Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Christian Gomez

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Kevin O’Connor’s late winner gives FC Naples first US-41 derby victory

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Graphic by Frank Lanham

A capacity crowd welcomed Sarasota Paradise (USL League Two) and visitors FC Naples (USL League One) for the opening night of the 110th edition of the United States Open Cup. Sarasota found themselves without many of their key players, as they are in the middle of the collegiate season. A team was put together and only trained with each other for a week in the lead up to this match. New USL-1 expansion side FC Naples are currently second in the table, in the midst of a congested schedule.

“We’re in the middle of three games in eight games, so trying to manage players’ bodies right as we’re about to fly out to Washington is key,” said FC Naples head coach Matt “Gaffa” Poland. They rolled into Sarasota fresh off their inaugural win against Forward Madison and looked to convert that into positive momentum as they began their Open Cup journey.

FC Naples showed that they had played some competitive games already this season as Kevein O’Connor scored an 88th minute go-ahead goal to send the visitors into the Second Round with a 2-1 win.

The game right off the bat had an in-state rivalry feel with players bouncing each other within the first 15 minutes. Sarasota had a majority of the chances, the stand out being a great chance in the 20th minute created by Sarasota’s captain Juan Rojas to Chris Solari, but goalkeeper Edward Delgado of FC Naples held down the fort and saved the shot. In the 30th minute, there was a rough challenge by Naples’ Jayden Onen, which resulted in the referee having to call order on the pitch as the chippy antics from both teams were getting excessive.

After the hydration break, the referee was quick to get the cards out, assigning a yellow card to Sarasota’s Nikola Sljivic after a rough challenge. Julian Cisneros led two good opportunities for FC Naples in the last minutes of the first half, but unfortunately couldn’t convert those into goals. Another card was handed out before the end of the first half to Sarasota’s Jivian Rodriguez.

The second half started with a calmer tempo, as both teams faced the possibility of going into extra time if the game stayed level. FC Naples had a really good opportunity in the 53rd minute when a shot from Julian Cisneros curved just barely off target. A rough challenge on Sarasota’s captain Juan Rojas unfortunately ended his night early, which brought on the introduction of Nicholas Colacci. The local player was a much needed boost for the home side as they proceeded to have multiple great chances.

The best chance for Sarasota came in the 68th minute, as Nikola Sljivic was dragged onto the ground by Naples defender Julian Cisneros in the box. With how fine the margins were in this game, this was the golden opportunity for Sarasota to dictate the tempo for the rest of the match. Chris Solari stepped up to the spot and Naples goalkeeper Edward Delgado made a masterful save to keep his side level.

With twenty minutes to go, both sides knew very well the goal was going to happen and could be the difference between advancing or not. FC Naples found the breakthrough in the 79th minute, as weekend brace scorer and substitute Karsen Henderlong broke the deadlock and gave his side the lead with ten minutes left in regulation.

“Coming off the bench in this game gives me an opportunity to bring something to the team and getting my head on that ball just motivated the team,” said Karsen post-game.

The anxiety could be felt around the ground as the hosts found themselves behind with minutes left, facing elimination. Up to this point, they put up a great fight against a leading League One side. A moment of magic would be needed to draw this game level.

“As a forward, zero-zero, you wanna get that goal and we came out here feeling that we weren’t the underdog,” said Sarasota’s forward Nicholas Colacci.

The homegrown kid took command of his side and kept willing them through in the dying minutes of the game. This seemingly unprepared side showed grit and had a moment of brilliance, as Nicholas’ brother, Antonio, made a picture perfect pass to Nicholas on a quick counter attack and when it came down to Colacci & Naples keeper Delgado, the forward was able to bring his side level with three minutes to go in regulation.

For all the twists and turns this game had, it had one more up its sleeve. With extra time seemingly inevitable, Naples’ midfielder Kevin O’Connor sent a dagger through the hearts of the home crowd with a 91st minute game winner.

“As you know, in the cup, anything can happen, so we made sure that we went through,” said Kevin O’Connor after the game.

With Sarasota intending on moving up to League One next season, the league may have caught lightning in a bottle with a marquee derby. There is so much to look forward to with this newly born Florida derby.

As Sarasota prepares for their League Two season starting in May, a great crowd and vibe around the stadium will hopefully lead into another successful year as they intend on going back-to-back in the League Two Southern Florida conference.

Winners FC Naples move on to possibly face Miami FC in the next round. They travel to Spokane this weekend to continue their inaugural league campaign. Definitely a team to look out for as they have come out swinging so far in both competitions.

2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Savannah Clovers score early to earn first USOC win vs. Brave SC

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2024 us open cup first round recap graphic

Entering the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a fresh rebrand, Brave SC — the club formerly known as Villages FC — looked to carry the torch for USL League Two as last season’s Southern Conference champions. Savannah Clovers arrived in Central Florida looking to represent NISA and start the year off right.

One of them would leave disappointed.

Roddy Green and Vlad Jokic each scored a goal in the first half as Clovers shut out Brave, 2-0 in Tuesday night’s Open Cup opening round.

Right from the go, Savannah was on the attack. Green had multiple chances to give the Clovers an early lead but Brave goalkeeper Yago Darub was called into action and kept things at bay. Unfortunately for Darub, a miscalculation on a pass gave away the ball to Green which led to the opening goal of the match in the 29th minute.

Just before halftime, Jokic latched on to a rebound for a second-chance goal that doubled Clovers’ advantage.

Clovers had a decisive physical advantage over Brave SC, and the game turned cagey as physical challenges from both squads saw a total of seven players booked (four for Brave; three for the Clovers), mostly in the second half.

Clovers brought just three players on their bench and managed the lead against a Brave squad which had twice as many options in reserve.

Michael Florian made his Brave SC debut on the high school senior’s home field, expressing gratitude during the postgame press conference for the opportunity to make his Open Cup debut.

2023 US Open Cup Round of 16: Stefanelli’s winner sends Inter Miami past Nashville SC, into Quarterfinals

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Franco Negri of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring a goal against Nashville SC in the Fifth Round of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Inter Miami CF
Franco Negri of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring a goal against Nashville SC in the Fifth Round of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Inter Miami CF

 

After getting through a lightning delay, Inter Miami CF came back with a pair of second half goals to defeat fellow MLS side Nashville SC. Nicolas Stefanelli scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 73rd minute to send Miami into the Quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s short history.

With the win, Inter Miami will travel for their next match. They will play at the winner of Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship) and Charlotte FC (MLS). 

The weather couldn’t have fit the occasion any better. A rainy night at DRV PNK Stadium was the perfect backdrop for a match which has been marred by controversy before the game. Embattled Inter Miami manager Phil Neville had more than a cup tie in mind, as supporters have voiced their displeasure with the season so far after a bitter defeat against in-state rival Orlando City on Saturday. Nashville looked to continue their eight-game unbeaten streak on the road.

Inter Miami fielded an “A” squad with most regular starters on the pitch. Ian Fray makes his first start since his unfortunate injury during last year’s preseason. Nashville started what would be considered a “B” squad. U.S. international center back Walker Zimmerman didn’t make the trip while star player Hany Mukthar was on the bench.

 

The first half saw both teams have fair chances to take the lead. Nashville had multiple counter-attacking chances but couldn’t capitalize. Taylor Washington received the first yellow card of the night in the twenty-ninth minute. They also had a goal called offside in the thirty fourth minute, which was to the relief of Inter Miami who looked disjointed until the end of the half. The front pairing of Josef Martinez and Leonardo Campana kept working on their chemistry as they created a few one-two chances. The lack of a “#10” is quite evident as there is a disconnect between the midfield and the forwards.

The second half started  with two yellow cards for Nashville; Jack Maher and Jan Gregus. Then, what seemed out of nowhere, Inter Miami had a counter attack opportunity which saw Robert Taylor assist Franco Negri to open the scoring in the 57th minute. Taylor sent a well-timed through ball into the penalty area on the left side where Negri beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball and chipped it over him and into the back of the net. 

Up to this point, the metrics favored Nashville and they were thunderstruck. In response, they brought on their usual starters from the bench which included Hany Mukhtar and Alex Muyl.

Not even a minute in, and Muyl was able to equalize for Nashville. Laurence Wyke delivered a cross from the right wing and Alex Muyl scored on a diving header less than a minute after entering the game.

Nashville were able to pick up momentum and started to pressure Inter Miami. The siege was stopped by a lightning strike within three miles of the stadium, which caused a 33 minute delay.

Once play restarted, any sense of urgency from Nashville was gone and Inter Miami were able to catch them off guard again with another goal.


Nicolas Stefanelli was subbed on after the break and was able to capitalize on another counter attacking chance for Inter Miami. A ball was volleyed over the top from midfield by Corentin Jean. Stefanelli ran onto it and dribbled to the right side of the penalty area. Once he hit the edge of the box he fired a shot that beat the goalkeeper to the near post.

From here on, Inter Miami parked the bus and Nashville had multiple close calls to equalize.

In the end however, Inter Miami weathered the storm and eliminated Nashville SC from this year’s edition of the Open Cup. They now await to see if they have to face Birmingham Legion or Charlotte FC in the Quarterfinals. The roller coaster season continues for Phil Neville.

At the post-game press conference, it seemed like a huge weight was lifted off of everyone’s shoulders. The now viral video of Phil Neville sparring with a reporter was joked about and it seems that bridges have been mended. In regards to the fans not turning up, “I honestly love our fans. I understand their frustration.” He added on that he wants to perform and bring results for them.

It is worth keeping in mind that Inter Miami are still dealing with the roster sanctions brought upon them and injuries to key midfielders Gregore and Jean Mota. Additionally, the club are in a holding pattern with future acquisitions until a certain someone of Argentine descent decides on what they’re going to do next. For the moment however, Inter’s cup run stays alive and Neville has a lifeline as long as it keeps going.

2023 US Open Cup Round 4: Inter Miami CF survives after Charleston Battery’s own goal facial

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Players from Charleston Battery and Inter Miami CF battle for the ball in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Charleston Battery
Players from Charleston Battery and Inter Miami CF battle for the ball in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Charleston Battery

Inter Miami CF found their way into the Round of 16 despite not scoring a single goal of their own. The only time the ball found its way into the back of the net was a ball that deflected off a Charleston Battery player’s face into his own goal. The MLS side would make that 48th minute goal hold up as they advanced, 1-0, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“It was tough, tough going. I wasn’t happy,” said Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville. “But we’re in the next round. I think because we had a lot of changes, it was it was going to be a little bit bumpy. I expected more quality aspects, more standards than to be higher than that. It would have meant that we could have probably rested a few more players in the second half.”

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Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Despite a tough start to the season, Inter Miami CF have used the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to pick up some much-needed momentum. Even with the Brazilian midfield duo of Gregore & Jean Mota out for the foreseeable future, Inter Miami used their victory against local rival Miami FC to break their six-game losing streak a few days later against the Columbus Crew. They entered the match with two consecutive wins. 2019 Open Cup winner Josef Martinez has found form and has started living up to the expectations set at the start of the season. He would headline a squad which saw multiple rotations in the starting XI compared to Saturday’s win over Martinez’s former team Atlanta United in league play.

Charleston Battery arrived in Fort Lauderdale as Eastern Conference leaders in the USL Championship. A dramatic Third Round game against Charlotte Independence saw the Battery go into extra time. They dug deep and Nick Markanich was able to score the deciding goal in the second period to send them through into the Round of 32. USL-C Golden Boot contender Augustine Williams is also a key player that could easily make a difference.

The first half had some notable moments. Nick Markanich, the hero of Round 3, went out early with an injury. Harvey Neville made a blitzing run on the right wing but couldn’t get the ball past Charleston’s goalkeeper Trey Muse. Charleston let Miami have the ball and for most of the first half it looked like both teams were just trying to find their footing.

 

The deadlock would end at the start of the second half. A disjointed sequence of play inside Charleston’s eighteen saw the ball deflect off the face of Battery’s defender Sebastian Palma, who is credited with the own goal.

Charleston instantly turned on the jets and started attacking in order to get the game back level. A few substitutions were made near the 60 minute mark, one of them being Josef Martinez and he was visibly upset to not have been able to continue his run of form.

Inter Miami had a golden opportunity to go up 2-0 when academy products Benjamin Cremaschi and Shanyder Borgelin were free inside the Battery’s box, with the latter skying it over the goal. Given how fierce the competition is for the striker position at Inter Miami, Borgelin would certainly like to replay that moment differently. Another opportunity to close out the game was missed in the stoppage time when Dixon Arroyo hit the post.

It would not matter in the grand scheme of things, as the Battery’s self-inflicted wound would prove enough to eliminate them from the 2023 edition of the Open Cup.

“The Open Cup is the quickest way to get into the Champions League,” said Neville. “I love this competition. In terms of sort of like our own performance, I think the cup time mentality definitely brings out sort of like that that feeling, that nervousness, that tension in you. I’m pleased.”

Inter Miami will return to the Round of 16, where last year they got eliminated by in-state rivals and eventual winner, Orlando City.

2022 US Open Cup Round 4: Inter Miami CF capitalize on Tormenta mistakes in 3-1 win

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Ariel Lassiter of Inter Miami CF attempts a shot against South Georgia Tormenta FC in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Inter Miami CF
Ariel Lassiter of Inter Miami CF attempts a shot against South Georgia Tormenta FC in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Inter Miami CF

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup made its return to the former site of Lockhart Stadium, now known as Drive Pink Stadium. It was the herons of Inter Miami hosting the visiting ibises of South Georgia Tormenta FC. USL League One teams have so far been the nice surprise of this edition of the tournament, with Union Omaha and Northern Colorado Hailstorm both upsetting MLS teams in the previous round. Tormenta came down to South Florida looking to hopefully add on another cupset to League One’s tally.

In the end, Inter Miami was too strong playing in front of their home fans, beating Tormenta 3-1 to earn a spot in the Round of 16. Ariel Lassiter led the way with a pair of goals to keep Miami’s inaugural cup run moving.

Tormenta’s coach Ian Cameron made it clear that they were going for it and at the start of the match, his squad were instantly pressuring Inter Miami. A handful of on-target attempts by Tormenta in the first ten minutes were saved by Inter’s Drake Callender.

Two players stood out in the first half with Jamil Roberts orchestrating Tormenta’s attack while Miami’s Ariel Lassiter led a siege each time he got on the ball with his blistering pace.

Tormenta looked the better side and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they scored. It was going to take one quick counter attack for someone to breakthrough. Near the end of the first half, Inter Miami won possession which led to a counter attack led by Gonzalo Higuain and Indiana Vassilev. Returning loanee Vassilev set up Lassiter’s first goal of the night, playing a pass to the left side of the penalty area. Lassiter settled and fired a shot inside the near post to beat Tormenta goalkeeper Pablo Jara to give Miami the lead before halftime. Tormenta were unlucky to be going into the break down a goal despite their dominance.

Higuain’s return only lasted the first 45 minutes as he was subbed off and Robbie Robinson took his place at the start of the second half. He made an instant impact by scoring 87 seconds into his stint; giving Miami a 2-0 lead. The Tormenta goalkeeper attempted a pass along the ground up the middle of the field to a teammatte but Jara’s pass was knocked away by Miami’s Robert Taylor who stepped in from behind to send the ball up to Robinson just outside the box. Robinson made Tormenta pay for their mistake, firing a shot into the back of the net from the right side for his first career Open Cup goal.

In the 65th minute, Robinson made a different kind of impact by engaging in a physical altercation with Tormenta’s Jake Dengler. This would see both players sent off and the teams playing with just 10 men for the remainder of the match.

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Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

A lapse in concentration from Inter Miami’s defense in the 73rd minute gave Tormenta a chance to get one goal back. Before Kingsford Adjei could score, Jairo Quinteros was able to clear the ball and keep Inter’s lead intact. Tormenta had another short stint of great attempts but Miami held strong.

Despite the best efforts of the Ibises, Ariel Lassiter would seal the game for Inter Miami with a “Schrodinger’s goal” that was hard to tell if it went in after deflecting off the underside of the crossbar. The referee judged that it did as Lassiter bagged his seventh career Open Cup goal, six more than his father Roy scored in his playing career that spanned more than a decade.

Tormenta would not leave quietly into the night, as their long-awaited goal would come from Kazaiah Sterling in the final minutes, taking away Callender’s clean sheet performance. The game would end 3-1 with South Georgia Tormenta being eliminated in the Round of 32.

“I didn’t take much joy out of winning this game,” said Phil Neville in the post-game press conference. He felt that Tormenta should have been multiple goals up by halftime and called his squad’s first half performance “unacceptable.” He added that some players who were asking for playing time got their wish and showed why they won’t be playing in this Saturday’s league fixture.

Having played local rival Miami FC in the Third Round, now Inter Miami face the possibility of matching up with league rival Orlando City SC in the Round of 16. Both sets of fans will eagerly watch the draw on Thursday to see if the first ever Open Cup edition of the Sunshine Classico will happen.

2022 US Open Cup Round 3: Inter Miami CF travels to Miami, wins USOC debut over Miami FC

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Inter Miami CF Miami FC 2022 US Open Cup
Players from Inter Miami CF (left) and Miami FC battle for the ball in a Third Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC

It was one of the most anticipated match up of the round. Years of talking points on the internet, memes, divided loyalties, and political agendas led to Tuesday night’s game. Inter Miami CF of MLS made the trek down to … Miami to finally play in Miami-Dade County against established club Miami FC of the USL Championship. A great turnout of 11,153 at FIU Stadium got to see history as the first Miami Clasico was played in the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The match was tightly-contested with Inter Miami edging the hosts 1-0 on an 83rd minute goal by Leonardo Campana to give the club a win in its US Open Cup debut.

The ball rolled off with both teams being cautious and testing each other’s limits. Inter Miami had trouble breaking down Miami FC’s shape and didn’t create many offensive opportunities. Around 25 minutes in, Miami FC became the dominant force and made multiple attempts at opening up the scoring; none were successful and defended well by Inter.

In the final minutes of the first half, Inter Miami earned not one, not two, but five yellow cards in quick succession. Going into the halftime break, Miami FC had the upper hand as Inter had to make changes to address their tactics and the collection of yellow cards they accumulated.

Inter Miami CF Miami FC 2022 US Open Cup
Players from Inter Miami CF (left) and Miami FC battle for the ball in a Third Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC

Inter Miami made two changes before the start of the second half, with head coach Phil Neville taking off two of his yellow carded players (Jairo Quinteros and Noah Allen) and bringing on Christopher McVey and U.S. National Team defender DeAndre Yedlin. Their impact was felt instantly as Inter came out attacking. A scramble inside the box in the 50th minute saw three attempts on goal made by Inter but all were either blocked or saved by Miami FC’s defense.

As the half went on, Inter kept bending Miami FC but their defense would not break. Risk management was taken into consideration as yellow carded players from Inter kept being subbed off, lessening the risk of a red being given for a second offense. The best opportunity for a goal from Miami FC came in the 74th minute with Florian Valot taking an on-target free kick which was saved by Drake Callender.

With no more substitutions left with less than 15 minutes remaining, it was clear Phil Neville intended to finish off the game in regulation and needed a late goal to seal it.

In the 83rd minute, substitute Christopher McVey chipped the ball into the box, which allowed teammate Robert Taylor to assist Leonardo Campana’s game-winning goal. One of the last actions of the game saw Damion Lowe get his second yellow card of the night, which sent him off & made him ineligible for the next round. That will be something Inter Miami will have to address in the next round as they saw out the final seconds and won the game 1-0, eliminating Miami FC.

While the scoreline and the history books will show Inter Miami as the victors, the South Florida soccer community showed up and were the real winners. Getting over eleven thousand spectators on a Tuesday night against an NBA playoff game plus an Major League Baseball game going on at the same time is no small accomplishment. The stadium was rocking the entire night with both sets of supporters groups willing their teams on. It was finally a showcase to the country, and the local community. It was a testimate to the sports potential in the city’s crowded sports and entertainment landscape.

“This needs to happen more,” said Neville about the atmosphere at the stadium.

Neville went on to say that Inter Miami is making the Open Cup a top priority: “This is a competition we’re going to go for.”

With the club’s stated ambition of being a regular participant in the CONCACAF Champions League, Inter Miami are a team to keep an eye on in the 2022 edition of the tournament as they chase the cup and a berth into the CCL.

With the win, Inter Miami advance to Round 4 where they will host USL League One side South Georgia Tormenta FC on May 10 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Early PK sparks Miami FC past rival Miami United

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Connor Sparrow Miami FC Miami United 2022 US Open Cup
Miami FC goalkeeper Connor Sparrow prepares for a shot from a Miami United FC player in their Second Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC

While it’s not the usual home for the hosts, the FIU Soccer Stadium provided an intimate setting for the Second Round encounter between Miami FC & Miami United. Both sides have had their fair share of history when they were in the NPSL together for a couple of seasons and that rivalry once again ignited after laying dormant for the last few years. Miami FC, now a USL Championship side, started their Open Cup campaign by beating their rivals 3-0 on Wednesday night.

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The first half kicked off and Miami United came off the blocks running. They attempted to catch Miami FC sleeping by trying to get an early goal with Andrea Pastore creating dangerous opportunities on the left wing. However, misfortune struck as Miami FC was awarded a penalty in the ninth minute. Lamar Walker was fouled and quickly dropped inside the box to give penalty taker Kyle Murphy the opportunity to open up the scoring. The chance was saved by Bryant Gammiero; only to be called back for a retake after the assistant referee caught him jumping off his line early. It was the correct decision and Murphy was able to slot in his second attempt, giving FC an early lead.

It was evident to spectators there and viewers at home the disparity between a team that’s in-season and a team that’s not. Miami United, not having started their NPSL season, seemed disconnected; giving away possession in the middle of the field and not creating many threatening attacking opportunities. Miami FC, already four games into the USL Championship, gained composure after the penalty and took control of the game. They got their second goal after a bad clearance from United landed perfectly for Adonijah Reid who scored from just outside of the 18. Miami FC went into halftime up 2-0.

The second half was fully dominated by Miami FC who kept creating chances in the final third. Only one of those opportunities would end up in the back of the net as Lamar Walker ran past his defender and teed it up for fellow countryman Romeo Parkes who assured Miami FC’s advancement into the Third Round.

This is the first time Miami FC made it this far in the Open Cup since their Cinderella run in the 2017 edition, where they made the Quarterfinals.

As Miami FC bid adieu to their old foe, the long awaited meeting with Inter Miami CF may become reality depending on this Friday’s draw. While there have been pre-season friendlies between the both sides in the past, their first competitive meeting is something fans of both sides have been waiting for since 2020. Both teams have been struggling in their respective leagues and it could be a toss up on who will come out on top if both are drawn together.

The matter of who hosts is an interesting topic given that Inter Miami plays at DRV PNK Stadium, where the old Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale used to be. If Miami FC were to host, it would give Inter Miami fans the opportunity to finally see their team play in Miami-Dade County. It would be a huge draw for Miami FC, who could use the extra ticket revenue but would risk having their stadium overrun by the visiting supporters. The soccer community in South Florida will have their eyes on the draw this Friday at Noon.

2022 US Open Cup Round 1: Late frenzy sees Miami United edge City Soccer FC

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The Miami United Under-23s huddle up before their 2020 US Open Cup qualifying match against Atletico Miami CF. Photo: Miami United FC
The Miami United Under-23s huddle up before their 2020 US Open Cup qualifying match against Atletico Miami CF. Photo: Miami United FC

Perfect weather conditions greeted the teams and spectators at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah, Fla., for this first-round match between host Miami United FC and the new boys on the block, City Soccer FC from the National Soccer League.

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While the first 79 minutes weren’t short of action, they were short of goals. Not so in the final 11 minutes, as the floodgates opened and the teams combined for four goals in quick succession. When the final whistle blew, Miami United FC had ended City Soccer FC’s Lamar Hunt US Open debut with a 3-1 victory.

Miami United looked the most dangerous early on. They fashioned two good opportunities, the first on Robertino Insua’s free kick in the 6th minute and the second on Ignacio Cubeddu’s run into the box in the 31st, but both chances were stopped by City Soccer FC’s defense. Both goalkeepers had their moments to shine, too, with Robinson Gabriel Barrios of City Soccer FC and Miami United’s Bryant Gammiero making key saves to keep the match 0-0 into halftime.

In the second half, with no goals on the scoreboard and time winding down, extra time was looking like a very real possibility.

But Miami United FC finally drew first blood in the 79th minute, as the NPSL side took the lead on a beautiful free kick by Insua. Just two minutes later, Oscar Escobar Reyes responded for City Soccer FC from inside the box and it was level again at 1-1.

That tie lasted just a minute, as Lucas Espindola of Miami United broke the deadlock in somewhat controversial fashion. There were appeals of a handball from City Soccer FC and upon watching video replay, Insua indeed made contact with the ball with his arm before the goal. However, with no video assistant review in the US Open Cup, the goal stood.

The final blow was dealt in stoppage time when Miami United was awarded a penalty, which Espindola dispatched for his second goal of the night to secure his team’s advancement to the second round — they’ll face USL Championship side Miami FC on April 6 at Florida International University Stadium in Miami.

Espindola was our man of the match after his two-goal performance. “Happy to have been the difference-maker tonight,” he said with a sly grin. “The game was very close, and sometimes luck has to be on your side in these tournaments.”

While Miami FC has started their league season — they will have played four USL Championship matches by the time of the second-round US Open Cup game — Miami United’s NPSL South Region Sunshine Conference schedule hasn’t even been announced yet.

“It was noticeable that we aren’t in season form yet,” Espindola said. “We have two weeks to work on ourselves and be prepared for the next round.”

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