Crown continues US Open Cup drive at Birmingham

PHOTO | TROY HULL

Charlotte FC, winner of four of five matches, will try to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals Wednesday at Birmingham Legion FC.

Charlotte FC will continue its drive to the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday.

The Crown is at USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC in the round of 16 at Protective Stadium at 8 p.m. with a home berth in the quarterfinals at stake. If Charlotte FC wins, it would be their best run in the national showcase and moves the Crown a step closer to the title match. The Open Cup winner earns an automatic berth in the 2024 Concacaf Champions League.

Charlotte is in the re-set Southeast Region bracket for the round of 16 with Birmingham Legion FC, Inter Miami CF, and Nashville SC. The CLTFC-Birmingham winner will host for the quarterfinals against the Miami-Nashville winner.

The Crown’s road to the Round of 16 includes wins against South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-1) in the third round and 2022 Open Cup winner Orlando City SC (1-0) in the round of 32 at Matthews Sportsplex.

Birmingham, on the other hand, has lost their last four straight matches in the USL Championship dating to April 30. They advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-0 win against USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC on May 10.

Charlotte FC played three Open Cup matches on the road in 2022, earning a pair of wins before losing 3-1 to New York Red Bulls in the round of 16. As for the present, the Crown is trying to get back to winning form after a 2-1 loss Saturday against Nashville SC at Bank of America Stadium after conceding a penalty kick in stoppage time.

Before that, CLTFC had won four straight matches.

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