Neil Morris

Neil Morris has covered North American soccer since 2009, primarily as a beat writer for North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage. His soccer writing has been honored by the NC Press Association, and he is a member of the North American Soccer Reporters and NWSL Media Association. He is also host of the Inverted Triangle Soccer Podcast, produced in conjunction with WRALSportsFan.com.

2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Outward Soccer Soldiers … North Carolina FC ousts Florida 1-0 to advance

May 29, 2019 by Neil Morris

Players from North Carolina FC celebrate the team's only goal against Florida Soccer Soldiers in the Third Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Credit - Rob Kinnan — Players from North Carolina FC celebrate the team’s only goal against Florida Soccer Soldiers in the Third Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Credit – Rob Kinnan

The last time North Carolina FC played a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Field 2 (aka the Koka Booth Stadium) at WakeMed Soccer Park was 2014, when the team was called the Carolina RailHawks. The game featured a higher caliber, more talented squad coached by Dave Sarachan against a scrappy, yet overmatched underdog that nevertheless managed to pull off an improbable upset win.

Wednesday night in Cary, North Carolina FC, now a second-division pro team in the USL, hosted the amateur side Florida Soccer Soldiers in the Third Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Sarachan was back, now as the manager of North Carolina, which defeated Sarachan’s LA Galaxy in 2014 by a score of 1-0. Five years later, history partly repeated itself, as North Carolina carried an early second half goal by DJ Taylor to another 1-0 victory to advance to the Fourth Round of the Open Cup.

“It was a good win,” Sarachan said. “The Open Cup is what you saw tonight. You have a group of players from Florida who did a good job disrupting us and asking questions of us. We were in second gear in the first half, for whatever reason, and we created nothing. We adjusted some things at halftime, and I thought our second half start was good. We got the early goal, and I thought the soccer was good in the second half.”

For Sarachan, the win adds to his US Open Cup coaching resume, as the two-time champion improved his career advance percentage to .889, and his winning percentage to .833. Both numbers are the best of any manager in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present).

The amateur @SoccerSoldiers gave good account of themselves in Cary, NC, but there was no stopping @NorthCarolinaFC, who picked up the 1-0 win & a place in the Fourth Round.

? Highlights | #USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/m8B45rA4rx

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 30, 2019

“We came with huge expectations about this game because we thought we could win,” said Soccer Soldiers manager Daniel Godoy. “We played a high level against an excellent team with an excellent staff and excellent coach. Of course, we knew that if we made one mistake, they would score. We did our best, but it wasn’t for us.”

A back-and-forth opening half saw the hungrier Soccer Soldiers stymie North Carolina FC’s occasional attacking sorties and clog the midfield. The visitors’ offense consisted mainly of hunting for poaching opportunities. But the feisty Soccer Soldiers kept the scoreline clean entering intermission.

For the second straight Open Cup match, Sarachan was not pleased by his squad’s sluggish first half.

“The message was more urgency and more movement,” said Sarachan, who is leading a team in the US Open Cup for the first time since winning the tournament in 2006 with the Chicago Fire. “Sure it’s hot and all, but the message was let’s get to third and fourth gear. Step up the pressure and step up the tempo, get the game more on our terms.”

“In the first half, our movement was too slow,” Taylor added. “The team came out very lethargic—I don’t know if it was the heat or whatever. We weren’t moving the ball fast enough, and technically they were good and making it difficult for us.”

Graphic by Harrison Huntley | @hhuntley17

A more determined North Carolina FC came out for the second stanza and immediately christened the scoreboard. Fullback D.J. Taylor took a lay off from Steven Miller and drove towards goal, cutting loose a low liner from 19 yards out that slipped past Soccer Soldiers goalkeeper Bryant Gammiero Martins for a 1-0 advantage.

“I just saw space and dribbled through opponents, and they gave me space to cut onto my left foot and I hit it,” Taylor beamed. “It was a good goal.”

From there, the fitter Dead Whales wore down the Florida visitors. Three bookings, including a late red card shown to Florida’s Carlos Daniel Meneses Freire, were the lone notable events as North Carolina FC ground out a win and Florida appeared to finish the match with heavy legs.

“Maybe we pressured too high, but we knew that if we did that we were going to find one opportunity,” Godoy said. “We created a couple of those early in the game, but in the second half came with better energy.”

North Carolina FC now moves on to the fourth round of the Open Cup, the MLS round, which is familiar territory for the Cary-based side. An MLS side has ousted North Carolina from six of the past seven Open Cups.

“I’m very excited,” Taylor said. “We have a new coach, new team, and I think we’ll have a lot of success this year. I think it’s a great challenge to show what we can do. Last year, we lost to DC United on PKs, so we have to settle the score through the MLS rounds.”

BOX SCORE
LINEUPS
NC: MacLeod, Taylor, Mehl, Guillen, Duvernay, G. Smith, Wapiwo (da Luz, 77’), Perez (Miller, 46’), Fortune, Chester, Kristo (Ewolo, 73’)
FSS: Gammiero Martins, Serrano, Aldunate (Coll 85’), Calderon, Hoyos Cadavid, Suazo Williams, Meneses Freire, Boggio, Ruiz de Somocurcio (Ferro, 56’), Guanipa Morles (Olivares, 55’), Sabella

GOALS
NC: Taylor, 47’ (Miller)
FSS: —

CAUTIONS
NC: Mehl, 21’; Wapiwo, 71’
FSS: Sabella, 45’; Olivares, 90’

EJECTIONS
NC: —
FSS: Freire, 90’

ATTENDANCE: 1,270

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: North Carolina FC oust Richmond Kickers in Dave Sarachan’s return to USOC

May 16, 2019 by Neil Morris

Dave Sarachan won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup twice as the manager of the Chicago Fire in 2003 and 2006. When he was an assistant coach for the LA Galaxy, his team thrice visited WakeMed Soccer Park from 2012 through 2014, and three times his MLS side was ousted from the Open Cup by the hometown Carolina RailHawks.

Sarachan, who has the highest win percentage of any coach of the Modern Era, is now the manager of North Carolina FC, and in Round 2 he earned his first Open Cup victory in Cary, leading the né Hawks to a 4-1 win over USL League One side Richmond Kickers.

“The game had moments in the first half where we did OK, but there were a lot of moments where we were a step late and lethargic,” Sarachan said. “After we scored our goal, I think there was a little let-up … We got into halftime 1-1, and we could have been down, to be frank. I had some words with the boys at halftime and we made a few adjustments, and I think our second half was much better.”

“The caliber of North Carolina FC and the Championship isn’t something we’ll face on a regular basis,” said Richmond manager David Bulow. “It’s a huge compliment that some coaches and players say we’re trying to play, and we did quite well for large periods of the game.”

At least seven North Carolina FC regular starters either began on the bench or were not active for Wednesday’s match.

“There’s always a little bit of a question when you haven’t seen enough players in real games that matter for 90 minutes,” Sarachan said. “But sometimes your intuition takes over, and I thought these guys put themselves in a position to get this game tonight.”

NCFC 4. Richmond 1.

What a night for our squad. Catch every goal here ?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xJHRG2t4Xw

— North Carolina FC (@NorthCarolinaFC) May 16, 2019

North Carolina FC cracked the scoreline first in the 16th minute. A ball into the box found the foot of Donovan Ewolo, who dropped it off to Dre Fortune stationed atop the penalty arc. Fortune’s shot sailed past Kickers keeper (and former RailHawk) Akira Fitzgerald for the early 1-0 advantage.

Richmond equalized in the 34th minute after NCFC left back Caleb Duvernay failed to clear a deflected cross by Kickers forward Joe Gallardo. The ball fell back to Gallardo, who crossed across the face of goal to a waiting Wahab Ackwei, who redirected into net to even the score at 1-1 entering intermission.

North Carolina FC’s first-half play let the home side frustrated, and Sarachan let his team hear about it in the locker room.

“After we scored the goal, I felt like our team believed this was going to be an easy game,” Sarachan said. “They let their feet off the gas a little bit, and I had to remind them that we needed to step up our pressure and compete better on 50-50 balls. They made that response in the second half, but wasn’t good enough for me in the first half.”

“Honestly, we came out terrible,” said NCFC forward Robbie Kristo. “Everything was a step too slow, and we kind of put out head down after we gave up the goal. We let them get a chance after a mistake on our part, not clearing the ball. We had to get to halftime to gather ourselves and get it together. Coach put us together in the locker room, told us to be a step faster and think a little faster.”

The duly motivated Dead Whales reclaimed the lead shortly into the second stanza. Duvernay caught up to a bounding ball heading into the left corner in the 52nd minute, then whirled and whipped a looping cross into the goalmouth, where Kristo climbed over Ackwei and nodded the ball across the goal line to make the score 2-1.

“It was a great service by Caleb to put it in the box,” Kristo said. “I just outmuscled the guy — being 6-foot-5 makes it a little easier to get on the end of things and put it in the corner.”

North Carolina FC extended their advantage beginning in the 61st minute when Kristo drew a penalty from Ackwei.

“Great movement by Duval taking it down the middle of the field,” Kristo said. “I cut outside, and played me in and was a step too late.”

Kristo stepped to the spot and converted past Fitzgerald to give him a brace and push the scoreline to 3-1. Two minutes after coming into the match, Yamikani Chester got on the end of a Manny Perez cross in the 70th minute, burying his angled shot across the face of Fitzgerald to account for the final 4-1 margin.

The win marked the third time that NCFC had defeated the Richmond Kickers at WakeMed in team history. The biggest of those wins was when the club (then known as the Carolina RailHawks) beat the Kickers in the 2007 Quarterfinals to punch their ticket to the tournament’s final four. They met again in the opening round in 2009 with Carolina winning , 2-1.

Next, NCFC hosts amateur team Florida Soccer Soldiers on May 29 in Round 3. The Soccer Soldiers were a surprise winner over USL Championship side Charlotte Independence on Tuesday.

“This is the beauty of this tournament,” Sarachan gushed. “I am pulling for that team, other than the next time we play them. You pull for teams like that. That just tells you about this tournament, that anybody can enter, play well, and win. We’ll be ready, and obviously they’re a well-coached team. We certainly won’t take them for granted.”

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS
NC: MacLeod, Duvernay, Guillen, Mehl, Perez, Fortune, Wapiwo, McCabe (G. Smith, 77’), Panchot (Taylor, 46’), Ewolo (Chester, 68’), Kristo
RIC: Fitzgerald, Thomsen, Magalhães, Shanosky (Hughes, 63’), Ackwei, Troyer (Lockaby, 62’), Retzlaff (Mwape, 63’), M. Rodriguez, Bolduc, Gallardo, Boateng

GOALS
NC: Fortune, 16’ (Ewolo); Kristo, 52’ (Duvernay); Kristo, 61’ (PK); Chester, 70’ (M. Perez)
RIC: Ackwei, 34’ (Gallardo)

CAUTIONS
NC: McCabe, 47’; Fortune, 53’; Wapiwo, 82’
RIC: Ackwei, 61’

EJECTIONS
NC: —
RIC: —

ATTENDANCE: 1,553

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: North Carolina FC prepared for storm, defeated Ocean City Nor’easters, 4-1

May 22, 2018 by Neil Morris

Two months ago, a gusty nor’easter uncovered the skeletal remains of a humpback whale long buried on the Jersey shore, about 15 miles north of Ocean City, New Jersey. Tuesday evening, the Ocean City Nor’easters drifted down to WakeMed Soccer Park and encountered another variety of Dead Whales, these representing North Carolina FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

North Carolina FC scored two goals in the first half, then replicated that in the second stanza on their way to a 4-1 victory over Ocean City to advance to the fourth round of the US Open Cup.

“We weren’t at our best, but I think it was a professional, workmanlike performance, a lot like last week ,” said NCFC midfielder Austin da Luz. “We finished some chances, we defended well, and onto the next round.”

While Tuesday’s opponent was an amateur squad, it came with a long Open Cup pedigree for results over professional opponents, most recently a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Independence last week. It was their sixth win over a professional team in club history. North Carolina FC manager Colin Clarke said he knew what to expect from the visitors from Jersey.

“Counterattacks and transition,” Clarke said. “ scored two goals in the first seven minutes against Charlotte in the last round, and that was the game, pretty much. We nearly fell for it a couple of times , but overall I thought we deserved the game. It’s the third game in seven or eight days , with another one in three days. So, it’s a tough stretch, but we’re moving on to the next round, which the main thing.”

North Carolina FC jumped out to an early lead in the 8th minute. Da Luz delivered a cross that found an onrushing Marios Lomis, who put the outside of his right boot to ball. The sphere squibbed between the legs of Ocean City goalkeeper Alec Smir and across the goal line to give NCFC a 1-0 advantage.

The Nor’easters equalized in the 17th minute, after North Carolina failed to clear a seemingly benign ball in the box that ended up at the feet of Uros Ilic. The OC defender’s shot glanced off NCFC’s Michael Harrington along its path into the net, making the score 1-1.

However, North Carolina FC retook the lead for good in the 26th minute. Midfielder Bernhard Luxbacher sent a cross off the right wing that found da Luz, who poked his head around a Nor’easter defender and nodded the ball into the bottom corner of the goal, making the score 2-1 at intermission.

The home side extended its lead to 3-1 in the 66th minute off a nifty build-up that started when da Luz sent a skimmer into the area that Dre Fortune dummied to Lomis. Lomis one-touched back to Fortune, who took a touch around an OC defender before depositing his left-footed shot past Smir.

Carolina made it a final four in the 84th minute when second-half sub D.J. Taylor turned and fired from distance. His shot pinged off the right shoulder of forward Donovan Ewolo and into the net, giving the Cameroonian import his first NCFC goal, even if he knew nothing about it.

After the match, Clarke credited the “outstanding” play of da Luz, starting his third game in less than a week. Tuesday against the Nor’easters, da Luz scored a goal, assisted another, and set-up a third.

North Carolina FC returns to Open Cup play on June 6, with the site and (likely) Major League Soccer opponent to be determined this Thursday. In the meantime, NCFC resumes USL competition this Friday, May 25 against Atlanta United 2, the reserve side for their MLS parent. It’s the first of four USL home games for NCFC, a pivotal stretch for a club currently mired near the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.

“It’s an important —it’s the first one of four at home,” Clarke added. “It’s a team that has some young kids coming in and one or two veterans, but a team that’s scoring goals, conceding goals, and is exciting to watch. But we’re at home, and we need to start putting another run together. And that needs to start Friday night.”

“We’re not anywhere close to where we want to be in the league right now,” da Luz, said. “So Friday is a massive game for us, and we have to turn our attention to that pretty quick.”

Courtesy of WRALSportsFan.com

2015 US Open Cup Round 3: Charlotte Independence makes Carolina RailHawks’ bad day even worse with surprise 1-0 win

May 28, 2015 by Neil Morris

Capping arguably the darkest day in Carolina RailHawks history, the USL expansion Charlotte Independence quelled the hosts 1-0, ousting Carolina from the US Open Cup in the Third Round. It’s the earliest the RailHawks have exited the Open Cup since 2010.

A match that saw little offense turned in the 81st minute when Ryan Finley beat Carolina’s backline before slotting the game-winner past goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

After the game, Sylvestre protested that Finley was offside. RailHawks manager Colin Clarke laid blame on his team’s lack of execution.

“We had a throw-in and we threw it to them,” Clarke said. “That’s where it starts. Awful decision, awful play.”

Prior to Finley’s score, both teams exchanged wanting scoring chances. In the 56th minute, an effective RailHawks buildup gave second-sub Jamie Dell with an open shot in the box. However, he pulled his attempt wide right of goal.

In the 61st, Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera held up the ball in the box before turning and unleashing a snap shot that nearly sailed over Sylvestre before the leaping 6-foot-5 keeper finger-tipped the ball over the crossbar.

In the 71st minute, Sylvestre rushed out of goal in an attempt to clear away a Charlotte through ball. Finley beat Sylvestre to the spot, but as Finley attempted to maneuver around Sylvestre the keeper dispossessed him to thwart an open-goal opportunity.

Sylvestre got the start upon being recalled from loan to the Philadelphia Union, where he earned a spot on the MLS Team of the Week last weekend.

After tonight’s loss, a visibly angry Sylvestre expressed his frustration over the outcome, seemingly channeling his teammates in the process.

“What ticks me off is we have the potential to go out there and beat anybody, but we’re not showing it,” Sylvestre said. “We have a great team. If we had played to our potential we would have killed this team, easily. I know that because I trained with these guys.”

The Independence not only scrimmaged the RailHawks during the preseason, but their roster includes three former RailHawks: Daniel Jackson and brothers Enzo and Alex Martinez.

Charlotte manager Mike Jeffries said insight wasn’t essential to preparing for Carolina. However, he admits to game-planning his team’s tactics to take away the RailHawks’ strengths, chiefly speedy midfielder Ty Shipalane.

“That was number one on the list, I gotta be honest,” Jeffries said. “I have a lot of respect for Shipalane and Novo, and we felt like we had to keep those two under wraps. We knew if we managed to do that we would give ourselves a great opportunity to win the game.”

Wednesday began with the soccer world awakening to the news that 14 FIFA executives and sports marketing officials were indicted in an ongoing US corruption probe. Among those charged is Aaron Davidson, now ex-Chairman of the Board of Governors for the North American Soccer League (NASL) and President of Traffic Sports USA, Inc., the company that owns the RailHawks. On May 14, Traffic Sports USA and their parent company Traffic Sports International Inc. pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.

The surreality of the day is capped by Carolina’s lackluster performance. Clarke refused to concede these shocking events impacted his players’ preparation.

“It wasn’t a distraction, doesn’t even come into it,” Clarke said. “I just didn’t think we did enough good things on the field. We had our moments but didn’t make their keeper work enough.”

Distraction or not, the RailHawks’ early exit is a bitter pill for a team accustomed to Open Cup success the past three years.

“It’s hard because we’ve been successful and now we won’t get that opportunity to play against one of the big boys,” Clarke said. “For the players, we won’t get that opportunity to showcase their talents. It’s disappointing.”

2014 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Blas Perez scores three as FC Dallas ends Carolina RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak (video)

July 10, 2014 by Neil Morris

UPDATE: Blas Perez of FC Dallas was named TheCup.us Player of the Round of the Quarterfinals

The first question posed to Enzo Martinez after FC Dallas’ 5-2 win over the Carolina RailHawks Wednesday night in Cary was whether the RailHawks’ early opening goal conjured confidence that the WakeMed Soccer Park magic would again propel them to victory over a Major League Soccer opponent.

Before the Carolina midfielder could respond, florescent light bulbs flicked off, temporary cloaking the media room in darkness.

No further response was really necessary.

After surrendering one goal and nearly another over the opening 20 minutes of their quarterfinal match in the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, a speedy, technically proficient FC Dallas turned out the lights on both the RailHawks’ tournament hopes and their 23-match home unbeaten streak.

FC Dallas opened the game with a three-man back line, a tactical decision that manager Oscar Pareja later admitted was in error. While Dallas’ formidable forwards would eventually feast on the RailHawks’ defense, their initial lack of cover in the defending third afforded Carolina’s own potent attackers space to make runs into the box.

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That paid early dividends in the 9th minute. Jun Marques Davidson played a nifty chip pass ahead to a streaking Martinez in the box. Martinez centered the ball over to Zack Schilawski, whose left-footed toe poke flew past FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez for an early 1-0 lead.

“We decided to go with some pressure ,” Pareja said, “but they made us change the plan quick due to their technical ability.”

FC Dallas center back Matt Hedges deferred a question about why the team started out with a three-man back to his manager.

“We tried it and it didn’t work as well as we wanted it to,” Hedges said. “So we made some changes, and we got much more organized afterwards.”

Carolina attempted to keep up the attack, with another Martinez blast in the 20th minute bounding just wide of the goal. But in the 23rd minute, Tescho Akindele drove along FC Dallas’ right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box that found an unmarked Blas Perez, whose header found the upper netting and knotted the score at 1-1.

Unfortunately, the RailHawks’ offensive eagerness eventually played into FC Dallas’ plan. Too often midfielders Cesar Elizondo, Ty Shipalane and Martinez would dribble into a sure-footed defender and get dispossessed, triggering counterattacks that allowed Fabian Castillo, Andres Escobar and others to carve up and break down the Carolina defense all evening.

In the 34th minute, Carolina center back Austen King attempted a slide tackle to clear out a FC Dallas through ball intended for JeVaughn Watson. However, King’s clearance ricocheted off Watson and behind King, allowing Watson to regather the ball and center it to Perez stationed atop the box. Perez’s strike somehow dissected Daniel Scott and Kupono Low before skimming past goalkeeper Scott Goodwin to give Dallas a 2-1 lead.

However, just two minutes later an Elizondo dribble was handled in the area by Moises Hernandez, drawing a penalty call from referee Ricardo Salazar. Martinez stepped to the spot and hammered his PK past Fernandez to level the score at 2-2.

With Carolina harboring hopes of carrying a tie score into halftime, a RailHawks miscue gave FC Dallas the eventual game-winner in the 44th minute. Another Elizondo dispossession, this time to Watson, launched a Dallas counter led by Escobar, who galloped into the attacking third before sending a seeing eye through ball ahead to Castillo. All Castillo did was beat Low to the ball, maneuver past Scott and then round Goodwin before calmly depositing the ball into an open goal for a 3-2 lead at intermission.

It was a moment of technical class that epitomized the talent gap between FC Dallas’ speedy, skilled attackers and an outmatched RailHawks back line, whose output was a far cry from their flawless performance two weeks ago during Carolina’s Open Cup win over the LA Galaxy.

After halftime, FC Dallas subbed in defender Stephen Keel and retreated to a flat four-man back line with a compact midfield. Dallas remained content to surrender much possession to Carolina, but the RailHawks were unable to convert their chances.

As Carolina threw players forward late in the match in search of another equalizer, it opened space for FC Dallas to ultimately pad their lead. In the 89th minute, another Martinez turnover near midfield triggered yet another Dallas counter. Mauro Diaz drove past the center line before playing the ball wide left to Castillo. Castillo drew defenders before calmly passing the ball back to Diaz for a professional finish.

Then a couple of minutes later during added time, another dynamic drive up the left side by Castillo ended with him driving toward the top of the 18-yard box, rounding a helpless Scott, and then laying the ball to an unmarked Perez. All that remained was for Perez to complete his hat trick and account for the final scoring tally. Perez became just the third Dallas player to score three goals in a game, joining Kenny Cooper (2006) and Bobby Rhine (1999).

The sad irony is while Carolina had more possession and attack against FC Dallas than the Chivas USA and LA Galaxy games combined, the ultimate result was very different.

“I thought we played pretty well,” said RailHawks manager Colin Clarke. “I thought we competed with them. I thought we passed the ball and moved the ball. Just the little details in each box, defensively and being clinical in the other box. They were better than us tonight at that.”

The match carried a sense of occasion and connections about it. Jason Kreis, the new manager of New York City FC and a former Duke University standout, was on hand for a scouting expedition — before the game he was at a nearby bar watching the Netherlands-Argentina FIFA World Cup match with RailHawks’ supporters.

Also, Pareja both played for and served as an assistant coach under Clarke when Clarke managed FC Dallas from 2003-2006.

“It was good to see them, good to catch up with them,” Clarke said. “I think they’re doing good things down there. They’re a fun team to watch … and have some great players.”

And, there was another reunion of sorts between Martinez, Goodwin and Hedges, who were teammates on the 2011 North Carolina Tar Heels men’s national championship team.

“Obviously, it was the kind of reunion I hoped we’d have,” Hedges joked about getting the win over his former college mates.

The loss to FC Dallas squanders Carolina’s chance to host an Open Cup semifinal tie against the Philadelphia Union next month. However, with this year’s Open Cup run now over, the RailHawks’ attention turns squarely toward the NASL fall season, which kicks off this Saturday in Cary against Indy Eleven. Indy finished at the bottom of the league’s spring season standings, failing to win any of their nine games. However, one of their four draws came against the RailHawks.

Saturday’s match presents Carolina a chance to kick off the fall campaign with a home win and maybe exorcise a few demons in the process. That said, three of the team’s ensuing four games after this weekend will be on the road at Minnesota, San Antonio and New York, the three top teams in the NASL spring season.

Fortunately, the RailHawks spent the NASL “midseason” World Cup break playing three competitive matches against MLS teams an additional friendly against Puebla FC from Liga MX, winning three of those four contests. Clarke says his team enjoyed the much-needed preparation, and he learned a few things about them in the process.

“We need to be more clinical,” Clarke said. “We also need to be a little nastier in some ways, a little more professional. There were a few times tonight when we could have stuck in some tackles tonight and we didn’t. They didn’t mind giving us a kick from time to time, and we’ve got to get that into our game, particularly when we go on the road.”

After punching their ticket to the Semifinals for the 8th time, FC Dallas will enjoy a 10-day break before returning to league play at home against the New England Revolution on July 19.

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: Rookie GK leads Carolina RailHawks to 3rd straight win over full-strength LA Galaxy

June 25, 2014 by Neil Morris

Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves the shot of Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks — Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves a shot taken by Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

UPDATE: Scott Goodwin was named TheCup.us Player of the Round

Shots: 31 to 6. Corner kicks: 11 to 4. Time of possession: seemingly infinity to nil.

In virtually every statistical category, the LA Galaxy held sway over the Carolina RailHawks during their Fifth Round match in the US Open Cup. Except one.

Goals: 1-0 RailHawks.

It was the third consecutive year the RailHawks have hosted and now dispatched the Galaxy from the tournament. Unlike the previous two tournaments, this year was supposed to be different.

First, Galaxy manager Bruce Arena actually made the trip to Cary (unlike in 2013). The game didn’t take place in the nearly 10,000 seat WakeMed Soccer Stadium, but instead an adjacent Koka Booth Stadium (aka Field 2) lined with lawn and temporary bleacher seating with a maximum capacity of 3,000.

Moreover, unlike the roster of reservists the Galaxy have previously run out against the RailHawks, this year the Galaxy were playing for keeps.

“e’re sick of losing to Carolina and we’re sick of going out of the Open Cup early,” said LA’s Landon Donovan in the run-up to the match.

The Galaxy fielded a formidable, full-strength lineup that included Robbie Keane, Juninho, Robbie Rogers, AJ DeLaGarza, and Gyasi Zardes. And, the player with the most goals in both U.S. national and Major League Soccer history, Donovan entered the game in the 64th minute.

On the other side, the RailHawks were fielding a bit of a patchwork 11 that was missing starting striker Mike Grella and center back Toni Stahl. Both players’ Carolina contracts expired after the Chivas USA Open Cup win on June 14, and both players are absent while the team attempts to negotiate extensions for the NASL fall season.

With starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald still injured, Scott Goodwin got his second straight start. Against Chivas USA, all Goodwin did was make 11 saves in 120 minutes of regulation and overtime, then saved three kicks from the penalty mark to secure the RailHawks’ victory.

For those asking whether Goodwin could duplicate that stellar performance, the former Tar Heel standout answered with a clean sheet and eight saves against the formidable Galaxy attack.

It was a hot and humid start on the sunbathed Field 2, still in the mid 80s at the 7 p.m. kickoff.

It was the Galaxy putting the heat on the RailHawks in the early going. The Galaxy dominated possession against a tentative Carolina squad, and the RailHawks’ usually potent offensive met its match against a big and fast Galaxy back line. LA snuffed out virtually every through ball and attempted attack from wingers Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo.

While the Galaxy sent one sortie after another into their attacking third, they were either snuffed out by Goodwin or cleared out by a RailHawks’ back line that barely made a misstep or ill-timed tackle the entire match. Quite simply, Connor Tobin, Daniel Scott, Austen King, and Kupono Low were sublime in the back; RailHawks manager Colin Clarke said it was one of the best games he’s ever seen the 35-year-old Low play.

Carolina RailHawks fans poked fun at Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena in 2013. Photo: Twitter @daveslounge — Carolina RailHawks fans poked fun at Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena in 2013 for not making the trip to Cary. Photo: Twitter @daveslounge

The RailHawks were fortunate to hold the Galaxy scoreless in the first half. That second lease on the game appeared to galvanize Carolina’s resolve in the second stanza.

While LA continued to dominate the run of play, Carolina began to find seams to attack after substituting off Shipalane and Elizondo, heroes of past Open Cup wins over the Galaxy and Chivas USA. With the Galaxy crowding the wings all match, the insertion of substitutes Daniel Jackson and Nick Zimmerman — making his first official RailHawks appearance since 2012 — stretched the field and gave Carolina more punch through the center of the field.

In the 48th minute, Leonardo got a head on a LA corner kick, but his shot sailed wide and high. In the 50th minute, Kofi Opare got his own point-blank header in the goalmouth, but Goodwin made a spectacular save.

In the 83rd minute, Donovan found the ball at his feet in the box and delivered a short range poke that Goodwin somehow managed to swat away from danger.

In a game full of close calls, Goodwin said that was the closest.

“I didn’t really think about it until five or ten minutes later,” he said. “I was like, ‘I think that was Donovan.’ You’re watching the ball and scrambling around, and you have no time to think about it during the game. It’s just onto the next play.”

In the 90th minute, Keane got free in the box and found himself in a 1-v-1 with Goodwin. But the Carolina keeper won that battle, too.

Just when it appeared the RailHawks would be fortunate to hold on for overtime, Carolina nearly snagged a shock winner on the final play of regulation. Finding space along the right flank, Jackson made an angled drive toward the south goal and cut loose a blast that was parried away by Galaxy goalkeeper Jamie Penedo.

In the 105th minute, the RailHawks improbably broke the scoreless deadlock. A one-two exchange between Jackson and Zimmerman ended with Zimmerman playing a nifty through ball behind Leonardo to a streaking, onside Jackson. With Keane and Donovan watching helplessly, Jackson drove to goal and powered his shot near post past Penedo for the 1-0 lead.

“On that possession, Nazmi had a broke up play and he played it to me,” Jackson said. “I brought in and played a one-touch with Zimmerman. I rolled around and played a ball through.”

From there, it was up to Jackson to notch his first RailHawks goal.

“It was a little similar to the I had before overtime,” he said. “I mishit the previous one, but this time I just thought I’d blast it and see where it goes. It was near post and it was good rip.”

From there, it was time for the RailHawks to intentionally park the bus. In the 114th, a seeing-eye header from Keane bounded wide left of goal. Three minutes later, Goodwin saved yet another blast in the box from Keane.

Even with three more minutes added by the referee on top of the 15-minute second overtime period, the Galaxy could never find the back of the net.

After the match, Arena declined to speak with the media, sending associate head coach Dave Sarachan in his stead. When Sarachan wasn’t griping about the supposedly poor lighting illuminating Field 2, he reflected the mood of the snake-bitten Galaxy.

“It’s a quiet locker room,” he said, “because they’re disappointed and because they put everything out there today.”

Donovan was incredulous yet gracious in defeat.

“You have to give them a lot of credit,” he said. “Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you win that game. had everything go their way tonight. They played well, they defended well and their goalie had one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. And they got the goal that they needed.

“We can’t fault our effort. We gave everything, but everyone’s been part of games like that in soccer. It’s a crazy, cruel game sometimes.”

With three straight Open Cup wins over the Galaxy on top of knocking LA out of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League when he was managing the Puerto Rico Islanders, Clarke has become quite the burr in the Galaxy’s saddle.

“ are a great team,” Clarke said. “They’ve been one of the best teams in the country for a long time. They have players with lots of talent, and they play the right way. We knew we were going to have to defend to get the result … We found a way to get a win, which is pretty special.”

The RailHawks’ midseason NASL break is turning into anything but. Carolina now advances to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup for the second straight season. Riding an unbeaten home streak that has now reached 23 games, the RailHawks will host FC Dallas on July 9.

Before that, the RailHawks will undoubtedly take a few days to bask in the afterglow of this victory. It was an unusual outcome to an unusual event, where the RailHawks were tasked with the Herculean task of putting together a high-profile match on a converted practice field in just over a week. The configuration of the venue created a festive environment for fans. The players had to navigate their way through the stands in order to enter and exit both the park and field, and the fans took advantage of the close proximity to snare autographs from Donovan, Keane, and others.

Indeed, before saluting his players, Clarke first paid tribute to the team’s staff.

“Under tough circumstances of having to play out on Field 2, the staff put that together on short notice,” Clarke said. “I thought it looked professional and well set up. It was great to play on, and that goes a long way to winning the game. They made it a special game.”

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: Carolina RailHawks oust Chivas USA again as rookie GK plays hero in PK shootout (video)

June 15, 2014 by Neil Morris

Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks makes a kick-save on Marco Delgado of Chivas USA in what would prove to be the deciding save in the PK shootout. Photo: Carolina RailHawks — Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks makes a kick-save on Marco Delgado of Chivas USA in what would prove to be the deciding stop in the PK shootout. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

In soccer, it’s commonly called a penalty shootout. However, the Laws of the Game officially refer to the tiebreaker as “kicks from the penalty mark.” Regardless of the moniker, it’s a construct that’s long been the subject of intense fan debate. Some decry it as a contrived method to determine the winner of a hard-fought match, something akin to deciding a basketball game by shooting free throws or an American football contest by alternating 30-yard field goal attempts.

Others point out that after 120 minutes of exhausting play between teams allowed only three substitutions all game, you have to do something to crown a winner when necessary other than an exercise in last man standing. Moreover, kicks from the mark aren’t simply a matter of shooting from close range into an empty net. Yes, the kick taker has a significant advantage. But he must also overcome fatigue, nerves and an agile goalkeeper looming between ball and net.

Kicks from the penalty mark were taken Saturday night between the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer to decide their fourth round tie in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. On one side was Dan Kennedy, the veteran Chivas USA goalkeeper and team captain now in his 14th year with the MLS club. On the other side was Scott Goodwin, the RailHawks’ 23-year-old backup goalkeeper making only his second start since joining the club this season. Goodwin, a former UNC Tar Heel standout, spent last year playing soccer in Iceland before latching onto the RailHawks’ squad.

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But, after a “shootout” that saw Goodwin make three saves, Kennedy make two, and both teams convert only five of their combined 14 kick attempts, a successful conversion by Daniel Jackson gave the RailHawks a win over Chivas USA 1-1 (3-2 shootout) to advance to the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The win also extends the RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak to 22 games in all competitions.

As expected, the RailHawks ran out a full-strength side against their MLS opponent. The huge exception, of course, was Goodwin, who learned only two days prior to Saturday’s match that he would start in place of injured starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. Indeed, according to RailHawks manager Colin Clarke, Fitzgerald might miss the next six weeks of action due to a thumb injury suffered last week during training.

On the other hand, Chivas USA sat out several of their best-known starters, including Carlos Bocanegra and Mauro Rosales. Erick Torres, the team’s leading goalscorer and the third-ranked scorer in MLS, did not start but eventually entered the match in the 77th minute. Chivas was also without the services of Marvin Chavez and Oswaldo Minda, each of whom was called up by his respective country’s FIFA World Cup team.

However, Chivas did start a number of regulars, including Kennedy, Eric Avila, Agustin Pelletieri and Bobby Burling. The remainder of the starting XI, however, comprised irregular starters in need of playing time and a chance to make an impression on manager Wilmer Cabrera.

After several minutes of uncertainty to start the game, it was the RailHawks that first found their offensive rhythm. The attacking quartet of Mike Grella, Zack Schilawski, Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo found running and passing lanes in the attacking third. However, their final touch and finishing proved elusive.

An apparent Schilawski goal in the 20th minute was discarded for offside. In the 27th minute, Chivas forward Leandro Barrera found himself behind the RailHawks backline but onside. However, his 1v1 clash with Goodwin ended with the keeper parrying Barrera’s shot away.

The Carolina RailHawks eliminated Chivas USA for the second time in three years at WakeMed Soccer Park. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

Carolina struck first in the 29th minute. Some nice link-up play by the RailHawks ended with Schilawski on the end of pass into the box from Nazmi Albadawi. Schilawski depositing the ball past Kennedy for a 1-0 lead.

“Really good pass from Naz,” Schilawski said. “He made it look easier than it was. Instead of playing a through ball he played it right to my feet so I could take a touch past the defender, and I was able to finish.”

However, as the first half wore on the RailHawks appeared fatigued and their play became nervy. That resulted in a Chivas USA goal in the 40th minute. A defensive miscue by the RailHawks allowed forward Ryan Finley to get on the end of delivery from Tony Lochhead. Finley headed the ball past a helpless Goodwin to even the count at 1-1 entering halftime.

In the second half, Chivas USA solved the problem of Carolina’s opening offensive lanes.

“We understood we were putting good pressure and blocking out wide,” Cabrera said. “But through the middle they were penetrating. So in the second half we closed the line, especially in the middle with our midfielders.”

The adjustment succeeded, as the RailHawks conjured only a single shot on target for the remainder of the match. Meanwhile, Chivas USA controlled possession and the shot count (24 to 10 for the match). But, stout defending by Carolina’s entire back line complimented some tremendous play from Goodwin.

RailHawks manager Colin Clarke made several key decision during the latter stages of regulation and during overtime. His first substitution in the 71st minute was to bring in Jackson for Shipalane, the RailHawks late-game hero of several past Open Cup matches who, in fairness, didn’t look terribly effective beyond the first half. Clarke then removed Elizondo for Enzo Martinez in the 98th minute.

“I thought (Ty) had a tough night against them,” Clarke said. “I thought they did a good job closing him down. Cesar had a little bit more joy against them, but I just decided to bring fresh legs on in those positions to see if we could get at them a little more.”

Aside from their potent wingers, however, Carolina failed to muster many offensive opportunities in the 30 minutes of overtime. The only shot on target came in the 106th, when a meek boot in the box from Grella was easily gathered by Kennedy.

It fell to Goodwin and his back line to hold the Red-and-White at bay. By the end of 120 minutes, Goodwin had amassed a whopping 11 saves against the MLS visitors.

And that’s when the fun really began.

In addition to his 3 saves in the deciding penalty kick shootout, Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks made 11 saves and gave up one goal in 120 minutes against Chivas USA. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

The kicks from the marks were taken toward the north end of the stadium into the teeth of a throng of RailHawks partisans. Nevertheless, Chivas took the early advantage after Albadawi’s first attempt for Carolina caromed off the post. After Eriq Zavaleta skied Chivas’ third attempt over the goal and Kennedy saved Carolina’s third kick taken by Kupono Low, Chivas held a 2-1 advantage.

Kennedy then took Chivas’ fourth attempt. It wasn’t the keeper’s first kick from the spot—he scored a goal on a true penalty kick against the Los Angeles Blues during last year’s US Open Cup. However, this year the vet’s boot was blocked by Goodwin. After Schilawski buried his attempt, Goodwin then stoned an attempt by Avila.

Martinez—Goodwin’s teammate on the 2011 NCAA champion UNC Tar Heels—then squandered a chance to secure a RailHawks victory when he screwed his attempt wide right.

After Kristopher Tyrpak missed Chivas’ sixth attempt, late-substitute Aaron King’s chance to win the match for Carolina was blocked by Kennedy.

To open the seventh frame, Goodwin thwarted the attempt by Marco Delgado, Goodwin’s third save of the shootout. The third time also proved a charm for Carolina, as Jackson calmly converted his kick to clinch the RailHawks’ win.

“After some great soccer all day long on TV and then to come out and see a game like that sort of tops them all,” said an elated Clarke. “I thought the boys showed a lot of character and hung in there, and it came down to PKs. It’s never easy, a little bit of a lottery. Looked for a time like nobody wanted to win it.”

As opposed to those harboring pregame trepidation about Goodwin’s appearance in place of Fitzgerald (a group including yours truly), Clarke said he never held any doubt.

“We had Scott in last year for a little bit. We tried to sign him, but he decided he wanted to play abroad and experience that for a year. So we kept in touch with him. He’s a great keeper; you speak with anybody when he was in college … All his hard work has paid off.”

The RailHawks’ next match will be Tuesday, June 24 in the Fifth Round. The RailHawks will face the winner of the June 18 game between the LA Galaxy and Arizona United SC. Should Carolina face LA, it will be the third straight year Carolina has hosted the Galaxy in Open Cup competition.

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: CAROLINA RAILHAWKS 1:1 (3:2 PKs) CHIVAS USA

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Carolina RailHawks eliminate Charlotte Eagles; will host Chivas USA for third straight year

May 29, 2014 by Neil Morris

The last time the Carolina RailHawks faced the Charlotte Eagles in a competitive soccer match was the First Round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The RailHawks won that game 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Four years later, another U.S. Open Cup clash between the in-state avian rivals produced a similar outcome. The RailHawks clipped the Eagles 2-0 Wednesday evening in Cary, paced by two first-half goals from Nazmi Albadawi and Jun Marques Davidson. Carolina now advances to the Fourth Round of the 2014 Open Cup and will host Chivas USA of Major League Soccer on June 14.

The win also extends the RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak to 20 games.

Four days following the RailHawks’ draw at NASL-leading Minnesota United FC, manager Colin Clarke ran out a nearly full-strength side against the USL Pro opponent. The lone notable exception was the insertion of backup goalkeeper Scott Goodwin, making his first start since joining Carolina. With a possible MLS home match hanging in the balance, it was a curious decision to leave Akira Fitzgerald, just named NASL Player of the Week for his clean sheet against Minnesota United last Saturday, on the bench.

However, Goodwin proved up to the task. The former UNC Tar Heel standout made five saves to earn a clean sheet, including a couple of leaping fingertip deflections in the second half to preserve the RailHawks’ advantage.

“Scott’s a very good keeper,” Clarke said. “He deserved his chance. He’s worked very hard and pushes Akira every single day. He deserves a chance to play.”

Carolina got that advantage beginning in the 14th minute. With the Eagles playing a high back line coupled with a compact, eight block midfield, the RailHawks met some difficulty cracking the Charlotte defensive alignment. However, RailHawks’ midfielder Ty Shipalane tends to disrupt opponents’ best laid schemes, and so he did again against Charlotte. Driving off the right wing, Shipalane poked a ball into the box that found its way to midfielder Nazmi Albadawi. The former NC State standout gathered possession before turning to fire a left-footed shot that skimmed across the face of Eagles goalkeeper Brock Duckworth and into the far net for a 1-0 lead.

“Ty made a great run,” Albadawi said. “He always attracts two or three defenders whenever he gets the ball. He played me a good ball in, and I was able to turn over my shoulder. I just went for it, took a shot with my left foot and it went in far post.”

It was solid outing for Albadawi, who scored his first goal as a RailHawk in his second consecutive start. He proved an effective two-way threat, coupling effective defensive play with dangerous distribution, including several effective long balls over the top of the encroaching Eagles back line.

Davidson said Albadawi did lots of little things to help the RailHawks.

“ was in a spot where he could get the ball and distribute it for us at the right time,” Davidson said. “He played into space when he needed, and he scored a good goal that gave us confidence and made the game easier.”

In the 40th minute, RailHawks center back Toni Stahl left the match after sustaining a couple of first-half knocks, the last a rib injury whose severity remains undetermined.

In the waning seconds of the first half, the RailHawks notched their second goal. Forward Mike Grella blazed a trail toward goal, carrying a defender along the way. Grella’s angled blast was deflected away by Duckworth, but the ricochet bounded toward the center of the box and into the path of a streaking Davidson. The RailHawks’ captain buried the loose ball into an open net.

Davidson, who missed last Saturday’s game at Minnesota in order to attend his sister’s wedding, admitted he can’t remember the last time he scored a goal.

“When the ball went to Grella, I looked around and everyone was tired,” Davidson said. “So I thought this our last chance of the first half, I’m going to spin as hard as I can and see what happens. If Grella scores from that, great. If he doesn’t, I could get the rebound. The rebound happened, so I just had to tap it in.”

A back and forth second half was mostly highlighted by missed opportunities for both teams. Carolina easily could, and probably should have scored two or three additional goals against a tired Eagles team forced to push forward. At the same time, Charlotte generated multiple opportunities, including a whopping 12 corner kicks for the game. In the end, Carolina and Charlotte attempted 11 shots each.

Eagles manager Mark Steffens said it was emblematic of a team that has experienced difficulty scoring goals all season.

“We’re not a high scoring team,” Steffens said. “Some of the guys we signed who we felt like would be goalscorers for us have not produced.”

Steffens also said his team’s recent run of road matches left them flagged coming into a hot, humid midweek match. Earlier this month, Charlotte played two matches in California and another in Arizona. Last Wednesday, the Eagles traveled to Orlando and last Saturday, they played in Richmond, VA. This Saturday’s match back in Charlotte will be the Eagles first home game since April 25.

“We’ve been on the road all month,” Steffens said. “Been out to California and Arizona, so we didn’t have any life tonight. We were dead, not only in our press but in our passing and movement. Everything was off a little bit.”

Clarke was happy with his team’s performance against a higher caliber opponent than the RailHawks have faced to open their U.S. Open Cup account the previous two years.

“I think everyone was maybe expecting it was going to be easy for us to get to the next round,” said Clarke. “But they’re a very good team, and it was a tough night with the humidity. I’m absolutely delighted with the result.”

The RailHawks return to NASL league play this Saturday when they host the Tampa Bay Rowdies. When Carolina hosts Chivas USA in June, it will be the third consecutive year the RailHawks have hosted the MLS side in Open Cup competition.

“We’ve had some great nights in this competition over the last couple of years,” said Clarke, alluding to the RailHawks’ two victories over the LA Galaxy and last year’s win over Chivas USA. “We’re looking for another one on the 14th.”

2013 US Open Cup Fourth Round: Carolina RailHawks avenge 2012 loss, upset Chivas USA 3-1 in OT (video)

June 13, 2013 by Neil Morris

Two weeks ago, history repeated itself when, for the second straight year, the Carolina RailHawks ousted the LA Galaxy in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and advanced to host C.D. Chivas USA in the next round.

For about 90-plus minutes Wednesday night in Cary, it looked as though history might repeat itself once again. As with their Open Cup match last year, the RailHawks and Chivas USA entered the game’s latter stages tied 1-1. Yes, Carolina scored in the first half this year before Chivas equalized in the second, the reverse of last year’s order. However, that just heightened the feeling that Chivas USA would, like last season, snag a stoppage-time goal to eek out a 2-1 victory at WakeMed Soccer Park.

But this year, Carolina withstood the late Chivas push and forced overtime. Galvanized by breaking the cycle, the RailHawks scored twice in extra time to defeat Chivas USA 3-1 and advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Open Cup.

The RailHawks started the game like so many before: letting Ty Shipalane introduce himself to the opposition. In the 13th minute, Brian Shriver smartly played a ball far ahead to a streaking Shipalane, who beat out-rushing goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to the roller. Shipalane rounded Kennedy and made a beeline for the open goal before calmly depositing into the same for the 1-0 lead.

For the remainder of the first half, Carolina failed to take further advantage of a visibly uninspired Chivas USA side. The closest came just before halftime, when Shipalane again got free in the box, but his angled shot flew across Kennedy but wide right.

Given a lease on life, Chivas USA settled in and had the better of the second half, outshooting the RailHawks 6-1. The California club’s energy and some formation shifts that bolstered their defense paid dividends in the 57th minute, when a Carlos Alvarez free kick off the right flank found an unmarked Walter Vilchez in the goalmouth. Vilchez’s easy header equalized matters at 1-1.

But under a humid Carolina canopy, Chivas USA expended all three substitutions by the 66th minute. Their fresh legs put Carolina back on their heels for a time, but the Goats also failed to take further advantage. Meanwhile, the RailHawks were able to sub in midfielder Jonathan Greenfield for a cramping Justin Willis in the 80th minute. Floyd Franks slid back to right back when the rested Greenfield took up station in the midfield, moves that stabilized both positions. And Cesar Elizondo came on in the 89th minute and was able to, well, you’ll see.

Both teams nearly scored game-winners during full-time stoppage. Chivas USA put a couple of balls on frame that appeared destined to cross the goal line, but RailHawks keeper Akira Fitzgerald parried the first attempt off the crossbar and midfielder Nick Millington—who played tremendous defense throughout the match—then cleared the orb off the line with mere millimeters to spare. The clearance eventually found Shipalane streaking down the right side with nothing but emerald acreage in his path. Drawing the last defender, Shipalane centered to an unmarked Elizondo just after crossing midfield, but the angle of his pass broke Elizondo’s stride. Elizondo eventually got off a shot that was easily gathered by Kennedy.

Having avoided another stoppage time U.S. Open Cup loss to Chivas USA, the RailHawks made mincemeat of the Goats in extra time. In the 92nd, Shipalane gathered a deft ball over the top from Greenfield, then pierced the right side of the box before centering to Elizondo. The Costa Rican’s one-touch flew past Kennedy to give Carolina a 2-1 lead to the boisterous delight of the 5,066 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

“It was a great ball from Jonathan,” Shipalane said, “and I think it was similar to the first goal where was stretched out a little bit and I was able to slip in behind them. I took cut, got my head up and saw Cesar making a run on top of the box. I was able to cut it back to him, and he did a great job finishing it.”

With victory in their sights, the RailHawks struck again six minutes later. A Floyd Franks corner kick found second half sub Brian Ackley cutting across the face of goal. His deflected header was true and gave Carolina the final 3-1 margin.

“Last year, we were disappointed that these guys kept us from achieving our goal,” Shipalane said. “This year, we made it a goal to get past this . We weren’t going to let them stop us.”

That included some heavy preparation for their MLS opponent.

“They were not good in the back,” Shipalane said in describing the crux of their pre-match Chivas scouting report. “This is a new team, new coach, and they’re still trying to work together from the back. So, there’s no good communication for them in the back, so we were able to expose them in the wide areas because they haven’t played well.”

Carolina’s win combined with the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Open Cup loss at the Portland Timbers Wednesday night means the RailHawks advanced further than any other NASL club in the Open Cup and, consequently, wins $15,000.00 in prize money for that effort.

However, other looming mountains face the RailHawks. After a flight to face FC Edmonton this Sunday, the RailHawks will embark on the most pivotal part of their Spring season beginning June 22. That Saturday, Carolina hosts Minnesota United FC, currently one point behind the league-leading RailHawks in the NASL standings. The following Saturday, the Atlanta Silverbacks, also only a point behind Carolina, will visit Cary. And in between those huge league matches, the RailHawks must now fly to Utah to face Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 26.

Will Carolina be ready for this arduous odyssey? You betcha, if you believe Colin Clarke.

“It’s what we’re here for; it’s what it’s about,” Clarke declared. “Getting to this stage of the season with a chance to win the championship and a chance to advance further in the Open Cup. You can’t ask for any more than that.”

HIGHLIGHTS

POST-GAME ANALYSIS

Fourth Round :: Chivas USA 1 :: AET :: 3 Carolina RailHawks

June 12 – WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary NC

Scoring Summary:

CAR: Ty Shipalane (Brian Shriver) 13

CHV: Walter Vilchez (Carlos Alvarez) 57

CAR: Cesar Elizondo (Ty Shipalane) 92

CAR: Brian Ackley (Floyd Franks) 98

Cautions:

CHV: Josue Soto 25, Carlos Borja 32, Gabriel Farfan 94, Laurent Courtois 119

CAR: Austin da Luz 38, Paul Hamilton 71, Kupono Low 94

Lineups:

Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy, Carlos Borja, Mario de Luna, Walter Vilchez, Jorge Villafaña, Oswaldo Minda, Gabriel Farfan, Carlos Alvarez, Josue Soto (Laurent Courtois 52’), Jose Correa (Jose Manuel Rivera 60’), Tristan Bowen (Marvin Iraheta 66’)… Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Steven Purdy, Bobby Burling, Marco Delgado

Carolina: Akira Fitzgerald, Kupono Low, Paul Hamilton, Julius James, Justin Willis (Jonathan Greenfield 83’), Floyd Franks, Austin Da Luz, Ty Shipalane, Nick Millington, Brian Shriver (Cesar Elizondo 89’), Zack Schilawski (Brian Ackley 65’)… Subs not used: Eddie Abadio, Ciaran O’Brian, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Tim Murray

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2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Carolina RailHawks repeat Galaxy upset, down LA 2-0

May 30, 2013 by Neil Morris

bruce-arena-missing — Carolina RailHawks fans poked fun at Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena for traveling with his team to his team's Open Cup game. Photo: Twitter @daveslounge

Moments after his Carolina RailHawks upset the L.A. Galaxy for the second consecutive year in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, manager Colin Clarke paused on the pitch during his walk back to the team’s locker room, gazing up into the gradually emptying grandstands as if to soak up the revelous atmosphere generated all evening by the club record 8,121 fans in attendance.

Minutes later, Clarke entered the media room for his postgame press conference. As he sauntered past on his way to the podium, Clarke glanced over and, smirking like the proverbial cat that ate the canary, shot me a quick wink.

The 2-0 win is not only the second straight year the RailHawks have ousted the defending Major League Soccer (MLS) champion Galaxy from the US Open Cup. It is also the third time Clarke has coached a second division club to victory over MLS’s flagship franchise in Cup competition, the first being the Puerto Rico Islanders’ improbable win over the Galaxy in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.

But while Wednesday’s result may arouse feelings of déjà vu, the match’s rather workmanlike vibe stands in marked contrast to last year’s heart-stopping, late-game heroics. Not surprisingly, the RailHawks fielded a full-strength starting XI, the lone wrinkle being Scottish center back Kevin Rutkiewicz getting only his second RailHawks start in lieu of Paul Hamilton and Austen King, who were both active for the match. Meanwhile, the Galaxy sported the expected lineup of reservists and second-stringers, two of the notable exceptions being the presence of Jose Villarreal and Michael Stephens.

Interestingly, both Robbie Rogers and forward Gyasi Zardes began on the bench. The latter’s omission was of particular note to Clarke, who, while complimenting his opponent’s overall talent level, admitted, “I was happy to see Zardes on the bench.”

Unlike last year, when the Galaxy thoroughly dominated the first half, Wednesday’s match featured a more back-and-forth opening stanza. While the Galaxy held the majority of possession, both teams fostered forays into their attacking third. However, a lack of finishing befell both sides: while the Galaxy outshot Carolina 6-2 in the first half, neither team put a single shot on target.

Although Zardes entered the match in the 56th minute, it was Carolina that struck first in the 59th. Another RailHawks walkabout in the box ended with a cross by Zack Schilawski that found its way to an unmarked Austin da Luz. Da Luz’s snap shot appeared stopped by goalkeeper Brian Rowe before the howler squirted through his arms and rolled across the goal line.

“It was deep ball, so I tried to whip it back across the top of the box,” Schilawski said. “ Shriver ran over it, da Luz hit it first time, and it deflected off the keeper and went in.”

With the Galaxy reeling, Carolina struck again just two minutes later. Schilawski gathered a pass and one-touched it ahead to a streaking Shriver, who got behind the defense and slotted his left-footed shot past Rowe for the 2-0 lead.

“We got wide to da Luz, back to the middle to Millington, and he played an easy ball to me and I was able to flick it through to Shriver,” Schilawski continued. “And he did what he’s been doing all year with a great finish.”

Galaxy assistant coach Curt Onalfo, managing in the absence of head coach Bruce Arena, who did not make the trip to North Carolina with his team, recognized this sequence as the game’s turning point.

“I don’t think our young group of players reacted the best to that situation,” Onalfo said. “Credit to Carolina, they kind of sensed that and got a second goal. And then you’re playing catch-up, and you’re on the road, you’ve traveled across the country, it’s humid and hot, and all of a sudden it becomes pretty difficult.”

Down two goals, Rogers came on in the 63rd minute for his second appearance since joining the Galaxy last week. However, it was the last time his name was mentioned for the rest of the match. Although fearing a Galaxy offensive onslaught, the visitors barely mustered a threat. Their first and last shot on goal came in the 71st minute, giving RailHawks’ goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald his only save of the match.

Meanwhile, Clarke shrewdly brought on Hamilton for a winded and cramping Rutkiewicz in the 74th minute. Indeed, the combined efforts of center backs Rutkiewicz, Hamilton and especially Julius James held the Galaxy attackers at bay.

“It’s interesting, usually Open Cup games are really fast and physical,” Rogers said. “But I thought this one was a bit slower. Maybe the weather had something to do with it. But give credit to the RailHawks. I thought they did a great job finishing their chances.”

A header by Zardes in the box flew wide in the 86th. A minute later, Ty Shipalane nearly got Carolina a third goal, but his close-range blast was blocked by Rowe. Otherwise, only the final whistle stood between the RailHawks and a fourth-round Cup match against Chivas USA on June 12 in Cary.

“We would have been disappointed if we hadn’t gotten a win tonight because we think we have a lot of guys who are on ,” Schilawski added. “I don’t think there’s a huge difference between the team they put out tonight and some of our guys who have had MLS experience.”

While the RailHawks may not have expressed surprise at their win, it’s still a victory by a second division side over the reigning MLS champions. Like last year, the Galaxy used this midweek, cross-country US Open Cup match to run out their reservists and younger talent. And like last year, it resulted in their early exit from the Open Cup.

“We’re the busiest team in MLS, so we have to utilize our whole roster,” said Onalfo. “We have reserve games where we have to utilize our roster, and we have US Open Cup games where for our organization that’s a time for our younger players to get minutes.

“If you look at Carolina, they’re a very good team. We scouted them extremely well and know what their strengths are. But they have a lot of experienced guys, and they’re a darn good team.”

While Clarke said Arena’s decision to skip the match was not a motivating factor the RailHawks, there seemed to be indirect intent behind his comments about the importance of this tournament.

“This tournament is very, very important to us and also important to me,” Clarke said. “It’s not just the Open Cup, it’s Lamar Hunt’s Open Cup. That’s someone who I worked for, our president is here and worked for him. It’s someone who gave us all a start in this game, and without people like him we wouldn’t be here in the shape we’re in today.”

The RailHawks returns to league play this weekend with a road trip to face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. On Wednesday, June 12, Carolina hosts Chivas USA in the fourth round of the US Open Cup, a rematch of the RailHawks’ Open Cup loss last year.

But before turning their attention to another MLS opponent, the RailHawks and their manager will pause to enjoy vanquishing the Galaxy yet again.

“It’s good when you get an opportunity to play against a team from MLS,” Clarke said. “The boys relish that opportunity. We have some very, very good players, and we went out and played well tonight. I thought we deserved to win.”