Virginia Dream FC have qualified for their first ever US Open Cup following a tightly contested, physical match with Aegean Hawks FC. The Dream took the lead through a penalty kick in the 17th minute. Nicholas Likulia earned the foul and converted the kick. Despite an Aegean Hawks equalizer casting the issue into doubt, Mike Akinyoke found a go-ahead goal in the 89th minute which proved to be a winner.
The first half saw a majority of chances go Virginia Dream’s way but the Hawks showed dangerous flashes of possession that forced Dream defenders and goalkeeper Bill Hamid into action. Hamid, a former U.S. international and 2013 US Open Cup champion with D.C. United, made a number of saves to lead the defense.
Things got going early on as Savastana had to make a vital save in the 4th minute to keep the Dream off the board. Akinkoye recovered the ball in midfield and found Angel Chavez on the wing. The midfielder beat a Hawks defender and crossed into the box, finding Murdoch whose low shot was blocked by the legs of Savastano.
Dream was able to take the lead in the 17th minute through a penalty kick. Nicholas Likulia was fouled by Hawks defender Teshawn Johnson. The former UNLV forward stepped up to take it and converted, hitting the side netting of Franco Savastana’s net.
Unfortunately, Likulia was forced off through an injury in the 30th minute with Luis Aguilar coming on in relief.
In first half stoppage time the Hawks nearly found an equalizer. Sulli Dainkey’s cross into the Dream box forced a dangerous defensive header, winning a corner for the Hawks. The inswinging delivery came close to seeing a Dream defender score an own goal but was narrowly cleared away. The first half ended shortly after.
The Hawks almost equalized only a few minutes in the second half.
A bad back pass from Roschon Panton gifted a chance to the Hawks. Peter Omunyidde anticipated the mistake and was there to win the ball. His close-range shot forced a reaction out of Bill Hamid but the Dream won possession back on the corner.
Savastano came up spades for the Hawks in the 52nd minute after a beautiful sequence from the Dream resulted in an open shot on net from Asparah Slavov, but the former University of Chicago man was up to the task.
After a quickly taken set piece caught the Dream defense napping, Peter Omunyidde snuck a tap in past Bill Hamid to tie the game up in the 53rd minute.
In the 72nd minute the Hawks thought they had taken the lead with another goal from Omunyidde but it was called back due to offside.
After a period where the Dream began to dominate, they finally found a winner in the 89th minute. Mike Akinyoke volleyed home a half-cleared cross to score the goal that qualified Virginia Dream for their first ever US Open Cup.
“It’s a very proud feeling to be officially a part of the oldest soccer competition in our country,” said Dream head coach CJ Taylor. “Achieving milestones as a club is something we do not take lightly and we are extremely hungry to compete in the professional scene in 2025.”