A trip across the country to face the USL Pro Wilmington Hammerheads turned out to be less of a challenge than many would have expected for Cal FC of the USASA as they shocked their hosts with a 4-0 result – their first loss in four games against amateur competition in the tournament.
The victory sends Cal FC back to the northwest for a Third Round meeting with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer after picking up a First Round win in Washington against the Kitsap Pumas.
The Barrera brothers delivered the initial dagger 25 minutes in on a corner kick. Diego delivered the dead ball into the center of the area for Danny, who scored two goals in the First Round. Artur Aghasyan, who also scored against Kitsap, added his second of the tournament 10 minutes later, beating an advancing Alex Horwath to the ball and knocking the ball into the open goal.
Increased possession by the hosts in the second half would not produce a rally, and the Barreras took advantage with their second combined effort as Danny notched his second two-goal performance of the tournament in the 57th minute.
Pedro Ferreira-Mendez capped the scoring in the 79th for Cal FC, and the Hammerheads, if they were not already seeing red from frustration, began seeing red cards with Bryce Taylor and Tom Parratt both being send off in the final eight minutes.
With the Timbers awaiting the amateur club in Round 3, Eric Wynalda, team manager and former US international, tweeted after the game: “win or lose we hope to get some of the best fans in the US a show. Portland here we come.”
Cal FC 4:0 Wilmington Hammerheads
Legion Stadium – Wilmington, NC
Scoring Summary:
CAL: Danny Barrera (Diego Barrera) 25
CAL: Artur Aghasyan (Unassisted) 35
CAL: Danny Barrera (Diego Barrera) 57
CAL: Pedro Ferreira-Mendez (Unassisted) 79
Discipline
WIL: Bryce Taylor – Red 82, Tom Parratt – Red 90
