Jägermeister Cup – Group 5 & 6 Preview | OneFootball

If you’re unfamiliar with how this tournament works, here’s the high level overview:

You can read here for a more comprehensive take.

Round 5 Cup Hot Takes

North Carolina FC vs. Charlotte Independence

April 25 @ 7:00pm ET. First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary NC Streaming on ESPN+ Yes, we’ve already seen this show. These two squared off on 4/15 in Charlotte as part of the U.S. Open Cup. NCFC got the better of the Jacks by a 3 – 1 margin, hitting all three goals in the tail end of the match. Miami proved last weekend that striking early can set NCFC on their heels, so look for Charlotte to press hard for an early goal. On the opposite end, the Jacks will have to shore up that leaky defense and rein in Evan Conway and Rodrigo da Costa, who lead NCFC in scoring. FWIW, Charlotte leads in head-to-head matchups 5:4

Lexington SC vs. Loudoun United FC

April 26 @ 6:00pm ET. Lexington SC Stadium, Lexington KY Streaming on ESPN+ These two have yet to face off in the USL league, and there’s no prior head-to-head history to go on. These unknowns create a beautifully opaque scenario in which any team can emerge triumphant. The statistics favor Loudoun, particularly if Abdellatif Aboukoura gets within sniffing distance of a goal. Lexington’s home form is 2W – 2D – 1L, so the stadium is not a fortress but Loudoun had best be prepared.

Louisville City FC vs. Richmond Kickers

April 26 @ 7:30pm ET. Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville KY Streaming on ESPN+ I am very excited about this specific fixture. Richmond are a scrappy, sloppy mess of a team, just as capable of hammering four in your net as giving up an equal number in return. Louisville doesn’t play that way, and in the past seven meetings have earned six wins. I’m not sure why, but I think Kickers hit ‘em in the shins this time.

Round 6 Previews

FC Naples vs. Charleston Battery

April 26 @ 7:00pm ET. Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Naples FL Streaming on ESPN+ Naples were unlucky to not knock Tampa Bay out of the Open Cup last week. Now they have another chance to punch a Championship team in the nose, and will be keen to deliver a win to the home crowd after their second ever loss last Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Miami FC

April 26 @ 7:30pm ET. Al Lang Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL Streaming on ESPN+ No shortage of history between these two regional rivals. Miami have not been their usual crap selves the past few games; while Tampa Bay aren’t quite the force they used to be. That makes this fixture a coin-toss call and my silver dollar flip came up with… Miami. Huh. Look at that.

South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Greenville Triumph

April 26 @ 7:30pm ET. Tormenta Stadium, Statesboro GA Streaming on ESPN+ These two are back-to-back in the USL League 1 table, both on seven points with identical records and goal differential. Both teams have suffered two straight losses heading into this match (though Tormenta by larger goal margins). So why is this not a coin-toss pick? Simple history. The head-to-head statistics clearly favor Greenville 5 to 3. I’m going with that.