In a stretch from 2012 to 2014, the Carolina Railhawks, now North Carolina FC, were dominant against MLS sides from California. They went 5–1 in that stretch against LA Galaxy and Chivas USA combined, with an unblemished 3–0 record against Landon Donovan’s side.

Now, NCFC can play once again spoiler in the tournament … this time to a flashy team from Texas: the Houston Dynamo.

The Dynamo (7–5–2 in MLS) sit in third place in the Western Conference but have never made it to a U.S. Open Cup final. Houston has reached the semifinals twice — in 2006 and 2009 — but has regularly lost in the quarterfinals.

Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera told the team’s website that Wednesday’s game at Sahlen’s Stadium was the most important for some of his players.

“It’s a good opportunity, a good challenge,” Cabrera said. “It’s a way to see things. We need to grow as a team … as a club.”

Striker Erick “Cubo” Torres leads the Dynamo with 10 goals on the season — five coming off penalty kicks. The Mexican international came to Houston from Liga MX side Cruz Azul in 2016. Midfielder Alex leads the team with seven assists while, defensively, goalkeeper and former UNC-Chapel Hill player Tyler Deric has 25 saves on the season with one clean sheet.

One player looking to use the U.S. Open Cup as a stepping stone to the first team is Rio Grande Valley FC midfielder Charlie Ward.

“We’re definitely looking to win,” Ward said on the Dynamo website. “For ourselves it’s an opportunity, but for the whole collective group as a team it’s important we win.”

Something working in North Carolina FC’s (4–3–4 NASL) favor is the fact that Houston is 0–6–1 on the road this season, scoring just three goals in those seven games.

North Carolina FC head coach Colin Clarke told U.S. Soccer that the Cup is a top priority for the Oaks. Their history of knocking off big teams is not lost on Clarke either.

“We like to do well in this competition,” Clarke told U.S. Soccer. “We’ve taken some big scalps in the past and we want to do it again.”

NCFC leads the NASL in goals scored with 16 — nine in their last five, including four against the Charlotte Independence in the third round of the Cup tournament. Midfielder Lance Laing leads the Oaks with five league goals while Matt Fondy has three in league play.

But, in Open Cup play, it’s Brian Schiver who leads the pack. In 2012, he scored five goals in the tournament for the Railhawks. He has yet to score this season for the Oaks.

Another bright spot for NCFC is Nazmi Albadawi. In league play the midfielder has just one goal, but he netted a brace against the Independence two weeks ago. His experience with the Cup dates back to 2014 when he broke into the ranks with the Railhawks.

“In my rookie year, I scored my first pro goal in the Open Cup,” he told U.S. Soccer in a recent feature. “We beat Chivas USA. I got my first pro assist in that one, but I missed the first penalty of the shootout.”

The Oaks’ defense will be tested for yet another game. On Sunday, NCFC failed to hold on to an early lead and had to settle for a 2–2 draw at New York. Houston has no issues scoring goals at home, notching 27 total goals on the season — second in MLS behind Atlanta United.

The problem is the Oaks have given up 15 goals in league play while recording just one clean sheet.

While goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre will have his work cut out for him, one question surrounds the availability of Connor Tobin. The defender managed a great goal against Charlotte but was out of the Oaks’ lineup in New York on Sunday.

Carolina connection

The Dynamo have a history in the U.S. Open Cup that dates back to 2006. During that time, Houston has played a team from the Carolinas five times — counting Wednesday’s game with the Oaks. They defeated the Carolina Dynamo 4–2 in the fourth round in 2006, but ran into a buzzsaw in the Charleston Battery — losing 1–0 in 2007 and 1–1 (4–3 PK) in 2008 (by the way, 2008 was the last time a non-MLS club reached the Cup finals and it was none other than the Battery who lost 2–1 to D.C. United). In 2009, the Dynamo upended the Battery 4–1 in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Form

North Carolina FC — D-L-L-W-W

Houston Dynamo — L-W-D-L-L

Watch

North Carolina FC vs. Houston Dynamo

Fourth Round — U.S. Open Cup