Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Kevin Collins

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Dallas edge San Antonio FC in Texas-sized MLS vs. USL battle

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FC Dallas and San Antonio FC met in the Fourth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Darren Abate | USL
FC Dallas and San Antonio FC met in the Fourth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Darren Abate | USL

FC Dallas (MLS) advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Wednesday night with a 1-0 win over San Antonio FC (USL) in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio has never advanced further than the Fourth Round while FC Dallas, four-time finalists and two-time winners of the tournament, advance again to the Round of 16.

The first half featured quality chances by both squads. The first dangerous chance came in the 26th minute when San Antonio’s Omar Gordon juked Dallas’ keeper, but his shot was stopped just in front of goal by defender Jordan Cano to keep it scoreless.

Dallas’ Emmanuel Twumasi took a chance for the visitors in the 34th, but SAFC’s GK Matt Cardone handled it easily.

San Antonio nearly scored the opener in first half stoppage time but was cleared off the line again. The match went into halftime with nothing between the two sides.

The second half had barely gotten underway when FC Dallas’ Tesho Akindele, fed by Michael Barrios, slotted home the opening goal in the 46th minute. Dallas then focused their defensive efforts mainly on San Antonio FC’s Omar Gordon, who was the most dangerous man on the pitch in the first half. Gordon had all three of SAFC’s shots on target and four overall coming out of halftime.

Instead of sitting on their one-goal lead, the visitors continued pushing for an insurance goal, forcing San Antonio’s Matt Cardone to make a few point-blank saves, keeping the home side within striking distance. Gordon had San Antonio’s best second-half chance in the 80th minute as he danced around the Jimmy Mauer’s box, but his shot just went over the crossbar. Dallas nearly iced the match in the 87th minute as Michael Barrios’ effort bounced off the upright and rattled in front of San Antonio’s goal before being cleared.

The match ended 1-0 in favor of visiting FC Dallas who extend their opening round winning streak to six games. will find out their Round of 16 opponent on June 7.

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: San Antonio FC wins tense PK shootout with Colorado Springs Switchbacks

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Tempers boiled over between San Antonio FC and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Photo: San Antonio FC
Tempers boiled over between San Antonio FC and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Photo: San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC (USL) defeated league rival Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL) in penalty kicks Wednesday night to advance to the Open Cup’s Fourth Round. This is the second time, and first since 2016, that SAFC will advance to the Fourth Round, and also marks San Antonio’s first penalty shootout victory ever. Colorado Springs failed to reach the Fourth Round for the second consecutive year, last reaching it in 2016.

The first half got off to a quick start when 16-year-old San Antonio FC Academy product Ethan Bryant earned a penalty in the 8th minute. Veteran midfielder Rafa Castillo then calmly dispatched the ball past Colorado Springs goalie Moise Pouaty, sending him the opposite direction. On Bryant, head coach Darren Powell said, “The boy’s 16 years old. He comes out tonight and plays 120 minutes in his first professional game and he didn’t look out of place at all.”

The visitors would equalize in the 26th minute off a Josh Suggs corner kick. Switchbacks forward Tobenna Uzo headed home the corner past Matt Cardone. San Antonio had a chance to take the lead going into halftime; some fancy footwork in the box created a searing shot from Maxi Rodriguez which forced Pouaty into a stretch to prevent the goal.

San Antonio's Mikey Lopez reacts after kicking the match-winning penalty kick as San Antonio FC defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Photo: Darren Abate | USL
San Antonio’s Mikey Lopez reacts after kicking the match-winning penalty kick as San Antonio FC defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Photo: Darren Abate | USL

The second half saw much of the same attacking sense by both sides but Colorado looked to get the game-winner as they pushed forward more frequently than San Antonio. The match got more physical halfway through after some hard fouls, and no calls, by both clubs. Colorado Springs nearly took the lead late off what would have been an own goal by Chris Christian – to the relief of the home fans, the ball just went over the bar in front of goal for a corner. Full time would ultimately come with both sides still in a deadlock.

Extra time was more of the same: Colorado Springs was the more aggressive team, testing the San Antonio defense, trying to wear them down. The visitors had many chances to take the lead, none better than a golden opportunity that went just wide left as Switchbacks forward Martin Maybin was 1v1 with Cardone. The extra period ended with a scrum near midfield as Saeed Robinson saw his second yellow after a hard tackle. The extra time whistle blew before San Antonio could take advantage of being a man up on the Switchbacks.

In the penalty shootout, San Antonio FC scored all five of their goals while Colorado Springs midfielder Uriel Macias sailed his shot, Colorado’s fourth, above the crossbar. Mikey Lopez scored his next shot which sent SAFC to the next round. SAFC defender and captain Stephen McCarthy was relieved to get a win in PK’s, “It’s so great. That’s it. It’s great.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: San Antonio cruises past Midland-Odessa, 4-0

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USOC SA-MO FINALSan Antonio FC (USL) advanced to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for a third consecutive year with a 4-0 win over the Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (NPSL) on Wednesday night in Midland, Texas. This marks the second year, and first since 2015, that the Sockers advanced to the Open Cup Second Round in their history.

The visitors’ lineup included four players starting in their first match of the season, including hometown goalkeeper Matt Cardone. Cardone made five saves to keep a clean sheet.

San Antonio opened the scoring late in the first half when defender Darnell King headed home to beat the Sockers’ keeper. The Sockers were unable to clear the ball out of danger and the Florida native opened his account for SAFC. Midland-Odessa went into halftime down a goal, but were not out of the match.

“I thought before the game it’s always a challenge, especially on the road against the NPSL finalists from last year,” said SAFC head coach Darren Powell.

The middle of the second half featured some great saves by Cardone as the Sockers looked for an equalizer. However, San Antonio FC’s season goal leader, Mikey Lopez, doubled their tally in the 87th minute. Lopez scored off a free kick from the left side about 20 meters out, earning his third goal in the 2018 campaign.

Midland-Odessa kept pushing near the end for at least a consolation goal but a pair of stoppage-time goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Jamaican international Omar Gordon sealed the win for San Antonio. The Alamo City club will next face the Colorado Switchbacks FC (USL) back home at Toyota Field on May 23.

“All in all, we are excited to advance in this historic competition,” Powell said.

2016 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo dominate San Antonio FC, 4-0

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Houston DynamoIn a match between two Texas clubs, the Houston Dynamo began their run in the 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 4-0 win over San Antonio FC.

The brand new USL club held its own for the first 45 minutes in its first ever match against an MLS opponent, playing very well against their new in-state rival. However, Houston opened up the scoring in the 39th minute after San Antonio defender Milton Palacios slipped at the top of the box, giving room for Houston’s Manotas space to slip the ball in past goalkeeper Josh Ford.

It looked as though the visitors would go into halftime only down one, but Alex gave the home team a 2-0 lead in first half stoppage time after a deflected cross landed neatly for him. DaMarcus Beasley was credited with the assisted, his first in the tournament since 2003. According to TheCup.us records, this marks the biggest gap — 13 years — in between Open Cup assists in the Modern Era

The second half was a different story. Houston dominated possession as San Antonio couldn’t get the ball out of their own half for the majority of the half. Two quick goals in the 60th and the 66th minutes by Raul Rodriguez and Leonel Miranda respectively, sealed the Cup victory for the MLS side.

Houston will await the Fifth Round draw tomorrow where they will find out their next opponent and what bracket they will be in as the pool of teams left continues to shrink.

Houston Dynamo vs. San Antonio FC
U.S. Open Cup – Fourth Round
June 15, 2016—BBVA Compass Stadium—Houston, Texas
Attendance: 5,807

Scoring Summary:
HOU: Mauro Manotas 1 (unassisted) 39
HOU: Alex Lima 1 (David Rocha 1, DaMarcus Beasley 1) 45+
HOU: Raul Rodriguez 1 (David Rocha 2) 60
HOU: Leonel Miranda 1 (Alex Lima 1) 66

Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Sheanon Williams, David Horst (Raul Rodriguez 46), Agus, DaMarcus Beasley © (TJ Casner 71); Boniek García (Cristian Maidana 62), Alex Lima, David Rocha, Zach Steinberger, Leonel Miranda; Mauro Manotas
Unused Substitutes: Calle Brown, Will Bruin, Abdoulie Mansally, Collen Warner

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (three players tied with 2) SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Cristian Maidana 2) FOULS: 5 (Alex Lima and Sheanon Williams tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (Boniek Garcia 2) CORNER KICKS: 3 (three players tied with 1); SAVES: 2

San Antonio FC: Josh Ford; Milton Palacios (Biko Bradnock-Brennan 74), Stephen McCarthy, Sam McBride, Greg Cochrane; Michael Reed, Rafael Castillo, Carlos Alvarez, Danny Garcia (Victor Araujo 61); Shawn Chin (Jacques Francois 45), Jason Johnson
Unused Substitutes: Matt Cardone, Miguel Salazar, Sebastien Thuriere, Fejiro Okiomah

TOTAL SHOTS: 4 (Jason Johnson 3) SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Jason Johnson and Milton Palacios tied with 1) FOULS: 8 (Jacques Francois and Michael Reed tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (three players tied with 1) CORNER KICKS: 2 (Carlos Alvarez and Rafael Castillo tied with 1); SAVES: 3

Misconduct Summary:
None.

Referee: Leszek Stalmach
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Weed, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Kyle Phillips

FULL MATCH REPLAY: SAN ANTONIO FC AT HOUSTON DYNAMO

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