Week 3 in USL League One was light on league action but heavy on midweek Cup-sets. Seven teams managed to advance into the next round of the U.S. Open Cup, but a notable five fell to lower-league competition. Heavyweights like Portland, Greenville, and Madison lost the xG battle in their matchups.
The results are interesting in their own right, and they add yet another wrinkle to League One’s already-wonky schedule. Clubs like Fort Wayne and Corpus Christi are light on matches until mid-spring because of ongoing stadium construction – which, in Corpus Christi’s case, won’t even be completed for the 2026 season. Across the board, Tormenta’s late-breaking hiatus added unexpected breathing room into the calendar. Now, Open Cup logjams are being unevenly divided across League One.
As a result, Week 3 featured a smaller load of games but was still full of headlines. What stood out amidst it all? Let’s dig in.
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Marc Torrellas and FC Naples’ growth
Marc Torrellas is the glue that holds FC Naples together. When this team wants to be direct, he’s the axle around which the system spins. When, as has often been the case in 2026, the focus is on possessive control, Torrellas becomes Naples’ leader through the midfield. Those multifarious talents were on show in a 2-1 win against Richmond in Week 3.