Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Nick Gaspar

2012 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: History repeats as Chivas USA edge Charlotte Eagles in dramatic finish

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Chivas USAFULLERTON – In the blink of an eye the Charlotte Eagles went from exuberance to having their Cinderella US Open Cup run come to an end. The Eagles were undone by two goals from Chivas USA forward Jose Correa in front of an estimated 1,500 fans at Titan Stadium, falling on a last-second goal reminiscent of the last time the two sides met in 2005.

The Goats will now go into their second-ever US Open Cup Semifinal, heading on the road to face the Seattle Sounders July 10 at Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

The game went for 63 scoreless minutes before Correa put the Goats ahead, 1-0. However, before their first goal Chivas had an amazing opportunity in the first half to go ahead. A bouncing ball came near the top of the box and Chivas midfielder Laurent Courtois placed a foot on it. It looked goal bound until Correa redirected it over the bar.

Juan Agudelo, who came on in the 39th minute for an injured Miller Bolaños, engineered a counterattack and threaded the Eagles’ defense to find Correa who patiently slotted the ball in for his first goal of the night.

After that the Eagles pushed ahead for an equalizer. Chivas had dominated possession and shots for most of the night, but after their goal Charlotte pushed ahead. They went with a more attacking formation with their substitutions and brought on Mauricio Salles in the 84th minute.

Five minutes later Salles leveled the game. Jorge Herrera received a pass deep in the box and danced around on the ball amidst the defenders looking for an open chance. Once he got it, the shot ended up defecting off of a Chivas defender and wound up right in front of Salles, who put the game all square from the corner of the six and growing anticipation among the crowd of a potential upset.

Their hopes were dashed though when Correa came through at the death of the game in the 94th minute. Courtois sent a looping free kick into a crashing Correa, who later said, “Juan gave me a little help”, for his second goal of the evening and a trip to Seattle to try and dethrone the three-time winners of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

It was a repeat of previous Eagles heartbreak at the hands of Chivas USA, who were playing in their first-ever US Open Cup match in the Third Round of 2005. The two sides were tied 2-2 in North Carolina and headed to penalties when Isaac Romo struck for the winner in the 120th minute.

Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton
Chivas USA (MLS) 2, Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) 1
Chivas — Jose Erik Correa (Juan Agudelo) 64
Charlotte — Mauricio Salles 89
Chivas — Jose Erik Correa (Laurent Courtois) 94+

Chivas USA: Tim Melia; James Riley, Danny Califf, Rauwshan McKenzie, Jorge Villafaña; Blair Gavin, Peter Vagenas (Ben Zemanski, 46); Miller Bolaños, Paolo Cardozo (Juan Pablo Angel, 72), Laurent Courtois; Jose Erik Correa (Juan Agudelo, 39). Unused subs: Ante Jazic, Dan Kennedy, Alejandro Moreno, Cesar Romero.

Charlotte Eagles: Clint Irwin; Mark Bloom, Devon Grovsis, Josh Rife, Luke Williams (Miguel Ferrer, 78); Nate Thornton (Christian Meza, 61), Juan Guzman, Darren Toby (Mauricio Salles, 84), Jorge Herrera; Joseph Kabwe, Darryl Roberts. Unused subs: Sean Bateau, Eric Reed, Cheyne Roberts, Chris Salvaggione.

Yellow card: Bloom 32.

Statistics:
Charlotte: 9 shots, 4 saves, 7 fouls, 5 corners, 2 offsides
Chivas USA: 16 shots, 4 saves, 8 fouls, 4 corners, 0 offsides

Referee: Chris Penso. Assistants: Fabio Tovar, Marlene Duffy, Juan Guzman (4th)
Att.: 1,230.

2011 US Open Cup Third Round: Battle of LA sees Galaxy come back to beat Blues

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Los Angeles Galaxy logo
Post-game interviews available below

Call it the Battle of Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Derby, but don’t call it an easy victory for the Los Angeles Galaxy. After Cesar Rivera scored a stunner to put the Los Angeles Blues up 1-0 the Galaxy rallied back with two unanswered goals to advance to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, 2-1.

The first half started off with the Galaxy playing lethargically. The game also started auspiciously as Blues’ captain Josh Tudela received a yellow for a challenge 17 seconds into the game. The game was officiated by Alejandro Mariscal, but the most interesting part was that Eduardo Mariscal and Apolinar Mariscal were the assistant referees and Felisha Mariscal was the fourth official. It was a family gathering of sorts for them. Not long after, Gregg Berhalter received a yellow card for his tackle in the eighth minute. The head referee’s cautions allowed him to keep a tight reign on the game throughout the night.

The first half was filled with shots too high or wide to bother either keeper, but Blues’ defender Cameron Dunn went out with an injury and was replaced by former Galaxy member Leonard Griffin. The best chance of the half came in the 41th minute when the Galaxy’s Jovan Kirovski put a header on target that was saved by Dautt, but not handled. Berhalter then put the ball on target only to have it cleared by Nelson Akwari. The Blues then had a chance on the counter-attack with Israel Sesay, but he failed to score and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half the Blues came out with the attacking mindset. Their persistence paid off when Chukwundu Chijindu cut a ball across the corner of the eighteen to newly-signed Carlos Borja who fired a shot that was controlled by substitute Cesar Rivera who slotted it into the back of the net for a shocking 1-0 Blues lead in the 62nd minute.

This woke up the sleeping giant in the Galaxy. They pressed further up the pitch in order to get an equalizer while the Blues dug in. Galaxy manager Bruce Arena brought in Juninho to help the attack, and in 75th minute he achieved his purpose. His free kick found the head of Omar Gonzalez who equalized the game with the Galaxy’s first goal and sent the Galaxy supporters into a frenzy.

According to Gonzalez, “Right before that, Gregg (Berhalter) looked at me and said, ‘Wake up and find a way to get yourself into the game.’”

They didn’t have to wait much longer as six minutes later in the 81st the Galaxy found their hero. It was already a week for Mike Magee to remember, as he performed admirably in goal for the Galaxy in an MLS match for the Galaxy, earning himself MLS Player of the Week honors. Once again, he was able to step up again, this time with an Open Cup goal. Juninho sent a floating free kick that found Gonzalez, then was headed back across the penalty area to an open Magee, who slotted the game winner.

Although the scoring was over, the bookings weren’t. Galaxy forward Adam Cristman received a yellow for not adhering to the distance, and Blues midfielder Israel Sesay was visibly frustrated in receiving two successive yellow cards for the red in the 90th minute.

“I told (Magee) the other day that it would be nice for him to come help in the field once awhile,” joked Arena.

“The goal kinda lit a fire under us and we started playing better and it resulted in a win,” said Magee.

“Let’s give our opponents credit, they played quite well,” said Arena. When asked about the skill difference the manager had this to say, “We should be a little bit ahead of them technically and maybe professional fitness, but a lot of those players have played in the league.”

The Blues felt positive about how well they played though. “We have guys that can be on that team… credit for us to get a goal on a team that doesn’t give up many goals,” said Akwari.

The Galaxy will move on to the Quarterfinals where they travel to Seattle to face the Sounders on July 12.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Mike Magee

Scoring Summary

LAB: Cesar Rivera (Carlos Borja) – 62nd min.
LAG: Omar Gonzalez (Juninho) – 75th min.
LAG: Mike Magee (Omar Gonzalez) – 81st min.

Misconduct Summary

LAB: Josh Tudela (Yellow) – 1st min.
LAG: Gregg Berhalter (Yellow) – 8th min.
LAB: Mehrshad Momeni (Yellow) – 70th min.
LAG: Adam Cristman (Yellow) – 88th min.
LAB: Israel Sesay (Yellow) – 90th min.
LAB: Israel Sesay (Yellow / Red) – 90th min.

Lineups:
LAG: Brian Perk; A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin; Mike Magee, Jovan Kirovski (Juninho 64′), Michael Stephens, Bryan Jordan (Miguel Lopez 46′); Chad Barrett (Adam Christman 83′), PaoloCardozo
LAB: Oscar Dautt; Cameron Dunn (Leonard Griffin 40′), Melson Akwari, Erlys Garcia, Mike Randolph; Mehrshad Momeni (Akeem Priestly 87′), Josh Tudela, Edwin Miranda (Cesar Rivera 46′), Israel Sesay; Carlos Borja, Chukwudi Chijindu

Saves: LAG – 2, LAB – 5; Fouls: LAG – 16, LAB – 19; SOG: LAG – 9, LAB – 3; Attendance: 3,627




2011 US Open Cup Second Round: LA Blues outmuscle Ventura County Fusion 1-0

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In a match-up of experience versus youth, experience won out. The Los Angeles Blues, boasting multiple players with MLS experience, defeated the Ventura County Fusion on the strength of a late first half Israel Sesay goal, sending the club forward to a Third Round US Open Cup contest with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.

Photo: LA Blues

The Blues were missing two starters from last week’s U.S. Open Cup first round victory due to red cards with Josh Tudela and Leonard Griffin out for this week’s game. Defender Nelson Akwari stepped up and took the leadership role throughout the game by maintaining a strong back line that helped goalkeeper Oscar Dautt preserve the shutout.

“Those guys are talented, but Nelson has been around. We knew he was going to step up and it wasn’t a surprise,” said Sesay.

The Blues controlled the game from the outset of the match, but the Fusion fought back. They had one of their best chances in the 32nd minute when Jake Hustedt headed a cross just wide.

Their misfortune turned into the Blues’ gain in the 45th minute. Blues forward Chukwudi Chijindu had a breakaway stuffed point blank by Fusion goalkeeper Sam Hayden only to have the deflection fall to Israel Sesay. Sesay then faked a shot to lose the defender and scored the lone goal of the game.

“I got an opening and saw the defense coming back. I took a touch and then I took a shot,” Sesay said.

The Fusion had their best opportunity at the beginning of the second half. David Walker beat Blues defender Michael Randolph down the right flank and had a one on one situation with the goalie. His shot beat Dautt in the middle of the box and rolled just wide of the post as the Fusion failed to equalize.

It was an omen of things to come as the Fusion applied pressure throughout the second half and kept the ball on the Blues’ side of the field. Unfortunately the Blues backline held their own throughout the match and did not allow for too many more chances after Hustedt’s shot.

Things did get a tense towards the end as a member of the Fusion’s coaching staff was ejected in the 85th minute and the Fusion’s Gyasi Zardes and the Blues’ Dane Saintus, Chijindu also received cautions to go with Sesay’s card at the beginning of the game.

After the game though, the focus shifted to next week where some Blues’ players will get an opportunity to face off against their former squad. Akwari, Tudela, Griffin, Randolph, Sesay and Chijindu (who is on loan from Chivas USA) all have MLS experience and will get an opportunity to show that the talent gap is not that big between the first and third divisions of the American soccer pyramid.

“We feel (that the talent gap) isn’t that much. We’re going to show everyone what we are capable of doing,” said Sesay.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Israel Sesay

You can follow Nick Gaspar on Twitter @TheNtotheG.

Scoring:
LA: Sesay – 45th min.

Cautions:
17′: Sesay (LA)
62′: Chijindu (LA)
90+1′: Saintus (LA)
90+2′: Zardes (VC)

Ejections:
85′: coach (VC) (straight)

Stats:
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Blues: 9 Blues: 3 Blues: 17 Blues: 3
Fusion: 8 Fusion: 3 Fusion: 17 Fusion: 4

2011 US Open Cup First Round: LA Blues cruise past Hollywood United despite early red card

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LA Blues logoThe city of Los Angeles has another soccer rivalry in town and it commenced Tuesday evening at the Norco College Soccer Complex. The Los Angeles Blues of the USL-Pro and the Hollywood United Hitmen of the NPSL battled to advance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with the Blues coming away with a 3-1 victory on the strength of two goals by Mehrshad Momeni.

The game began with Hollywood United pressing on the experienced backline of the Blues. They were able to find space as Hitmen forward Jose Miranda was fed a beautiful ball that led to a one-on-one chance with Blues keeper Oscar Dautt. Mesa struck his shot and hit the bottom of the crossbar, but the ball didn’t completely cross the goal line and bounced away to keep the score locked at 0-0.

Miranda had another chance five minutes later when he headed a cross just outside the goal post. As United’s offensive pressure began to wane Blues’ defender Leonard Griffin went to the ground for a tackle and took out a United player. The foul was called and Griffin was issued a straight red card at the 19th minute of play which left the Blues down a man for the rest of the game.

Down a man the Blues actually stepped up their offensive pressure. Momeni forced United goalkeeper Raul Calderon to make a fingertip save. Soon after though Momeni was assisted by former Galaxy player Josh Tudela on a goal that ripped through to the back of the net to put the Blues up 1-0.  The Blues would take that lead into halftime into what was proving to be a physical game.

“We talked about giving this team the respect they deserve, but not to fear them,” said defender Michael Randolph. “We started off a little slow… But we stepped in there and fought for each other.”

The second half began with the Blues in a defensive formation by dropping down to one forward. Just as Hollywood United was beginning to put pressure on the Blues Momeni came through again around the 70th minute. Momeni was able to beat Calderon for his second goal of the day to put his team up 2-0.

However, United would not go away. Miranda, possibly looking to atone for the earlier missed opportunities, was able to put a header into the back of the net around the 80th minute to bring the Hitmen to within a goal. Jesus Flores made a great run just three minutes later and he had a tremendous opportunity to knot the game at 2-2, but he was stifled by Dautt who looked to preserve the victory for LA.

Unfortunately the physicality of the game got a little out of hand as a near melee ensued after United defender Carlos Morales slide tackled a Blues player and the players protested for a red card. Morales was given a red card and sent off while there was a heated argument between both teams. It eventually turned into a brief scuffle where punches were thrown, but only two yellow cards were given after the situation. Tudela, the Blues captain, and United player Rene Corona were both shown their second yellow cards of the day to drop each team to nine players on the field.

As both teams were down Hollywood United pressed for an equalizer. The goalie was up for a corner kick during stoppage time and as it was cleared out Blues midfielder Jhonny Bravo carried the ball up the field and scored a 40 yard shot with an open net to close the game’s scoring at 3-1.

After the game the Blues were still brimming with confidence. Mehrshad, through an interpreter, thanked his teammates and hoped that they could make a run. Randolph also felt confident as he looked forward to their second round matchup.

The Blues will travel to face the Ventura County Fusion in the second round of the US Open Cup.

Hollywood United (NPSL)
 1:3
Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO)
Riverside Community College – Norco, CA
RECAP: ESPN Los Angeles
Scoring Summary
LAB: Mehrshad Momeni 37′
LAB: Mehrshad Momeni 55′
HU: Carlos Morales 67′
LAB: Gerardo Bravo 90′

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: USASA Region IV tournament format set

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The USASA Region IV National Cup tournament is all set for May 20-22 in Sacramento, California with six teams vying for a chance to two berths from the region into the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Five of the six clubs are from California with the lone outsider traveling in from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The tournament will feature two groups of three teams playing in a round robin format with a third game being played against a team from the opposing group in a cross-over. The teams with the greatest point total in their respective groups will not only advance to the final, but also to the US Open Cup.

Two of the clubs in Group A are from the California North region. San Francisco Italian Athletic Club comes out of the San Francisco Soccer League and the DV8 Defenders play in the Peninsula Soccer League out of Redwood City. They are paired with Metro FC from the Albuquerque Soccer League.

Group B also has two California North clubs. Rosal FAS is representing the California Premier Soccer Association and CV Eagles FC are playing in the National Star Soccer League. Doxa Italia FC hails from the Orange County region, representing California South, and participates in the Coast Soccer League.

Check back with TheCup.us for a more in-depth preview of the tournament soon.

Region IV Tournament Schedule

May 20
Group A SF Italian AC vs Metro FC 6:00 pm ET
Group B Rosal FB vs Doxa Italia FC 6:00 pm ET
Cross-over CV Eagles FC (B) vs DV8 Defenders (A) 6:00 pm ET
May 21
Group A DV8 Defenders vs SF Italian AC Noon ET
Group B Rosal FB vs CV Eagles FC Noon ET
Cross-over Metro FC (A) vs Doxa Italia FC (B) Noon ET
Group A DV8 Defenders vs Metro FC 6:00 pm ET
Group B Doxa Italia FC vs CV Eagles FC 6:00 pm ET
Cross-over SF Italian AC (A) vs Rosal FB (B) 6:00 pm ET
FINAL
May 22 Group A winner vs Group B winner Noon ET

Tiebreakers: Head-to-head, goal differential, goals for, goals against and if all else fails a flip of a coin.

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