USL Cup round 4 goals of the round nominees revealed

The fourth and final round of Prinx Tires USL Cup group play produced a ballot built on timing as much as technique, with Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., Emil Jääskeläinen, CJ Olney Jr. and Adrien Pérez among the nominees for Fans’ Choice Goal of the Round. Voting runs through Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at midnight ET.

The 2026 tournament is the third edition of the Prinx Tires USL Cup and includes all 43 USL Championship and USL League One clubs, a World Cup-style format designed to add meaningful matches to the calendar. Round 4 closed the group stage, and the four nominated goals reflected the way the competition has rewarded quick strikes, pressure moments and individual invention.

Obregón delivered the most direct set-piece statement. The 28-year-old forward curled a free kick past Rhode Island FC’s defense in first-half stoppage time on July 11 to pull Brooklyn FC level at 1-1. The finish fit his profile in Brooklyn, where he scored the club’s first USL Championship goal in its inaugural league match, and it matched a broader team trend after Brooklyn opened cup play with a 3-0 win over New York Cosmos.

Jääskeläinen’s entry came in a different register entirely. The Sporting Club Jacksonville forward struck in the third minute of second-half stoppage time on July 3 at Segra Field to earn a 2-2 draw against Loudoun United FC. The goal ended Sporting JAX’s three-game losing streak and came after Loudoun had gone ahead only minutes earlier, turning a late equalizer into a rescue act as much as a highlight. His finish, after stepping into a long pass, gave Jacksonville a point it had nearly lost.

Olney’s nomination showed how quickly a road game can tilt for a young player. The 19-year-old midfielder on loan from Philadelphia Union scored in Brooklyn FC’s 2-0 win at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on July 4, finishing from near the top of the box for his second goal of the season. The result was Brooklyn’s first away win in the USL Championship and snapped a seven-game winless streak, with Olney helping turn a tight matchup into a clean road breakthrough.

Pérez completed the list by showing how a turnover can become a finish in a matter of seconds. His goal came in Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s 3-1 win over Phoenix Rising FC on July 4, after Frank Daroma forced the turnover that opened the chance. Pérez later was named USL Championship Player of the Week after contributing two goals and one assist, meaning he had a hand in all three Colorado Springs goals and delivered his best performance since arriving in the offseason.