Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2011 First Round

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Ventura County Fusion rallies past Doxa Italia 3-1

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With a fog slowly creeping into the Ventura College stadium, the Ventura County Fusion may have been feeling uneasy in their second-ever US Open Cup match as they found themselves behind to a USASA entrant in the early going for the second consecutive time. And it was a former player dealing the blow to boot. But things would turn rosey nearly a half-hour later as the club rallied past Doxa Italia for a 3-1 victory and a trip to the second round.

Bryan Byrne, a former MLS New England Revolution midfielder that reportedly was the odd man out with the Los Angeles Galaxy when they signed David Beckham, stunned his former championship side just five minutes into the contest.

The Irishman, in his third season with Doxa Italia after spending two seasons with the Fusion, has to give all of the credit to the Fusion goalkeeper though. A long ball far past Byrne was intercepted by the keeper, but the attempted clearance ended up crashing directly into the striker and in the goal. The tally matched his entire output in 22 matches with Ventura County from 2008-09, though he was an important part of the team’s 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire Premier in the 2009 PDL Championship.

Andy Rose would level the match from the penalty spot after Jacob Hustedt was taken down in the box. It was his fifth goal of the year, sending the keeper in the wrong direction.

Doxa Italia (USASA-So. CA)
1:3
Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College – Ventura, Calif.
RECAP: Ventura County Star | ESPN LA
Scoring Summary
DI: Bryan Byrne – 5′
VC: Andy Rose pen. – 33′
VC: Mark Magee – 43′
VC: Reed Williams – 78′

A year ago, against the Arizona Sahuaros, the Fusion also found themselves trailing with the visitors opening the scoring in the 26th minute. A goal from Ousman Jagne would tie the match. The contest would remain deadlocked en route to penalties, where Arizona prevailed 4-2.

However, leading scorer Mark Magee (6 goals) would make sure there would be no deadlock. He took a cross from Hustedt and scored from close range, giving Ventura a 2-1 advantage two minutes before half.

Doxa Italia nearly found an equalizer in the 70th minute, only to see the shot clang off the post. Eight minutes later, Reed Williams gave the hosts a two-goal advantage on a breakaway created by Sam Hayden, hitting his fourth goal of the campaign for Fusion.

The victory sends the Fusion on to a second round meeting with the Los Angeles Blues, an expansion side in USL Pro.

Scoring Summary
5th minute: Bryan Byrne (Doxa)
32nd minute: Andy Rose (VCF)
43rd minute: Mark Magee (Jacob Hustedt) (VCF)
78th minute: Reed Williams (VCF)

Starting Lineups
Doxa: N/A

VCF: N/A

Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Doxa: 14 Doxa: 7 Doxa: 7 Doxa: 7
VCF: 11 VCF: 4 VCF: 11 VCF: 6

Cautions:
32’: Alex Bengard (Doxa)
79’: Daniel Barrera (VCF)

Ejections:
None.

Referee: Reed Christy

Assistant Referees: Luis Gutierrez, Manuel Torres
Fourth Official: Magic Berenji
Attendance: 340
Weather: foggy

Archived video of match

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Chicago Fire Premier’s late winner eliminates Iowa Menace

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Chicago Fire Premier (PDL)
1:0
Iowa Menace (USASA-IA)
Valley Stadium – West Des Moines, Iowa
RECAP: Chicago | Iowa | Des Moines Register
Scoring Summary
CHI: Chris Estridge – 87th

The Chicago Fire Premier opened up the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 1-0 win over the Iowa Menace. The two teams looked like they were headed to a scoreless extra session, but Chris Estridge broke the tie in the 87th minute to keep the Fire’s streak of First Round wins alive (4-0-0).

While Iowa qualified out of the USASA, unlike their Region II team that got them into the tournament, the majority of the players on the roster were members of the team’s PDL squad. So the match just seemed like a regular league match between two of the top PDL teams in North America. The game ended up being even throughout, as both teams had the same number of shots (8) and corner kicks (3), and roughly similar numbers in fouls (Chicago 8-6) and yellow cards (Iowa 3-2).

Chicago Fire Premier Iowa Menace 2011 First Round
Photo: Jodi Jurik

The fireworks were provided by mother nature instead of the pitch most of the night, as a lightning storm south of the stadium threatened to make it two Open Cup games delayed by lightning. However, the storms in Des Moines spared this game the fate of ASC New Stars vs Orlando City, and the match went uninterrupted. The play picked up in the last third of the game, as both teams missed chances to break the tie. Finally, in the 87th minute, Chicago’s Chris Estridge split defenders on a long run and knocked the ball in to take the lead. Iowa challenged back furiously, but could not find an equalizer in five minutes of stoppage time.

Chicago will now travel to Madison, WI, to take on the NPSL’s Madison 56ers. Game time is 8 PM EDT at Breese Stevens Field.

Scoring Summary
87th minute: Chris Estridge (Chicago)

Starting Lineups
Kickers: N/A

Iowa: N/A

Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Chicago: 8 Chicago: 1 Chicago: 8 Chicago: 3
Iowa: 8 Iowa: 6 Iowa: 6 Iowa: 3

Cautions:
24’: Brady Blankenship (Iowa)
44’: John Sosa (Iowa)
45′: Jonny Raj (Chicago)
58′: Jacob Bushue (Chicago)
90′: Kenan Malesivic (Iowa

Ejections:
None.

Referee: Kevin Mesinan

Assistant Referees: Larry Wiley, Lance Mesman
Fourth Official: Tom McCulloh

Highlights from WHO TV Des Moines

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Foxes get sly in 5-0 win over DV8 Defenders

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The PDL’s Real Colorado Foxes started off hot early and scorched the USASA’s DV8 Defenders of California 5-0. Five different players netted goals that helped the team advance to the Second Round in their first-ever trip to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

While unable to find the net in the first third of the game, the Foxes controlled possession early, becoming a sign of things to come. Taylor Kemp opened the scoring with a volley in the 33rd minute, followed shortly by Isaiah Schafer knocking one in at 37′. Kyle Christensen then started the rout with another goal in the 42nd minute.

DV8 Defenders (USASA)
 0:5
 Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
Shea Stadium – Highlands Ranch, CO
RECAP: Colorado
Scoring Summary
REAL: Taylor Kemp 33′
REAL: Isaiah Schafer 37′
REAL: Kyle Christensen 42′
REAL: Sterling Copeland 47′
REAL: Craig Thompson 87′

Sterling Copeland continued the fireworks, scoring just two minutes into the second half. While DV8 did generate a few scoring chances, Foxes keeper Johnny Foley was equal to the task and kept the clean sheet. Craig Thompson added a final tally at 87 minutes, putting an exclamation point on the game.

Real Colorado will face fellow PDL side Kitsap Pumas in the next round, in a battle of 2009 expansion teams. The match will be on June 21st at Memorial Stadium in Bremerton, WA, at 10 p.m. EDT.

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Pancyprian Freedoms edge rival Brooklyn Italians in battle of former champions

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It was a battle between two long-time New York rivals in the most highly-decorated First Round matchup in the Professional Era (1995-present), with five US Open Cup titles between them. In the end, the New York Pancyprian Freedoms got the best of the Brooklyn Italians, 2-1, to earn their first Open Cup victory since 2002.

Stefan Dimitrov scored both goals for the Freedoms, including the game-winner which came less than a minute after Brooklyn’s Kordel Samuel had equalized in the 80th minute.

The victory sets up another Big Apple match in the Second Round between the Freedoms and FC New York of  USL Pro at Belson Stadium next Tuesday. The site of the game is interesting, not because it was where tonight’s game was played, but because FC New York and the Pancyprian Freedoms both call the stadium on the campus of St. John’s University their home field in their respective leagues.

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
1:2
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA – East NY)
Belson Stadium, St. Johns Univ. – Queens, N.Y.
RECAP: New York Post

Scoring Summary
NYP: Stefan Dimitrov – 65th
BKI: Kordel Samuel – 80th
NYP: Stefan Dimitrov – 81st
FULL REPORT: NY Post (Dylan Butler)

While nothing has been confirmed, the winner of next Tuesday’s game could be in line to face the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer in Round 3. The United States Soccer Federation will make an announcement about the potential Third Round pairings in the coming days.

The two clubs canceled each other out in the opening half and it wasn’t until the 65th minute when Julio Cesar Dos Santos helped create the first goal. The former USL great sent a cross into the box and Dimitrov, a former Chicago Fire player, was there to put the Freedoms up 1-0.

After Kordel Samuel hit the post for Brooklyn in the 75th minute, he got it right the next time, putting the ball into the back of the net for the equalizer in the 80th minute. However, before Brooklyn fans were settled back in their seats, New York took the kickoff and Stelios Andreou’s cross would find Dimitrov in front of goal once again to re-claim the lead for good.

New York owes their berth in the Open Cup to Dimitrov who helped create or produce all four goals in their USASA Region I semifinal win over Mass Premier Soccer. He scored two goals and also assisted on both of Dos Santos’ tallies.

The last time the Freedoms were victorious in the tournament was in the opening round of the 2002 competition when the three-time champs were a member of the D3 Pro League (3rd Division) and they defeated fellow 2011 qualifier AAC Eagles (Chicago) 1-0 on a 119th minute golden goal by a young midfielder by the name of Shalrie Joseph.

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Charlotte Eagles down NC rival Carolina Dynamo 3-1

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The Charlotte Eagles made the short under-two-hour drive up to Greensboro to take on the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo and left for home with a 3-1 victory in the First Round of the 2011 US Open Cup. This was the first time these two nearby clubs have played since the Second Round in 2004, when the Dynamo upset the Eagles, 4-2.

Carolina pressured early in the match, culminating in an opportunity where Sebastien Ibeagha headed the ball off the crossbar, receiving it off a corner kick. But it would be Charlotte to strike first in the 23rd minute on a goal from Tobagan midfielder Darren Toby. The Eagles would get a chance to push their lead to 2-0, earning a penalty kick in the 30th minute. However, Jorge Herrera’s try was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Scott Goodwin. Carolina would feed off that save until finally breaking through in the 39th minute. Robbie Lovejoy received the pass just outside the 18, juked past a Charlotte defender and beat the keeper with a shot to the far post, tying the match 1-1. They would take that scoreline to the break.

The Eagles took control in the second half early, retaking the lead in the 49th minute on a goal from Brazilian Diego Martins. They would hold that lead for much of the half, then put the icing on the cake late in the 85th minute. The goal to clinch it by a 3-1 scoreline would be scored by none other Alan Sanchez, who was signed by the Dynamo in 2007 but never got to suit up for the squad.

The Charlotte Eagles advance to the Second Round, where they will face another North Carolina team, albeit one they are a little more familiar with. They will travel to Wilmington to take on the Hammerheads on June 21 at Legion Stadium.

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)
3:1
Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
Macpherson Stadium – Browns Summit, N.C.
RECAP: Charlotte

Scoring Summary

Charlotte: Darren Toby 23′
Carolina: Robbie Lovejoy 39′
Charlotte: Diego Martins 49′
Charlotte: Alan Sanchez 85′

2011 US Open Cup First Round: City Islanders need late rally to get past 10-man Reading United

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Harrisburg City IslandersHarrisburg City Islanders came on late to earn a come from behind win against a shorthanded Reading United 2-1 at the Skyline Sports Complex.

Reading struck first on a David Rodriguez shot that put them up in the 35th minute, and held the upper hand throughout the half. However, their luck changed in the 53rd minute when Stephen Okai was given a straight red for a challenge on Harrisburg defender Stephen Basso. That left United with 10 men, however the team still held their resolve against a City Islanders side that showed little energy.

Harrisburg also struggled against amateur side Brooklyn Italians last year before forcing overtime and finally winning. They finally managed to get pressure on Reading in the last 10 minutes, with JT Noone slotting home his fifth career Open Cup goal on a ball from Jason Hotchkin with four minutes remaining to tie the game. During stoppage time, Jordan Seabrook served up a ball on the wing to Sainey Touray. Touray had United keeper Bryan Holt out of position, and sent home the game-winner to avert an upset.

Harrisburg kept a couple of streaks intact with the win. The club remains perfect in First Round matches (5-0-0) the last five years and the City Islanders have yet to lose to an an amateur side in tournament play (6-0-0 vs. Amateur Teams | 4-0-0 vs. PDL).

They will move on to host USL Pro rivals Rochester Rhinos at the Skyline Sports Complex on Tuesday, July 21st. The winner of the game will advance to the Third Round where they will face off with an MLS opponent to be determined. Game time is set at 7 p.m.

JT Noone’s equalizer

Highlights from CBS 21 Harrisburg

RECAP: Reading United AC | Reading Eagle | The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)

Scoring Summary
35th minute: Rodriguez (Barreiro)
86th minute: Noone (Hotchkin)
90th minute: Touray (Seabrook)

Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Reading: 11 Reading: 2 Reading: 14 Reading: 2
Harrisburg: 9 Harrisburg: 5 Harrisburg: 17 Harrisburg: 6

Cautions:
31′: Lasse Sohrweide (Reading)
76′: Jason Hotchkin (Harrisburg)
87′: Dustin Bixler (Harrisburg)
87′: Josh Rich (Reading)
90′: Matt Hedges (Reading)

Ejections:
53’: Okai (Reading)
90′: coach (Reading)

Referee: Eric Weisbrod

Assistant Referees: Ross Kleinstuber, Katja Koroleva
Fourth Official: Rich Giusti

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Arteaga hat trick against former club leads FC New York over Western Mass Pioneers

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The expansion USL Pro side FC New York registered a memorable 3-0 victory in the club’s US Open Cup debut with Jhonny Arteaga recording a hat trick for the first time in his professional career. It was bad news for the Western Mass Pioneers, who were unable to find the same production from the Colombian three years ago.

Arteaga scored three against his former club

The Pioneers were also making a tournament debut of sorts, reaching the Open Cup for the first time since joining the PDL in 2010 after playing in what is now USL Pro since its founding in 1998.

The result left Western Mass scoreless in its last two outings after suffering their first two years ago in a scoreless draw against league rival Harrisburg City Islanders, who knocked the Pioneers out on penalties. The second round stalemate in 2009 ended a run of 10 games with a goal in six appearances for Western Mass, including one contest against the Chicago Fire (3-1 loss) in the 2005 Third Round and two against USL First Division opponents.

Arteaga tallied the opener in the first half and added two more in the second, surpassing his goal total of two in nine regular season appearances for the first-year franchise. Only Graciano Brito has more goals on the squad (4) for the season for FC New York, who sits fourth in the National Division with a 3-5-4 record.

Western Mass Pioneers (PDL)
0:3
FC New York (USL PRO)
Met Oval – Queens, NY – 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
NY: Jhonny Arteaga
NY: Jhonny Arteaga
NY: Jhonny Arteaga

Born in Cali, Colombia, Arteaga grew up in nearby Stamford, Connecticut and was an award-winning striker at Dominican College located just 17 miles outside New York City in Orangeburg. Prior to graduating, he played in the PDL with the Albany BWP Highlanders in 2007, scoring only twice in 12 appearances.

Arteaga then moved onto the Pioneers in 2008, but failed to crack into the club’s starting lineup, logging only 75 minutes of play and no goals in nine appearances for the mid-table campaign. He would return to New York a year later, but only played three matches for the Westchester Flames in the PDL.

A trip to Poland though looks to have been what Arteaga needed to transition to the professional level. After a trial with top-flight Lechia Gdansk in early 2010 he signed on with LKS Lomza of the third division where he notched eight goals in 14 games.

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Charleston Battery defeat USASA’s Regals FC 2-0

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Charleston Battery Regals FC
Photo: Charleston Battery

The Charleston Battery once again turned away a USASA challenge in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win over Houston’s Regals FC at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery have hosted a USASA team in the first round three years in a row.

The USASA club played the Battery tough for the first 45 minutes, holding the USL PRO team to a 0-0 draw at halftime. The Battery nearly scored on a couple chances in the first half, however. In the 6th minute Nicki Patterson’s header of a Brandon Massie free kick sailed just over the crossbar. A few minutes later Mike Zaher blasted a hard shot at Regals goalkeeper Marcus Sanchez, who juggled the ball before controlling it.

Charleston put their first goal on the board two minutes into the second half when the Battery’s Levi Coleman was pushed by Regals defender Robert Hernandez. Patterson netted the penalty kick for a 1-0 Battery lead. Hernandez would later be sent off for his second yellow card of the match in the 78th minute.

It was in the 78th minute that Charleston scored their insurance goal to make it 2-0. After a string of passes, Dane Kelly received a back heel pass from Seedy Bah and Kelly scored the clinching goal.

Charleston will host Orlando City SC in the second round at Blackbaud Stadium on June 21.

Regals FC (USASA-South TX)
0:2
Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, S.C.
RECAP: Charleston | Post and Courier (Charleston)

Scoring Summary
CHR: Nicki Patterson (PK) – 47th
CHR: Dane Kelly (Bah) – 78th
SENT OFF: Robert Hernandez (Regals) 87′

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Rochester survives Phoenix rally to win 2-1

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The Rochester Rhinos jumped out to a 2-0 lead just after halftime, and held off a furious comeback attempt by USASA side Phoenix SC to hold on for a 2-1 victory at Sahlen’s Stadium in the First Round of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup.

The Rhinos came close to scoring early in the contest when Phoenix SC defender Jack Pocorobba cleared a Tyler Bellamy header off the line. Midway through the first half Rochester did take the lead on a goal from JC Banks in the 27th minute. Max Ferdinand fed a pass to Banks, who proceeded to beat Phoenix goalkeeper Tony Praticio for the goal.

Just after halftime the Rhinos were awarded a penalty kick after Ferdinand was fouled in the area by Praticio. Anthony Hamilton stepped up to convert the spot kick and give the Rhinos a 2-0 lead. Michael Tanke nearly made it 3-0 a few minutes later, but his shot went just wide of the post.

In the 71st minute Phoenix pulled themselves back into the game when Scott Rowling fired a low shot past the diving Rhinos GK Ryan Kenny.Phoenix kept up the pressure and nearly tied the game minutes later, but Kenny came off line to clear the ball out of the penalty area and thwart the threat.

Hamilton nearly added an insurance goal late in the game, but his shot was stopped by Praticio, and the rebound bounced off the crossbar.

The Rhinos will take on the Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round on June 21, at the Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg.

Postgame interview with Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley

RECAP: Rochester | Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester)

Scoring:
Rochester: JC Banks 27’
Rochester: Anthony Hamilton (PK) 54’
Phoenix SC: Scott Rowling 71′

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Hammerheads cruise to 4-0 victory over PDL’s Central Florida Kraze

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Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Central Florida Kraze - 2011 First Round
Photo: Wilmington Hammerheads

The Wilmington Hammerheads cruised past the PDL’s Central Florida Kraze with a 4-0 win at Legion Stadium in Wilmington.

After a slow start from both teams, the Hammerheads finally took the offensive. In the 34th minute Jyler Noviello scored when Kraze goalkeeper Keneil Baker came off his line to challenge Noviello. Noviello assisted on the next Wilmington goal nine minutes later, as Luke Mulholland made the score 2-0 going into halftime.

Andriy Budnyy doubled the scoreline for Wilmington with two goals in three minutes in the second half. The first came in the 70th minute on an assist from Mulholland, and the second came three minutes later as Budnyy blasted a short range shot between the legs of Baker.

The Hammerheads will host the Charlotte Eagles at Legion Stadium in the second round on June 21. It will mark the third time the teams have met in U.S. Open Cup play. The previous games were in 2006 and 2008, which Wilmington won 3-1 and 2-0 respectively.

Central Florida Kraze (PDL)
0:4
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
Legion Stadium –Wilmington, N.C.

RECAP: Wilmington | Wilmington Star News
VIDEO: WWAY NewsChannel 3 (Wilmington)

Scoring Summary
WILM: Jyler Noviello 34’
WILM: Luke Mulholland (Noviello) 43’
WILM: Andriy Budnyy (Mulholland) 70’
WILM: Andriy Budnyy 73′

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