The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round kicks off this Wednesday at BBVA Compass Stadium as the Dynamo host San Antonio FC (7:15 p.m.).
SAFC, in its first year in USL, currently sits 13th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference with a 2-5-5 record (11 points). Despite their spot in the table, San Antonio has an even goal difference with 12 goals scored and 12 goals allowed. Their defensive record is fourth-best in their conference.
While this will be the first meeting between San Antonio FC and Houston, Rio Grande Valley FC—the Dynamo's USL affiliate—has already faced their neighbors to the north three times with two wins and one draw. The first meeting at Toyota Field in San Antonio on May 7, a 3-2 win for RGV FC, featured a goal from Mauro Manotas and two goals from Rob Lovejoy, including the 90th minute game-winner. The next two games, a 0-0 draw in San Antonio on May 25 and a 1-0 RGV win at home on June 4, were shutouts for Dynamo goalkeeper Calle Brown.
Former Dynamo forward Jason Johnson leads SAFC with three goals on the season, while former Chivas USA and Colorado Rapids midfielder Carlos Alvarez has contributed three assists and tallied one goal of his own.
San Antonio is coming off a 1-1 draw against Portland Timbers 2 in Oregon on June 11, thanks to a late equalizer from Milton Palacios. They defeated NPSL side Corinthians FC of San Antonio 3-1 in the Open Cup Second Round, then traveled to Iowa for a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Des Moines Menace (PDL) in round three of the competition. Haitian forward Jacques Francois has scored three goals and recorded one assist for SAFC in the two Open Cup matches.
