With a dominant 3-0 victory over Red Force FC, FC Naples clinched its spot in the next round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The match, which took place at the Paradise Coast Complex on Wednesday night, marked the opening round of the 111th edition of the single-elimination tournament, the country’s oldest cup competition. FC Naples scored two goals in the first 30 minutes en route to its second win in three matches this season.
“It’s always an honor and a privilege to compete in the Open Cup,” FC Naples head coach Matt Poland said. “I love the tournament. It’s an amazing experience. It’s the ability to play different levels of teams and have players from all different levels showcasing their abilities.”
FC Naples, competing in the club’s second US Open Cup, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Red Force deployed a 4-3-3. From the opening whistle, FC Naples set the tone with high pressure and quick ball movement, forcing Red Force onto the back foot. The match began with FC Naples taking control of the game and creating several chances.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, when midfielder Marc Torrellas opened the scoring after finishing an assist from Kevin O’Connor.
Just seven minutes later, FC Naples doubled its lead. Right winger Hudson Gay found the back of the net in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Ian Cerro.
“It feels good to score the first goal in my career,” Gay said. “I almost cried. I feel really good.”
Gay added that he plans to keep working hard every day to help the team succeed throughout the season.
Despite trailing early, Red Force found a bright spot in goalkeeper Edgard Perez, who delivered an outstanding performance despite giving up three goals. Perez made multiple key saves throughout the match, including stops in the 35th, 40th, 45th, 60th, and 82nd minutes, preventing the scoreline from becoming more lopsided.
FC Naples continued to create chances, with forward Andres Ferrin coming close to adding to the lead but failing to convert inside the box.
The home side maintained control in the second half, consistently winning possession and limiting Red Force’s attacking opportunities. By the end of the match, FC Naples held 63% possession and outshot Red Force 16-1, underscoring its dominance on both ends of the field. FC Naples managed the game from beginning to end.
The final goal came in stoppage time when forward Taylor Gray closed up the victory in the 92nd minute, finishing off O’Connor’s second assist of the night.
“Three goals in a game is a lot, so I am satisfied with it,” said Poland. “Most important thing is that we win and advance to the next round.”
With the scoreline reflecting a comfortable win, Perez’s five saves were instrumental in keeping the margin at three goals, highlighting one of the few positives for Red Force, a team making its 5th US Open Cup appearance. Red Force will end their tournament run seeking its first Open Cup win since 2014.
For FC Naples, they advance to the Second Round for the second year in a row.