The 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying tournament is done for the year as Round 2 of the open division competition wrapped up this past weekend (Nov. 21-22).
With six teams already punching their ticket to the final round of the tournament the week before, there were eight games on the schedule with the winners advancing to Round 3, which is scheduled for early April 2016.
Two teams that took part in the 2015 US Open Cup survived Round 2, with San Francisco City FC winning a thriller over the Davis Legacy and Harpo’s FC getting past the Colorado Rush. The remaining six winners this weekend are all seeking their first-ever berth in the US Open Cup.
Eight of the 14 remaining teams will qualify for the 2016 US Open Cup. Twelve of the 14 teams “in closest proximity to each other,” according to the US Soccer Federation, will play “Win & You’re In” matches the weekend of April 2-3. The two remaining clubs will be awarded spots in the 103rd edition of the tournament. Harpo’s and San Francisco are the closest teams to each other and there are roughly 1,200 miles between the two cities, so they would certainly be considered favorites to receive third round byes.
The draw for the final round will take place on Jan. 7, 2016.
Here is a brief summary of each game with links to match reports (updated results and schedule below):
CD Motagua of New Orleans (LA) 5:2 Queen City United FC (NC) – MATCH REPORT
CD Motagua of New Orleans took another step toward being the first amateur team from Louisiana to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Era after defeating a well-traveled Queen City United side 5-2 on Saturday. The match was tied 2-2 in the second half before CD Motagua scored three straight goals to move on to Round 3. Coming out of the Louisiana Premier League, CD Motagua would be the first amateur team from the state since the Modern Era began in 1995. FULL MATCH REPORT (with video)
Chula Vista FC (SOUTH CA) 0:4 La Maquina (SOUTH CA) – MATCH REPORT
Despite missing four starteres, La Maquina put in a machine-line performance in a 4-0 win over Chula Vista FC to earn a berth in the final round of the open division qualifying tournament. Edgar Orozco dished out three assists, including two of them to former Chivas de Guadalajara player Edwin Borboa. FULL MATCH REPORT (with video)
Los Angeles Wolves (SOUTH CA) 2:1 Cal FC (SOUTH CA)
After Chula Vista fell earlier in the day, another Southern California team who is known nationally for upsetting professional teams was eliminated as the LA Wolves edged Cal FC 2-1. The Wolves got a pair of first half goals from Sam Higgins and after Cal FC pulled one back with 15 minutes left, LA held on for the win. FULL MATCH REPORT
Uruguay Kendall (FL) 1:1 (4:5 PKs) Boca Raton FC (FL) – MATCH REPORT
Boca Raton FC’s Colby Burnette scored in the 70th minute to level the match at 1-1 and after a scoreless 30 minutes of extra time, they needed penalty kicks to decide which team would represent the Sunshine State in the final round of the tournament. Boca Raton would survive the shootout after Uruguay missed their fourth attempt and BR scored on all of theirs. FULL MATCH REPORT (with video)
Harpo’s FC (CO) 3:1 Colorado Rush (CO)
Harpo’s FC, who won a pair of games in last year’s US Open Cup, took another step toward returning to the tournament with a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rush. Last year’s TheCup.us Player of the Round from the Preliminary Round, Kyle Luetkehans, scored the opener, followed by Dan Campbell before halftime and Sawyer Frank adding the insurance goal in the 81st minute. FULL MATCH REPORT
San Francisco City FC (NORTH CA) 4:3 Davis Legacy (NORTH CA)
The most exciting game of the 2016 qualifying tournament most likely belongs to San Francisco City’s comeback win over the Davis Legacy. City trailed three times before Johannes Demarzi scored the game-winner in the 86th minute. It was a frantic final 11 minutes as Davis took a 3-2 lead in the 79th minute, only to see City equalize two minutes later and then take the lead for good. The fan-owned San Francisco City, who are the last remaining US Club Soccer team in the competition, are aiming to make their second straight Open Cup appearance after their debut last year was cut short by Cal FC in the Preliminary Round. FULL MATCH REPORT
Real Sociedad (SOUTH CA) 0:3 San Nicolas (SOUTH CA)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) power San Nicolas shutout So Cal Premier League’s Real Sociedad 3-0 to punch their ticket to the final round. San Nicolas, who is still alive in the UPSL playoffs will likely face off with either the LA Wolves, La Maquina or Outbreak FC in a “Win & You’re In” match in early April. FULL MATCH REPORT
San Pedro Monsters (SOUTH CA) 3:4 (AET) Outbreak FC (SOUTH CA)
Outbreak FC from the SoCal Premier League needed extra time to eliminate the San Pedro Monsters, 4-3. Outbreak led 2-0 with goals from Cal State Fullerton players Jameson Campbell and Oscar Aguero, but the Monsters equalized after a 75th minute penalty kick and a goal in the 90th minute. Torey Edwards and Jason Boyce scored in the 113th and 115th minutes to help them overcome a late goal by San Pedro. FULL MATCH REPORT
2016 US OPEN CUP QUALIFYING RESULTS/SCHEDULE
(click on games for match report)
OCT. 17, 2015
Southie FC (MA) 1:0 Battery Park Gunners (MA)
Salone FC (EAST PA) 1:0 Vereinigung Erzgebirge (EAST PA)
Aromas Café FC (DC/VA) 3:1 Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (WEST PA)
Junior Lone Star FC (EAST PA) 1:2 (AET) West Chester United (EAST PA)
Jersey Shore Boca (NJ) 2:1 South Jersey Elite Barons (NJ)
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (EAST NY) 3:0 Newtown Pride FC (CT)
OCT. 18, 2015
Global Premier Soccer Omens (MA) 5:0 Boston Olympiakos FC (MA)
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (MD) 2:1 (AET) Maryland Bays (MD)
NY Greek American SC (EAST NY) 2:4 (AET) NY Pancyprian Freedoms (EAST NY)
Worcester FC (MA) 2:1 Newport FC (RI)
OCT. 24, 2015
NTX Rayados (NORTH TX) vs. Austin Real Cuauhtemoc (SOUTH TX) – PPD (rain)
Match rescheduled for Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. at McMasters Athletic Complex (Georgetown, TX)
Harpo’s FC (CO) 4:1 (AET) Colorado Rovers (CO)
San Nicolas (SOUTH CA) W:L Corinthians USA (SOUTH CA)
(Corinthians forfeited – not enough registered players)
La Maquina(SOUTH CA) 3:2 Strikers FC South Coast (SOUTH CA)
San Pedro Monsters (SOUTH CA) 9:0 Footballers Academy (SOUTH CA)
LA Wolves (SOUTH CA) 2:1 (AET) Del Rey City SC (SOUTH CA)
OCT. 25, 2015
Boca Raton FC (FL) 2:1 (AET) Real Miami Club of Football (FL)
Colorado Rush (CO) 5:2 FC Boulder (CO)
San Francisco City FC (NORTH CA) 2:0 El Farolito (NORTH CA)
Outbreak FC (SOUTH CA) 5:1 Buena Park FC (SOUTH CA)
Queen City United FC (NC) 4:1 Charlotte Sporting Soccer Academy FC (NC)
Real Sociedad (SOUTH CA) 2:2 (4:1 PKs) Ozzy’s Laguna FC (SOUTH CA)
Uruguay Kendall (FL) 3:0 Red Force (FL)
Davis Legacy (NORTH CA) 1:0 IFX Ballistic (NORTH CA)
Cal FC (SOUTH CA) 4:0 Valley United (SOUTH CA)
Chula Vista FC (SOUTH CA) 5:2 Temecula FC (SOUTH CA)
NOV. 1, 2015
NTX Rayados (NORTH TX) 4:2 Austin Real Cuauhtemoc (SOUTH TX)
International Portland Select (OR) W:L KC Athletics (KS)
KC Athletics withdrew (travel); IPS advances to Round 2
CD Motagua (LA) W:L Tobacco Road FC (NC)
Tobacco Road FC withdrew (travel); CD Motagua advances to Round 2
QUALIFYING: SECOND ROUND (All Times Eastern)
International Portland Select (OR) at NTX Rayados (NTX)
IPS withdrew (travel); NTX Rayados advances to Round 3
NOV. 14, 2015
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY) 2:1 Jersey Shore Boca (NJ)
Lansdowne Bhoys (ENY) 5:0 Worcester FC (MA)
NOV. 15, 2015
Aromas Café FC (DC/VA) 3:1 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (MD)
Southie FC (MA) 4:0 GPS Omens (MA)
West Chester United (EAST PA) 3:0 Salone FC (EAST PA)
NOV. 21, 2015
Queen City United (NC) 2:5 CD Motagua of New Orleans (LA)
La Maquina (SCA) 4:0 Chula Vista FC (SCA)
Cal FC (SCA) 1:2 LA Wolves FC (SCA)
NOV. 22, 2015
Boca Raton FC (FL) 1:1 (5:4 PKs) Uruguay Kendall (FL)
Colorado Rush (CO) 1:3 Harpo’s FC (CO)
Davis Legacy (NCA) 3:4 San Francisco City FC (NCA)
San Nicolas (SCA) 3:0 Real Sociedad (SCA)
Outbreak FC 4:3 (AET) San Pedro Monsters FC
QUALIFYING: FINAL ROUND
April 1-2, 2016*
Draw will take place Jan. 7, 2016
Teams: Aromas Cafe FC (DC/VA), Boca Raton FC (FL), CD Motagua of New Orleans (LA), Harpo’s FC (CO), La Maquina (South CA), Lansdowne Bhoys FC (East NY), LA Wolves FC (South CA), NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY), North Texas Rayados (North TX), Outbreak FC (South CA), San Francisco City FC (North CA), San Nicolas (South CA), Southie FC (MA), West Chester United SC (East PA).
US OPEN CUP FIRST ROUND
May 11, 2016*
*Dates subject to change