• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • US Open Cup Central
  • US Open Cup Qualifying
  • US Open Cup History

Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

  • 2022 Schedule/Results
  • 2023 Qualifying Schedule
  • 2022 Stats
  • Support TheCup.us
  • TheCup.us Store
  • Awards
  • Contact Us

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Nacho’s heroics leads Miami United past Boca Raton in Florida battle

May 15, 2017 by Neil Blackmon

miami-united-fc-logoLongtime NPSL star Nacho scored in the 88th minute, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and helping host Miami United defeat Boca Raton FC 2-1 in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round action last night at Milander Stadium. Miami United will host the North American Soccer League’s Jacksonville Armada next Tuesday evening in the Round 3.

Throughout most of the second half, it appeared that the visitors from Boca Raton would score the winner, as they created multiple chances through forward Gio DiMauro and marauding fullbacks Nickardo Blake and Jason Fitzgerald as the hosts played deep and tried to withstand the pressure. But in the 88th minute, Miami United forced a turnover and launched a brilliant counterattack down the left, with a cross splitting two defenders and finding Nacho, who calmly dispatched the ball into the left corner of the net.

“It was a close contest, a great game,” Nacho said after the game, with a large group of Miami United fans just yards away chanting his name in sing-song fashion. “We were able to win the ball and win a one on one wide, and I hit the shot well. It’s a great feeling to help win this game for my teammates and the fans.”

Early in the game, it appeared Miami United would control proceedings. Mattias Menza scored on a rocket of a volley in the 7th minute to put the hosts ahead, and Boca Raton struggled to deal with Miami’s pressure in the midfield zones. The visitors slowly settled themselves, however, largely due to the effective runs of fullback Nickardo Blake, and nearly leveled the game at just past the half hour, when a long Blake run found forward Gio DiMauro who forced Miami United goalkeeper Carlos Alfaro to make a strong save.

The visitors kept coming, however, and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 57th minute. Boca’s Shadi Harb was fouled on the right of the area, and the ensuing free kick found a charging Stefano Bontempo, who buried a close-range chance for the tie.

Eleven minutes later, Boca Raton appeared to win a penalty on a handball after a lengthy sequence of possession led to a shot from distance, which was deflected twice off Miami United hands. There was no call, however, setting the stage for Nacho’s late game heroics.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2017 US Open Cup, Boca Raton FC, Miami United

Primary Sidebar

Featured Video

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

U.S. Open Cup History

Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders FC is shown a red card during a 2015 US Open Cup match against the Portland Timbers.

A history of violence against referees in US Open Cup

Unfortunately, in the long history of the US Open Cup, this was not the first time that there have been more then a few incidents where games were halted due to referee abuse.

  • How St. Petersburg Kickers became Florida’s first US Open Cup champion
  • San Francisco Bay Seals, the ‘amateur’ pro team that reached 1997 US Open Cup Semifinals
  • Vasco De Gama’s journey from Connecticut to 1978 US Open Cup Final as Pele’s opening act at Giants Stadium
  • 1938-1939 National Challenge Cup: The first time the US Open Cup was invite-only
  • American soccer’s greatest modern underdog story: Rochester Raging Rhinos win 1999 US Open Cup

Analytics powered by

Copyright © 2023 • Built by Jacob Martella Web Development