Eleven amateur clubs qualified for the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup over the weekend. The teams will advance to the 109th edition of the tournament proper that will take place in the spring.
Five teams will be first-time entries, including five of the 11 coming from the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL).
Below you will find a brief recap of each game with links to the full report (as they are published)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18
UDA Soccer (UPSL)
1:2
Azteca FC (USSSA/Colorado Premier League)
New Mexico State Univ. Club Soccer Field; Las Cruces, NM
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By Josh Hakala
Two teams seeking to qualify for the US Open Cup for the second year in a row squared off in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. Colorado-based Azteca FC scored a pair of goals in the first nine minutes and held on for a 2-1 road win to punch their ticket to the Open Cup for the fourth time in six attempts.
Both goals were produced from the right wing as Jovany Herrera vollied home a cross in the center of the box in the 8th minute. A minute later, Anthony Miranda made a run into the box to the near post and received a pass from the right wing and blasted a shot into the roof of the goal to put the visitors up 2-0.
The game would remain that way until second half stoppage time when Yahir Pina scored on a free kick, but the final whistle blew shortly after as Azteca celebrated.
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Valhalla FC (USASA/Ohio Valley Premier League)
1:3
Chicago House AC (USASA/Midwest Premier League)
Charity Lucas Soccer Stadium; Milford, OH
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By Chuck Carlson
Chicago House AC are moving on to the US Open Cup proper for the second straight year after defeating Valhalla FC of Ohio 3-1 in Milford, Ohio.
Valhalla playing a direct, long ball style, should have been up in the 9th minute when one of those long balls fell to Fin Sallows, but he blazed the ball over the bar from inside the 6-yard box. House were fortunate on that early shot, but in the 40th minute an attempted House clearance didn’t fully clear their defensive zone and Valhalla’s Connor Clark shot was deflected into the path of Andre Novakovich, who, despite House calls for offside, slotted past Halterman to put Valhalla up 1-0.
The Chicagoans began pressing for an equalizer before half and got it from Alejandro Mentasti. Ricardo Avalos had played in a dangerous cross which Valhalla keeper Ian McNamara couldn’t hold, and Mentasti was there to poke in the equalizer and send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
The second half followed the first half pattern of House working the ball around with short passes, while Valhalla were more direct. It looked as if we might be headed for extra time, but then, in the 89th minute, Jhon Alzate swung in a dangerous corner which Elias McCloud headed past McNamara, and House were up 2-1 with only stoppage time remaining. Despite Valhalla pressing, it was House’s Pau Mateo Chacon in the third minute of stoppage, who sealed the win with a classy, low free kick from 20 yards out to put the game out of reach for the home side.
In 2023, House made it to the US Open Cup third round proper, beating USL-One side Forward Madison along the way, so, after 3 qualifying round wins in 2023, they now have an opportunity to reach those same heights in 2024.
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Northern Virginia FC (USASA/EPSL)
0:1
Christos FC (USASA/MSSL)
Segra Field; Leesburg, VA
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By Josh Hakala
Christos FC is heading back to the US Open Cup after a narrow 1-0 road win over Northern Virginia FC on Saturday night. The game’s lone goal came from Clement Blanc in the 82nd minute.
For Christos, they will return to the US Open Cup for the first time since 2018. That year, they were one-and-done, but the year before they made a splash in their tournament debut. They traveled to take on D.C. United at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Md. and scored the opening goal to put a scare into the two-time Open Cup champs from Major League Soccer. United would ultimately prevail , 4-1.
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FC America CFL Spurs (USSSA/USSL)
4:1
Leg-AZ World FC (UPSL)
Lake Mary High School – Lake Mary, FL
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By Josh Hakala
FC America CFL Spurs of the United States Soccer League (formerly known as the National Soccer League) knocked off a third straight UPSL club to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time. On Sunday night, they defeated Leg-AZ World FC 4-1 to clinch a spot in the 109th edition of the tournament.
William Eyang scored a first half brace to give the Spurs a 2-0 lead at the halftime break. Jayson Udom and Melvrik Fernandes added a goal each in the second half to put the game away.
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FORO SC (UPSL)
4:0
Alamo City SC (UPSL)
Prince of Peace; Carrolton, TX
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By Dan Crooke
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex added to its list of Lamar Hunt US Open qualifiers after FORO SC topped Alamo City SC with a late blitz after the visitors were reduced to ten men.
After a goalless first half, the San Antonio side saw goalkeeper Vincent Florio shown red in a bizarre passage of play in the 54th minute. Florio attempted to run the ball upfield before eventually fouling Juan Ramirez from behind after the FORO midfielder saw a shot blocked.
Nigel Katawa put FORO SC ahead soon after, poking home a goalmouth scramble that came after makeshift keeper, Cameron Cortez, spilled an effort by Ramirez through a crowd of players. Katawa doubled the lead with a header, before a long range effort by substitute Alex Molano. The 2022 UPSL champions grabbed a fourth in stoppage time after another Molano shot from distance was spilled with Hector Romero fastest to react.
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Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)
2:4
South Carolina United Heat (UPSL)
Richard Siegel Soccer Complex; Murfreesboro, TN
By Ronan Briscoe
It was a cold night in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as Tennessee Tempo FC hosted South Carolina United Heat, and things started quickly.
Chijioke Otuonye put the hosts in front after just four minutes, but that lead wouldn’t last long. Coby Atkinson leveled it for Heat in the 9th minute as he was gifted a tap in off a set piece.
Later, in the 35th minute it was Ronaldo Fortune who put the visitors up a goal headed into the halftime break. It would take Tempo until a 74th minute Eli Brady header to equalize, but destiny was not on their side as two goals from Alejo Binaghi in the 89th and 94th minutes sealed the deal and sent SCU Heat to the Open Cup proper.
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New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA/EPSL)
1:3
Brockton FC United (UPSL)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY
By Josh Hakala
Brockton FC United have returned to the US Open Cup after falling one penalty kick shootout short last year. The Massachusetts-based side traveled to New York City and eliminated three-time Open Cup champs New York Pancyprian Freedoms, 3-1.
In a rematch of a “Win & You’re In” match for the 2020 US Open Cup (a tournament that was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19), it took nearly the entire 90 minutes for the offenses to come alive. Brockton appeared to have won the game with a Wuilito Fernandez penalty kick one minute into second half stoppage time, but then three minutes later, Rafael Bustamante found a dramatic equalizer for the Freedoms. The match seemed to be on its way to extra time, but a significant amount of stoppage time kept the game going. Eight minutes into stoppage time, Ramos Mendonca found the back of the net, and then two minutes later, sealed the game with the team’s third goal of the evening.
Brockton will now advance to the 109th edition of the Open Cup looking to improve on the club’s one-and-done performance in 2022 where they lost 2-0 to the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2).
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USASA/USL of PA)
0:0
New Jersey Alliance FC (UPSL)
VE qualifies, 4-2 on penalty kicks
Vereinigung Erzgebirge Clubhouse; Warminster, PA
By David Einhorn
Vereinigung Erzgebirge qualified for their first U.S. Open Cup since 2002 on Sunday. It was a particularly special moment for head coach Rob Oldfield, as he was a player during the 2002 campaign. He has now brought the club back to the competition as its coach.
It was a long battle for Vereinigung Erzgebirge against New Jersey Alliance FC. Both teams brought firepower and technical play styles as they sought to advance. While the full time score was 0-0 at half time, both teams traded excellent opportunities that required stout defensive clearances. The full 90 minutes could not separate the teams with the score still 0-0 and both keepers making excellent saves. The game went to extra time, where VE were reduced to 10 men after a hard challenge merited a red card. Penalties were needed to decide a winner and Vereinigung Erzgebirge came out on top as NJ Alliance players missed two crucial spot kicks.
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Miami United FC (USSSA/USSL)
3:1
City Soccer FC (USSSA/USSL)
Ted Hendricks Stadium; Hialeah, FL
FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)
By James Knowles (@RBLRJamesK)
On Sunday night, two USSL rivals from South Florida took the field in Hialeah, Fla., with a spot in the US Open Cup on the line. Miami United FC extended their qualifying winning streak to 10 games with a 3-1 win over City Soccer FC. Between United’s NPSL and USSL clubs, Miami has qualified for the Open Cup for the fourth year in a row. (NOTE: They qualified for the 2020 tournament, but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
In the 26th minute, a mistake at the back led to City Soccer conceding first. A failed clearance led to deflection which put United’s Robertino Insua in on goal. He tucked it past the opposing goalkeeper, close to the near post.
The second half started with controversy, though, as City’s Juan Basco received his marching orders following an accumulation of yellow cards. Despite going down a man, City Soccer showed they would not go quietly. Despite playing well, City Soccer gave up another goal to Miami United in the 73rd minute through Josduard Serrano following the aforementioned set piece to give themselves a cushion.
United would take another step toward putting this game to bed in the 77th minute off yet another set piece. This time, directly from a free kick, Insua stepped up to put an exclamation point on the game. City Soccer’s shot stopper and his wall stood no chance in the face of Insua’s precision.
City Soccer would scored a late goal in stoppage time, but their hopes of qualifying for a second time (2022) would end with the final whistle.
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FC Folsom (UPSL)
4:2
International San Francisco (USASA/SFSFL)
Livermore Community Park; Folsom, CA
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Facebook)
By Josh Hakala
It took FC Folsom until the second half to take advantage of a man advantage but when they did, the goals came fast and furious. They used that extra man to defeat International San Francisco 4-2 to qualify for the US Open Cup for the first time.
Inter SF was shown a red card in the 10th minute when, according to the team, the fourth official claimed a player was sent off for spitting. Despite being down a man, the visitors from the Bay Area held the game scoreless going into halftime. It was Inter that eventually broke the deadlock just after halftime, but FC Folsom answered with four goals in a roughly 15 minute span as they pulled away.
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Irvine Zeta FC (UPSL)
vs.
Temecula FC (USASA/NISA Nation)
Orange County Great Park (Field 18); Irvine, CA
By Kathryne Padilla
A goal made in the 2nd minute of the fourth round of the U.S Open Cup set the tempo for Irvine Zeta FC that would lead to a 3-1 victory over Temecula FC.
A mistake in Temecula’s backfield allowed for Irvine Zeta FC’s Cristian Fernandez Mejia to gain possession. A shot to the left corner of the goal; just inches outside of the goalie’s reach would put Irvine in the lead.
The first half would end with Temecula FC scoreless after several close opportunities fell short of completion.
The second half showed how resilient Temecula FC are as they continued to even out the score. But Irvine Zeta FC would acquire two more goals in the 58th minute by Ivan Torres and the 77th minute by Daniel Torres with an assist from Mejia to extend their lead to 3-0.
In second half stoppage time, Temecula FC would be fouled inside the goalie box and receive a penalty kick. Braedon O’Neill would make the goal and the match ended shortly after with Irvine Zeta FC earning a trip to the US Open Cup for the first time, by the score of 3-1.
[+] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON