For the Colorado Foxes, the defending A-League champions, the 2-0 loss to the USISL Pro League’s El Paso Patriots was more than just an upset in the Open Cup, but a continued slide in an already frustrating season.
In front of a meager “crowd” of 290 fans at Sand Creek Stadium in Colorado Springs, the Foxes became the second A-League team to fall to a team from the rival USISL in the Quarterfinals. Earlier in the night, the Atlanta Ruckus were beaten by the USISL Premier League’s Richmond Kickers 2-1.
Midway through the first half, things took a bad turn for the Foxes, when Rivers Guthrie was shown a red card after fouling a Patriots player, forcing the Foxes to play a man short for the remaining 54 minutes.
Colorado head coach Lorne Donaldson acknowledged it was a turning point in the game but downplayed the severity of the foul.
“It affected us a lot,” Donaldson told the Daily Camera. “We were all over them until the red card. Even if (Guthrie) elbowed him, it was a love tap. That early in the game, I couldn’t believe he pulled a red.”
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)
Colorado squandered several good chances to get on the board, at least five unmarked players passed up chances to score without taking a shot.
“I don’t know what it was – we had 500 chances and didn’t pull the trigger,” said Donaldson. “It was funny to sit there and watch us not even try to shoot.”
El Paso finally broke through in the 71st minute when Sal Mercado scored by “turning (Foxes defender) Robert Lipp inside out.” according to the Rocky Mountain News. The goal was assisted by Rito Delgado.
Mercado followed up with another goal seven minutes later, this time assisted by Cesar Sosa, to put the Patriots up 2-0.
While Colorado held a considerable speed advantage over El Paso, the Patriots used that to set the Foxes up for counterattacks. Mercado, who was thought to be unable to travel with the team while awaiting his immigration papers after joining the team from playing for Atlético Celaya in Mexico, explained the Patriots game plan afterwards.
“We behaved very well coming up from the back and giving me the ball because I can do something with it,” Mercado said. “It’s a merit for us to win against a second division team, but it’s not about money, it’s about playing with heart.”
A frustrated Donaldson seemed to be at a loss for words about how to fix the Foxes season.
“When it gets this bad, you have to change things,” Donaldson said. ”Obviously, we have to go in a different direction. Whether it’s the coaching or the players, I don’t know.”