Monterey Bay F.C. Welcomes LAFC to Cardinale Stadium in Seaside for Round of 32 Matchup in 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
SEASIDE, California (Tuesday, May 9, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (3-2-4, 13 points, USLC) returns to action in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as hosts to LAFC (5-3-1, 18 points, MLS) in a thrilling Round of 32 showdown at Cardinale Stadium. Tuesday’s match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast exclusively via the CBS Sports Golazo Network on Paramount+, the CBS Sports App, Pluto TV, and CBSSports.com.
In the previous round of the tournament, Monterey Bay F.C. became the sixth team in the USL Championship era to take victory in its first meeting with a top-flight opponent when the Club defeated MLS side San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at home on April 25. Prior to that in the second round – the Crisp and Kelp’s opening match of the tournament – The Union delivered a 3-1 win on the road in extra time against Central Valley Fuego FC. Now, Monterey Bay welcomes its second Major League Soccer (MLS) opponent of the cup to Seaside. This time, it is the defending MLS Cup Champions, LAFC.
Monterey Bay, though hobbled with injuries, enters the match on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions that dates back to April 5. Meanwhile, LAFC comes into the match having just advanced 4-1 on aggregate in a two-leg semifinal against Philadelphia Union in CONCACAF Champions League play. In its most recent fixture over the weekend, however, LAFC fell 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
While it will be the Union’s third match of the U.S. Open Cup so far, it will be the first for LAFC. Due to finishing top-four in the Western Conference table in Major League Soccer last season, the Los Angeles-based club received an automatic bye through to the Round of 32. The winner of Tuesday’s match will advance to the Round of 16 to be held on May 23-24.
Monterey Bay F.C. vs. Los Angeles FC
Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Tuesday, May 9, 2023; 7:30 p.m. PT
Access MBFC vs LAFC Match Notes
The Adobe PDF version of the 2023 Match Guide in advance of Tuesday’s contest between Monterey Bay F.C. and LAFC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Steven Vargo in MBFC Communications via email at steven@montereybayfc.com.
2023 Records
Monterey Bay F.C. (3-2-4, 13 pts, 6th USLC West); LAFC (5-3-1, 18 pts, 3rd MLS West)
