Louisville City FC Upsets MLS Opponent in US Open Cup

Second-tier club defeats Austin FC to advance in prestigious national tournament

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a soccer match, with players and the ball represented as fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes of color.Louisville City FC's upset victory over MLS club Austin FC in the U.S. Open Cup showcases the competitive spirit and tactical sophistication of the second-tier USL Championship.Louisville Today

For the second time in club history, Louisville City FC defeated a Major League Soccer opponent in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Lou City defeated Austin FC 2-1 to advance to the Round of 16 in the prestigious national tournament, marking the club's first win over an MLS team since 2018.

Why it matters

The U.S. Open Cup is a highly competitive national tournament that pits professional and amateur soccer clubs against each other, providing lower-division teams like Louisville City FC a rare chance to test themselves against top-tier MLS opposition. This victory over Austin FC, a well-funded MLS club, demonstrates the quality and ambition of Louisville City FC and the strength of the second-tier USL Championship league.

The details

Louisville City FC scored two first-half goals through Sean Totsch and Tola Showunmi to take a 2-0 lead over Austin FC. The MLS club managed to pull one back in the second half, but Lou City's defense held firm to secure the 2-1 victory. Interim head coach Simon Bird praised his team's character, mentality and work rate in grinding out the win against a talented Austin FC squad.

  • The match was played on April 15, 2026.
  • Louisville City FC previously defeated the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup in 2018.

The players

Louisville City FC

A professional soccer club that plays in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Austin FC

A Major League Soccer club based in Austin, Texas.

Sean Totsch

A defender for Louisville City FC who scored the team's first goal in the 26th minute.

Tola Showunmi

A forward for Louisville City FC who scored the team's second goal in the 32nd minute.

Simon Bird

The interim head coach of Louisville City FC.

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What they’re saying

“We talked all week about standards, expectations, accountability. I thought the guys came out and really did a good job from a character standpoint, mentality standpoint, against a very, very good team who caused us problems. We defended, we grinded for each other, and I was really proud.”

— Simon Bird, Interim Head Coach, Louisville City FC

What’s next

Louisville City FC will face the winner of the Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USL Championship) match in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup.

The takeaway

This victory over an MLS opponent demonstrates the quality and ambition of Louisville City FC, a second-tier USL Championship club, and highlights the competitive nature of the U.S. Open Cup where lower-division teams can test themselves against the best in American soccer.