Mexico at Allianz Field at 8:00 pm EST.

Loons Riding Hot

Minnesota find themselves now fourth in the MLS Western Conference after a 3-2 road win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday. It was their third straight win in MLS and fifth straight win overall. At home they’ve only lost once in nine matches and have outscored opponents 19-9.

The goals are coming fast and furious for Minnesota these days, as they’ve scored at least three goals in each of their past five wins. In that stretch they’ve scored 20 goals compared to just seven allowed. However, they have conceded at least a  goal in each of those five wins.

In fact, Minnesota have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past eight matches.

The Loons were 4-1 winners at home over Sporting Kansas City in the fourth round of the USOC, before hitting the road to defeat the Houston Dynamo 3-2 in the round of 16. Darwin Quintero shares the tournament’s goalscoring lead with four goals with New Mexico’s Kevaughn Frater.

However, Frater will be suspended from yellow card accumulation, though New Mexico do have several other scoring threats.

The goals are coming fast and furious for Minnesota these days, as they’ve scored at least three goals in each of their past five wins.

For New Mexico, they are seventh in the USL’s Western Conference. They have 26 points in 18 games. Their road record is one of the better ones in the conference at 3-5-3, scoring 18 times and allowing 19.

Unfortunately for New Mexico, their USL form has run cold of late. They’ve failed to win in their past five and have been outscored 11-3. On Saturday they lost 1-0 on the road to Real Monarchs.

New Mexico United advanced past Phoenix Rising FC on penalties, followed by a win over the Colorado Spring Switchbacks, before meeting MLS competition in the fourth round. There, they defeated another Colorado side, the MLS Rapids, again in penalties.

New Mexico travelled to Texas to face FC Dallas in the round of 16 where they fell behind 1-0 late in the first half, but quickly tied the match four minutes later and scored the eventual winner in the 64′ minute.

Pick: Minnesota to win and both teams to score

Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
LAFC -1.5, -2 (-106) -345 Ov 3.5 (-120)
Portland +1.5, +2 (-114) +580 Un 3.5 (+100)
Draw N/A +460 N/A

The night’s last match features another all-MLS match up when LAFC play hosts to the Portland Timbers at 10:30 pm EST at Banc of California Stadium.

USOC Quarterfinal Rematch in LA

These sides met in the USOC quarterfinals last year with Los Angeles taking a 3-2 win. LAFC would go on to lose to eventual champions Houston in the semifinals.

Goals are typically in the cards when these two meet. In addition to their USOC meeting in 2018, Portland won 2-1 at home, while they drew 0-0 in LA. However, this season, in two head-to-heads already, LA won 4-1 at home and 3-2 on the road in the opening of Portland’s Providence Park.

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The MLS-leading LAFC are sitting well and clear at the top of the MLS Supporter’s shield race. They were 6-1 and 5-1 winners in their past two matches. Though they play again on Friday in MLS, their sizeable lead over the rest of the pack should allow them to field a decent lineup for this quarterfinal.

They have shown equal success in the USOC so far. They were 3-0 winners on the road to RSL and 3-1 winners at home to San Jose.

While the Timbers are currently out of the playoff picture in MLS, they are coming on strong after a long slate of road games to start the year. They’ve won three of four and each of their past two. On Sunday, on the road, they snapped a 14-match unbeaten streak for NYCFC.

Portland defeated their Cascadia rivals Seattle on the road 2-1 in the USOC, before a 4-0 home win over the LA Galaxy saw them through to the quarters.

Pick: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals

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