Sports stats

USL1 Spokane Velocity FC

Spokane Velocity FC Hosts Central Valley Fuego to Open USL Jägermeister Cup

April 19, 2024 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Spokane Velocity FC News Release


Spokane Velocity FC's U.S. Open Cup run may be over, but a new chapter begins in its tournament history with the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup.

After returning from a three-game road trip, Velocity will welcome Central Valley Fuego FC to ONE Spokane Stadium at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 for the opener of the USL Jägermeister Cup's group stage.

While the results won't count in the league standings, Velocity is looking to make another tournament run after reaching the third round of its first-ever U.S. Open Cup. The club was eliminated in a 2-1 overtime loss against Las Vegas Lights FC of the USL Championship.

Velocity sits in fourth place in USL League One action with a 2-2-1 record, including a recent 2-2 draw against eighth-place Lexington SC in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Central Valley, which lost in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, has dropped three matches in a row against USL League One opponents. The club is second-to-last in the league standings with a 1-4 record this season.

With the USL Jägermeister Cup constructed to build regional rivalries, Velocity and Fuego were placed in the West Region, along with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and Union Omaha. Each club will play twice against the other clubs in the group plus two matches against clubs from another group, based on geographic proximity, to complete the eight-game group slate. Find all of the tournament matches on the "Cup" tab of Velocity's schedule web page.

The tournament operates on a point system with three points to match winners. The winners of the West, East and Central groups will advance to the knockout rounds, with the fourth playoff spot awarded to the non-group winner with the most goals scored in group play. The emphasis on scoring is by design, with goals being first tiebreaker in group standings.

Another feature of the USL Jägermeister Cup is that matches tied at the end of regulation time will go directly to a penalty-kick shootout. The shootout winners will earn an extra point, while the losers receive one point for the draw in regulation time. The winner of the Cup - in addition to major bragging rights - will win a trophy for the case and prize money.

"USL League One is always looking to provide unique experiences for players and fans, and this new cup competition falls right in line with that," said USL League One President Lee O'Neill in a press release from the league. "The cup matches will be dramatic and competitive, emphasizing the passionate rivalries in the league and providing our fans with new reasons to support their club all year long."

The trend of in-league cup competitions, popular around the world, is gaining traction in the American sports landscape. The NBA's In-Season Tournament, which debuted in the 2023-24 season, is a prime example.

The USL is setting its sights on long-term growth for the Jägermeister Cup. This includes inviting teams from other leagues to participate and continuously innovating to heighten the excitement for fans.

"The cup is a scalable platform," O'Neill said. "Our ambition is to include clubs from other leagues in the future. There are so many strong clubs across our country and our region, and we believe this competition can be a catalyst to bring many of them together to grow the game and create a unique and amazing experience for players and fans everywhere."

After facing Fuego, Velocity will continue group play by hosting Union Omaha on May 11.

Check out the Spokane Velocity FC Statistics



United Soccer League One Stories from April 19, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central