The “Cupsets” have begun.
In its first match of the season, it was USL League Two side Vermont Green FC building a big lead and holding on to knock out USL League One side Lexington Sporting Club with a 4-3 Round 1 win in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
“Well, it’s a little surreal moment … the boys were so confident,” said Vermont coach Adam Pfeifer. “The guys were able to keep grinding, They battled their asses off,”
History for @VermontGreenFC ♻️ Zach Barrett #USOC2024 | @OpenCup pic.twitter.com/h82NTbdPB3
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) March 19, 2024
Despite the frigid temperatures in Burlington, Vermont, things were heating up at Virtue Field early as Vermont scored three times in the first half and withstood a furious late Lexington charge to advance to Round 2 of the tournament and become the first Vermont club to win an Open Cup game.
Vermont Green part-owner Pat Infurna had nothing but admiration for the Vermont faithful, which was a sell-out crowd of more than 2,500 who witnessed the first-ever tournament game to be played in the Green Mountain State.
PANDEMONIUM
— Vermont Green FC (@VermontGreenFC) March 19, 2024
3-1 GREEN. LABO THE MAN. pic.twitter.com/V13fShML1z
“This club belongs to the community. We simply wouldn’t exist without them,” Infurna said. “They’re the heartbeat of this club, and I’m just so proud that the boys were able to put on a show tonight and come out with a win in front of this sold-out crowd.”.
Vermont wasted no time generating its first opportunity, as Nick Lockerman’s corner found Zach Barrett at the far post. Barrett got a head to the ball and slotted it past Campuzano to put the Green up 1-0 just five minutes in.
The corner game worked well for Vermont Green in the 10th minute as Yaniv Bazini’s corner found the head of Lockerman, who headed the ball into the net to give the Green a 2-0 lead.
3 corners ✅
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) March 20, 2024
3 goals ✅
It's a THREE goal lead for @VermontGreenFC!#USOC2024 pic.twitter.com/ZJv3E9OM0K
Lexington Sporting Club — unbeaten through two matches this season — was not going to go down without a fight as it cut the deficit in half in the 20th minute.
It started when Jayden Onen slotted the ball to Issac Cano, who slotted a left-footed shot into the net to shrink Vermont’s lead to one.
Gerardo Castillo got the Green offense rolling in the 24th minute when he drove up the left flank and cut the ball back to Jacob Labovitz, who tapped a right-footed shot into the net to push the Green lead back to two.
Big Big Love to @VermontGreenFC for pulling off the 1st-ever @usopencup win in the great state of Vermont, with a 4-3 home win over Lexington SC on Tuesday. Have an absolute night, Burlington! ????????pic.twitter.com/KsleBTKjT8
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) March 20, 2024
Vermont Green’s scoring continued into the second half when a corner kick in the 50th minute led to the ball pinballing inside the box. Jake Ashford fought off the defensive pressure and got onto the loose ball, as he drilled a right-footed shot into the net to make it 4-1 Vermont.
Lexington captain Cameron Lancaster put the squad on his back in the 60th minute after a foul by Moussa Ndiaye led to a free kick in a dangerous position. Lancaster stood over the ball and lobbed a right-footed shot to the upper-left corner of the net to shrink the deficit to 4-2.
Congratulations to @VermontGreenFC on their win in their opening match in the U.S. Open Cup — the first time the tournament has ever been played in Vermont.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) March 20, 2024
To the team, on and off the field, you make our whole state proud. pic.twitter.com/KPt5T9Hbbq
Lancaster continued to help Lexington claw back into the match in the 78th minute. Modesto Mendez headed a ball to Lancaster, who struck a right-footed down the center to shrink Vermont’s lead to 4-3.
Despite Lancaster’s efforts, Vermont Green held off just enough to advance.
