FC Cincinnati and Houston Dynamo FC booked their spots in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinals Tuesday night, moving one step closer to a 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup spot (formerly Concacaf Champions League).
Three more MLS teams are in action Wednesday evening, with Inter Miami CF visiting Birmingham Legion FC and Real Salt Lake hosting the LA Galaxy.
All rounds build towards a Sept. 27 final, while a Concacaf Champions Cup berth, prize money and silverware are up for grabs.
FC Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1
Álvaro Barreal scored a second-half golazo and set up a Santiago Arias headed goal in second-half stoppage time to help lead FC Cincinnati to a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at TQL Stadium. Either Inter Miami or Birmingham Legion FC await in the semifinals.
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute. Luciano Acosta played a ball into the box where Dominique Badji spun and took a touch for Brandon Vazquez, who slipped his first-time finish inside the far post.
Then Barreal struck arguably the goal of the tournament, connecting on Acosta's corner kick with a left-footed full volley from outside the box to secure FC Cincinnati’s passage to the semifinals. Barreal wasn't done though, setting up Arias for a powerful headed goal in second-half stoppage time one minute before Tola Showunmi's cosmetic strike for the USL Championship side.
Goals
Chicago Fire FC 1, Houston Dynamo FC 4
Powered by Aliyu Ibrahim's brace, Houston Dynamo FC cruised to the semifinals following a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
The Dynamo, who will take on the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy in the next round, raced out to a two-goal lead just past the half-hour mark. Amine Bassi converted a penalty kick in the 12th minute after Arnaud Souquet pulled down Nelson Quiñónes in the box. And then Ibrahim ran onto Adalberto Carrasquilla’s through ball and beat Spencer Richey inside the near post in the 31st minute.
Souquet atoned for his penalty foul, flicking Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner kick inside the far post to pull Fire FC within a goal in the 40th minute.
Ibrahim added his second goal just before the hour mark, tapping in the rebound of Quiñónes’ saved shot to extend Houston’s lead to 3-1. Quiñónes then tacked on a fourth goal, knocking in a Hector Herrera cross in the 74th minute.
Goals
