The first round of the U.S. Open Cup is magical. It’s an opportunity for grassroots clubs to show off what’s unique, wild, and endearing about their teams and hometowns. It’s a chance for under-the-radar players to make a statement on the national stage. It’s also a showcase for some genuinely good soccer and a testament to the level of the American game.
What better way to celebrate the first roound than to hand out some superlatives? From the best plays to the weirdest moments, let’s dig into this week’s Open Cup action.
Goal of the Round
Aaron Bibout is the classic MLS Next Pro ‘tweener, a striker with 23 goals in 37 league starts for Ventura County. Still, Bibout has earned just 21 minutes for the LA Galaxy since 2023, and he’s been loaned out to the USL Championship as many times as he’s seen the pitch in MLS.
