Claudio Repetto of Miami FC scored a pair of goals in a two minute span late in the game to give the home team a 3-1 win over the Jacksonville Armada Under-23s (NPSL). With the Second Round win in the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, it marked the third year in a row that Miami FC won their opening game of the tournament.
Miami FC started off probing down both flanks with overlapping runs by the full backs, Curtis Thorn and Aedan Stanley. A couple of early corners came to nothing, though Florian Valot came close, flicking a near post header across the face of goal.
The Armada stood firm in defense for the opening part of the game. It was difficult for the visitors to retain possession and get out of their half. A mix that led to chances being at a premium. Miami FC had some opportunities with a couple of quick fire half chances from set pieces.
The match then exploded into life when the Armada’s Charles Eloundou raced on to a ball floated over the top and finished well in the 28th minute.
The lead didn’t last long though.
Five minutes later, Miami FC pulled level when Thorn sent over a teasing corner that Ryan Telfer hammered home.
Things went from bad to worse for Armada when midfielder Luto Tom picked up a couple of bookings at the end of the first 45. The score was tied at 1-1, but Jacksonville went into the halftime break down a man.
Miami would have the man advantage at the start of the second. The physical first half came back to bite Miami FC as well. Defender Curtis Thorn receiving his second yellow card of the night a few minutes after the restart for a professional foul. Five minutes into the second half, both teams were playing with 10 men.
The teams traded possession and Jacksonville had a chance on the break with the live wire Eloundou just after the hour mark.
Miami couldn’t capitalize on a goalmouth scramble after good work from substitute Ben Mines.
In the 82nd minute, Miami would prevail when substitute Repetto bundled in from close range after a teasing cross from man-of-the-match Aedan Stanley to give the home side the lead with less than ten minutes left.
Two minutes later, Repetto put matters beyond doubt with a well taken penalty to make it 3-1. For Repetto, it was the second tournament in a row where he played hero. Last year, he came off the bench for Phoenix Rising FC and scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Valley United FC (NISA).
In the end, it was a 3-1 victory for the USL Championship side after a lively game in South Florida.
With the win, Miami advances to Round 3 where they will take on a team that is still to be determined. The draw for the Third Round will take place later this week.
