With Detroit United and KC Athletics punching their ticket to the USASA Region II semifinals the day before, the other two quarterfinal matches took place on Sunday with one producing a goalfest, and another a dramatic nailbiter.
FIRE SC ’00 (MN) 3:8 AAC EAGLES (IL)
Toyota Park Turf Field – Bridgeview, Ill.
At the Toyota Park turf field in Bridgeview, Ill., the host AAC Eagles scored a goal against Fire SC ’00 in the opening minute of the match and never looked back. The goal was scored by Jakub “Kuba” Piotrowski, and it would be the first of five goals he would tally in the match in an 8-3 blowout against the newcomers from Minnesota. Piotrowski, who was an All-American college player at the NAIA level playing for the University of Illinois at Springfield. He also scored the second goal in the Illinois Open Cup title game last November as the AAC Eagles defeated RWB Adria 2-0.
AAC Eagles lineup: Marek Los (GK), Mirek Modzelewski (46th), Piotr Kolasinski, Pawel Policht, Darek Szewczyk, David Otachel, Sebastian Skital, Michal Kapusta, Rafal Zalewski (60th), Matchew Kochanowski (73rd), Jakob Piotrowski. Subs: Mariusz Napiorkowski (46th), Jacek Lechowicz (60th), Rafal Popko (73rd)
Scoring Summary:
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Michal Kapusta) – 1st
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Unassisted) – 38th
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Assist?) – 40th
AAC: Matchew Kochanowski (Sebastien Skital) – 44th
AAC: David Otachel (Michal Kapusta) – 45th
FSC: Unknown goalscorer – 45th+
FSC: Unknown goalscorer – 49th
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Sebastien Skital) – 62nd
FSC: Unknown goalscorer – 73rd
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Jacek Lechowicz) – 74th
AAC: Jacek Lechowicz (Jakub Piotrowski) – 76th
KC ATHLETICS (KA) 4:4 DES MOINES MENACE USASA (IA)
(KC Athletics advances 6-5 on PKs)
Cownie Stadium – Des Moines, Iowa
The Eagles will travel to Kansas City in the semifinals where they will face the KC Athletics, who survived an exciting quarterfinal match against the Des Moines Menace USASA on Saturday. The match is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 15 at a site to be determined. Player/coach Kyle Perkins lead the way with a hat trick for the first Kansas-based team to compete in Open Cup qualifying in several years.
KC would break through first with a goal by Perkins, set up by a cross by Marty Johnson, but it wouldn’t take long for the home team to answer. 15 minutes later, Des Moines would level the match on a counter attack goal by Austin Otto.
Former two-time Premier Development League MVP, Tomas Boltnar and long-time teammate Armin Mujdzic each added a goal on either side of halftime to put Des Moines up 3-1.
A few minutes later, Perkins would add another, this time from a free kick from 25 yards out. The ball took a deflection on the way and ended up in the back of the net. He would complete the hat trick soon after that off a corner kick that was delivered to the far post and then crossed back across goal to the foot of Perkins who fired it home.
| Scoring Summary: KCA: Kyle Perkins (Marty Johnston) DMM: Austin Otto DMM: Tomas Boltnar DMM: Armin Mujdzic KCA: Kyle Perkins (Stephen Hoffman) KCA: Kyle Perkins (Brian Williams) DMM: Armin Mujdzic KCA: Brian Williams (Josh McDaniel) |
Penalty Summary: DMM: Armin Mujdzic – GOAL KCA: SAVED DMM: GOAL KCA: GOAL DMM: Medina – SAVED KCA: GOAL DMM: Austin Otto – SAVED KCA: GOAL DMM: Tomas Boltnar – GOAL KCA: SAVED DMM: Scott – MISS KCA: SAVED DMM: Downes – GOAL KCA: GOAL DMM: Staley – GOAL KCA: GOAL DMM: Collins – SAVED KCA: Zach Brennan – GOA |
Not long after that, Mujdzic would give the lead back to the Menace, only to have the Athletics pull one right back just minutes later. With 10 minutes left, KC’s Stephen Hoffman played a diagonal ball to midfielder Josh McDaniel who beat the offside trap and found teammate Brian Williams wide open at the far post for the game-tying tap-in.After 30 minutes of scoreless overtime, the two teams went to the penalty shootout. All three keepers, Zach Brennan for KC, and Kyle Fitch (first half) and Jason Williams (second half, overtime) for Des Moines, made clutch saves for their teams. In the end, the Athletics would emerge victorious as Brennan saved Des Moines’ attempt in the ninth round, and then immediately stepped to the spot himself to score the winning PK.
“Going to Des Moines in our first Open Cup qualifier and coming out with a win was big,” said Perkins after the match. “I think this game shows the resolve of our team as we overcame a 3-1 deficit. A lot of credit goes to our goalkeeper Zach Brennan, who not only did he save four penalty kicks, but he also coverted the game-winner.”
Des Moines Starting Lineup: GK: Kyle Fitch, DEF: Staley, Smith, Downes, Scott, MID: Perez, McGowan, Tomas Boltnar, Austin Otto, FWD: Piffer and Armin Mujdzic.
KC Athletics Starting Lineup: Zach Brennan, Barber, Robards (subbed off at 70 Hicks), Woods (subbed off at 80 Woodworth), Stephen Hoffman, Josh McDaniel, Atwood, Miles, Gutherie (subbed off at 60 for Brian Williams) Kyle Perkins, Marty Johnston
DETROIT UNITED (MI) 2:1 MILWAUKEE KICKERS (WI)
Uihlein Soccer Park – Milwaukee, Wis.
Fernando Gatica scored two impressive goals for Detroit United as the Michigan champions eliminated the Milwaukee Kickers, 2-1. Read a full report of the match by Matt Schroeder of WisconsinSoccerCentral.com. Detroit United will host the 402 Academy from Nebraska in a “Win & You’re In” match tentatively scheduled for May 15.
MINNESOTA TWIN STARS (MN – NPSL) 1:2 402 ACADEMY (NE)
There was some late drama with the 402 Academy from Nebraska, as they needed a penalty kick in the dying minutes of the game to get past the Minnesota Twin Stars of the National Premier Soccer League. It was a wet game from the start and Minnesota struck first and taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break. 402, who qualified for the US Open Cup in their first-ever attempt last year, would equalize thanks to Minnesota native Amad on a shot from about 20 yards out. Finally, in the 89th minute, 402 was awarded a penalty kick, which Tim Walters converted to make it 2-1.
402 will travel to Detroit in their “Win & You’re In” match on May 15.
USASA Region II Quarterfinal schedule
KC Athletics (KS) 4:4 Des Moines Menace USASA (IA) – (KC advance 6-5 on PKs)
Detroit United (MI) 2:1 Milwaukee Kickers (WI)
Minnesota Twin Stars (MN – NPSL) 1:2 402 Academy (NE)
Fire SC ‘00 (MN) 3:8 AAC Eagles (IL)
USASA Region II semifinals schedule
(All games are Saturday, May 15 – All times Eastern)
402 Academy at Detroit United – 6 p.m. (Borden Park – Rochester Hills, Mich.)
AAC Eagles at KC Athletics – 9:45 p.m. (CommunityAmerica Ballpark – following Chicago Fire / KC Wizards game)
*Semifinal winners will qualify for the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup