The El Paso Patriots advanced to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup the hard way, defeating Miami FC on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw. In only their second season as a franchise, the Blues were eliminated from the Open Cup by an amateur team for the second year in a row. Last year, they fell to Dallas Roma FC of the USASA, 1-0.
Omar Mora provided the offensive punch for the Patriots with an assist on Michael Griego’s 21st-minute tally, but the professionals would battle back with goals by Brazilian World Cup veteran Zinho in the 70th and Sean Fraser in the 78th. It looked like another PDL team was going to fall but Mora came to the rescue with a brilliant goal in the 89th minute to send the match into extra time. The game eventually went to penalty kicks where Jorge Muniz saved an attempt by Zinho which proved to be the difference as the Patriots won 4-3.
El Paso will travel to South Carolina for their Second Round encounter, facing the Charleston Battery, a 3-0 winner over the Central Florida Kraze in the First Round.