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2022 US Open Cup Qualifying Results/Schedule Qualifying Schedule Sept. 18-19 Oct. 16-17 Nov. 20-21 Dec. 18-19 |
The November games for the Open Division Qualifying tournament for the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup are complete. When the dust settled on Sunday night, six teams had punched their tickets to the 2022 US Open Cup, including four first-time entries. There were 10 games on the schedule to complete the Third Round of qualifying with teams from the Southeast and West regions. Of the 10 teams that advanced from the Round 3 games, nine of them are teams that are looking to qualify for the US Open Cup for the first time in team history.
There are now five games left to play in the tournament’s fourth and final round that is scheduled to take place the weekend of Dec. 18-19. Those five winners will complete the Open Division Local field for the 107th edition of the US Open Cup, which kicks off in the Spring of 2022.
The matchups for the final round will be announced at a future date, however some of them are more geographically obvious.
Below is a summary of every game from the November games of the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2022 US Open Cup:
Saturday, November 20, 2021
Capistrano FC (USSSA/Southwest Premier Lg)
3:2
Outbreak FC (USSSA/Southwest Premier Lg)
Capistrano FC advanced to the final round of the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament on Saturday after a game-winning goal in the 85th minute by Gustavo Chavez, defeating fellow Southern California side Outbreak FC, 3-2.
Capistrano will now advance to the fourth and final round of the tournament and are one win away from the club’s first-ever US Open Cup berth.
At the beginning of the match, it seemed that Outbreak FC, a two-time Open Cup qualifier (2016, 2017) would come out on top after a header by Alexander Antonescu in the sixth minute put them on the board first.
However, that lead was short-lived when Capistrano FC received possession and Michael Petrovski evened the score just a minute later with a shot from inside the six-yard box.
In the duration of the first half, both teams were unsuccessful in gaining the lead. Possession was split between the teams and neither of them were successful with finishing any of the shots they had on goal. The intensity on the field began to build up as multiple fouls were called on both teams but it wasn’t until the 35th minute that Outbreak FC received its first yellow card, awarded to Antonescu. However, this gave no advantage to Capistrano FC and the half ended in a draw.
The second half was much like the first, however, this time both teams increased their physical level of play. Though Outbreak FC increased their defensive skills, it wasn’t enough because in the 49th minute Chavez was able to record his first goal of the match and put Capistrano FC back in the lead, 2-1.
Neither of the teams backed down as the game continued on. After both teams received more yellow cards, the match remained scoreless until the 73rd minute where Scott Larrabee from Outbreak FC was able to take a shot after a small scuffle in the goalie box allowed him to bring the score to 2-2.
With the score at a draw and less than 20 minutes remaining, both teams upped the ante in their shots and took any possible that was near the goal.
It was Capistrano FC that would be victorious in the 85th minute as Chavez was able to head into the back of the net, leaving the score 3-2 by the end of regulation.
Capistrano FC will now travel to Encino, Calif. to take on San Fernando Valley FC in the final round of qualifying (Dec. 18-19). (Recap by Kathryne Padilla – Twitter @PadillaK_)
Desert Communities SC Pathfinders (USASA/UPSL)
L:W (Forfeit)
San Fernando Valley FC (USASA/UPSL)
Desert Communities SC Pathfinders forfeited their match against San Fernando Valley FC due to a lack of player availability. According to DCSC, the club featured a number of teenage players who attend high school and there were scheduling conflicts that did not allow them to take part in the match. San Fernando Valley advance to the final round where they will seek the club’s first-ever US Open Cup berth. San Fernando Valley will now host Southwest Premier League side Capistrano FC in a “Win & You’re In” match the weekend of Dec. 18-19.
Miami Soccer Academy (USSSA/NSL)
1:3
Orlando FC Wolves (USSSA/NSL)
Playing their third straight home game of the 2022 US Open Cup qualifying tournament, the Orlando FC Wolves defeated the Miami Soccer Academy, 3-1.
In the 16th minute, the Wolves opened the scoring with a build up that found its way into the attacking third on the left wing. There, Tristan Rehrig sent in a low ball across the box and the ball found its way all the way through to the far post, where Joe O’Sullivan tapped it in. In the second half, player/coach Bradley Welch would double the lead off a free kick on the right side of the field in the 56th minute. Rehrig delivered the ball to Zak Woodward who put a shot on goal and the goalkeeper made the save but the rebound fell to Welch who gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead.
About seven minutes later, Orlando would pad the lead with a cross from the right wing that found James Winchester. He would bring the ball down to his left foot to create space from the Miami defender and curl a ball into the upper left corner of the goal.
Miami’s Jhohan Leyton would ruin the shutout in the 68th minute, a goal which would be the first allowed by Orlando in the qualifying tournament. Despite their 248-minute shutout streak ending, the Wolves defense would hold on for the 3-1 win and earn a spot in the fourth and final round of qualifying. The Wolves are now one win away from the club’s first US Open Cup berth and to achieve that, they will host the South Carolina United Heat in a “Win & You’re In” match the weekend of Dec. 18-19.
South Carolina United Heat (USASA/UPSL)
3:2 (AET)
Georgia Revolution FC Reserves (USASA/Atlanta District Amateur)
The South Carolina United Heat came from behind twice to defeat the Georgia Revolution Reserves 3-2 after extra time, on two extra time goals by Hunter Delvalle.
With the win, the Heat advance to the final round of qualifying where they will play on the road against Orlando FC Wolves with a spot in the 2022 US Open Cup on the line. The game is expected to be played the weekend of Dec. 18-19.
The game started with a short feeling out period followed by a lot of pressure from the Heat. Despite the back-and-forth, and several extended spells of SC Heat pressure, the game remained scoreless at the break.
The second half began with the Revolution on the front foot. The scoring began with the Revolution’s Bokie Yeaney being brought down in the penalty area. Jacob Sayer stepped up and slotted home the penalty in the 51st minute to take a 1-0 lead. Late in the game, a cross by Carlos De la Rosa missed Christian Duncan by inches in the 84th minute. The Heat would equalize a minute later on a goal by George Melo Perez on a long route-one ball off a free kick near midfield, setting up extra time.
The first five minutes of the first half of extra time was all South Carolina. Again, more back and forth for both teams as they searched for a winner. In the 104th minute, Christian Duncan scored for the Revs making the score 2 -1. In the very next minute, George Melo Perez nearly equalized, but for a great save by Cameron Verona to keep it 2-1.
The second half of extra time was the Hunter Delvalle show. After a deep run, beating a couple of Georgia players, Hunter was unable to get a shot off but he would shortly follow that up with a header to equalize in the 109th minute. This goal seemed to rock the Revolution onto their heels. Just seven minutes later, Delvalle would score another goal off of a header to give South Carolina a 3-2 lead. The Revs seemed completely stunned and were unable to mount a response.
Red Force FC (USSSA/NSL)
0:1
Florida Soccer Soldiers (USASA/UPSL)
In a battle between two South Florida clubs with experience in the US Open Cup, the Florida Soccer Soldiers edged Red Force FC 1-0 to advance to the final round of qualifying. The lone goal of the match came from the Soccer Soldiers’ Pascual Calderaro about 15 minutes into the game. Red Force FC, a four-time US Open Cup entry (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018), was unable to crack Florida’s defense that held up for the remaining 75 minutes of the match. Now, the Soccer Soldiers, who compete in the UPSL, are one win away from its first Open Cup berth since 2019. They will likely play either the South Carolina United Heat, City Soccer FC or Orlando FC Wolves in the final round (Dec. 18-19).
In 2019, the Soccer Soldiers made headlines when they won a pair of road games in the Open Cup, upsetting NPSL power Miami FC (a pro team playing in the largely amateur NPSL), and eliminating USL Championship side Charlotte Independence in penalty kicks before narrowly falling 1-0 on the road to North Carolina FC (USL Championship).
Contra Costa FC (USASA/NPSL)
2:1
El Farolito (USASA/NPSL)
A young Contra Costa FC side were victorious over the more experienced El Farolito in a third-round US Open Cup qualifier game at James P. Lang Field in San Francisco.
El Farolito faced a serious deficit in emergency goalkeeper Brayan Villalobos (normally a defender) between the posts, because first-string goalkeeper Jonathan Barona was unavailable and their regular backup was unable to play due to a hand injury.
Addison Escobar opened the scoring just before half time for Contra Costa. El Farolito equalized when Irving Garcia headed home a corner kick in the 50th minute. Roberto Gonzalez gave Contra Costa the lead in the 64th minute after Villalobos mishandled his shot at the near post and El Farolito’s Dembor Benson equalized again with a header in the 71st minute. Contra Costa’s Escobar then finished the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time. (Recap from SoccerBayArea.com)
Brockton FC United (USASA/Bay State Soccer Lg)
5:0
Philadelphia Lone Star FC (USASA/UPSL)
Brockton FC United qualified for the US Open Cup for the first time behind a 5-0 win over Philadelphia Lone Star on the road. Brockton went up on a pair of goals nine minutes apart in the first half through the combination of Nilton de Andrade and Walter Varela, who assisted on each other’s goals to put the visitors up 2-0 at halftime.
Brockton goalkeeper Benvido Barros made key saves early to deny the hosts an opener and had a sequence with two saves late to prevent Lone Star’s efforts to get back into the game and secure the clean sheet.
Geo Alves made it 3-0 Brockton with a strike in the 74th minute and after Anthony Allison was sent off in the 81st minute, Brockton was able to tack on two more goals from Rilton Carvalho and Ruben Almeida. (FULL RECAP by Matt Ralph of BrotherlyGame.com)
FC Maritsa (USASA/Metro East Football Assoc)
0:1
Lynchburg FC (USASA/UPSL)
Lynchburg FC prevailed over FC Maritsa in a back and forth affair that ultimately ended 1-0 thanks to a strong finish from Tudor Barna in the 47th minute. With the win, the Virginia-based club punched their ticket to the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in the club’s first entry into the qualifying tournament. (FULL RECAP by George Diamond)
D’Feeters Kicks SC (USCS/The Roja League)
2:1
Southwest FC (USASA/UPSL)
The Dallas-based D’Feeters Kicks SC earned their first trip to the US Open Cup with a 2-1 road win over Southwest FC in El Paso. The game-winning goal came in the 85th minute when Sebastian Mendez stuttered-stepped his way to a penalty kick goal (VIDEO BELOW). (FULL RECAP from Dan Vaughn)
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Metro FC (USASA/San Francisco Soccer Football Lg)
1:0
BattleBorn FC (USASA/UPSL)
Metro FC made one of the longest journeys of the opening round, traveling from San Francisco to Minden, Nev., near Carson City. The trip ended up being worth it as the members of the historic San Francisco Soccer Football League came away with a 1-0 win over UPSL side BattleBorn FC.
After the two teams played an even first half, BattleBorn took control early in the second half. However, against the run of play, it was Metro FC that scored what would prove to be the lone goal of the match. In the 64th minute, Christian Garcia fired a shot that took a deflection in front of goal and ended up in the corner of the net.
With the win, Metro FC advance to the fourth and final round where they will take on NPSL side Contra Costa FC in a Win & You’re In match the weekend of Dec. 18-19.
Harpos FC (USASA/Colorado Super League)
3:4 (AET)
Azteca FC (USASA/Colorado Super League)
For the third time since 2017, Colorado powers Azteca FC and Harpos FC squared off in a tightly-contested “Win & You’re In” match with a spot in the US Open Cup on the line. And for the third time, Azteca FC prevailed by a single goal, beating their Colorado Super League rival 4-3 in extra time.
Harpos would jump out to an early 2-0 lead, but Azteca would score three straight goals to take the lead in the second half. Austin Bell scored an 80th minute equalizer for Harpos as the game would have to be decided in extra time.
Cesar Meza would be the hero for Azteca, scoring the game-winner in the 100th minute to clinch a third US Open Cup berth for the club. (FULL RECAP by Jim Coppock)
Oyster Bay United FC (USASA/UPSL)
4:1
Westchester United FC (USASA/UPSL)
Oyster Bay United earned a 4-1 road win over Westchester United FC to earn the club its first trip to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. OBU jumped out to an early first half lead with goals from Luis Altuve in the 29th minute, followed by another from Davidson Marseille 10 minutes later. However, the hosts did not give up, after scoring a goal to cut the lead in half just before halftime. However, Marseille would add his second goal of the game less than a minute into the second half to give them a commanding 3-1 lead. Oyster Bay would put the game away late when Sebastian Ruiz was fouled in the penalty area, leading to a PK goal from Mathews Carriel in the 85th minute. (FULL RECAP by Michael Battista)
Inter San Francisco (USASA/San Francisco Soccer Football League)
1:3
Sporting ID11 (USASA/UPSL)
Sporting ID11 was victorious over Inter San Francisco, 3-1, and advanced to the final round of the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2022 US Open Cup.
Six minutes after the Sunday kickoff, Sporting ID11 Etoikai Atiabet had a straight shot from inside the goalie box to raise the score to 1-0. This gave the team momentum and in the 15th minute, Jose Montes De Ocas finished an assist from Atiabet to bring their lead 2-0.
Sporting ID11 kept possession for most of the first half and attempted more shots on goal than Inter San Francisco. While Inter San Francisco came close in the few shots they attempted, none were able to be completed to bring the score up.
Inter San Francisco began to play with more intensity in order to increase their possession of the ball, unfortunately for Luke Pritchard Cairns this resulted in a yellow card. Shortly after the half ended, the score remained at 2-0 in favor of Sporting ID11.
As the second half began, Inter San Francisco’s Tanner Papenfuss found himself in front of the goal and took a shot that was blocked. However, goalkeeper Ian Hernandez of Sporting ID11 had a slip mid-block and the ball fell from his hands and rolled under him giving Inter San Francisco a goal in the 46th minute.
With the score now 2-1 early into the half, Inter San Francisco was more eager to even the score and remain in the competition.
Multiple fouls were now being called on the pitch and in the 63rd minute, Sporting ID11’s Mohammed Malick Sackowas was given his first yellow for a foul a few feet outside of the goalkeeper’s six-yard box. Inter San Francisco had no advantage to even the score in this play as their free-kick was blocked.
A final yellow card was given to Inter San Francisco’s Jack Callan in the 72nd minute, but minor fouls continued for the rest of the half.
Both teams had multiple players who were given warnings by the center referee for their conduct during the match which ultimately led to these yellow cards being drawn.
In the last 10 minutes of the match, Sporting ID11’s Andre Morris raised the score to 3-1 when his shot from inside the goalie box hit the back of the net.
Inter San Francisco attempted to even the score with just a few minutes left on the clock but in the end, were not successful.
Sporting ID11 will travel to San Marcos, Calif. to take on fellow UPSL side Escondido FC in a Win & You’re In match the weekend of Dec. 18-19. Whoever the winner is, it will be the club’s first-ever US Open Cup berth. (Recap by Kathryne Padilla – Twitter @PadillaK_)
City Soccer FC (USSSA/NSL)
7:2
International Soccer Association (USASA/UPSL)
City Soccer FC dominated at South Regional Park as they defeated International Soccer Association 7-2 to advance to the final round of qualifying. Auner Escobar scored the first goal early in the first half, followed by back-to-back goals from Ricardo Tapia to give City Soccer FC a 3-0 lead. ISA did get one back, but in the 41st minute, Kevin Velasquez scored, and City Soccer FC had a 4-1 lead over ISA at halftime.
In the second half, ISA scored in the 54th minute with a goal from Romi Ambroise to cut the deficit to two. However, it was all City Soccer FC with a goal from Jesus Escobar in the 58th minute to go up 5-2. Jeffery Michaud scored his goal by converting his penalty kick from the spot to give City Soccer FC a 6-2 lead in the 62nd minute. Kilder Lopez would add the final blow in the 88th minute to seal the win for City Soccer FC, who are now one win away from clinching a spot in the US Open Cup for the first time. They will likely take on either the Florida Soccer Soldiers, Orlando FC Wolves or South Carolina United Heat in a “Win & You’re In” match the weekend of Dec. 18-19.
Districtonia Futbol (ANFEEU/Woodbridge Soccer Lg)
0:5
Northern Virginia FC (USASA/Eastern Premier Soccer Lg)
Northern Virginia FC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead at home, but that two-goal lead looked like it was in jeopardy when two players were sent off before halftime. Despite playing with nine men, NOVA FC scored three more goals to clinch their first US Open Cup berth since 2000, when they were the Northern Virginia Royals of the United Soccer League’s D-3 Pro League. (FULL RECAP by Sean Maslin)
Chula Vista FC (USSSA/Southwest Premier Lg)
2:3 (AET)
Escondido FC (USASA/UPSL)
The final match of November’s third qualifying round for the 2022 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup saw home side Escondido FC defeat Chula Vista FC 3-2 following extra time.
Chula Vista took control of the game in the first half, with Jorge Navarro Jr. opening the score through a cheeky chip in the 31st minute. For the closing minutes of the half, Chula Vista found multiple opportunities to double their lead, which eventually came from the penalty spot as Navarro Jr. converted into the bottom-left corner just before halftime.
Seemingly gaining control of the match in the second half, Escondido FC’s Juan Velazquez got his team back in it with roughly 20 minutes left in regulation. With the match intensifying, Jose Velazquez Jr. provided an equalizer for the home team in the 84th minute, sending both teams into extra time.
Following an array of yellows given throughout the entirety of the match, Chula Vista’s Angel Gonzalez was shown a straight red from the referee to close out the first period of extra time, leaving the away side with ten men.
With just two minutes left in extra time, Josue Hernandez completed the comeback for his team off a curling shot into the sidenet, leaving Chula Vista’s keeper with no chance.
Despite what many believed to be a game that was surely over, Chula Vista missed a clear chance in the final minute of play following several shouts for a penalty after one of their players was tripped up in the box. In an attempt to waste time, Escondido’s Erik Papke was also shown his second yellow of the match, sending him off.
After an eternal amount of stoppage time, the referee blew his whistle, leaving the scoresheet 3-2 in favor of Escondido FC.
For Chula Vista FC, this meant the end of their campaign for the USOC. For Escondido FC, however, the victory secured them a spot in the final round of USOC qualifying, where they will face Sporting ID11. (Recap by Mathias Medel)