In a hard fought battle, the Sonoma County Sol defeated the Burlingame Dragons FC 2-1 in the First Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Wednesday night. Angel Acevedo netted the game winner in extra time to push the home team onto a second round match-up next week against Sacramento Republic FC.
Both teams had chances throughout the match. While the Sol maintained a possession advantage during the first half, the Dragons looked dangerous on the counterattack with their speedy forwards Gabriel Silviero and Fredy Razo seeing a number of shots on goal.
The game appeared to be heading to extra time scoreless when substitute Alfonso Verde received a deep cross and put his header on frame past goalkeeper Arturo Ornelas to take the lead for the visitors in the 77th minute. A flurry of attacks by the Sol finally pierced the Burlingame defenses just before full time as midfielder Alfonso Salazar grabbed a pass from Taylor Varnadore and pushed a half volley beyond the hands of Dragons goalkeeper Josh Cohen. Cohen had been stellar all night up until letting in the vital goal.
Acevedo put the Sol up 2-1 with a mazy dribble through the center of the Burlingame defense in the 97th minute.
“Honestly, I just got the ball and had a bad first touch.”, Acevedo said about his game winner. “Once I got it back under control I just hit it with everything I had.”
Burlingame spent the rest of extra time vying for an equalizing goal, aided by an injury to Brenton Frame in the 100th minute. The substitute went down along the touchline with a twisted ankle and the Sol played the last 20 minutes with 10 men. The Dragons had a number of shots that came close including a strong ball by Armando Garcia that bounced solidly off the woodwork, but the Sol held on to pick up their first tournament win since 2009.