Brandon Gee

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Portland Timbers 2 travel to Detroit to face Michigan Bucks, the PDL giant killers (preview, live video, updates)

May 19, 2015 by Brandon Gee

Detroit United at Ultimate Soccer Arenas — Tuesday’s game will be the 8th US Open Cup game ever played indoors. Seven of them have been held here, at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich.

Though they were the home team, the Michigan Bucks were forced to face a hostile crowd as Detroit City and their faithful caravaned 30 minutes north to the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. Despite the noise, the Bucks still easily dispatched many Open Cup watchers’ sentimental favorite with a 3-0 victory. Now in Round 2, one of the Open Cup’s most successful amateur sides faces its first professional club of the year as the USL’s Portland Timbers 2 travel to Michigan Tuesday evening. The match will be the eighth US Open Cup game ever played indoors, with seven of them hosted by the Bucks at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

There is online video available for the game and fans can follow the action with the hashtag #USOC2015.

Portland Timbers 2 (USL) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, MI – 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: ONLINE VIDEO
Winner will play winner of Seattle Sounders 2 / Kitsap Pumas
(If Kitsap wins, Michigan/Portland will host, If Seattle wins, the Sounders host)

Portland Timbers 2 Open Cup records
First US Open Cup game

Michigan Bucks Open Cup records
Overall: 13-10-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 9-7-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. Div. 3: 7-4-0
Last entry: 2014 (Lost 1-0 in OT vs. RWB Adria of USASA in Round 2
Best finish: 2012 Fourth Round (Lost 2-1 in OT vs. Dayton Dutch Lions)

The Bucks have a long history in the USOC and tonight will mark the club’s 25th match in the tournament. No stranger to having faced professional teams, the Bucks have posted a respectable 9-8-1 record against pro clubs, including a 7-4 record against teams at the USL level (Division 3).

After finishing off DCFC in the First Round play last Wednesday, the Bucks opened their PDL season with a strong 2-0 victory over TFC Academy with goals from their captain Tom Owens and forward David Goldsmith (who also scored against DCFC). The team employed the same high-tempo, attacking style that shut Detroit down.

Timbers 2 enters the tournament with current USL record of 3-3-2, sitting at 7th in Western Conference. Though this is the first test in the USOC for the reserve side, the club features several players who were part of the Timbers U23 club that nearly upset the USL’s Arizona United in last year’s Second Round. The team has also featured a number of players this season who have spent time with the MLS side in recent years including GK Daniel Withrow (a former Bucks player) and Will Johnson, a MLS star who is working his way back from injury, though it’s doubtful Portland will allow these guys to be cup-tied to the USL side.

Michigan Bucks vs. Chicago Fire - 2012 Third Round — The last time the Bucks hosted a pro team at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas, they upset Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire back in 2012.

Two names the Bucks will need to contain, however, are the duo of Rundell Winchester and Kharlton Belmar.

Winchester, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, played both semi-pro and professionally in Trinidad and has made a number of appearances for the T&T National Team. He’s built on his burgeoning pro career in his first season stateside with two goals for Timbers 2, including a late equalizer this past Saturday against Real Monarchs.

Belmar, the VCU product and Timbers U23 alumnus is lighting up the USL in his first year of professional play with five goals in eight games, good for 3rd in the USL scoring race. This video features a two-goal performance from the young forward early in the USL season. He’ll be sure to cause problems for the Bucks backline.

Fitness might be a concern for Portland, though. As the USL schedule divides teams between Eastern and Western Conferences, this match will be Portland’s longest roadtrip of the season, and it comes after the club already had to travel to play at altitude Saturday evening in Utah(a 1-1 draw vs Real Monarchs).

These are two young attacking teams. If the Bucks can get an early score and PDX’s fitness proves to be a problem, we may be in line for an upset.

The Timbers senior team has an unfortunate record in Open Cup play, with two upset losses to USASA clubs (one as a USL-1 side, and the other as a MLS team). The Timbers will aim to change that reputation and avoid adding to the Bucks’ Modern Era record for pro team upsets.

The winner of this match will go on to face the winner of tomorrow’s match between Seattle Sounders 2 (USL) and Kitsap Pumas (PDL).

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: West Virginia Chaos hold off Fort Pitt Regiment to earn state’s first tournament win

May 18, 2015 by Brandon Gee

The rivalry between West Virginia and Pittsburgh area sports fans ran deep. Through the college football series ended a few years ago, soccer picked up the mantle tonight as the West Virginia Chaos took on and defeated the NPSL’s Fort Pitt Regiment 1-0 at Charleston’s Schoenbaum Stadium.

It was a historic night for West Virginia soccer fans as this marked the first US Open Cup game ever played in Mountain State, and the Chaos are the first team from the state to ever qualify.

The Chaos struck early as Daniel Smee headed in a corner kick from Daniel Stratford in the 5th minute. The clubs then went back-and-forth pushing through the other’s defense, then having to settle for a corner and attempting to knock in another set piece. Alas, neither team could get past the keeper and the half would end 1-0 in favor of the Chaos.

Tactics changed in the second half as the Chaos collapsed in, basically parked the bus and gave Fort Pitt free reign with possession. Unfortunately, the Regiment’s early season form showed its weaknesses as the team struggled to put passes together, impairing Fort Pitt’s attack. Still, West Virginia keeper Sean Teepen was forced to make a number saves early in the half highlighted in the 58th minute when he punched away a free kick from 30 yards out, then fought off the Regiment’s back-to-back corner kicks.

As fatigue set in late, play opened up for Fort Pitt as they fought for the equalizer but the scoreline would hold.

The West Virginia-Pittsburgh series doesn’t stop here as now the Chaos will travel to face the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds at the Highmark Stadium in Round 2 on Wednesday, May 20.

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: New England Revolution continue dominance of Rochester Rhinos, 2-1 (video)

June 26, 2014 by Brandon Gee

The New England Revolution celebrate one of their two goals in their 2-1 win over the Rochester Rhinos. Photo: Kari Heistad (capturedimages.biz) for NESoccerToday.com

Two former Open Cup champs met at Stevenson Field, on the campus of Brown University in Providence, RI for their Fifth Round US Open Cup match. USL PRO’s Rochester Rhinos (who won the tourney as a member of the USL’s A-League in 1999) faced MLS’ New England Revolution (2007 champs) for a spot in the quarterfinals.

This was the sixth meeting all-time between the two clubs, with New England taking 4 of the 5 previous matches. Rochester was surely angling to enact a bit of revenge on the Revs after last year’s 5-2 loss.

Alas, it would not be the Rhinos night. Behind the play of Lee Nyugen, New England took a two-goal lead in the first half and held off a renewed effort from Rochester in the second to secure the 2-1 win.

Nguyen created the opportunity for the first Revs goal in the ninth minute.

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Streaking into the box and drawing the Rochester defense, Nguyen dished the ball to Saer Sene who dribbled around a defender to the left side of the Rhinos net, then shot the ball past Rochester keeper John McCarthy into the net’s lower right corner. From there, the Rhinos tried to gather their composure but fell prey to a number of Revs clearances spun into scoring opportunities.

In the 25th minute, a long ball to Sene near the midfield turned into a Revs scoring chance when Sene ran down the left side to the box, passed it to Steve Neumann at the top, who in turn sent a pass to the right to Caldwell. He fired the ball just wide of the Rochester net.

The Revs struck again on a similar play with Nguyen charging from the left side, sending a shot soaring to McCarthy, who made the save but couldn’t control the rebound. Kelyn Rowe was right there to knock it past the keeper in the 33rd minute. That goal was Rowe’s sixth Open Cup goal in five games (across three years).

Rochester controled play early in the second half. The Rhinos put together a number of passes but failed to get a serious challenge at the New England net until the 55th minute. The Rhinos finally broke through when Jonny Mendoza sent a cross over the box from the left side and Colin Rolfe deflected it past the Revs’ with a header from the penalty spot towards the far post.

With Nguyen being subbed off at halftime, the Revolution clearly missed his playmaking ability in the second half and despite Charlie Davies coming on in the 60th minute, the team just couldn’t mount any sustained pressure. Couple that with Rochester’s desperate attempts to level the score which made for some tense moments. That was until the 89th minute when Rochester went down to 10 men as Babacar Diallo earned a red card on a serious foul on New England’s Patrick Mullins (plus a kick when Mullins was down). This all but sealed Rochester’s fate as stoppage time would finish with New England claiming the victory.

New England moves on the the Quarterfinal Round where it will travel to Philadelphia to face the Union at PPL Park on July 8.

Brandon Gee is a freelance writer who works for a variety of media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @utpbrandon.

HIGHLIGHTS/INTERVIEWS: ROCHESTER AT NEW ENGLAND

FULL MATCH REPLAY: ROCHESTER AT NEW ENGLAND

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: 9-man Columbus Crew get OT penalty kick to get past Indy Eleven 2-1 (video)

June 18, 2014 by Brandon Gee

After finding themselves down to nine players, the Columbus Crew found a way to hold off the upset bid from their NASL foe, the Indy Eleven, with a converted penalty late in extra time.

After an early goal by the Crew’s Bernardo Anor in the 4th minute, the hosts were in good shape until the 34th minute when Adam Bedell was sent off for a bad tackle. Indy wouldn’t level the match until the 62nd minute, as the match ended up going to overtime. In the extra frame, Columbus’ Daniel Paladini was shown the team’s second red card. However, the MLS side caught a break as their NASL opponents were called for a foul in the box and Jairo Arrieta put the Crew in front to stay to give them their first win over a second-tiered club since 2010.

Before a crowd of 1,913 at the University of Akron’s First Energy Stadium, the match started out with the Crew exploiting gaps in the Eleven defense and the Crew struck early. In the 4th minute, Ben Speas put a corner kick over the box and Anor was there to head the ball past Indy keeper Kristian Nicht.

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Following the gaffe, the Eleven’s backline tightened up, particularly Fejiro Okiomah, who made a number of defensive clearances over the next ten minutes. The Crew’s continued pressure broke through again as Adam Bedell headed down a cross from Hector Jimenez in the 15th minute after a scramble in front of the Indy goal but had it called back due to offsides. Though the Crew dominated possession through the first half, Indy had a number of solid scoring chances, including a header by Chris Estridge in the 20th minute that saw Crew keeper Steve Clark dive and knock the ball away as it was headed to the lower left corner.

The dynamic of the first half changed in the 32nd minute, when Bedell went in on a dangerous challenge to Indy’s Estridge. Initially, the referee issued Bedell a caution but after conversing with the fourth official, decided to rescind the yellow card and give a red instead. The referee clarified that the yellow was rescinded due to Bedell’s challenge being particularly high, putting the targeted player at serious risk. The Crew were now down to 10 men with nearly two-thirds of the game still to play.

Momentum swung Indy’s way in the second. Don Smart came on for Mendes to start the half and provided an instant spark to the Eleven attack. Minutes into the half, Smart sent a shot through the Crew goal box that nearly sent Clark tumbling in order to get into position and later set up Blake Smith for the equalizer in the 62nd minute, a pass to the top of box that Smith took, evading a defender before slotting it past the keeper. Minutes later, Nicht made a huge save for the Eleven as Ethan Finlay streaked around his defender and put a shot to the lower right side that Nicht kicked away.

Being up a man, Indy dominated possession through most of the second half and forced the Crew backline to defend a number of chances. Indy’s Ben Spencer nearly had the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute before being called back due to offsides as the match stayed tied after regulation time.

In the first extra time, possession balanced out with the teams trading chances but neither scored. Into the second period, Paladini’s flagrant elbow in the 110th minute earned the Crew midfielder a straight red, putting Columbus down two players late in the match. Perhaps fatigue caught up with the Eleven, but the Crew didn’t appear to be rattled by the latest infraction, defending aggressively and tying up possession.

In the 113th minute, Columbus worked the ball to the Indy end, where it ended up at the feet of Finlay, who attempted a run from the left side of the box. His defender Brad Ring made the unfortunate mistake of taking Finlay down in the area, with a penalty awarded to the Crew as extra time dwindled away. Arrieta scored on the PK and put Columbus up for good.

Columbus now awaits the winner of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds/Chicago Fire match to see where they’ll be playing in next week’s Fifth Round matchups.

REPLAY: INDY ELEVEN AT COLUMBUS CREW

2014 US Open Cup Round 1 review: Close games, PKs, forfeit highlight opening round

May 12, 2014 by Brandon Gee

Pioneers_-_#2_Jayme_Kapinos — Jayme Kapinos and his Western Mass Pioneers enjoyed the only decisive win of the round, beating GPS Massachusetts, 4-1. Photo: David Henry | sweetdogphotos.com

This past Wednesday saw the First Round of the 101st Edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. 16 amateur teams were scheduled to square off — but only 7 matches took place — for the right to move on in one of the world’s longest running soccer competitions.

MORE: Vlad Baciu’s brace for RWB Adria earns him TheCup.us Player of the Round

Red Force (USASA) 2:1 Colorado Rovers (USSSA)
Miami-based Red Force got stuck with the unenviable task of having to travel all the way to Highlands Ranch, Colo. midweek for their Open Cup game against the USSSA’s Colorado Rovers. However, Red Force rose to the challenge of traveling as well as having to play at altitude and stunned a Rovers side led by former MLS players Colin Clark and Ritchie Kotschau.

After Clark put the Rovers up in the 30th minute, Red Force fought off a number of challenges by managed to equalize on a Daniel Gomez penalty kick in the second half. David Olguin would send the Red Force to their first Open Cup win in team history with a long-range strike in the 81st minute. With the win, Red Force becomes the first USASA club from Florida to win a tournament game in 13 years. The win also earns Red Force another long road trip this week for their second round as they travel to Texas to take on the PDL’s Laredo Heat. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]

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L.A. Misioneros (USL PDL) 1(2):1(3) PSA Elite (USASA)
The even play of the scoreless first half of the game went away in the 61st minute when PSA defender Noah Gaines was sent off for his second yellow. PSA was forced to adjust their play and managed to hold off L.A.’s attack. The game would remain scoreless through regulation but in the first period of extra time, the Misioneros’ finally broke the deadlock with a goal by Javier Castro. Reeling after the goal and with only 15 minutes of play left, PSA regrouped and pushed their offense forward. After PSA’s Jose Ferciado was taken down in the box, he converted the PK to level the score. The game went on to PKs and again, Ferciado scored the decisive winner to send PSA Elite to the second round. PSA Elite will now travel to San Diego to face the San Diego Flash. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]

CD Aguiluchos (NPSL) 1:2 Ventura County Fusion (USL PDL)
Ventura County scored two second half goals to erase a 1-goal deficit against the NPSL’s CD Aguiluchos USA. The win earned the Fusion a place in history as they became the first PDL side to earn an Open Cup victory in four consecutive years. The team has also made five consecutive appearances in the tourney, one shy of the current record for amateur teams. The Fusion now go on to face USL Pro’s Sacramento Republic FC at the Republic’s training site, Cosumnes River College Stadium. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]

RWB Adria (USASA) 2(3):2(1) Detroit City FC (NPSL)
One of the NPSL’s best hopes to advance in the tourney fell in their opening match. In a contentious game before the opening round’s biggest crowd in Livonia, Mich., Adria would strike first and take a 1-0 lead into halftime. DCFC’s undisciplined play plagued them throughout the match with numerous offside calls but they would take control with goals in the 70th and 77th minutes by Zach Myers and Kevin Taylor, respectively. Unfortunately for Le Rouge, RWB’s Vlad Bacia would break through a scrum in second half stoppage time to get his second goal of the night and the equalizer. Things fell apart in the extra periods. DCFC lost a man due to injury, then RWB lost a man on a bad challenge in the 109th, and dual red cards brought both teams down to nine players. With the game still tied, it went on to penalty kicks, where Adria would prevail. RWB will now return back to Michigan next week to take on the Michigan Bucks in their indoor stadium in Pontiac, Mich. on Wednesday. FULL MATCH REPORT [+]

Western Mass Pioneers (USL PDL) 4:1 GPS Massachusetts (USASA)
Western Mass came out flat and paid for it when GPS Massachusetts’ (formerly Mass Premier Soccer) Santiago Bedoya, the brother of US National Team regular Alejandro Bedoya, scored in the 7th minute. The rest of the half wasn’t much better as the Pioneers played on their heels and generated few offensive chances, but in the second, the Pioneers came alive in front of their home fans. Western Mass dominated play, scoring four unanswered goals, all in the last 20 minutes of play, to win convincingly over GPS in the round’s only decisive result. The Pioneers now have to travel to face USL Pro’s Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]

Vermont Voltage (PDL) 1:2 New York Red Bulls U23s (NPSL)
In the match at the Red Bull Training Center, the Red Bulls would make two first half goals stand up to earn their first Open Cup win in team history. Scott Thomsen (18th min.) and Kendan Anderson (35th min.) had New York’s goals. In the second half, Vermont, was forced to play a more aggressive game in order to generate offense and get back in the game. The Voltage would net one in the 68th as New York’s keeper got a hand on a blast by Adrian Saldana, but couldn’t keep the ball out of the net. Despite the heavy attack, New York’s defense held Vermont off and the Red Bulls would take a 2-1 win. The Red Bulls, or ‘Baby Bulls’ as some fans refer to them, will head to Pittsburgh next to face the USL Pro’s Riverhounds in Round 2. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]

FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL) 1:0 (AET) GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
Lehigh Valley had to make the 7-hour bus ride up to Portland, Maine to face GPS in their first round matchup, but made it worth their while with a 1-0 victory. The Sonic would break the deadlock with a goal from Shastri Spencer at 115’ of the second extra time period. GPS put up one last offensive flurry in the final minutes but the Sonic keeper held them off for LV to get the victory. Lehigh Valley now moves on to host USL Pro’s Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round. FULL MATCH REPORT WITH VIDEO [+]

SC Corinthians USA (US Club Soccer) vs. San Diego Flash (NPSL)
San Diego Flash (NPSL) advance to the second round due to SC Corinthians forfeiting due to not having enough players registered on time. The Flash will now host PSA Elite in the 2nd round. READ MORE ABOUT THE FORFEIT HERE [+]

SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
May 14, unless noted otherwise

Arizona United SC (USL Pro) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Providence Park; Portland, Ore. – May 13, 10 p.m. ET

Jacksonville United FC (NPSL) at Orlando City U23s (PDL)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 4:30 p.m. ET

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) at Schwaben AC (USASA)
Schwaben Athletic Club; Buffalo Grove, Ill. – 5 p.m. ET

Icon FC (USASA) at Baltimore Bohemians (PDL)
UMBC Stadium; Baltimore, Md. – 7 p.m .ET

NY Red Bulls U-23s (NPSL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET

New York Greek American Atlas (USASA) at Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL)
Carey Stadium; Ocean City, N.J. – 7 p.m. ET

Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL) at Reading United A.C. (PDL)
Gurski Stadium; Reading, Pa. – 7 p.m. ET

Richmond Kickers (USL Pro) at RVA FC (Richmond Virginia FC) (NPSL)
Sports Backers Stadium; Richmond, Va. – 7 p.m. ET

Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro) at FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL)
Whitehall H.S. Soccer Stadium; Whitehall, Pa. – 7:05 p.m ET

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro)
Queens University Sports Complex; Charlotte, N.C. – 7 p.m. ET

RWB Adria (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, Mich. – 7:30 p.m. ET

Ocala Stampede (PDL) at Orlando City (USL Pro)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. – 7:30 p.m. ET

Panama City Beach Pirates (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL Pro)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C. – 7:30 p.m. ET

Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn. – 7:30 p.m. ET

Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL Pro)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y. – 7:35 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) at Jersey Express (PDL)
NJIT Soccer Stadium; Newark, N.J. – 8 p.m. ET

Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL Pro) at Tulsa Athletics (NPSL)
Tulsa Athletics Stadium; Tulsa, Okla. – 8:30 p.m. ET

Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) at Des Moines Menace (USASA)
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa – 8:30 p.m. ET

North Texas Rayados (USASA) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
House Park; Austin, Texas – 8:30 p.m. ET

Orange County Blues (USL Pro) at Fresno Fuego (PDL)
Chukchansi Park; Fresno, Calif. – 9 p.m. ET

Red Force (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas – 9:15 p.m. ET

Sacramento Republic (USL Pro) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College; Ventura, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET

PSA Elite (USASA) at San Diego Flash (NPSL)
Mira Mesa High School; San Diego, Calif. – 10 p.m. ET

Cal FC (USASA) at LA Galaxy II (USL Pro)
StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium; Carson, Calif. – 10:30 p.m. ET

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Charleston edges San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 as Battery bag ninth win against MLS

May 30, 2013 by Brandon Gee

The Charleston Battery claimed their ninth victory all-time over an MLS Open Cup opponent in the US Open Cup Tuesday night, edging the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Blackbaud Stadium in the Third Round on a 73^rd minute goal from Colin Falvey.

The Earthquakes came into the contest with a 0-4-2 road record in league play while the host Battery were unbeaten at home in USL Pro action.

The first half initially saw each team’s defense lock down their respective ends, knocking away many potential scoring chances through the first 20 minutes of play. The half’s major chances came from the perimeter as San Jose’s Mike Fucito broke through midfield but was forced wide by Battery defenders before getting a dangerous shot off that Charleston’s Colin Falvey had to clear off the line. The Earthquakes would push a few moments later as Brad Ring sent a header towards the goal’s left side forcing Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper diving to push the ball away.

Charleston mounted their own attack but a combination of less than stellar passing plus the overall aggressive play of San Jose kept the Battery attack at bay. Charleston managed a couple runs that broke past the San Jose midfield but were forced to cycle many of chances around the perimeter, testing Quakes keeper David Bingham on only a couple occasions. That same aggressive play would earn the Quakes three yellow cards in the scoreless first half.

The second half would see Charleston answer the physical play, hoping to lure San Jose into making a game-changing mistake, especially when play involved the three Quakes already with yellow cards. The sides traded chances but both would struggle to get shots on net. Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 73rd minute after the Battery’s Zach Prince was taken down outside the far-left corner of the area. A free kick by Jose Cuevas was knocked past the San Jose keeper by a Falvey header.

Shortly after Ring picked up his second yellow and was ejected from the game, forcing the Quakes to push for the equalizer with only 10 men. Despite the heavy pressure San Jose applied, Charleston would collapse their defense and turn away everything San Jose could throw at them.

The victory was the first for Charleston against an MLS opponent since 2010 having previously defeated DC United (1999), MetroStars (2001, 2004), Houston Dynamo (2007, 2008), FC Dallas (2008), Chivas USA (2009) and Chicago Fire (2010) prior to this year.

The Battery now advance to the Open Cup’s Fourth Round and will face Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, June 12.

Scoring Summary

CHB: Colin Falvey (Jose Cuevas) 73’

Discipline

SJ: Justin Morrow (caution) 28

SJ: Steven Lenhart (caution) 30

SJ: Brad Ring (caution) 40

CHB: Jose Cuevas (caution) 45

CHB: Nicki Paterson (caution) 62

SJ: Brad Ring (caution / ejection) 74

Attendance: 1954

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Columbus Crew avenge last year’s upset, defeat Dayton Dutch Lions 2-1

May 30, 2013 by Brandon Gee

Exactly one year ago to the day, the Dayton Dutch Lions went into Columbus Crew Stadium and shocked Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew with two goals in the last 11 minutes on their way to a 2-1 win. This year, Columbus would start five regulars including Eddie Gaven and 2012’s MLS Newcomer of the Year, Federico Higuain to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. The Crew would dominate most of the rematch before Dayton attempted to recreate last year’s heroics. However, it was the Crew who would take the late lead and held on to a 2-1 victory over the USL Pro side.

For the Crew, they snapped a franchise worst three-game losing streak in the tournament that dated back to the 2010 US Open Cup Final. After losing to the Sounders that year, they were the victims of consecutive one-and-done upsets to the Richmond Kickers in 2011 and the Lions last year. All three losses were by the score of 2-1. This year, they flipped the score around.

The Crew came out with an aggressive attack and kept play in Dayton’s end for much of the first ten minutes. The MLS side kept the Dutch Lion defense on their heels with heavy passing as they dominated possession. Momentum stayed in the Crew’s favor as Dutch Lions defender Brock Granger earned a straight red card in the 14th minute for a two-footed tackle just outside the penalty area on Gaven. The infraction forced the now short-handed Lions to move Shintaro Harada from the midfield back to defense.

Despite the Crew’s offense running the first half, they struggled to get shots on net, only testing Dayton keeper Josh Williams on a few occasions.

Neither side made any roster changes as the second half started, and Columbus would finally break through in the 52’ as Gaven knocked down a pass from Higuain and put it past the Dayton keeper from a tight angle.

After taking the lead, Columbus seemed to fall back a bit, a similar situation from last year’s game and right on cue, Dayton picked up their offense.

Following a back and forth exchange of possession, Dayton would finally break through in the 78th minute as Shane Smith took an assist from Klaasse and put the equalizer past the Crew’s Matt Lampson. Dayton nearly took the lead in the 82nd minute as Brandon Swartzendruber got a shot past Lampson only to see Crew defender Eric Gehrig clear the loose ball off the goalline.

Despite the late surge by Dayton, the Crew would answer and regain the lead in the 84th minute on a goal by Justin Meram, sending a ball from outside the penalty area past the keeper Williams. Gaven got the assist on Meram’s goal and would end up going down minutes later with an injury in the 88th minute. If the injury turns out to be something serious, it could be a big blow to Columbus as Gaven, despite his scoring struggles this year, has remained a veteran leader for the club.

Through the rest of the match, including five minutes of stoppage time, the Crew were content to just hold possession and burn out the clock. The Columbus Crew would survive the late flurry to avenge last year’s defeat and advance in the Open Cup for the first time since 2010.

The Crew will now go on to face their rivals, the Chicago Fire, at Chicago’s Toyota Park for the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 12th. Chicago defeated the Crew at Toyota Park in MLS play last month 1-0 off a goal by Jeff Larentowicz.

U.S. Open Cup – Third Round – Columbus Crew vs. Dayton Dutch Lions

5/29/2013 – Columbus Crew Stadium

Scoring:

CLB: Gaven (Higuian) 52’

DAY: Smith (Klaasse) 78’

CLB: Meram (Gaven) 84’

Discipline:

DAY: Granger – Red 14’

DAY: Lord – Yellow 37’

CLB: Glauber – Yellow 55’

CLB: Schoenfeld – Yellow 76’

Attendance: 1,302

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: Dayton Dutch Lions down Dearborn during meltdown in OT 4-1

May 22, 2013 by Brandon Gee

A year ago the Dayton Dutch Lions were still winless in league play as they narrowly advanced in the Second Round and stunned the Columbus Crew in the Third Round en route to a surprising run to the tournament Quarterfinals. This seems to have given the side new life, as they own a winning record for the latest time in the season since moving from the PDL to USL Pro. However, they faced a stiff challenge during regulation from an amateur Dearborn Stars side, though that story completely changed in extra time. The Dutch Lions kept their cool and scored, while the Stars lost theirs and ended the 4-1 home side victory down to eight men.

As the first half kicked off, the Dutch Lions came out aggressive, dominating possession for much of the half. Dearborn immediately played tight defense to keep the Dutch Lions on the perimeter, and countered the tight passing with physical challenges, attempting to unsettle the USL Pro side. Through 25 minutes it seemed inevitable that the Dutch Lions would score as they sent chance after chance toward Stars keeper Vito Lonigro.

After sitting tight for much of the game, it was the Stars that struck first, however, off a counter following a Dutch Lions corner kick. Stars defender Mike Haidar sent a cross to Mo Kaba to get the visitors on the board in the 27th minute.

After being forced to regroup, the Dutch Lions caught a break in the 43rd minute when a Stars player hit the ground due to an errant elbow, The referee nearby stood over the player to assess if there was an injury, but play was never stopped, and no foul assesed. The Stars players in their defensive half just stopped moving, waiting for a whistle or a card, allowing the Dutch Lions’ Joseph Madigan to casually jog on in and put the ball past Lonigro to even the game up. The Stars immediately objected to the goal and felt it was bad sportsmanship on the part of the Lions to continue play. Nevertheless, the goal stood and half ended even.

The second half saw Dayton dominating possession once again, but Dearborn came out with more confidence and were able to mount a more organized offense. The Stars continued their physical play, going overboard when Mo Kaba was handed a straight red card in the 57th minute. Kaba made a very rough tackle on Dayton defender Jeremy Cheeseman, and his exit left his squad down a man.

One might expect an amateur squad who’s down to 10 men to bunker in again, however, Dearborn managed the space incredibly well, almost negating Dayton’s advantage. Through the last ten minutes of regulation, it was Dearborn that had the Dutch Lions on their heels. Keeper Matt Williams was forced to make some big saves, including on a looping 40-yard strike in the 88th minute that Williams had to leap and bump with his fingertips to send over the crossbar, ultimately saving the tie and forcing it to extra time.

From the start of extra session, Dayton came out focused. Their attack paid off in the 96th minute when Gibson Bardsley blazed down the left flank and fired a rocket past the Stars keeper for his second goal of the night.

Dearborn were clearly frustrated after losing the lead in the extra time they felt the game should have never went to, and started to break down, with the Stars answering Dayton goals with red cards instead of more goals. First, Joe Beshara was sent off in stoppage time of the first extra time period, leaving Dearborn down to nine. Shortly after that, the Dutch Lions would get a little insurance early in the second half of overtime when Tjeerd Westdjik put a ball through to Joel Delass to give them a 3-1 lead.

Nik Djokic then retaliated, not in the scoring sense that he brought to last week’s 2-0 win against the Michigan Bucks, but rather with a flagrant arm to the face of a Dayton player. He was also shown a straight red with seven minutes left, leaving the Stars with only eight men on the field. Dayton would add insult to Dearborn’s injury, when DeLass would return the favor to Westdjik, setting him up in the 119th minute to leave no uncertainty to the Dutch Lions victory.

The Dutch Lions now move on to the third round and a rematch from last year’s tournament, returning to Columbus Crew Stadium next Wednesday. It was a Third Round match in May of last year when the upstart Dutch Lions stunned the home crowd with a 2-1 upset win. After the Crew dominated most of the game, leading 1-0, the Lions executed some late scoring chances to beat the MLS side on their way to last year’s tourney quarterfinals. One would expect Columbus will be on their guard to avoid another embarrassment this year as the Crew’s head coach Robert Warzycha and an assistant coach were in the stands Tuesday to scout the competition.

Dayton Dutch Lions 4:1 Dearborn Stars SC

May 21, 2013 – Miami Valley Hospital Stadium, Beavercreek, Ohio

Scoring:

DEA – Mo Kaba 27’

DAY – Joseph Madigan, 43’

DAY – Gibson Bardsley, 96’

DAY – Joel DeLass (Tjeerd Westdjik) 107’

DAY – Tjeerd Westdjik (Joel DeLass) 119’

Discipline:

DEA – Zach Wilkes (Yellow) 45

DEA – Mo Kaba (Red) 57

DAY – Tjeerd Westdijk (Yellow) 101

DEA – Nik Djokic (Yellow) 104

DEA – Joe Beshara (Red) 105

DEA – Nik Djokic (Red) 113