Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Jake Sillick

NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference currently ineligible for 2020 US Open Cup

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A scene from the first half of the First Round match between West Chester United and FC Baltimore Christos in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: @finchamphoto
A scene from the first half of the First Round match between West Chester United and FC Baltimore Christos in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: @finchamphoto

The National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) Mid-Atlantic Conference is not playing enough games this season to be eligible for the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. All five teams in that conference will not be able to enter next year’s US Open Cup as the schedule currently stands.

The five teams in the conference include 2018 entry FC Baltimore Christos, Northern Virginia United, Virginia Beach City FC, FC Frederick, and Charlottesville Alliance FC. They would have to add more matches to the schedule in order to become eligible.

To enter the US Open Cup, clubs must be part of a sanctioned league by US Soccer or an affiliate organization. US Soccer defines a league as having at least 4 teams and each team playing a schedule of at least 10 matches. This is fully defined in Section 202 (a) of the US Open Cup policy.

To enter the Open Cup, a team must be an outdoor soccer team based in the United States and a regular playing member in good standing competing in an ongoing league competition of an Organization Member of the Federation, with said league competition and Organization Member also in good standing with the Federation. Such league competition must be regularly scheduled (i.e. not infrequent) each year and formatted such that member teams play games against fellow members, with only these results (i.e. league matches) used to determine a set of standings or ranking table. The league competition must consist of at least four (4) teams, with each playing at least ten (10) league matches (excluding any pre-season and/or post-season playoff or cup matches) each calendar year.

As of publication, the current schedule consists of eight matches for each of the five teams in the Mid-Atlantic Conference.

The NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference decided on a balanced, double round robin schedule for each of its teams. A balanced schedule is not required by US Soccer or the NPSL. There are three conferences that play an unbalanced schedule in the NPSL. The other ten conferences play a balanced, double round robin schedule.

NPSL Conferences not playing a double round robin schedule:

  • Northwest Conference (5 teams, 10 matches per team, 2 opponents twice, 2 opponents three times)
  • Keystone Conference (9 teams, 10 matches per team, 6 opponents once, 2 opponents twice)
  • Golden Gate Conference (8 teams, 11 matches per team, 3 opponents once, 4 opponents twice)

NPSL was reached for comment on this and released the following statement:

“The 2019 Mid-Atlantic Conference schedule is not yet finalized.  The NPSL is aware of the U.S. Open Cup rules, and will abide by them so the teams are eligible for the 2020 tournament.”

According to the NPSL, the schedules are in the process of being altered and an announcement will be made when it’s finalized. A league spokesman told TheCup.us that the process of altering a schedule once the season is already under way is rare, but not unprecedented.

As long as each team in that conference plays two more games in the regular season, they will be eligible for the 2020 US Open Cup.

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Laredo Heat defeats Brazos Valley Cavalry on 2nd half PK

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Players from the Laredo Heat and Brazos Valley Cavalry battle for the ball in the First Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Laredo Heat
Players from the Laredo Heat and Brazos Valley Cavalry battle for the ball in the First Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Laredo Heat

In a physical game at Texas A&M International University, the Laredo Heat defeated Brazos Valley Cavalry 1-0 on a second half penalty kick by Francois Sakou. Both sides would finish the match with 10 men but the Cavalry would be unable to find an equalizer. With the win, Laredo advances to take on San Antonio FC (USL Championship) in the Second Round next week.

For most of the first half, Laredo had the majority of chances, coming close early on in the 6th minute, but just couldn’t keep any shots on target. Laredo would outshoot Brazos Valley 11-1 in the first half.

The second half started with most of the same from Laredo, getting more chances but still not many shots being on target.

In the 58th minute, Laredo was awarded a penalty kick after a scramble in the box from a corner kick. Ivan Leon of Brazos Valley clipped Abraham Contreras during the struggle and was given a card for the challenge. Sakou stepped up in the 60th minute putting the penalty to the bottom left corner past Andy Rios.

Brazos Valley would dig themselves a deeper hole just six minutes later when Leon would get his second yellow card for a professional foul stopping a Laredo counter in the 66th minute.

However, that advantage would only last 10 minutes for Laredo before they also had a man sent off in the 76th minute. Luis Hincapie would launch himself for a studs up late challenge on the far touchline at midfield. That would result in his second yellow card of the match sending him to the locker room early.

Late in the match, Brazos Valley would have some chances to equalize but it would not come. Laredo held on that 1-0 win.

Laredo, who is participating in the tournament for the first time since 2015, advances beyond the team’s opening round game for the fifth consecutive tournament. Only Reading United AC (7) and the Michigan Bucks (6) have longer streaks among all Open Division teams in the Modern Era (1995-present)

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: In first PK shootout in 14 years, Des Moines Menace edge Duluth FC

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The Des Moines Menace take a team photo before kickoff of their First Round match vs. Duluth FC in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Des Moines Menace
The Des Moines Menace take a team photo before kickoff of their First Round match vs. Duluth FC in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Des Moines Menace

For Lamar Hunt US Open Cup regulars Des Moines Menace, it was another notch to their belt as they defeated Duluth FC on penalties to advance to the Second Round after a 1-1 draw. Des Moines won the penalty shootout 3-1.

Des Moines didn’t wait long to get on the board for this match, scoring in the 10th minute on a goal by Ignacio Goya de Anca. Goya de Anca was served a great short cross from Marek Weber and Goya de Anca caught it on the volley on his right foot to the far corner of the goal to beat Duluth goalkeeper Alberto Ciroi.

The Menace had some good possession after the goal, but a giveaway in their own half led to a penalty call for Duluth in the 34th minute. On a counter for Duluth, it eventually bounced around to Dorian Barberto where he was almost hockey checked by James Thomas. No card was issued but it was an easy penalty to score for Carlyle Junior. It would stay 1-1 going into halftime.

The second half was much more physical and chippy as both sides tried to find the winning goal. Yellow cards started being awarded in the second half for both teams, but it was Des Moines dominating possession and the majority of the chances. Notably for Duluth, they did have a one-on-one with the Menace keeper Jordan Bell but was denied by Bell. The winning goal would not be found and the match would head to extra time.

Extra time was similar to the second half, with Des Moines netting the majority of the chances. Ciroi was up to the task all night making a few crucial saves and takes from crosses to deny the Menace. Both teams would end up using all four subs in this match, although Des Moines’ last sub in extra time was due to injury as Daniel Mukuna picked up a knock in the 112th minute.

With no one able to break the deadlock, the game went to penalty kicks. For the Menace, who were founded in 1994 and made their Open Cup debut in 2002, it was their first PK shootout since 2005. That year, they eliminated the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Jordan Bell was a savior for Des Moines in the shootout, making a major save in the shootout. Unofficially, he had to save that kick twice. On Duluth’s second kick by Alberto Diaz, Bell was deemed to be off the line the referee while making the save. Bell would then be given a card for arguing and time wasting before the kick was retaken. Diaz was then denied on the retaken kick in a classic “ball don’t lie” situation. Duluth’s Ronaldo Fortune would sky his kick and Aiden Hill would hit the post, leaving Duluth with only the one made kick by Lucas Jacobs.

Des Moines their first three penalty kicks by O’quin Robinson, Rory O’Keefe, and Marek Weber. Des Moines advances to face Saint Louis FC of USL Championship in the Second Round on May 15.

Plans to broadcast every 2019 US Open Cup game among changes in tournament handbook

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The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls

UPDATE (3/7/19 – 4:02 p.m.): The change involving caps on the length of suspensions is not a new addition to the handbook. Red card suspensions are kept on the books for 10 years, while suspensions imposed by the Adjudication and Discipline Panel are in place for 20 years. Upon further review, this policy change was added in 2015. 

Without fanfare, the handbook for the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has received some updates.

The handbook lists all the rules and policies of the competition, as well as a full list of players who are suspended from playing due to red cards or a discipline panel decision. Since the 2018 Open Cup concluded with the Houston Dynamo lifting the trophy for the first time, there have been some significant changes, many of them related to increasing standards to set the stage for the United States Soccer Federation’s plans to broadcast every match when its 106th edition begins in May.

In preparation for the upcoming broadcast deal, home teams are now required to have space for a TV truck at all matches, sufficient lighting and additional staff in place. Here is how the handbook reads:

In the most exciting addition in the tournament’s modern era, U.S. Soccer is arranging for all matches in the tournament to be broadcast (an announcement will be made soon). As a result, home teams will be required moving forward to have additional staff in place, including a broadcast operations manager, a “red hat” and an electrician on-site (page 34). Further, the local commercial rights available to home teams are being modified to include the first three rounds (page 32).
Stadium requirements now include:
Sufficient floodlights for TV broadcasts
Suitable area to park TV production truck

Team eligibility also was clarified so that only teams in good standing in leagues and organizations that are in good standing can participate in the tournament. Leagues also must have regular schedules.

To enter the Open Cup, a team must be an outdoor soccer team based in the United States and a regular playing member in good standing competing in an ongoing league competition of an Organization Member of the Federation, with said league competition and Organization Member also in good standing with the Federation. Such league competition must be regularly scheduled (i.e. not infrequent) each year and formatted such that member teams play games against fellow members, with only these results (i.e. league matches) used to determine a set of standings or ranking table. The league competition must consist of at least four (4) teams, with each playing at least ten (10) league matches (excluding any pre-season and/or post-season playoff or cup matches) each calendar year.

There is also additional clarification on the definition of a new team in a new or existing league.

For the purpose of this Policy, any team having not played in its league’s regular competition for the full season ending immediately prior to the entry deadline for its respective competition division (e.g. Open Division, Outdoor Professional League) shall be considered a team starting its first season, whether in an existing or new league.

With these two rules changes, the loophole that the three NASL teams fielding teams in the NPSL (New York Cosmos, Miami FC, and Jacksonville Armada FC) used to enter last year’s tournament, is now closed.

Following suit of other cup competitions, a fourth substitution is now allowed in extra time.

A team may use not more than 3 substitutes from its match day roster unless a match proceeds into extra time, in which case an additional substitution shall be granted.

Team benches now may have as many as nine coaches or team officials in its Technical Area, up from seven in 2018.

Each team shall have no more than seven (7) players and nine (9) coaches or team officials in its Technical Area. The name of each coach and team official shall be included on the roster sheet provided to the referee before the match.

Other Open Division handbook highlights

  • Criteria was developed for Open Division National League status (USL League Two and NPSL have National League status)
  • The method for allocating Open Division slots into the First Round proper among the various qualifying pools (i.e.: local qualifiers, any national leagues) has changed to a prorated system based on the number of teams entered. This is why NPSL received 14 slots and USL League Two received 10 slots, as NPSL had 98 teams and USL League Two had 69.
  • All teams (professional and open division) must now post a $1,000 performance bond in addition to their entry fee.
  • Player eligibility was clarified for foreign work visa players on professional teams, stating that “any conflicting Outdoor Professional League roster rules shall not apply to the number of foreign players allowed to compete in the Open Cup.” This could be considered the “LAFC rule” after last year’s controversy where they fielded an ineligible player and nearly had to forfeit their Quarterfinal win over the Portland Timbers.

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