FC Dallas needed six rounds of penalty kicks to finish off the USL First Division’s Atlanta Silverbacks at Pizza Hut Park in a Third Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match. The two teams finished regulation tied 1-1 and after 30 minutes of scoreless extra time, the home team moved on to the Quarterfinals with 4-3 shootout win.
Carlos Ruiz of Dallas scored the opening goal on a counterattack in the 74th minute on an assist by goalkeeper Dario Sala. This marked just the third time in the US Open Cup’s Modern Era that a goalkeeper earned an assist.
Four minutes later, Atlanta’s Dan Antoniuk tied the game up on an assist by David Hayes, however, four minutes from then Antoniuk would exit the game he helped save. The team’s leading scorer was sent off in the 82nd minute, leaving the Silverbacks a man short for the remainder of the match.
Despite being shorthanded, Atlanta managed to keep Dallas off the scoresheet for the remainder of regulation and extra time. Ryan McIntosh of Atlanta, and Dario Sala of FC Dallas both made big saves throughout the match, but it came down to a shootout where Silverbacks midfielder Scott Buethe missed high in Round 6, and Arturo Alvarez converted to send the MLS side through to the next round.
PK Shotout Summary
ATL 1 – Rios (Goal)
DAL 1 – Ruiz – (Goal)
ATL 2 – Moore – (Save)
DAL 2 – Richetti – (Save)
ATL 3 – O’Brien – (Wide Left)
DAL 3 – Toja – (Save)
ATL 4 – Rivillo – (Goal)
DAL 4 – Gbandi – (Goal)
ATL 5 – Hayes – (Goal)
DAL 5 – Thompson – (Goal)
ATL 6 – Buete – (High)
DAL 6 – Alvarez – (Goal)
Lineups
Atlanta’s starters: Ryan McIntosh, David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Martyn Lancaster, Justin Moore, Rodrigo Rios, Tony McManus, Scott Buete, Rafique Hassim (John Queeley – 66) (Angel Rivillo – 114), Daniel Antoniuk, Warren Ukah (Corey Woolfolk – 74) (Dayton O’Brien – 119).
Goals: Antoniuk – 78 (Hayes)
Cautions: McManus – 72; Rios – 82; Lancaster – 92; Bobo- 96
Ejections: Antoniuk – 82
Dallas’ starters: Dario Sala, Chris Gbandi, Pablo Richetti, Juan Toja, Ramon Nunez (Dominic Oduruo – 69), Clarence Goodson (David Wagenfuhr – 113), Arturo Alvarez, Drew Moor (Abe Thompson – 91), Aaron Pitchkolan, Bobby Rhine (Michael Dello-Russo – 117), Carlos Ruiz.
Goals: Ruiz – 74 (Sala)
Cautions:
Ejections: