Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Cameron Milledge

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: In battle of Orange County, the Football Club upsets the Soccer Club in PKs

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Orange County FC celebrates after their 2019 US Open Cup Second Round match against Orange County SC. OCFC won 5-3 in PKs after a 2-2 draw to become just the 5th NPSL team to upset a pro team. Photo: Glenn Feingerts
Orange County FC celebrates after their 2019 US Open Cup Second Round match against Orange County SC. OCFC won 5-3 in PKs after a 2-2 draw to become just the 5th NPSL team to upset a pro team. Photo: Glenn Feingerts

In the inaugural “Is it soccer or football?” derby, Orange County Football Club of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) eliminated Orange County Soccer Club in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the Third Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Orange County SC, a professional side competing in the USL Championship, seemed to be on their way with a Third Round date with the Las Vegas Lights. OCSC had a 2-1 lead heading into second half stoppage time but a Ryan Holland goal two minutes into stoppage time sent the game into extra time.

After a scoreless 30 minutes of extra time, Orange County FC goalkeeper David Preys capped off an exceptional performance with a save in the opening round of the penalty kick shootout. That stop would prove to be crucial as OCFC would convert all five of their attempts to punch their ticket to Round 3 for the first time in club history.

OCFC manager and former US international Paul Caligiuri was over the moon about his team’s performance.

“We conceded an unfortunate goal in the first half but we were able to come back and tie it,” said Caligiuri. “The fans enjoyed it and the players never gave up. Then we went down 2-1 late in the game and we tie it 2-2. It think it shows a lot of character of what we stand for … we showed the will, drive, and the never-say-die attitude and it paid off today.”

At the start of the first half, OCSC controlled much of the play. They were composed on the ball and the away side struggled to get it.

The OCSC struck first in the 14th minute as OCFC centerback Joshua Davis headed it into his own goal.

OCSC still controlled the match after the goal, but OCFC started to find their footing by disrupting play in midfield. OCFC would get the equalizer in the 28th minute against the run of play as Aaron Cervantes was forced to make a save on a 2-on-1 situation, but forward Dakota Collins hit home the rebound.

OCSC had two good chances to re-take the lead, but OCFC keeper David Preys was up to the task. He denied forward Jerry van Wolfgang from six yards out and parried away a shot outside of the 18-yard box.

OCSC made an offensive change bringing on Harry Forrester for Charlie Adams at the start of halftime. The English international would make his presence felt moments later as he forced Preys into another brilliant save in the 48th minute.

OCSC then put Brazilian upstart Vinicius on to add more attacking options, subbing off Danny Chrisostomo.

Van Wolfgang put in a threatening cross and midfielder Aodhan Quinn hit his shot just wide of the far post. He also forced a deflection in the 72nd minute.

The “SC” appeared to take the lead off of a corner kick, but it was ruled offside.

The away side, “FC”, were hanging onto dear life as Darwin Jones had a shot cleared off of the line in the 75th minute. Jones then missed an open goal chance as he shot it over the bar. Moments later, in the 85th minute, Jones broke the deadlock as he chipped it over Preys to make it 2-1.

But there was a sudden twist to the tale.

Near the end of second half stoppage time, OCFC forward Ryan Holland tied it up with a header in the box to make it 2-2.

The score would stay the same at full time.

In extra time, both teams gave each other no quarter as they fought for the go-ahead goal.

OCSC had majority of the chances as few shots were close to the goal line, but were caught or cleared off of the line.

The match went to penalties.

OCSC’s Aodhan Quinn had his team’s opening penalty kick saved by Preys and that proved to be the difference as OCFC converted all of their attempts to advance.

In addition to the deciding save, Preys put together a man of the match level performance by making eight saves in the game.

“ is without a doubt our MVP of the last two games,” said Caligiuri. “He was the hero versus Golden State Force and tonight, he’s the hero again. He was a huge pickup for us and we are very fortunate to have him.”

For Caligiuri, he is looking forward to leading his team against his former teammate in Eric Wynalda, head coach of the Las Vegas Lights.

“Eric is a competitor,” said Galigiuri. “He was a phenomenal player and a wonderful coach and we know what it means to these guys and what it means to the Las Vegas Lights.”t

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Cal FC crushes FC Mulhouse to set up match with former coach Eric Wynalda

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Orr Barouch of Cal FC dribbles past defenders from FC Mulhouse Portland in the First Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Victor Friedman
Orr Barouch of Cal FC dribbles past defenders from FC Mulhouse Portland in the First Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Victor Friedman

To open up the first round of play of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Cal FC made easy work of FC Mulhouse Portland as they cruised to a 5-1 victory.

The Thousand Oaks, Calif. club was in control from the start, featuring a number of former professional players, some of which helped the club make a name for itself when it upset the Portland Timbers (MLS) in the 2012 US Open Cup. Former MLS player Orr Barouch led the way with a hat trick, while German Alfaro added a goal and an assist and two stars of Cal FC’s 2012 cup run, Danny Barrera (1 assist) and Richard Menjivar (1 goal) also featured.

With the win, Cal FC will advance to Round 2 where they will play the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship, who are led by head coach Eric Wynalda. The former US international and Hall of Famer was the head coach of Cal FC during their US Open Cup run in 2012, and recruited some of the current players on the team.

In the first half, Cal FC dominated possession with quick passing and solid movement off the ball. Cal FC’s front line also took advantage of Mulhouse’s defense with continuous runs behind the back line.

They were rewarded in the 14th minute as they were given a penalty as a result of a handball in the box. Orr Barouch, who spent the better part of four seasons with the Chicago Fire of MLS, slotted it past Mulhouse keeper Scott Dalrymple to make it 1-0.

It only got worse as Mulhouse had no answer to Cal FC’s relentless attack.

Cal FC made it 2-0 as Barouch scored a tap-in from a cross by winger German Alfaro.

To pour salt into the wound, after a great pass by Daniel Barrera, Alfaro weaved his way through Mulhouse’s defense to make it 3-0. Barrera, who was named TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament for the 2012 US Open Cup, recently re-joined the club after stints with several USL teams.

Mulhouse pulled one back off of a set piece to make it 3-1, but the home side quickly responded less than a minute later as Barouch completed his hat trick to make it 4-1.

Despite Mulhouse picking up some intensity in the second half, the damage had been done.

Six minutes into the second half, Cal FC made it 5-1 as Richard Menjivar popped up in the six-yard box and slotted it past Dalrymple. Even with the commanding lead, Cal FC controlled possession and limited Mulhouse’s chance on goal in the final minutes of the match.

Cal FC assistant coach Mike Randolph was pleased with his team’s performance throughout the match.

“It was good. We slowed down a bit in the second half, but we had good rhythm in the first. We did enough in the first half to push us on through … we were patient. They have fun passing the ball, tiki taka touches left and right. They weren’t phased by the pressure.”

To make things more interesting, their next opponent will be the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship on May 14. Their coach Eric Wynalda is a familiar face to their next challengers according to Randolph:

“Eric’s been a big part of Cal FC for a while now so it will be fun and interesting to go against him. We’ll do our homework and we’ll ready and prepared to take him on”

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: Faramillio’s late PK gives FC Golden State Force upset of Las Vegas Lights

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USOC VGS-GSF FINALLeaving it late, FC Golden State Force played the role of giant killer again as they took down USL expansion side Las Vegas Lights 2-1. Golden State found an extra gear late, and cherished the role of the underdog. They controlled most of the game, putting the pressure on Vegas throughout, even when a Lights equalizer would have sent most amateur teams scrambling to park the bus and hope for a slip-up in a penalty kicks.

With the win, FC Golden State Force becomes the first PDL team since the 2012 Michigan Bucks to upset back-to-back professional teams in the tournament. Furthermore, the Force also make history as the 13th amateur side (15th open division team) to reach the Fourth Round of the competition. They will earn a date with a team from Major League Soccer in the next round and will attempt to do something no open division team has ever done in the Modern Era: advance beyond the Fourth Round.

Unlike last match vs. Orange County SC, Golden State took the initiative and pinned Las Vegas into defensive third of the pitch. The Force could have taken the lead early on, as Lights keeper Ricardo Ferrino saved a curling effort shot by Amilcar Lopez-Ruiz. The home side then had another chance to score as Sami Vilalva hit a shot just wide of the post, and Christian Torres rattled a shot off the crossbar in the 32nd minute. While failing to find the net, they clamped down on Las Vegas in the defensive end, limiting their chances on goal.

The second half saw Las Vegas start to control the match. While they didn’t carve out any chances, they forced Golden State to clear the ball out of danger, but right back to the Lights. The visitors finally had a golden chance to go in front, as Marco Cesar hit a point-blank shot over the bar from six yards out. Later, Golden State finally had a chance on a counterattack, as Vialva caught the ball and put a left-footed shot just wide of the post. The Force finally broke the pressure and started sustaining an attack, and finally hit paydirt in the 76th minute. Allisson Faramillio continued his Open Cup magic, curling a shot past Ferrino to put the home side up 1-0.

The Lights continued their attack, however, earning a corner kick, and Joel Huiqui evened the match ten minutes from time. However, instead of bunkering in, Golden State continued their attack. A minute into stoppage time, the Force earned a penalty kick, and Faramillio was able to score the game-winner. This puts the Man of the Match at four goals in the Open Cup, tied for second place. He scored another brace against Orange County SC in the previous round.

Manager Robert Friedland was overjoyed as the result.  He spoke about the performance of his team, “We just have to stay focused and stay on our task and keep our eye on the prize…I’m proud of my team and they impress me more every day. Tonight was a massive result.” He was also excited about the likeliness of playing against an MLS team, stating, “It’s thrilling, to be in the fourth round, to do our job, and get the chance to be able to do that, we are the Cinderella story.” They will be facing another strong side in the next round, but the Force are excited by the task ahead.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Golden State Force ready for Cinderella role after upset of Orange County SC

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Players from FC Golden State Force celebrate a goal against the Orange County SC. Photo: Orange County SC
Players from FC Golden State Force celebrate a goal against the Orange County SC. Photo: Orange County SC

Orange County SC and their fans at The Championship Stadium in Irvine, Calif. were left stunned as the fourth-placed side in the Western Conference of the USL lost 4-2 to FC Golden State Force of the PDL. In the process, the home side tied a record for most losses by a professional team to an amateur side in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, with five such losses to their name.

The start of the first half was cagey for both sides as they looked to feel each other out. Then, Orange County SC began to control more possession as the half went on, but they couldn’t break down a stingy Golden State defense. Most passes went side to side and they couldn’t put any sustained pressure on the away side’s backline, but Golden State was the more effective team on offense, catching Orange County on the counter attack on a number of occasions.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute as OCSC midfielder Christian Duke made an inch-perfect tackle and rifled a shot past Golden State keeper Jose Miranda. It was an act of individual grit, determination, and skill as he started and finished the attack.

Two minutes later, Golden State equalized with Tyler Allen slotting a cross just out of reach of Orange County keeper Andre Rawls. It was the response the away side needed.

Golden State’s defense got caught napping as the clinical Dane, Thomas Enevoldsen latched on to a through ball from midfielder Koji Hashimoto and curled a shot past Miranda to make it 2-1 OCSC.

From here, the average fan would have expected the home side to take control of the match. They didn’t.

Golden State Force had a dream start to the second half as Thomas Juel-Nielsen took down Pedro Fonseca in the box and Alisson then converted the penalty to make it 2-2 in the 49th minute and for a good stretch of the second half, it was the visitors who controlled play and sustained possession in the attacking third of the pitch.

Orange County had no response to the onslaught that faced them and they conceded the lead in the 67th minute, when Samuel Goni Vilava scored.

The home side tried to get back into the game but Golden State stifled them defensively and limited their chances created before Golden State put the final nail in the coffin when Jose Fonseca rounded Andre Rawls to finish off a perfectly-executed counter and make it 4-2.

Golden State head coach Jon Spencer was overjoyed after the match:

“It couldn’t feel any better, I’m proud. My guys never gave up, they were down, but never know what out means.”

When asked if he would keep the same game plan against another USL opponent in the Third Round, Spencer offered,“Someone’s got to play Cinderella.”

FC Golden State Force will host the USL’s Las Vegas Lights in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

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