“AR (Smith Jr) is the heartbeat of this team.” – Chicago House AC coach Matt Poland
Some 638 players stepped on the field in the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and by the time Midwest Premier League’s (MWPL) Chicago House kicked off against USL League One side Forward Madison on April 11, 616 had already played. It would take something incredibly special on that beautiful early Spring night at Madison, Wisconsin’s Breese Stevens Field to earn the title of TheCup.us Player of the Round. But Chicago House’s Anthony Ray Smith Jr., or “AR Smith” as he is commonly known, is an exceptional person.
The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) of TheCup.us’ Patreon team. Smith ran away with the award, earning 56% of first-place votes. Darwin Espinal (Maryland Bobcats FC), finished a distant second, with Elvis Amoh (Hartford Athletic) and Russell Cicerrone (Sacramento Republic FC) finished tied for third place.
Chicago House AC started as a third-division National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) professional team in the summer of 2021. AR Smith was on the roster for that first season. A local Chicago player, Smith didn’t play a central role on the field in that first season, but his commitment and leadership qualities were clear to all who worked with the team. As House moved from NISA to amateur status in the MWPL, and many House players moved on to other opportunities, Smith, along with Joliet native Daman Almazon, stuck around and Chicago House has thrived because of their involvement.
House’s amateur status meant that entrance into the US Open Cup proper required them to earn a spot via the Open Division Local qualifying tournament. House’s journey took them from their home in Chicago, where they won a penalty shootout after scoring a stoppage time equalizer vs. 1927 SC (Fort Wayne, Ind.), before moving on to beat the UPSL’s Metro Louisville 2-1. Then, they qualified for the tournament for the first time with an 8-7 shootout marathon against Brockton FC in Randolph, Mass. after a 1-1 draw. House’s First Round proper was a home match against fellow MWPL amateurs Bavarian United of Milwaukee, where they held on for a 1-0 win. As captain, Smith was an emotional leader on the field and behind the scenes.
The House’s win over the Bavarians set up a Second Round showdown with professional side Forward Madison (USL League One), and for the first 74 minutes, the Wisconsin pros had their way. They controlled the ball, created numerous opportunities, finished two clear chances and, to the Madison faithful, it looked as if House were satisfied with their Cup qualification achievement. However, as many soccer fans know, a 2-0 lead can be very deceptive, and when there are players on the field with the quality of House’s FA Cup alum Adam Mann and a natural leader like Smith, no lead is ever completely safe.
“Being one of the older guys and most experienced, I just tried to keep calm in the locker room at half time,” said Smith, who played his college ball at Butler University. “I was telling players to enjoy the moment win or lose. I explained to them that it’s a 90 minute game no matter what and we have to stick to our standards and our game plan for 90 minutes. The team that does that, increases their chances of winning. I’ve seen it happen over and over again and when I was a young guy playing at the highest levels, that’s how the older players and captains helped keep me calm in the big games.”
Mann took a feed from Ricardo Avalos, who had taken advantage of a Madison mistake at the back and gave House a glimmer of hope in the 75th minute with a sharp finish. The game, though, continued to favor Madison. As the clock passed 90 minutes, it looked as if the Flock (Madison’s supporters) would go home satisfied. In stoppage time, however, was when Smith, who had been working tirelessly, stepped up. Smith’s pressure at the top of the box forced another Madison miscue. 16 yards from goal, with the ball at his feet, Smith showed the cool confidence of a seasoned veteran as his one-time right-footed half-volley hit the back of the net to tie the game.
House hung on for the final minutes of regular time, and given their previous success in penalty kick shootouts, it seemed House might be content to get through extra time tied and settle things the PK route again. Smith, though, had other ideas. Rallying his team, House did not sit back but pressed Madison in the first extra time period. In the 103rd minute, House forward Nico Williams made a driving run down the left side to the endline, stuck with it when pressured by Madison defenders, and put in a cross that Madison keeper Bernd Schipmann pushed to the top of the box directly into the path of Chicago’s Alejandro Mentasi. Mentasi’s shot looked to be going well wide of goal, but there, at the exact right place and time, was Smith. He settled Mentasi’s drive with his left foot, stepped away from goal toward the corner of the six-yard box, and slotted home with his left to put House up 3-2 with 17 minutes of extra time remaining.
“After the second goal, I was happy but didn’t really get a chance to embrace it because I knew we still had another half to play,” said Smith. “If I’m being honest, I still haven’t ‘celebrated’ that accomplishment. It’s a tournament and my two goals allowed us to win one game in the tournament and I thank the heavenly father Yahweh for allowing me to score, but we still got work to do.”
It was during these final minutes that the intangibles which define a leader showed through as Smith, who has played every minute of every House match in this Open Cup run, pushed his teammates toward victory. He marked Madison’s most dangerous players on late set pieces, provided directions to House’s younger players, and despite clear exhaustion after more than 100 minutes of tense play, provided calm in the middle of the field until the final whistle blew for the unlikely Cupset. The victory was even more special because it earned the amateur side a date with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire FC in Round 3.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than an Open Cup championship. A championship in this tournament, shows that you’re the best team in all of America,” said Smith. “It also shows the progress in development of the soccer world across the country because more and more amateur teams make statements each year. For me personally, it’s just another game. I’ve played at really high levels in my career and proven to myself a long time ago that I can play and compete at those levels. I play with the House by choice. The way I’ll prepare for this game is the same way I’d prepare for a Sunday league game. There’s no added pressure, I’m going to go out there and play my best and have fun while doing it.”
The next round will be a little extra special for Smith as he grew up in the Fire organization and was born and raised in Chicago.
“I know a lot of those players and the coaching staff. We still play small sided pick up in off season and things like that so it’ll be fun for sure,” said Smith, who spent time playing professionally in Sweden, Spain, and Mexico before signing with Chicago. “As far as the team is concerned, I think it’s a huge opportunity for the organization as well as younger players who haven’t necessarily had the chance yet to play at a level like this. It’s hard to talk about it at practice and tell players that may think they are ‘good enough’ that there’s a whole another level of precision, mentality, and athleticism at the next level. Chicago House shouldn’t be the end goal for the younger guys on the team and this game will show who’s ready and who’s not. We aren’t scared, we are more so excited for the opportunity. The match starts 0-0 and we play for 90 minutes minimum. We are going to give it all we got win or lose and represent the crest in the most positive way possible.”
With the win, Chicago House became just the second amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present) to come back from two goals down to beat a professional team.
“I am extremely happy for AR for being recognized for all he has done,” said Chicago House AC head coach Matt Poland. “He would tell you it is the team’s doing and wouldn’t take any of the credit for himself, but what he has done as a leader of this team is remarkable. The standards he holds of professionalism and obviously his individual play has been a joy to watch throughout the tournament. He deserves to be recognized for what he does both on and off the field for this club.”
