The RGV Red Crowns are one win away from reaching the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Proper after advancing past Austin-based ATX United in a penalty shootout Sunday, Nov. 1, at Harlingen Field.
The Red Crowns survived the third qualifying round to move on to the competition's final qualifying stage, according to KRGV's postgame report.
The victory extends a notable cup run for the Harlingen-based semiprofessional club, which is competing in its second year as a franchise.
A run built on close matches
The Red Crowns reached Sunday's game with a 3-1 second-round victory over Central Texas Coyotes FC at Harlingen Field in October.
Goalkeeper Jacob Pardo played a decisive role in that win, saving two second-half penalty kicks to preserve the Red Crowns' lead. Vicente Alvarez scored twice, including a late goal that sealed the result.
U.S. Soccer highlighted Pardo's performance as one of the notable stories from the second qualifying round.
ATX United entered the Harlingen matchup after defeating Capital City SC 1-0 in the previous round, setting up a meeting between two Texas clubs seeking their first appearances in the competition's main tournament.
One more qualifying match
The U.S. Open Cup is U.S. Soccer's national club championship, bringing amateur and professional teams into the same knockout competition.
A record 155 amateur clubs entered qualifying for the 2027 tournament, competing for 16 places in the Tournament Proper.
According to U.S. Soccer's competition schedule, the Final Qualifying Round is scheduled for Nov. 21-22.
The 16 surviving amateur teams will advance to face professional opposition when the Tournament Proper begins in spring 2027.
For the Red Crowns, Sunday's shootout victory keeps that opportunity alive and extends the club's deepest U.S. Open Cup qualifying run to date.
The team's next opponent, kickoff time and venue were not established in the available official schedule.
