Two game-winning goals, one equalizer, and the opener on the road against bitter rivals. Dembor Benson balanced quantity and quality in a red-hot Open Cup campaign. Benson scored four goals in three games which saw him tie for top scorer in the tournament despite only making it to the third round.
With a three-way tie for the Golden Boot, multiple players were in the running for this accolade. However, given the circumstances and magnitude of Benson’s performances, he was voted the clear winner of the 2024 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament award.
Benson is the first player from an NPSL team to win it since TheCup.us added a Lower Division version of the Player of the Tournament award in 2012.
“I was a little surprised because there are so many teams, there are so many good players and well, I understand it’s a bit difficult (to win this award) but I’m very happy to be honest,” said Benson after learning that he won the award.
Benson run away with the vote with NYCFC II’s Jonathan Jimenez finishing second. Jimenez led the tournament in scoring with four goals and two assists, helping NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) reach the Round of 16 (and the $25,000 Division 3 prize money). Indy Eleven goalkeeper Hunter Sulte, who had three clean sheets to help his team reach the Semifinals, finished third.
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) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.
Early on in the tournament, El Farolito looked unstoppable. They caused back-to-back upsets against professional sides with Dembor Benson scoring four of the team’s five goals. The first goal was a 68th minute winner in a 2-1 road win against Timbers2 (MLS NEXT Pro). That performance made him just the second Honduras native to be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round, joining Romell Quioto who won the award as a member of the Houston Dynamo (MLS) in the 2018 Quarterfinals.
The next two goals came in the form of a brace against Central Valley Fuego (USL League One), where he scored an equalizer just before halftime as well as an 88th minute winner to secure his team’s place in the Third Round.
His fourth and final goal of the tournament came in the first half of a road game against local rivals Oakland Roots (USL Championship). El Farolito wasn’t able to hold on to that early lead as the Roots came back to win 2-1 in extra time.
When asked about his thoughts on being knocked out of the tournament early despite his success in front of goal he had this to say: “Well, the personal aspect was good, to be honest, but we also knew that they were favorites on paper even though we were also good on paper but we kept believing. We were like a family and we knew that the other team would be stronger than us. Pitifully, the expulsion for us made us fractured and what happened, happened. If we hadn’t had that player expelled, then things would’ve been different to be honest because we were very comfortable in that game, we started off winning. We felt really good in that game but to play with one man down is difficult … we believed we could’ve achieved more.”
After an impressive few years with El Farolito, Benson’s performance has earned a spot with one of his US Open Cup opponents: USL League One side Central Valley Fuego where he scored three goals in his first 10 games.
When asked what inspires him to remain consistent he said “Well to be honest, the main thing that inspires me is my family,” said Benson about his . My family is always looking out for me. We’re always going to watch soccer, that’s our passion. My son, my wife, and my mother it’s a passion of theirs… their support is always there and every time I take the pitch I go ‘This is for my family.’ ‘I’m going to do it for my son, for my wife, and for my family who is always raising me up and supporting me.’ and I think that’s the primary motivation that pushes me in every game.”