The Des Moines Menace advanced to the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Wednesday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn. defeating host Beaman United FC with a 3-0 win.
Despite being in total control of an even, balanced match, the win for the Menace came down to Beaman’s defensive mistakes and a lack of finishing in the final third from the home side. Scoring two goals off of counterattacks and one from the penalty spot. With the win, Des Moines advanced in their opening game for the third year in a row. It is also the 14th tournament win as a member of USL League Two (15th overall), the second-most of any amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present).
In the 15th minute, Beaman built well with former pro Kwadwo Poku picking up the ball at midfield and dribbling through a couple of Des Moines players. Just before the eighteen, he released it to Michael Jones Jr. on the left flank who crossed in first time looking for Kwadwo’s brother Seth Poku, who was unable to finalize on a slide tackle.
In the 18th minute, Des Moines came close to Beaman’s goal with a free kick 30-yards out, but hit it slightly wide of the left post.
Minutes later, the Menace exploited Beaman’s Achilles heel – defending counterattacks.
Following a great combination between three Des Moines player and sloppy defending from the Lions, Menace No. 10 Christopher Bermudez set up forward Gabriel Rodriguez with a back-heel pass through the legs of a Beaman defender. From there, Rodriguez found himself 1-v-1 with Beaman goalkeeper Alex Rodriguez, slotting the ball into the far, bottom corner to find the lead for the visitors. It marked the second tournament in a row that Rodriguez notched a goal for the Menace. Last year, he scored the opening goal in Des Moines’ 2-1 Second Round loss to Union Omaha (USL-1).
In the 41st minute, the Seth Poku-Jones duo created another important chance for Beaman, looking for the equalizer. Poku, with his creativity found Jones through Des Moines’ defense with a chipped ball, but the winger couldn’t keep it low enough, sending it slightly over the top left part of the crossbar on a left-footed volley attempt in the box.
As the second half started, Beaman maxed its rpm to try to find a goal.
MORE >> Beaman: United together (feature story)
A great solo run and attempt by Adubiore in the 56th minute required the Menace goalkeeper to tip the ball into a corner kick.
About 60 seconds later, Des Moines quickly recovered the ball from the corner kick and won a throw-in close to Beaman’s box. The Menace played it quickly finding the forward inside the box, who was slide tackled incautiously from behind by a Beaman defender.
The ref blew the whistle, pointing to the penalty spot. Gabriel Rodriguez converted for Des Moines making it 2-0.
This time Alex Rodriguez for Beaman was unable to replicate his previous Open Cup, saving penalties glory to keep his side afloat.
With 30 minutes left and the game uphill for the Lions, Jones kept Beaman alive flying up and down the right flank and providing great service in the box.
Beaman, however, still couldn’t finish and in the last play of the game, off of another counterattack, Des Moines found the third goal of the night, ending Beaman’s first-ever Open Cup run.
In previous Open Cup qualifier matchups, the Lions had accustomed fans and spectators to breathtaking comebacks and a myriad of goals, while still lacking something defensively.
Against the Menace, Beaman also lacked finishing in the final third and a little bit of luck, costing them a spot in Round 2.
“This is football,” said Beaman coach Gift Ndam, after the game. “We will come back stronger.”
With a whole new spring UPSL season to play, the Lions have the perfect chance to test, work and continue to build ahead of the fall Open Cup qualifying rounds.
Des Moines coach Dean Johnson highlighted the challenge in preparing a match against a debutant, newcomer team like Beaman.
“Yeah, it was difficult because we didn’t have too much information on them, so we were kind of going in blind,” Johnson said. “It’s very hard to prep for that. We kind of focused on what we could do rather than the other team and I think it worked out pretty well for us today.”
The Menace will continue its journey taking on Chattanooga FC on April 5 in Round 2 of the tournament.
“We plan on going as far as we can and then we got a tough game in the next round, but we’re at home in front of our great fans and that’d be a really, really good one and we fully expect to win,” said Johnson.
Des Moines’ scorer Gabriel Rodriguez is hungry for more.
“Obviously, we want to play against an MLS team, so we’re going for it,” he said. “Plans for me, I just want to keep winning. I just want to help the team with goals.”
