After so much trial and error in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying tournament over the past three seasons, the South Carolina United Heat finally broke through. The Heat became the first Open Division Local club to qualify for the tournament proper out of the state of South Carolina with a 4-2 win this weekend over fellow UPSL side, Tennessee Tempo FC.
Led by two late goals from Alejo Binaghi, the pain and heartbreak of the past is now nothing but a memory, as SCU Heat get to go dancing.
The two clubs, who are more than familiar with one another, met on a cold Saturday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The sides have met in the national playoffs in league play in each of the last two seasons.
In addition, both of these sides came into the game familiar with this stage of the Open Cup, with SCU Heat reaching “Win & You’re In Weekend” each of the last three seasons without progressing further, while Tennessee Tempo (formerly Beaman United) qualified for the tournament proper last season (they lost their opening round game vs. Des Moines Menace of USL-2).
With all that familiarity came a great intensity and fireworks early. In the 4th minute, Tempo took the lead off a finish from Chijioke Otuonye. However, the advantage in the scoreline would last a mere five minutes.
SCU Heat was able to clip in a set piece opportunity and shuttle the ball back across the face of goal, fooling every defender wearing red — along with the goalkeeper — to set up a tap-in for Coby Atkinson in the 9th minute.
About 26 minutes later, after chances for both teams, SCU Heat found themselves in a 2-on-1 counter attack and made this opportunity count as Ronaldo Fortune finished it off, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, things looked much like they had immediately before halftime for the first 15 minutes. However, as the hour mark passed, Tempo quietly took control of the run of play. A succession of corners and possession in the final third paid off in the 74th minute as Eli Brady was able to head home the equalizer at 2-2.
With the minutes ticking away, and the flow of the game returning to a much more even state, Tempo player/coach and former MLS player Kwadwo Poku subbed himself on to try and give his team the boost in the final minutes. However SCU Heat took control of the scoreline less than 60 seconds later as Binaghi found himself in space and fired the visitors back in front to make it 3-2.
Tempo desperately threw both players and the ball forward, but that left them vulnerable at the back, and the ball once again found Binaghi, who made it 4-2 with the last kick of the game.