There’s no easy path into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, particularly throughout Open Division Local qualifying, but Tulsa Athletic managed to weather multiple storms and secured a spot in the 2025 edition of the tournament after defeating Chicago House AC 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout after a scoreless draw at Langhorst Field on the campus of Elmhurst University in Illinois.
The two sides had multiple chances in open play throughout the 120 minutes but neither side broke the deadlock, sending the match to penalty kicks. Tulsa didn’t miss from the spot and that was enough to secure their spot in the 2025 US Open Cup. With the shootout win, Tulsa Athletic qualified for the fourth year in a row and the seventh time in club history (all previous entries were as members of the NPSL). Meanwhile, Chicago was denied a third straight trip to the competition.
The matchday started well before kickoff for Tulsa, who lost 2-1 on Saturday to the Arkansas Wolves in the UPSL OK-AR Conference Championship Game at Hicks Park in Tulsa. Most of Tulsa’s squad were on the first flight out of Tulsa on Sunday, ensuring that they made it to Elmhurst with plenty of time before taking on their foes from the Midwest Premier League less than 24 hours after their last match took place multiple states away.
There wasn’t a whole lot of action in the first half as both goalkeepers consistently left their nets in order to quash counter attacking runs from the opposition’s forwards.
Tulsa nearly took the lead in the 68th minute as Ruben Torres hit a rocket that was tipped off the bar and away by House goalkeeper Ryan Grady.
House had two great chances to score but couldn’t find the back of the net. Ugo Achara hit a strike from 18 yards in the 87th minute that bounced off the crossbar and away from Tulsa’s net. Achara then was called offside in second half stoppage after effecting the goalkeeper’s eyesight on a House goal moments before the match went into extra time.
The match became more stretched out over the two 15 minute extra time periods but neither side’s use of longballs paid any dividends, sending the match to penalty kicks.
Both teams converted their first two attempts from 12 yards but Tulsa goalkeeper Bryson Reed dove to his right and denied House’s Gilberto’s Angeles’ effort to put the visitors ahead. After each side converted two more penalty kicks, Tulsa’s Edgardo Mira hammered his effort into the net to secure his team’s spot in the 2025 US Open Cup.
“Some of these guys have played two games in less than 24 hours so, yeah, they’re an incredible team, and I’m proud of the boys,” said Tulsa head coach John Woodhead. “I’m proud to be a part of it. It’s not just the team. It’s a big family of mine …”
“Entering the Open Cup next year is just awesome for the club and especially for the fans.”