David Linn of the Chicago Stingers picked a magnificent time to score his first goal of the season. Linn scored the lone goal as the Stingers pulled off the third upset of the round as the USISL Pro League side edged the A-League’s New York Centaurs 1-0 at Forest View Park in Arlington Heights, Ill.
With just a couple minutes left in regulation, Chicago’s David Linn headed home a pass from Don D’Ambra, who also plays indoor soccer for the National Professional Soccer League’s Milwaukee Wave.
The upset adds to a miserable season for the first year New York Centaurs as their US Open Cup run came to an end, along with two other A-League teams who suffered losses earlier in the evening. The Atlanta Ruckus lost to the USISL Premier League’s Richmond Kickers while the Colorado Foxes were knocked off by the USISL Pro League’s El Paso Patriots.
The only remaining team from the A-League are the Seattle Sounders, who close out the Quarterfinal round by hosting the USISL Pro League’s Chico Rooks next week (June 21).
The game nearly became the third straight Open Cup game for the Stingers in 1995 to go to extra time. Their opening round game with Chicago amateur club and 1990 Open Cup winners, AAC Eagles needed more time, and their final qualifying game against USISL side St. Louis Knights also went an extra 30 minutes.
The Centaurs entered the game having switched head coaches the day before. Len Roitman stepped aside to focus on his position as general manager, and New York Cosmos legend Vladislav “Bogie” Bogićević came in to take over the head coaching duties.
1995 US Open Cup Preview: The state of American soccer in 1995
1995 USOC Round 1 POTR: Carlos Llamosa
1995 USOC Q-Finals POTR: Ben Crawley
1995 USOC Semis POTR: Jake Arrambide
1995 USOC Final POTR: Jeff Causey
1995 USOC Player of Tourney: Rob Ukrop
1995 US Open Cup Results (click on the score of the game for a match report)
The Stingers and Centaurs played fairly even in the first half, although New York held the advantage in shots at 7-1. Stingers goalkeeper John Howard, who was acquired from the USISL’s Puerto Rico Islanders earlier in the season, held firm to keep the Centaurs off the board.
Perhaps Howard’s biggest test came at the end of the first half when the Centaurs’ Joseph Babtunde blasted a shot from 20 feet out, which Howard darted to his left and smothered it. Chicago also had an excellent chance to get on the board earlier in the half. In the 29th minute, D’Ambra collected a deflection 30 yards from the goal with Centaurs goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi nowhere to be found, but D’Ambra’s shot went just over the crossbar of the empty net.
Midway through the second half the Stingers’ first round hero Steve Morris sent a long free kick in on goal that missed by a couple inches. In the 72nd minute, Chicago brought on Michael Richardson, making his season debut after recovering from knee surgery for an injury picked up while playing indoor with the Milwaukee Wave.
With time ticking down and another extra time Open Cup game looming for Chicago, Linn and D’Ambra combined for the game-winning goal.
“We’ve been working on that play-sending a man down the flank and centering it-all season.” D’Ambra said of the game winning goal. “David’s header was a little soft and I wasn’t sure if it was going to make it, but it did.”
The importance of the Stingers win was certainly appreciated by the club.
“This is the most important win ever for this franchise,” Stingers head coach Batata told the Chicago Tribune “It was a great, exciting game for the fans, and they deserve it.”
“It’s a great win for the organization,” Linn told the Chicago Daily Herald. “I just had to finish off the beautiful cross from Don (D’Ambra). I’m very excited about the result.”
Chicago will move on to the Semifinals where they will face USISL Premier League’s Richmond Kickers, the only amateur club remaining and 2-0 winners over the A-League’s Atlanta Ruckus earlier in the evening.