Two heavyweights landed themselves a spot in the Final Qualifying Round with a chance to get into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup on the line.

Fall River FC played KO Elites FC off the field in a resounding 5:1 win, while CD Faialense - tell me if you've heard this one before - kept a tight one-goal separation to beat intra-league rivals FC Omens.

Fall River FC (UPSL) 5:1 KO Elites FC (APSL)

When it rains, it pours goals for Fall River.

Fall River would open scoring, putting two past KO Elites early on. Luizandro Sanches in the second , and Kevin Correia adding a tally in the 11th, tapping in at the far post after play developed along the right sideline ending in a grounded ball across net.

After settling into a rhythm, the home side slowly found their momentum eroding away as KO Elites whittled their way into the match, getting bits of possession here and there and holding the South Coast side to just the two goals into halftime. Impressive, given their 8-goal disassembling in the previous round.

The second half didn't begin much better - the Connecticut side earned a PK and Dan Hoffman tucked his shot just inside the right post in the 67th.

Feeling danger again, Fall River unleashed a cascade of goals, scoring just a minute later to restore their 2-goal lead, then twice more in the 70th and 82nd minute to well and truly put the game to bed.

FC Omens (BSSL) 1:2 CD Faialense (BSSL)

Cambridge was victorious over West Roxbury in CD Faialense's win over FC Omens.

The first half was largely contested in midfield - neither side able to break down the other's mid-block. After 45 minutes and near-certainty that the half would end goal-less, CD Faialense's 2026 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying team-leading goalscorer Martin Vician took a shot after a bounce, pinging it off the post and into the net to open has account for the 2027 campaign.

The second half would be broadly the same story - struggles to break into the attacking third. The Cambridge, MA side would also score first this half, putting themselves two goals up through Arnaud Abdoun in the 71st minute, though FC Omens' keeper nearly kept it out.

FC Omens dragged themselves back into the game with 11 minutes to play, as Joseph Akisik followed up a blocked shot to get past keeper Lucas Verge.

Unfortunately, there was no comeback story in the cards for FC Omens, as CD Faialense would see out their 2:1 victory and advance to the Final Qualifying Round and vanquish an intra-league rival after having experienced defeat at their hands two months prior.

Fall River FC and CD Faialense will face off the weekend of Saturday 11/21 and Sunday 11/22 for a chance at glory. Fall River, to become the first side from their city in decades to reach the US Open Cup, and CD Faialense to qualify for the third year running - an impressive feat in a highly competitive region.