Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Micaela Brewer

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: Leonardo Fredes’ costly bicycle kick goal gives El Farolito win over Academica SC (video)

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In the first knockout round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Academica SC and El Farolito went head-to-head for a spot in the Second Round. Although Academica’s home field in Turlock, Calif. was packed with their supporters, El Farolito, the 1993 US Open Cup champions, walked away from the match-up with a 2-1 win.

El Farolito, the club that won the US Open Cup back in 1993 under the name CD Mexico, are back in the tournament after being disqualified for switching leagues a year ago.

The first goal was scored by El Farolito in the 21st minute by Miguel Garduno and was assisted by Edson Cardona. The goal came off of a free kick taken by Cardona, who hit it to the near post where Garduno volleyed it into the opposite side of the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

In the 34th minute of the match, Leonardo Fredes doubled the lead for El Farolito on what will likely be a finalist for goal of the tournament.

Hugo Viegas sprinted after the ball down the right wing and sent a low-driving cross into the box toward Fredes. Fredes met the ball running toward the near post, flipped the ball up into the air, and pulled off an incredible bicycle kick as he contorted his body to fire the ball to the far post and into the side netting. The celebration was tempered as Fredes injured himself as he fell to the ground after the kick. It was later revealed that Fredes broke his arm.

The goal was featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10 list on ESPN later that night.

 

Coming out of the halftime break, El Farolito held a 2-0 lead as both sides were highly technical and played with a lot of possession and attacked the goal strategically. One of the key turning points came in the 54th minute of the match as El Farolito’s Walter Mazzolatti obtained a second yellow card. The double yellow on Mazzolatti left El Farolito with 10 men and would open the door for a comeback by Academica SC.

When it seemed like El Farolito had control of the game, Academica SC came back with a goal in the 72nd minute. Jorge Carmoa crossed the ball into El Farolito’s box which was cleared out back to Carmoa who shot it right past the keeper, through a crowd, which cut the lead in half. 

As the end of regulation is nearing, Academica SC had a chance to tie up the match much like they did in their previous qualifying match versus Marathon Taverna.

However, El Farolito held their own and kept Academica SC from scoring, which ended the match with a score of 2-1. El Farolito survives the first knockout round, and head coach Santiago Lopez along with the whole team celebrate and prepare for the next game.

With the win, El Farolito earns their first tournament victory in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup. Their last win in the competition came on July 17, 1993 when they defeated the United German Hungarians (Philadelphia area) 5-0 to win the US Open Cup title at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis.

2019 US Open Cup Qualifying: Academica SC uses 3 stoppage time goals to stun IPS, qualify for first time in PKs

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Players from IPS Marathon Taverna (red) and Academica SC battle for the ball in a Fourth Round match in the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Brittney Virgo
Players from IPS Marathon Taverna (red) and Academica SC battle for the ball in a Fourth Round match in the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Brittney Virgo

In the final round of the Open Division Local qualifying tournament, International Portland Select (IPS) Marathon Taverna (IPS) and Academica SC battled for a spot in the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. At Academica Fields in Turlock, Calif., both teams were seeking their first-ever trip to American soccer’s national championship. It was a physical battle between the two clubs with more than 15 cards handed out, and the match ultimately finished with teams playing 9 versus 8.

Fans from Academica SC set off smoke bombs during the club's Fourth Round match in the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Brittney Virgo
Fans from Academica SC set off smoke bombs during the club’s Fourth Round match in the Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Brittney Virgo

Twice, the hometown Academica SC snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring two late goals to send the match into extra time, and then scoring another equalizer deep into stoppage time of the second extra time period. In the end, after finishing extra time tied at 3-3, the match would be decided by a penalty kick shootout and the hosts did not disappoint, winning 3-1 to punch their ticket to the 106th edition of the US Open Cup.

Both teams came out with a fire and a drive to win. The first goal occurred in the 37th minute. A long ball was distributed by IPS goalkeeper Bernardo Palma Sosa, which got mis-headed by an Academica defender. Nathaniel Pogue ran in behind and went 1-on-1 with the goalie, and beat him to give the Portland, Ore.-based side a 1-0 lead.

IPS would add to their lead in the second half when Gerson Mejia scored in the 69th minute. Mejia took a quick touch and shot into the upper left side of the goal. Mejia then took off his shirt in celebration and added to the booking summary by earning a yellow card.

Academica SC made an amazing comeback in the final minutes of regulation. In the 91st minute, Brennan Canfield sunk the ball into the lower corner with an assist from Edwin Rodriguez. One minute later, the ball was bouncing in IPS’ box and Manuel Villegas pounced on it and volleyed it past Sosa to tie the game at 2-2 and force extra time.

In the first half of overtime, in the 98th minute, Borce Atanasov restored the lead for IPS for the visitors by putting one away on a pass from Alcides Thomas. A few minutes later, Thomas received a second yellow card and was sent off to leave IPS down a man.

Just before the end of the first half of extra time, Academica’s Adrian Plascencia was shown a second yellow, and Mejia from IPS received a straight red card. Another Academica player exited the game due to injury and was unable to be replaced because the home team had used all of their substitutions.

When the second half of extra time began, both teams were playing with nine players.

With stoppage time approaching, Academica’s chances of equalizing received a blow when Jose Barriga brought the home team down to eight players when he received a second yellow card.

With all of the injuries, cards and delays, roughly five minutes of time was added to the end of the second half of extra time and Academica took full advantage of the added time. ASC had a direct free kick a couple of yards outside of the 18-yard box. Gerardo Cazares sent the home crowd into a frenzy when he beat Sosa in the 124th minute to force a penalty kick shootout with the score tied 3-3.

The shootout began with IPS digging themselves a hole that they ultimately wouldn’t climb out of as Maxime Gorillot missed the target. After both teams traded goals, Jose Luis Rodriguez missed for Academica as Round 3 began tied at 1-1.

Alonso Lara stepped up for the home team by saving back-to-back attempts by Brannon Romac and Joaquim Capuia of IPS. Ramiro Ceja and finally Jorge Carmoa scored to win the shootout 3-1 and send Academica SC to the US Open Cup for the first time in club history.

Academica head coach Sergio Sousa was proud of how his team fought through the adversity.

“There was a time where the guys were thinking that their bodies were failing them, but everyone just kept digging for each other. We look forward to representing the valley well .”

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