Adam Uthe

Adam is a Dallas-based TheCup.us contributor who enjoys covering the tournament's lower (and non) division teams and is a proud alum of the University of Dayton.

2018 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados preps for record 7th straight US Open Cup run

April 25, 2018 by Adam Uthe

NTX Rayados pose for a team photo in 2018. Photo: Tito Salas

Deep in the heart of (Dallas) Texas, you’ll find one of the best kept secrets in American soccer.

NTX Rayados find themselves back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the seventh year in a row, the longest streak of any open division local entry in the Modern Era (1995-present). While they have qualified for the last seven tournaments, they have only participated in six of them. A 2016 disqualification, which was handed down the night before their first round game, is the only interruption of their record streak.

Their success is no secret to fans of the Open Cup, but the details of the team’s approach to the Open Cup may surprise some.

Tito Salas helped found NTX Rayados in 2011 and the following spring in 2012, he and his squad got their first taste of what it’s like for an amateur team to play in the US Open Cup.

“Back in 2012, we learned so much from that experience,” said Salas.

Back then, Salas had recently graduated college and was just looking for a way to continue playing competitively. You might think a former college soccer player would bring that competitive fire with him to his new team and institute mandatory practices to work on tactics and mold the best possible team. After all, the tournament is serious business for amateur teams now that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is increasing prize money and revamping its travel expense policy to help amateur sides get to away games that require expensive, long distance travel arrangements.

NTX Rayados in the US Open Cup
2012 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
2013 Round 1: Loss, 3-0 at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 2: Draw, 4-4 (4-2 PK win) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 3: Loss, 4-2 at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
2015 Round 1: Draw, 0-0 (4-2 PK loss) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
2016 Round 1: Forfeit loss (DQ’d due to not participating in league play)
2017 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at Dutch Lions FC (NPSL)
2018 Round 1: Home vs. Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) – May 9

But Salas, who is married with two kids and works full time as an assistant principal in the Dallas Independent School District, takes a very pragmatic approach to organizing his team ahead of the Open Cup every year.

“We don’t practice,” Salas reveals. “We just can’t. We’re with our families, we have jobs. We’ll be lucky if we can have five players get together. Our practices consist of league games on Sunday.”

For NTX Rayados, they have only managed to play five league games in the spring season of the North Texas Premier Soccer Association due to a variety of weather-related postponements. As of now, they are 4-1-0 and sit in second place. Despite playing fewer league games than he would like, Salas is still optimistic about his team’s preparation for the US Open Cup.

“We still feel good about it,” he said. “These next couple weeks we plan on having a couple mandatory scrimmages.”

Not all of the players on his squad work full-time to support their families, but they still have their own difficulties getting together with the team. Seven players on the roster, all of whom grew up in the area, are currently away from Dallas at college. But they all want to answer the call of the Open Cup for Rayados.

“For things like the Open Cup, they will make the effort to come back and play,” said Salas.

Salas wouldn’t have it any other way either. He doesn’t believe Rayados exist to fight for glory in the Open Cup. His ultimate goal is for players who spend time with the team to go on to college and make a better life for themselves. He’s dedicated to helping them in any way possible.

“This is kind of the norm: you come here, you play here during the summer … but we expect you to move on and play in college. That’s something that I really am proud of,” said Salas. “Whenever you move on, let me know how I can help you.”

It’s the same for Salas year in and year out. He is willing to let his roster turn over every year, even if it’s detrimental to the team; though there’s no evidence that’s actually the case. In fact, if you pressed him, he might tell you that ends up benefiting the team in the long run.

“We take the positives out of everything,” he said. “We lose (players) for good reasons. We’re known, we’re pretty well known.”

Salas does sometimes wonder what his team might be capable of if they had a dedicated practice facility and used it to try and take the team to the next level. But he still maintains everything Rayados do is about more than just winning and advancing in the tournament. His expectations for the tournament are just as pragmatic as his approach to the team’s ultimate purpose.

“I’m satisfied with the guys going out and giving it their best. My expectation is for us to go out there and give everyone a good night of soccer, whether they’re there for us or not.”, he states, without skipping a beat.

All of that said, Salas still has a roster stacked with local, homegrown talent and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the team to make a run in this year’s tournament.

Up front, Salas has a variety of options to help supply the goals. Veteran forward Alberto Rodriguez grew up with Salas and has been with the team since 2011. Salas also expects big things from forward Mohamed Sesay.

“(It’s the) first time he’ll see Open Cup action, but he’s played with us. We’re going to be relying on him a lot as well.”

There’s also midfielder Christian Okeke, who supplied the 85th minute game-winner in the team’s final qualifying match against CD Motagua New Orleans. Even center back Javan Goncalves-Toledo scored a spectacular overhead kick in the team’s qualifying victory over Celtic Cowboys Premier.

NTX Rayados will open their 2018 tournament run on May 9 when they will host a game for the first time. They will face off with first-time entry Fort Worth Vaqueros of the National Premier Soccer League at Richland Community College (Field No. 10) in Dallas.

No amateur team can boast an Open Cup qualification record to match Rayados’ these past seven years, but they are still missing a signature win in the tournament itself. In fact, technically speaking, they are missing a win. Their lone trip to the Second Round occurred in 2014 when they defeated the PDL’s Austin Aztex in a penalty kick shootout after a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Cal FC’s 2012 victory over the Portland Timbers (MLS) is etched into Open Cup history, La Maquina FC took the Los Angeles Galaxy to extra time in 2016 and Baltimore’s Christos FC made national headlines last year for their valiant effort against D.C. United. All three of those teams pulled off their magical Open Cup run in their first trip to the tournament. Sometimes, in the Open Cup, the ball just needs to bounce your way.

Tito Salas’ priorities may lie in accomplishments off the field, but perhaps this is the year his Rayados can get over the hump and bring their story into the national spotlight.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: NTX Rayados rally late to earn seventh straight Open Cup berth

November 19, 2017 by Adam Uthe

North Texas Rayados pose for a team photo before a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Motagua of New Orleans. Photo: NTX Rayados

The North Texas Rayados scored twice in the final ten minutes to earn a 2-1 comeback victory over CD Motagua New Orleans and clinch a spot in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Midfielder Christian Okeke, making his first-ever appearance in an Open Cup qualifier, scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute. With the win, Rayados have qualified for a Modern Era (1995-present) record seventh consecutive US Open Cup run.

North Texas has qualified for every US Open Cup since 2012, and no open division amateur club has a longer streak. Reading United of the Premier Development League holds the Modern Era record with nine consecutive Open Cup berths, which remains an active record.

The weather at kickoff was unseasonably chilly (for north Texas) with winds well over 20 miles per hour, making it especially difficult to play the ball through the air. Fortunately for both teams, the game plan involved keeping the ball on the ground.

The two sides took turns controlling possession and creating chances. Rayados failed to convert on two shots on goal in the first 15 minutes; one was saved point blank and the other struck the post. New Orleans took advantage of Rayados’ poor finishing and came up with the game’s first goal in the 27th minute. Steven Morris played Carson Gorecki through into the box and Gorecki finished the shot near post to put the visitors up 1-0.

The second half offered more of the same. Both sides continued to get into the final third and create chances but both failed to convert their respective opportunities. In the 67th minute, NTX had a golden opportunity in front of the net but the shot was shanked well over the goal.

It looked as though Rayados would be missing their first Open Cup since 2012, but the team showed their resolve and proved why they have appeared in the US Open Cup opening round schedule every year since 2012.

In the 82nd minute, a low cross was driven into the box where the keeper bobbled it until it deflected off one of his own defenders and then subsequently skipped off a Rayados attacker. Minutes later, Okeke found himself in the box and did his best Michael Jordan impression, shaking off his defender and firing past the keeper for the eventual game winner.

“It was nice. I know we missed a lot of chances in the game but it was nice.”, said Okeke.

Okeke is a testament to the quality of the program NTX Rayados has put together over the past seven years. With four regular players missing due to scheduling conflicts, Okeke stepped in and when his opportunity came, he comfortably converted the shot. While the weather may have scared a lot of fans away, those who were in attendance were treated to a very exciting, evenly-matched game of soccer.

“My heart is still pumping. It was a good game, but it was one of those you don’t want to happen to you.”, said North Texas head coach Tito Salas. He also admitted the weather got to some his players at some point during the game. “It’s hard to play when it’s cold … it’s not the same.”

Despite failing to convert any of their early chances, Rayados ultimately pulled out the win over a team they’ve now beaten twice in as many qualifying campaigns. They’ll be glad to have their full team back in the spring and will be feeling confident about their chances of advancing.

“Oh I think we can go pretty far. We’ll see though,” said Okeke.

2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2: Sporting AZ defeats Inter EmpireWorks behind second half rally

October 25, 2017 by Adam Uthe

MORE: 2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Results/Schedule

Inter EmpireWorks FC took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but it wasn’t enough as Sporting AZ stormed back with goals from Cesar Mexia, David Alton, and Jose Ramos in the second half and advanced to the third round of US Open Cup qualifying with a 3-1 victory.

Inter came out of the gate strong, registering a shot on target within the first 60 seconds of the game. They finally broke Sporting’s defense down in the 32nd minute when William Arechiga received a quick pass from Daniel Frias and buried a low, driven shot into the back of the net. Inter kept the pressure up and had it not been for a stellar performance from Sporting goalkeeper Andrew Weber, the margin might have been wider at halftime.

Sporting, however, regrouped at the break and their second half rally got started in the 56th minute when they were awarded a questionable penalty that Cesar Mexia calmly converted past Inter goalkeeper Christopher Salado. Seven minutes later, Jose Ramos found David Alton at the top of the box and Alton finished his chance to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Ramos went on to score one himself to seal the win for Sporting in the 83rd minute.

WATCH: Sporting AZ FC vs. Inter Empireworks FC (Video Highlights)

The score line may not have accurately reflected Inter’s efforts, especially in the first half. Weber, a former MLS journeyman who has a handful of appearances to his name for five different MLS teams, finished the night with eight saves and had it not been for his efforts the outcome may have been different. He said as much after the game.

“We weathered the storm at the end and got the result. I’m very pleased about that.”

His coach, Aidan Davison, added that Sporting always had a chance to win; they just needed to take it.

“I think we were unfortunate to go down one-nil. We weren’t doing too much wrong. So it was a case of just sticking to the gameplan and believing in what we can do, and be effective, and we did that.”

Sporting won the Arizona Conference title during their inaugural season in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) this past spring, but Davison and nearly the entire roster were not part of that team. Regardless, after a solid opening win, they have momentum heading into their third round qualifier against Galati SC from the Arizona Champions League.

Sporting also has a solid Open Cup resume in it’s club history as they are a re-brand of the old Arizona Sahuaros, a club that has qualified for the tournament six times, twice as a D-3 Pro club (1998, 1999) and four times (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) as an amateur side.

That next match will take place on Nov. 18 with the winner becoming the sixth open division amateur team to make the tournament from Arizona. In addition to the Sahuaros’ four trips to the In fact, four of the five previous teams to qualify were the Arizona Sahuaros (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010), the club that has ties to Sporting AZ.

2017 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: BWP scores late winner as Red Bulls edge 10-man Revolution

July 13, 2017 by Adam Uthe

The New York Red Bulls celebrate their 1-0 win over the New England Revolution in the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his first ever US Open Cup goal and the New York Red Bulls defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 to advance to the Semifinals for the fifth time in franchise history.

It was heartbreak for New England, who had fallen to New York in MLS play just eight days prior on a 90th minute goal from the Red Bulls’ Gonzalo Veron. This time it was Wright-Phillips, who collected a perfect pass inside the box from Felipe Martins in the 88th minute with New England down a man after Benjamin Angoua was sent off. Wright Phillips spent the night tormenting the Revs and their fans on the campus of Harvard University.

Neither team looked particularly sharp at the beginning of the match. The first half was defined more by heavy touches, sloppy passes, and poor shooting, but New England looked the better of the two sides early on.

In the 12th minute, Diego Fagundez found himself in space on the left just outside the box and was cut down, setting up a dangerous free kick. The ensuing pass found a wide open Chris Tierney at the top of the box, but his shot went soaring over the crossbar.

Bradley Wright Phillips of the New York Red Bulls scores the game-winning goal against the New England Revolution in the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson

Minutes later, New York’s Aaron Long picked up a yellow card. In a sequence that summed up the first half pretty well, Lee Nguyen played a nice through ball into the box, but Fagundez held his run and the chance was wasted. Moments after that, Teal Bunbury went down right on the edge of the box and after a moment’s hesitation, referee Jorge Gonzalez awarded a free kick that was subsequently struck right into the wall by Tierney.

The Red Bulls fought back though and ended up finishing the half with some momentum, punctuated by a well hit shot by Wright-Phillips that was saved by Brad Knighton at his near post.

New York carried that momentum into the second half, winning the battle for possession and stringing more passes together in the final third. In the 68th minute, Wright-Phillips pulled down a long ball on the edge of the box and went down inside the box in a 50-50 scuffle but was ultimately hit with the penalty and the game remained scoreless.

Despite controlling the ball in the attacking third, the Red Bulls failed to create any shots on target until the 72nd minute when Daniel Royer got his head on a well hit cross, but his effort ended up in the hands of Knighton.

Bradley Wright Phillips of the New York Red Bulls rises up for a header against the New England Revolution in the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson

Things did not get any better for New England as, moments later, Benjamin Angoua was given a red card after having words with Jorge Gonzalez, who had just awarded the Red Bulls a free kick on the edge of the box and also booked Tierney with a yellow card. The ensuing free kick hit the crossbar though and New York continued to search for a goal with the man advantage.

In the 85th minute, Felipe hit a cross field pass to Sacha Kljestan, who hit it first time but the shot went right at Knighton. Then, two minutes later, Felipe played a perfect pass into the box to Wright-Phillips who, despite going to ground, calmly slotted it past Knighton for the winner.

New York advances to the Semifinals for the first time since 2003 despite scoring just three goals in their first three games of the 2017 Open Cup. The 2015 Philadelphia Union scored five goals in their five Open Cup games and ultimately fell to Sporting Kansas City in the final via a penalty shootout.

The Red Bulls will take on the winner of Miami FC-Cincinnati FC, which had been scheduled for Wednesday July 12, but was postponed due to weather.

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: Defending champ FC Dallas advances thanks to late Roughnecks own goal

June 15, 2017 by Adam Uthe

FC Dallas celebrates the game-winning goal against the Tulsa Roughnecks in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas

An own goal in second half stoppage time from Tulsa Roughnecks’ (USL) defender Modou Jadama sent FC Dallas (MLS) through to the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup with a 2-1 win after they had squandered several scoring opportunities throughout the second half. For the second straight year it looked as though FC Dallas would need extra time while playing at Southern Methodist University’s Westcott Field, but the pressure they applied to the Roughnecks paid off in the dying seconds of the match.

Both teams looked sluggish from the start; quite possibly due to the mid-90s heat radiating at kickoff. Neither managed to create much until the 28th minute when Tulsa captain Juan Pablo Caffa got free in the box and hit a well struck volley first time that rolled just wide of goal.

The chance seemed to wake the home side and three minutes later Dallas midfielder Coy Craft found himself in space on the left, via a pass from Ryan Hollingshead, and fired low and hard from the edge of the box to give the Hoops the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Cristian Colman broke through the Tulsa back line but was denied from point blank by Roughnecks goalkeeper Fabian Cerda. Reggie Cannon almost gave Dallas an insurance goal just before half, beating two defenders with two deft touches, but he lost control in the box and the opportunity was wasted.

The defending champion FC Dallas battled the Tulsa Roughnecks at Southern Methodist University in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas

As the sun set in the second half, both teams seemed to find a second wind; and not just in a positive way. Juan Pablo Caffa earned a yellow card in the 56th minute for arguing with the official. It seemed to fire up his team, because three minutes later — moments after Dallas replaced veteran playmaker with Carlos Remeno — Tulsa midfielder Kosuke Kimura got a good look in the box and tied the game up 1-1.

Dallas coach Oscar Pareja wasted no time and emptied his bench, bringing first team regulars Michael Barrios and Tesho Akindele on for homegrown stud Paxton Pomkyal and Coy Craft, respectively, in the 63rd minute. The switches worked and Dallas created several dangerous chances in the ensuing minutes, but failed to convert any of them.

They continued to press the visitors, but continually came up empty and it looked as though 90 minutes would not be enough to settle things; just as last year when Dallas needed a penalty kick shootout to take down another USL side in the OKC Energy in the Fourth Round.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Barrios put a low cross across the box that was redirected into the back of the net by Jadama. The referee blew the whistle almost immediately after play resumed and the defending champions could breathe a sigh of relief.

2017 Meet the Underdogs: In 45 minutes, Anahuac FC became Nevada’s first amateur US Open Cup entry in Modern Era

May 5, 2017 by Adam Uthe

With the number of teams qualifying for the US Open Cup steadily rising the past few years, it was inevitable that we’d meet some new teams from new places.

Enter FC Anahuac.

For the first time in the Modern Era (1995-present), an amateur team from the state of Nevada will enter the US Open Cup. (Reno 1868 FC are a first-time entry this year from the USL)

The club’s roots go back to a pair of brothers, Peter and Jose Perez, from Oxnard, Calif. who put a team together in 1966 to start playing against other Los Angeles-based teams. The current iteration of the team came to Las Vegas in 1991 and is run almost entirely by the tireless efforts of defender and coach Eduardo Arredondo.

As for the rest of the roster, one name stands out among the rest: Ramon Maldonado. The 29-year-old midfielder rejoins Anahuac after participating in the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Maldonado scored three of Mexico’s seven goals in the competition, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough as he and his countrymen were trounced 8-1 by Italy just before the quarterfinal round.

FC Anahuac currently play in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), a Southern California-based amateur league that has expanded in recent years to more than 70 members in California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Colorado. The UPSL has made waves recently by adding a form of promotion and relegation to its competitive structure. No other organized league with so many teams across the country utilizes such a system.

If the word “Anahuac” sounds familiar, it’s because it has had many different uses throughout Mexican culture. During the height of ancient Aztec civilization, it was the word used to describe the Basin of Mexico. The Anahuac Valley is another name for the Valley of Mexico and there is an Anahuac municipality in Nuevo Leon. There’s also the Anahuac University Network, a system of private higher education institutions throughout the country of Mexico.

Anahuac’s first-ever attempt to qualify for the US Open Cup could not have been easier. They won their first round qualifier after their opponents, Las Vegas Highrollers, had to forfeit. In Round 2, they took on MF 10, who actually were only able to trot out eight players to start the game. Anahuac went up 2-0 and MF 10 lost two more players (one was injured and could not continue, while the other was sent off) which forced the referee to call the game off at halftime.

So after playing a shorthanded team for 45 minutes, Anahuac punched their ticket to the tournament. Despite the relatively easy path to qualification, Arredondo is still confident that his team can do some damage in the tournament.

“I think we’ll win this one and then the next one will be very difficult,” said the do-it-all spokesman for the team. “I think we have a great team. I think we have a great defense … but it’s not going to be easy.”

Anahuac travels to Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, Calif. on Wednesday to take on NPSL side Sonoma County Sol. Should they meet their coach’s expectations and win their first game, Anahuac will attempt to slay United Soccer League (USL) giants Sacramento Republic in Round 2.

2017 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados back in US Open Cup after 2016 disqualification

May 1, 2017 by Adam Uthe

North Texas Rayados 2016 US Open Cup qualifying — North Texas Rayados prepare for their 2016 US Open Cup qualifying match vs. Austin. Photo: NTX Rayados

For the fifth time in six years, Dallas-based North Texas (NTX) Rayados will enter the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup fray.

“What happened in the off year?” you ask?

Last year, Rayados found themselves in a bit of controversy. It had qualified for the 2016 Open Cup and were all set to host Corinthians FC of San Antonio in the opening round; the visitors were in town and ready to go. But the night before the match was scheduled to take place, US Soccer disqualified the Rayados for failing to compete in a sanctioned league.

NTX Rayados compete in the North Texas Premier Soccer League. It had participated in league play in the fall of 2015, which allowed it to participate in qualifying for the 2016 Open Cup. However, because of a series of injuries and a lack of player availability, the Rayados were forced to drop out of NTPSL play in the spring of 2016. US Soccer discovered this during a roster check with the North Texas Premier Soccer Association and informed the squad about 24 hours before the 2016 First Round match.

The ruling meant the Rayados would miss the Open Cup for the first time since 2011. It seems off the field issues are the only thing that can keep the North Texas amateur powerhouse out of the Open Cup though as on the field it continues to be as dominant as ever.

North Texas are back for the 2017 Open Cup after a pair of thoroughly convincing wins in qualifying. It opened up with a 7-0 victory over Celtic Cowboy Premier and then took down CD Motagua of New Orleans in the second round of qualifying; both home wins. The result against Celtic Cowboy Premier was the first Open Cup-related match since the disqualification. When asked if the ruling had a motivating factor, player-coach Tito Salas was pretty forthcoming.

“For me personally, it left a hole … we’re always looking to improve and test ourselves against the next level in ,” he said.

The team holds weekly practices regularly and tends to recruit from smaller local-area colleges.

Salas, a former Richland College player, founded the team in 2011 as a means for him and some of his former teammates to keep playing at a high level. He is aware that he and his former teammates won’t be able to play forever though and they want the team’s success to continue on to the next generation.

“We try to keep the youth involved with us,” Salas said. “I think that people around the community see us involved in many different activities as well. A few of us are public school teachers, others are actively coaching within the (Dallas-Fort Worth) metroplex, not to mention the NTX Rayados Youth academy one of our players just started.”

Antonio Rodriguez, who is not on the Rayados Open Cup roster, launched the academy with seven teams from as young as four years old up to the Under-16 level. The team really has a feel of “more than a club”, to borrow from Spanish giants Barcelona. Even though the senior side couldn’t compete in the North Texas Premier Soccer League in 2016, it managed to stay fresh by playing against the likes of Dallas City FC, FC Dallas Academy teams, the NPSL’s Tulsa Athletic, Texas Spurs, and local rivals Legends FC and Liverpool Warriors. They happily play anyone, anytime, anywhere and are always anxious to prove themselves against local peers.

Although they continue qualify for the Open Cup year after year, results in the tournament itself have been a mixed bag. In 2014, NTX took down Austin Aztex (PDL) in a 4-4 match that ended with Rayados advancing via the penalty shootout. The victory was sweet for the North Texas side given that Austin won 3-0 in the previous year. It went on to put up a spirited fight against the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions, losing 4-2.

The Rayados hope 2017 is the year it can finally string together a run of wins and maybe even shock a MLS side. Open Cup fans might remember Dallas Roma FC’s then-historic run of three wins in 2006 when it took down MLS side Chivas USA on penalty kicks then lost to LA’s other MLS club, the Galaxy, in the Fourth Round.

Much like Dallas Roma FC, NTX Rayados drew the inspiration for their name from a professional club; in this case Mexican giants CF Monterrey. The team simply went by “Rayados” in its first season but decided to add “NTX” in order to broadcast its home base of Dallas.

2016 US Open Cup: Record-breaking Mauro Diaz ends FC Dallas’ title drought, named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

October 20, 2016 by Adam Uthe

Mauro Diaz prepares to lift the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophy with his FC Dallas teammates. Photo: FC Dallas

When it comes to awards, sometimes you just have to pick the best player from the best team. FC Dallas playmaker Mauro Diaz was comfortably voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

With two goals and five assists, Diaz became the first FC Dallas player and the first Argentine to earn Player of the Tournament honors. He is also just the third player to win that award and Player of the Round in the Final; the others were the Chicago Fire’s Andy Herron in 2006 and the New England Revolution’s Pat Noonan in 2007.

The Player of the Tournament award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Diaz was included on almost every ballot and won by a sizable margin with David Accam (Chicago Fire) and TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament winner Diego Restrepo (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) finishing tied for second place.

FC Dallas: 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champions. Photo: FC Dallas

Diaz secured the latter honor with a stellar five point performance (one goal, three assists) in his team’s comprehensive 4-2 win over the New England Revolution in this year’s final. He also won Player of the Round for the Semifinals when he assisted on the equalizer and the game-winner in the final seconds against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Between those two games alone, he racked up five assists, tying the Modern Era (1995-present) single-tournament record set by Diego Serna of the Miami Fusion in 2000.

The diminutive No.10 for arguably the best team in MLS this season started and went the distance in his side’s Round 4 and Round 5 matchups, scoring a penalty in the shootout in the former against Oklahoma City Energy (USL) and the equalizer in the latter against the Colorado Rapids (MLS). He started in the quarterfinals against rivals Houston Dynamo and almost went the distance before being subbed off in second half stoppage time to help kill time after Dallas took the lead late. In the semifinals, Diaz started and provided the assist on the 116th minute equalizer and the stoppage time winner against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Diaz saved his best performance for last, breaking the US Open Cup Final record (Modern Era) for most assists (3) and most points (5, one goal and three assists).

“Mauro’s performance tonight was what he has done – it’s a collection of what he’s done here this year,” head coach Oscar Pareja told MLSsoccer.com after the Final. “Mauro showed the heart of this club and he showed the heart of his teammates tonight.”

2017 US Open Cup qualifying: NTX Rayados rebound from last year’s disqualication with one-sided opening win

September 17, 2016 by Adam Uthe

Celtic Cowboys Premier and North Texas Rayados line up before their 2017 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Adam Uthe

Behind a pair of goals from Javan Goncalves Toledo and Gerardo Salas, the North Texas Rayados cruised comfortably to a 7-0 win over Celtic Cowboys Premier in the first round of qualifying for the 2017 US Open Cup. The North Texas powerhouse, no strangers to qualifying for the Open Cup out of Dallas, is looking to bounce back and return for the 2017 edition of the tournament after they were disqualified from the 2016 Cup for not playing in their league’s 2016 Spring season.

Rayados captain Tito Salas did say that the disqualification left the team feeling disappointed and motivated to move on.

“For me personally, it left a hole … we’re always looking to improve and test ourselves against the next level in .”, he said after the game.

The Rayados looked like a well-oiled machine as they passed circles around Celtic and controlled possession for much of the game. That shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise though, since Rayados typically recruit from Dallas-area colleges to fill out their roster. Celtic, conversely, as their name might suggest, are an Austin-based sport and social club founded in 2004 with a distinctly British flair and it showed throughout the game. They played with ten men behind the ball for much of the game and relied on a lone striker up top to try and get on the end of long balls over the top.

Midway through the first half, Rayados had frustrated the visitors to the point that several Celtic players began shouting at one another in frustration.

Not long after Celtic’s internal bickering began in the first half, NTX captain Tito Salas found himself in space 25 yards from goal and curled an exceptional shot into the upper right hand corner of the goal to give his side the breakthrough goal they had been well on their way to earning. Several minutes later, they earned their third corner of the first half and the set piece found the found center back Javan Goncalves Toledo, who calmly beat the keeper with his head. Salas found himself in the box again moments later, but his chip shot hit the crossbar and was subsequently cleared away, thus ending the first half.

Salas said he didn’t expect his goal to beat the goalkeeper.

“I mean, look at him…”, he said gesturing towards the Celtic keeper, who did appear to be all of six feet, three inches tall.

The second half started promising for Celtic. They registered their first shot on goal right out of the gate, but any momentum was quickly quashed as Toledo scored his second of the night, this time from a free kick after a hard Celtic foul. Midfielder Victor Pinal then added a fourth, crushing a powerful shot upper 90 from the edge of the box. The Salas goal parade continued for the home side as Luis Salas added the fifth and Gerardo Salas added the sixth and seventh goals to finish off the game for good.

Had they not been disqualified, NTX Rayados would’ve made it to their fifth consecutive tournament, a Modern Era (1995-present) record for an open division amateur team. Instead, they’ll have to “settle” for five out of six if they can make it to the 2017 tournament.

2016 US Open Cup Final: Historic night earns Mauro Diaz of FC Dallas another TheCup.us Player of Round award

September 14, 2016 by Adam Uthe

FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz broke several Modern Era (1995-present) US Open Cup records on Tuesday night as his side defeated the New England Revolution 4-2 to end the club’s 19-year trophy drought. That performance was more than enough to earn him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.

Diaz was involved in all four goals as he set new Modern Era records for assists in an Open Cup final (3) and points (5 – 1 goal, 3 assists). Both of those numbers could’ve been further inflated if his second half set piece delivery to Maxi Urruti that found the back of the net hadn’t been called back for an offside call.

The first assist from Diaz came in the 15th minute when he served a ball into the box from the right wing that found Urruti who volleyed home the early equalizer. In the 40th, Diaz collected the ball outside the box and chipped a perfectly-placed ball into the box where Matt Hedges dove and nodded it past the keeper to give the home team a 2-1 lead. Diaz added to the lead deep into first half stoppage time when he converted a penalty kick. His third assist came in the 61st minute when he sent a through ball in behind the last two defenders to Urruti who ran on to it and scored his second of the night.

Urruti, who also received strong consideration for the award, had an impressive night himself as he became just the fourth player in the Modern Era to score multiple goals in a final.

Adding his three assists on Tuesday night, Diaz also tied a tournament record with five assists, putting him level with the Miami Fusion’s Diego Serna, who tallied the same number back in the 2000 edition of the tournament with the Miami Fusion (MLS).

Diaz didn’t necessarily get off to a fast start in the tournament, but he did provide the set piece delivery for both of his team’s overtime goals against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the semifinals and he has been the team’s creative engine (he leads the team with 11 assists in MLS play) throughout their entire 2016 season.

Head Coach Oscar Pareja was quick to point out as much after the game on Tuesday night.

“Mauro’s performance tonight, I thought, was a collection of what he has done this year. Mauro showed the heart of this club.”, Pareja said of his side’s captain.

The voting between Diaz and Urruti was closer than some might’ve expected, but at the end of the day he deserved the award for being the best player on the field until he exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd in the 82nd minute.

Diaz, who won the award for his two-assist Semifinal performance against the Los Angeles Galaxy, becomes just the fourth player since 2006 to win back-to-back Player of the Round awards. He joins Pat Noonan of the New England Revolution (2007 Semifinals, Final), Nate Jaqua of the Seattle Sounders (2010 Quarterfinals, Semifinals) and Danny Barrera of Cal FC (2012 First Round, Second Round).

Dallas’ midfield meistro remains the only Argentinian to win the award. Expect his name to also come up when the Player of the Tournament voting takes place.

TheCup.us Player of the Round is voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Click here to see the full list of 2016 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners