C
Charlotte FC exits U.S. Open Cup in Round of 16 after loss to Atlanta United
Charlotte United Football Club’s professional counterpart, Charlotte FC, saw its U.S. Open Cup campaign end in the Round of 16. Atlanta United secured a 2–0 win at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina, advancing to the Quarterfinals. Goals from Alexey Miranchuk and Cooper Sanchez, combined with a clean sheet from Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert, sealed the result. The defeat marked Charlotte FC’s first-ever home loss in Open Cup competition. The match followed Charlotte’s emphatic 5–1 victory over Richmond Kickers in the previous round, a win that had advanced the team into the Round of 16. Nevertheless, the club’s cup run concluded with the setback against their regional rival.