U.S. Open Cup: Atlanta United Blanks Charlotte FC to Secure Quarterfinal Berth

Apr 29, 2026 71 Views US OPEN CUP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Behind a masterful performance from captain Alexey Miranchuk and a milestone moment for Homegrown talent Cooper Sanchez, Atlanta United defeated Charlotte FC 2-0 on Tuesday night. The victory at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex officially punches Atlanta's ticket to the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Atlanta will find out its next opponent on Thursday during the live draw on CBS Sports Golazo Network at 9 a.m. ET, with the next round scheduled for May 19 or 20.

Miranchuk’s Magic Provides the Spark

Atlanta asserted dominance early, nearly finding the opener in the eighth minute when Enea Mihaj found Miranchuk, whose curling effort forced a save from Charlotte keeper Tyler Miller.

The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Miranchuk initiated a slick give-and-go with winger Luke Brennan at the top of the box. Once the ball returned to Miranchuk's favored left foot, the captain unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top left corner. It was Miranchuk's sixth goal of the season across all competitions and his first in Open Cup play.

The 5-Stripes nearly doubled the lead before halftime through headers from Matías Galarza and Enea Mihaj, but both efforts narrowly missed the target, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.

A Career Milestone for Cooper Sanchez

Head coach Shavar Thomas turned to his bench midway through the second half, a move that paid immediate dividends. In the 71st minute, defender Ronald Hernández sent a high, speculative ball toward the Charlotte box.

Cooper Sanchez, who had subbed on just eight minutes prior, chased the ball down with high intensity. His pressure caused a miscommunication and collision between Miller and his defender, leaving the ball loose. Sanchez gathered it and calmly slotted it home for the first goal of his Atlanta United career.

"I think we're seeing the depth of this club's pathway," said midfielder Jay Fortune, who notably made his 75th appearance for the club tonight, becoming only the second Homegrown player to reach that mark.

Match Statistics

Stat	Atlanta United	Charlotte FC
Score	2	0
Shots	10	8
Shots on Target	4	2
Possession	45%	55%
Corner Kicks	2	7

Looking Ahead

While the Open Cup run continues, Atlanta United (2-7-1, 7 pts) must now shift focus back to the MLS regular season as they look to climb the Eastern Conference table.