On a chilly night in Jamaica, Queens, the New York Pancyprian Freedoms and Brockton FC United looked destined for extra time. Both teams were held scoreless as the clock neared the 90-minute mark at St. John’s University’s Belson Stadium. However, over ten minutes of second-half stoppage time saw four goals and a red card. The final whistle saw Brockton book its ticket for the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 3-1 win.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” said forward Wuilito Fernandes. “We had our goal which was to win the (UPSL) regular season, which we did, and win the playoffs. Unfortunately, we slept on that one last weekend against (Olé Football Club). Our other goal was to go as far as we can into the US Open Cup and try to make sure we qualify.
“We did what we had to do to prepare after that tough loss to come here and get the good result. It’s a great feeling, it’s special, it’s priceless.”
This will be Brockton’s second-ever Open Cup appearance after first debuting in the 2022 tournament. The Massachusetts side has made it to a “Win & You’re In” match in four straight qualifying tournaments (2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024).
That first match in the fall of 2019 was against the Pancyprian Freedoms, who won 1-0 as the game ended early due to weather. Brockton head coach Jose Mendes said after Saturday’s match that he and many on the team had not forgotten that game.
“Just like it happened to us back in (2019) where they eliminated us to qualify for the tournament, that was our goal,” Mendes said through a translator. “To come here and actually make sure they feel the same thing that we felt back then.”
Brockton made sure their win was as painful for New York as possible in front of a crowd of 30 fans at Belson. In the 90th minute, they had a quick attack up the middle. Leandro Alves had his shot saved by Rafael Diaz, who was unable to catch the ball. As it rolled, Alves went for it, and Diaz, on the ground, extended his hands. According to the referee, Diaz grabbed the player’s legs and forced him to trip, earning a penalty shot.
Fernandes, a former USL professional who has caps with the Cape Verde national team, stepped up. His shot into the top left corner gave Brockton a 1-0 lead in the 90+1st minute.
The Freedoms kicked off just as the clock ticked over to 93 minutes. Within 120 seconds, the game was tied. A cross from the left side found Matthew Forester, who tapped it back in the box. A whiffed shot by a Pancyprian set the ball trickling towards Joe Holland, who slammed the ball into the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Again, the game looked destined for extra time. But the referee allowed play to continue. A foul in the New York end gave Brockton a free kick, which they took quickly. Stephan Teixeira shot low towards the left post, which Diaz saved. Manuel Alejandro Pereira Castellon jumped on the loose ball and struck it into the right side to make it 2-1. He ran towards the Brockton bench and was swarmed by his teammates as Pancyprian players argued with the referee; Both about offside and that the free kick was taken too quickly.
With momentum back on their side, Brockton’s Euclides Ramos Mendonça iced the game with a shot from miles out. It chipped Diaz and found the back of the net in the 11th minute of stoppage time.
After it was all done Fernandes noted that the referee initially said there would be seven minutes of stoppage time after the initial go-ahead PK was scored. He said even that felt like slow motion, feeling closer to 15 minutes (which eventually, it got close to being).
“It felt so long,” the Cape Verde national said. “We’re just happy it ended and we’re just happy we’re the ones that came out on top. And now we’re excited to get back on the road and enjoy this victory.”
Of note, Brockton’s Jose Orlet Tavares had been cautioned in the 70th minute and subbed off later. He removed his coat and ran onto the field in uniform to celebrate, running across the pitch near the Belson bleachers. That earned him a second yellow, meaning he will miss Brockton’s first Open Cup match.
The first half went by fairly quickly but neither team found the back of the net. New York was forced to make an early sub within the first ten minutes after a head-to-head collision. A Brockton takeaway got the ball to Pereira Castellon. He sent a high ball into the box where St. John’s alumni Luke Hansen and Brockton’s Leonardo Teixeira slammed heads while trying to head the ball. Teixeira eventually got up but Hansen, who got up and walked shakily before sitting down again, was subbed off for Camil Koreichi.
Overall, New York had the better offense in the first 45 minutes. Former professional and Grenada national team player Shavon John-Brown skied a header over the crossbar in the 10th minute. For much of the first half John-Brown, who scored a brace last round, was playing near the midfield. It turns out Pancyprian, missing players due to injury and inability to adjust the roster during qualifying, was trying to adjust.
Holland, another former professional, returned to the starting XI and played up top. In the last 15 minutes, he shot into the side of the netting and got a weak shot off from the top of the box that the keeper jumped on. In stoppage time, Holland got under a free kick in the box but headed it wide right to keep it scoreless.
For the visitors, Brockton’s best assets were great set-piece defending and fast breaks. The side stopped at least three New York corner kicks and two free kicks near the penalty area.
Joseano Paulo Tavares struck a hard shot right to keeper Rafael Diaz in the 12th minute. The team’s best chances of the first half came in the 39th minute. After a Holland shot was saved, United countered quickly up the right side. Running to near the end line, the ball was played to Leonardo Teixeira six yards from the net. His shot was saved by Diaz but put back into play. Pereira Castellon quickly jumped on the rebound attempt but that was blocked by a diving New York player.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game and we tried to stay as open as possible,” Mendes said. “Especially when we transition back and forth. Make sure we do it in an organized way.”
After the break Brockton’s offense began to pick up possession. In the first 20 minutes, United received two yellow cards and two free kicks on opposite sides of the Pancyprian box. Another in the 68th saw a Brockton player attempt a bicycle kick but not get fully connected with it.
New York wasn’t quiet either. John-Brown began to move up and Holland continued to threaten. A 65th-minute shot went right to Brockton keeper Christopher Moura. Ten minutes later, he ran down the left side and danced around a defender near the end line. But moving the ball towards the net, he either crossed or shot, allowing United to block it back into play.
Forester got a great scissor kick-off in the 88th minute. Moura made a jumping dive to his left, but the ball sailed wide of the goal.
For New York, it is another crushing disappointment. The three-time Open Cup champions have not competed in the tournament proper since 2016. Their last qualification in 2020 was snubbed when COVID-19 canceled the tournament for the first time ever.