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US Open Cup: Carolina Dynamo Team Profile and Match Preview

By Nathan Reynolds

Sep 13, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy before the game between FC Dallas and the New England Revolution at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas defeats the New England Revolution 4-2 to win the U.S. Open Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; A view of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy before the game between FC Dallas and the New England Revolution at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas defeats the New England Revolution 4-2 to win the U.S. Open Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Dynamo kick off their 2017 season with a US Open Cup first round match against the Legacy 76. A look at the NC club and match info

The 104th edition of the US Open Cup kicks off this week. 56 clubs from the lower divisions start off the competition in the opening rounds. Today we profile the Carolina Dynamo from the PDL and preview their match against the NPSL’s Legacy 76.

While the Cup has been around over 100 years, it still remains on the perimeter of soccer media coverage and to the casual fan. We here at MLS Multiplex understand the attraction and value of the Cup. Thus rather than point out the reasons it should be more widely followed, we shine the light on smaller teams building the beauty game.

Brief History

The Carolina Dynamo were founded in 1993, originally as the Greensboro Dynamo, and reside in Greensboro, NC. The club share an owner with Nottingham Forest, who currently play in the Championship in England (second division).

MLS fans will be familiar with the Dynamo moniker, but Houston didn’t use the name under 12 years after Greensboro/Carolina did. The club plays their home matches in the 7,000 seat Macpherson Stadium.

The Carolina Dynamo organization also manages a women’s professional team in the USL W-League, and a club in the USL Super-20 League for developmental players.

The club has a rich history of featuring players who would eventually go on to play in the MLS. The Dynamo’s alumni includes Jalil Anibaba, Jon Busch, Warren Creavalle, Sam Cronin, Michael Lahoud, Zach Loyd, Shea Salinas, Wells Thompson, Andrew Wenge and Sheanon Williams.

The club’s best season came back in 2006 when they won the USL’s PDL. Carolina also made it all the way to the Open Cup 4th round that year, a record they will be hoping to top in 2017.

How They Got Into The Cup

Carolina enters the US Open Cup based on their membership in the PDL (Premier Development League). The PDL sits as the 4th division in the US soccer pyramid. All clubs from the PDL are automatically entered into the Cup competition during the first round.

Player To Watch For

Mamadee Nyepon, the Ivory Coast striker, will lead the line for the Dynamo and is one of the club’s all-time goal scorers. While attending college in the US at High Point University, Nyepon played for the Carolina Dynamo between 2012 to 2014.

After a short stint with the NASL’s Carolina Railhawks (now North Carolina FC), he returned to the Dynamo where he has 20 career goals. Mamadee has six career assists over 36 starts, and is one of the team’s most exciting players. Here is a look at his career highlights in college.

Next: MLS Expansion: Nashville MLS bid group purchases USL team

Open Cup First Round Match Info:

When: May 10 7:00 pm ET

Where: Macpherson Stadium, Greensboro, NC

Up Next: The winner will host North Carolina FC (NASL) on May 17

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