Jägermeister Cup Final Games, Groups 5 & 6 | OneFootball

The Jägermeister Cup enters its final weekend of group stage games, after which six teams (the winner of each group) will move on to the Quarterfinals. No team has clinched their spot, which makes many of the upcoming eighteen matches hugely important. Ties in group stage are resolved by the following set of rules (applied in order until a winner is determined):

Wild Cards

There will also be two wild card teams selected based on cumulative points from all the remaining groups. Obviously, teams with the highest points advance, but in the event of a tie, apply these rules (note the difference… goal scored is actually more important than wins, head-to-head or otherwise):

All games are played on Saturday, July 26 unless otherwise stated, and are streamed on ESPN+.

Group 5

Current Group 5 Standings (Source: USL)

Two teams sit on 6 points; one has 8. Neither of those teams play each other, so keep an eye on all three fixtures as the winner won’t be known until the final whistle is blown.

Charlotte Independence vs. Richmond Kickers

7pm ET @ American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaRichmond Kickers are another one of the three teams with all losses in the Cup. Charlotte haven’t lost, though they do have two draws and have split the decision in the shootout. This puts them on 6 points and everything to play for. If Loudoun and Louisville stumble, a victory catapults them into first! They also have the home-field edge.

Lexington vs. Louisville City FC

7pm ET @ Lexington SC Stadium, Lexington, KentuckyThese two are regional rivals who share a state but play in different conferences. Lexington has no chance to advance, but would absolutely relish quashing the hopes of their Bluegrass brethren with a win. That would be an upset, as LouCity’s league form is significantly better (they have 11 wins vs. Lexington’s 3).

North Carolina FC vs. Loudoun United FC

7:30pm ET @ First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North CarolinaLoudoun is the 8-pointer in the group, and given their 30 minute later kickoff, should be able to monitor the scores of the other two games. It’s a slight advantage, but they cannot be complacent. A win puts them through. Loudoun’s last win came one month ago against Charlotte in the Cup’s third group game. Their top goalscorer Abdellatif Aboukoura has been missing since then; they miss his contributions.

Group 6

Current Group 6 Standings (Source: USL)

In theory, four teams can still win the group, though it would take some significant permutations for fourth-place Tormenta to achieve that. To get a wild card spot I estimate 9 points are needed. You can do your own math to see who might hit that threshold.

Greenville Triumph vs. FC Naples

7pm ET @ Paladin Stadium, Greenville, South Carolina In their only League 1 meeting this year, these two played to a 1 – 1 draw. With nothing to play for, we’ll see how seriously FC Naples take this game. Greenville must win and hope for a Rowdies loss to Charleston.

Miami FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

7pm ET @ FIU Soccer Stadium, Miami, Florida Tormenta need to win by a 3-goal margin to cover their GD gap. Then they ALSO need Greenville AND Tampa Bay to lose. That’s a tall order, but we’ve seen slimmer odds succeed. Miami are in a similar situation but have one extra point in hand to make their job slightly easier. In any event, either team need help from the other fixtures.

Charleston Battery vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

7:30pm ET @ Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Tampa Bay are dead last in the USL standings, with little chance of climbing out of the cellar to qualify for the playoffs. So this Cup competition really matters to them. Charleston are the total opposite: top of the USL but eliminated from the Cup. I expect the Battery to give some younger kids a start. This should give the Rowdies an excellent chance to win and punch their ticket.

More Jägermeister Cup Stories

The USL Jägermeister Cup ExplainedFinal Day Preview: Groups 1 & 2Final day Preview: Groups 3 & 4