The 1916–17 National Challenge Cup was the fourth annual cup tournament held by the United States Football Association. On May 5, 1917, Fall River Rovers

Fall River Rovers

Fall River Rovers were a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They won the 1888 and 1889 American Cups as well as the 1917 National Challenge Cup. In 1921 Rovers were disbanded and a new team, Fall River United were formed to enter the newly established American Soccer...

 defeated Bethlehem Steel F.C.

Bethlehem Steel F.C.

Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...

 to take the title. Thomas Swords

Thomas Swords

Thomas "Tommy" Swords is a deceased U.S. soccer forward who was the captain of the U.S. national team in its first two games. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame-Club career:Swords was born and grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, USA, an early hot bed of U.S. soccer...

 scored the game winning goal thirty seconds into the game. The second round match on January 28 between Bay Ridge of Brooklyn and the Newark Scottish-Americans was originally awarded to Bay Ridge for non-appearance of the Scots. Despite Bay Ridge having played and won their third round game 2-0 over New York, the Bay Ridge/Scots game was ordered replayed by the cup committee. The Scots won the replay and went on to face New York in the third round.

Open Cup Bracket

Home teams listed on top of bracket
(*) replay after tied match
w/o walkover/forfeit victory awarded

Final