Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Jay F. Marks

2017 US Open Cup Round 5: Sporting KC avenges last year’s loss to Houston Dynamo (video)

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Gerso Fernandes of Sporting KC put the game away with a goal in second half stoppage time in a 2-0 Round of 16 win over Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC
Gerso Fernandes of Sporting KC put the game away with a goal in second half stoppage time in a 2-0 Round of 16 win over Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC

Scoring chances were hard to come by, but Sporting Kansas City’s Ike Opara scored off a second-half corner kick to provide all of the scoring his side needed in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup Round of 16 on a muggy early evening Wednesday in south Texas.

Kansas City added a second goal in stoppage time to knock Houston out of the Cup for the second time in three years. Sporting also avenged last year’s 3-1 loss to Houston in the same stage of the competition.

Kansas City, a three-time Open Cup champion, will host defending champion FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals on July 11.

Sporting fielded the more experienced side, with many of its regular starters, while Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera opted to start two players from USL affiliate Rio Grande Valley FC. A third came off the bench in the second half after Kansas City took the lead.

The young Dynamo side held its own, as both teams struggled to create chances.

The heat likely was a factor. The game kicked off at 5:30 p.m. local time, when the temperature was 88 degrees, because of a previously scheduled NWSL game.

Houston’s Alex managed two dangerous shots from distance after about 15 minutes of play, but both sailed high over Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia’s net.

The Dynamo missed out on another chance in the 19th minute when winger Andrew Wenger played a teasing ball across the 6-yard box, but none of his teammates could direct it toward goal. Kansas City’s best first-half chance came in the 38th minute when midfielder Jimmy Medranda powered a shot on goal after forward Cameron Porter failed to connect on an acrobatic attempt. Medranda’s attempt was blocked and Porter was unable to put the rebound on frame. Melia kept the game scoreless in the 48th minute after a turnover from a poor pass created a quick 3-on-1 break for Houston. He denied Dynamo forward Vincente Sanchez’s shot at taking the lead.

Kansas City broke through in the 61st minute when Opara headed home the ball off a corner kick. The ball was played long, allowing defender Kevin Ellis to head the ball back toward Opara. For Opara, it was his second Open Cup goal in as many games.

The Dynamo appeared to draw a penalty kick about two minutes later when Memo Rodriguez went down after a challenge by Kansas City defender Saad Abdul-Salaam, but the Houston attacker instead was shown a yellow card for diving.

Kansas City managed to hold the Dynamo at bay for the remainder of the match, springing Latif Blessing for a late counterattack.

Blessing carried the ball down the left side, then cut inside past a defender and passed to a streaking Gerso in the box. Gerso calmly slotted the ball past Willis to secure the win for Sporting KC.

It was Gerso’s team-leading eighth goal of the season and second in the Open Cup.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Four-goal barrage helps OKC Energy pull away from Moreno Valley FC

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oklahoma city energy logoOKC Energy FC blitzed visiting Moreno Valley FC, 5-1, on Wednesday night to advance to the third round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

OKC, which hosted the game at the University of Oklahoma’s John Crain Field, scored four goals in about six minutes to coast to a victory over its visitors from California.

Energy FC dominated play in the first home USOC match in team history, but had to recover from giving up an early goal to Moreno Valley FC.

The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) side arrived about 30 minutes before Wednesday night’s game was schedule to start. Edgar Gonzalez put the visitors ahead in the 8th minute, pouncing on a loose ball near the top of the Energy FC box and burying his shot in the opposite corner of goalkeeper C.J. Cochran’s net.

Cochran was rarely troubled for the rest of the evening.

Energy FC equalized 10 minutes later when winger Alex Dixon squeezed a shot past Moreno Valley goalkeeper Jose Miranda’s near post after a give-and-go with Luis Martinez.

The USL side continued to threaten Moreno Valley’s goal for the remainder of the first half with an impressive mix of long and short passes. Energy FC was unable to convert any of the chances it created, as the half ended with Martinez’s free kick off clanging off the crossbar, leaving the teams knotted at 1.

OKC continued pressing in the second half, but were unable to break through until Moreno Valley midfielder Edgar Gonzalez was shown a red card in the 64th minute. Gonzalez fouled Energy FC defender Richard Dixon while the two players chased a ball near midfield. Then he stomped on the OKC player after he fell to the ground.

The incident occurred between the benches, in clear sight of the assistant referee and fourth official on the sideline. Players from both teams gathered there, but Energy FC coach Jimmy Nielsen credited his players for staying calm in a “heated moment.”

“In those situations, you have nothing to win,” Nielsen said.

Moreno Valley’s Cesar Rivera received a yellow card and an assistant coach appeared to be ejected before play resumed.

Energy FC wasted no time in securing a win over the short-handed visitors, breaking the tie with two goals in about 30 seconds.

Substitute Wojciech Wojchik broke the tie in the 68th minute, nodding home a pass from Richard Dixon.

Alex Dixon scored shortly after the ensuing Moreno Valley kickoff, intercepting an errant back pass and slotting it past a helpless Miranda.

OKC scored again in the 73rd minute, when Andy Craven tapped in a cross from Daniel Jackson.
Miguel Gonzalez added Energy FC’s final goal about a minute later, scoring off a rebound after Miranda saved a Cravens shot.

Moreno Valley finished the game with only nine players after an 83rd minute red card to Javier Castro Gonzalez.

The forward had picked up a yellow card about three minutes earlier for angrily kicking the ball out of bounds after a teammate was whistled for a foul. He earned his second yellow moments later when he made contact with Miguel Gonzalez’s face while lobbying the referee for a foul. It was more of a tap than a punch, but it was enough to get him ejected from the game.

Referee Jose Lara whistled an end to the one-sided game without any stoppage time.

Energy FC advances to face fellow USL side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on May 31 in the third round of the USOC. The winner will hit the road to take on the Colorado Rapids in Round 4.

Nielsen said he hopes Wednesday’s form carries over into USL play for Energy FC, which has struggled to score so far this season.

Two-goal scorer Alex Dixon said Energy FC had been building toward Wednesday’s performance.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Dixon said. “It was a good performance by the team.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Energy FC win first Oklahoma City derby over Rayo OKC

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oklahoma city energy logoSubstitute Kyle Hyland powered home a header in extra time to propel Oklahoma City Energy FC past crosstown rival Rayo OKC, 2-1, in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Hyland, who may have been the smallest man on the pitch at the time, said fullback Kyle Harris did a good job getting up the line and whipping a ball into the box, just over leaping striker Wojciech Wojcik.

“I was able to get my head on it and it went in,” said Hyland, who entered the match in the 62nd minute.

The goal proved to be the match-winner in the first ever matchup between Energy FC, a third-year USL franchise, and Rayo OKC, which is eight games into its first season in the NASL. It was also Rayo’s first-ever U.S. Open Cup game.

The match drew 4,385 fans to Rayo’s home, Miller Stadium in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon.

Energy players were jubilant after the game, which ended with Rayo fielding only nine players after two late red cards.

Energy coach Jimmy Nielson said his team was “extremely weak” for much of the first half, but found its footing after going behind on a 43rd minute goal by Rayo’s Billy Forbes.

The Rayo winger pounced on a rebound, smashing the ball past Energy goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, after a nice interplay on the right wing by Georgios Samaras and Kosuke Kimura.

Samaras played a ball into the middle of the box to fullback Richard Menjivar. Menjivar’s shot was saved by Laurendi, but Forbes was there to capitalize on the loose ball.

Nielson said going down 1-0 seemed to galvanize his team.

“I think we were a little bit too impressed” with the NASL side, the coach said.

The Energy responded quickly with a goal just before halftime. Fullback Kalen Ryden carried by ball along the end line and placed a perfect ball into the box for Sebastian Dalgaard to bury in the back of the net.

In the second half, the Energy seemed to be the better side, but neither team was able to add to its goal tally.

The stalemate continued in the first period of extra time, as Rayo goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes kept the game tied with a diving 99th minute save to prevent an Energy header from nestling in his net.

Hyland scored early in the second overtime period, then Rayo saw a ball glance off the inside of the post off a set piece two minutes later.

It was the home team’s last threat however, as the Energy was able to fend off Rayo’s long-ball attacks.

The USL side was able to hold possession to bolster its defense in the game’s dying minutes, forcing Rayo to attempt some questionable tackles to win the ball back.

Midfielder Derek Boateng earned two quick yellows in the 115th minute for a late tackle and some harsh words for referee Daniel Radford.

Rayo captain Michel was sent off a few minutes later, drawing his second yellow card for a tackle inside the Energy’s goal box. The foul sparked a brief scuffle that resulted in a yellow card for Energy keeper Laurendi.

After the final whistle, Energy players celebrated in front of a large knot of traveling fans, while Rayo players trudged back into their locker room.

Rayo coach Alen Marcina said his team dominated the match, but was not able to capitalize on its scoring chances.

“In my humble opinion, the better team lost,” Marcina said. “We put ourselves in this position by not burying chances.

“You’ve got to them them in the back of the net. You’ve got to be clinical.”

The stats kept by the NASL show both teams managed 19 shots, but Rayo had six shots on target to Energy FC’s five. Possession was relatively even, with Rayo managing a 53-47 advantage.

With the win, Energy FC advances to plays FC Dallas, its MLS affiliate, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. FC Dallas will host the match June 15 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: OKC Energy survives dramatic PK shootout with Mississippi Brilla

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oklahoma city energy logoOklahoma City Energy FC goalkeeper CJ Cochran didn’t have much to do for 120 minutes of his team’s US Open Cup matchup Wednesday with amateur side Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL).

Cochran didn’t fare too well when the game went to a shootout, watching the first nine Brilla penalty kicks settle into his net.
The Georgia native came up big in the end though, saving the home side’s last two spot kicks before burying his own to lead Energy FC to a 10-9 shootout victory after a scoreless game at Traceway Park.

Oklahoma City’s USL side advances to face intra-city foe Rayo OKC in the third round of the US Open Cup. Rayo OKC, a first-year NASL side, will host the first-ever meeting of the two teams on June 1.

Energy FC controlled play in its first match of the 2016 US Open Cup, but scoring chances were hard to come by against Brilla FC’s dogged defense.

Brilla FC advanced to the second round by defeating CD Motagua of New Orleans in first round play on May 11.

On Wednesday, the Oklahoma team dominated possession – and easily snuffed out rare threats from Brilla FC — yet it was unable to put the ball past goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway.

Ledgeway ably marshalled Brilla’s backline to prevent Energy FC’s possession from translating into goals.

Danni Konig, who broke the USL scoring record last year, was a persistent threat on the Premier Development League side’s goal, but poor touches and staunch defending kept him off the scoresheet.

Konig had two prime chances snuffed out by a Brilla defender in the closing minutes of regulation after Luis Martinez settled a cross into the box.

Both teams had chances to break the deadlock in extra time, but neither was sharp enough to convert.

That changed once the game moved to penalty kicks, as the first nine shooters for each team scored.

Brilla’s Ledgeway stepped to the spot and easily converted his team’s seventh penalty kick, after managing to get his fingertips to two Energy FC attempts that still found the back of the net.

In the 10th round of the shootout, Ledgway answered Cochran’s first save with one of his own to keep Brilla FC in the match before Energy FC converted its final kick to secure the win.

Energy FC captain Michael Thomas said the game was a “tough battle” in post-match comments on Twitter. He said the team “should have put plenty (of chances) away today,” but still managed to find a way to win.

2013 US Open Cup Round 3: OKC Energy gets 1-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks in Oklahoma derby with ‘fantastic strike’ (video)

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oklahoma-city-energy-logoThe Oklahoma City Energy FC booked a place in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a thunderbolt of a goal from substitute striker Peter Toth in the 83rd minute.

Toth’s late goal – which coach Jimmy Neilson called a “fantastic strike” – settled a 1-0 match that seemed destined for overtime as Energy FC and in-state rival Tulsa Roughnecks FC struggled to threaten each other’s nets.

Toth, who entered the game in the 61st minute, said he received the ball from his left and saw an opportunity for a shot from about 30 yards out.

“I was trying to put it in the corner,” he said. “I think pretty much I did it.”

With the win, Oklahoma City moves on to play MLS leader FC Dallas in the Fourth Round of the nation’s oldest tournament. That game will be played June 16 in Fort Worth, Texas.

On Wednesday, both Oklahoma-based USL sides played tight defense, marshalling their forces at the top of the box to limit their opponents’ scoring chances.

The teams were credited with 12 shots on goal (nine for Oklahoma City), but only a couple of those posed any serious scoring threats.

Oklahoma City’s most dangerous attack before Toth’s winner came from defender Michael Harris’ acrobatic flip throw-in, which Tulsa goalkeeper Zac Lubin awkwardly swatted away in the game’s opening minutes.

Lubin, who has Open Cup experience winning TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Kitsap Pumas (PDL) in 2011, rarely was troubled after that, even though Energy FC coach Neilson insisted his team dominated the first half.

“I’ve got to give Tulsa credit. In the second half, they came out strong, with a lot of good energy, and made it very, very difficult for us,” he said. “It became very, very intense. Not the prettiest game, but the intensity was there. Both teams were fighting for every inch on the field.”

Tulsa’s chance came in the 54th minute, when Roughnecks midfielder Eli Galbraith-Knapp launched a stinging shot on goal. Energy FC goalkeeper Evan Newton bobbled the shot, but managed to cover it before an onrushing Tulsa player could reach it.

Galbraith-Knapp also had a chance for a late equalizer, but was unable to get onto the end of a well-flighted corner kick to the far post in the 88th minute.

In the end, Neilson said, Toth’s “fantastic” strike secured the win for Energy FC.

“It doesn’t surprise us,” Neilson said. “He’s doing that day in and day out in training.”
He said Toth entered the game as a box-to-box midfielder before settling into his favored role underneath the striker.

Neilson, who won the 2012 US Open Cup as a player with Sporting Kansas City (MLS), said Oklahoma City had to shuffle its lineup a bit because of injuries, but he praised his team for its effort.

“They found a way to win out there. They battled and they gave everything they had,” he said. “Again, not the prettiest game, but who cares? We move on to the next round.”

Defender Cyprian Hedrick said Energy FC’s back four fought hard, winning a lot of first and second balls to thwart Tulsa attacks.

“Our job was to come out here and get it done,” he said. “We did that and got a shutout.”

Neilson said his team relishes the opportunity to play FC Dallas, which currently leads MLS’s Supporters Shield race, in the next round of the Open Cup.

“It’s going to be a big challenge and a handful, but it’s going to be a fantastic experience for everyone,” he said.

Neilson said he hopes his team can surprise the higher-division team as an underdog.

“We know in soccer, anything can happen,” he said.

Post-game recap

REPLAY: OKC ENERGY AT TULSA ROUGHNECKS

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