UPDATE: TheCup.us has confirmed the teams that will take part in the 2014 USASA Region III Open Cup Finals, which are expected to determine two of the USASA’s entries into the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. CD Motagua and Cajun SC will join Lynch’s FC (FL), Red Force (FL), North Texas Rayados (TX), Triangle Brigade FC (TN) in the tournament that will take place in Montgomery, Ala. the weekend of June 20-22.
CD Motagua fought past Cajun SC 3-1 to win Louisiana’s 2014 Open Cup title, completing a state tournament that began in March. Both clubs move on to the USASA Region III Open Cup tournament, where they look to become the first Louisiana-based team to make the Open Cup since the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers (USL A-League) did it in 1997.
Cajun SC scored first in front of the 200 fans in attendance. A long throw-in into the 18 was headed over the keeper to give Cajun the lead in the 55th minute. However, Motagua answered shortly after with a sweet shot from tournament golden boot winner Brandon Chagnard. The tie was broken when Motagua was awarded, and converted, a penalty kick. Then Motagua sealed the deal with about eight minutes left when former Honduran international Steven Morris scored on a breakaway.
The final wasn’t the only planned action for the day, but it turned out that way. Prior to the game, Crossroads Pool Boys and FC New Orleans were supposed to battle it out for third place. However, New Orleans forfeited, and Crossroads were awarded third place, and therefore earning themselves a the state’s entry in the 2014 USASA Region III Amateur Cup.
Both Motagua and Cajun were dominant in group play, with Motagua finishing 3-0-1, and Cajun compiling a perfect 4-0-0 record. The Louisiana tournament also featured two university club teams: Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. The school teams were taught a lesson in USASA soccer, though, as both finished bottom of their respective groups.
All of this year’s Region III tournaments (Open, Amateur, Over-30, etc.) will be held between June 20-22 in Montgomery, Alabama.
Louisiana Group A | P | W | L | D | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
Cajun SC | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 1 | +11 |
Crossroads Pool Boys | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -3 |
UL-Lafayette | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -8 |
Louisiana Group B | P | W | L | D | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
CD Motagua NO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 8 | +7 |
FC New Orleans | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | +2 |
LSU Tigers | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14 | -9 |
Schedule/Results (Home team on right)
Crossroads Pool Boys 2:2 UL Lafayette (March 14)
FC New Orleans 1:2 CD Motagua (March 22)
Cajun SC 1:0 Crossroads Pool Boys (March 23)
CD Motagua 2:2 LSU Tigers (March 29)
UL Lafayette 0:4 Cajun SC (March 29)
LSU Tigers 0:2 FC New Orleans (April 5)
Crossroads Pool Boys 1:5 Cajun SC (April 11)
CD Motagua 4:2 FC New Orleans (April 12)
Cajun SC 2:0 UL Lafayette (April 19)
LSU Tigers 3:7 CD Motagua (April 26)
FC New Orleans 3:0 LSU Tigers (Forfeit – May 3)
UL Lafayette 0:2 Crossroads Pool Boys (May 3)
State Championship / Third Place Game
Clark Field, Lafayette, La. – May 16
Third Place: Crossroads Pool Boys 3:0 FC New Orleans (Forfeit)
Final: Cajun SC 1:3 CD Motagua NO