Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2014 US Open Cup

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Arizona United wins battle of USL PRO expansion teams, 2-1 over Oklahoma City Energy

by

arizona-united-2013Arizona United SC has only been a USL PRO franchise for about two months. But it secured the most important win in club history to date on Wednesday night in the U.S. Open Cup third round, and earned the right to go after an even bigger victory in a few weeks.

Midfielder Bradlee Baladez gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the 112th minute, the second 15-minute overtime period, and goalkeeper Evan Newton saved a penalty in the 119th minute to preserve the win for Arizona United over Oklahoma City Energy FC.
The win sent AZ United into the fourth round of the annual American club championship tournament, where it will host the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer on June 18.
“It’s a big opportunity for a lot of us guys,” Baladez said. “We’re excited and we’re going to be ready.”

AZ United seemed to have the match in hand after the 47th minute, when the Energy’s Michael Thomas was shown a straight red card for a hard challenge. But it took Arizona until the 84th minute to capitalize on the man advantage, when Jon Okafor scored to give his team a 1-0 lead.

All Arizona United had to do was hang on for six-plus minutes, but it could not. Kyle Greigh delivered a low header into the net in the second minute of stoppage time, stunning the crowd of 1,538 on a hot night and sending the match into two overtime periods.
Arizona United looked stagnant through the first overtime, but got a break in the second when Baladez slotted home a pass from Kadeem Dacres to make the score 2-1.

Again, Arizona United hurt itself with a key mistake. Joey Dillon drew a red card in the 114th minute, making the teams even strength again. Then a handball in the box with about two minutes left in the second overtime gave OKC a penalty kick, and Christian Duke stepped up to take it.
Newton guessed correctly and sprawled out for the save, and Arizona United walked off the pitch with a second straight Open Cup win.
“We didn’t close it well,” Newton said of regulation time. “The biggest thing was the mentality after that. It’s an important tournament and we want to do well. That’s something that we as a group decided we wanted to focus on, as well as the league.”
Oklahoma City had defeated Arizona United in Peoria in the club’s home USL PRO opener last month. Tickets for the Galaxy match went on sale directly after the game. OKC ‘s first Open Cup ended with a win and loss.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Arizona United GK Evan Newton. Made four saves including two in overtime, and one of those on a PK that wuld surely have sent the game into a PK shootout had he not stopped it. His coach said Newton was the man of the match not only for that save but for keeping the team in a scoreless draw with a pair of first-half stops. AZU’s win was the second one dramatic fashion in the US Open Cup after a comeback win over Portland Timbers U-23s earlier this month, and they will play the LA Galaxy at home on June 18 thanks to Wednesday’s win.

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Pittsburgh Riverhounds win another OT battle with RWB Adria

by

Pittsburgh RiverhoundsA year ago, RWB Adria came to Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh and nearly spoiled the US Open Cup debut for the Riverhounds in their new soccer specific stadium. The USASA club from Chicago took the Riverhounds to penalty kicks, but the home team prevailed.

This year, RWB Adria was back at Highmark Stadium again and for the second year in a row, and after an 80th minute equalizer by Pittsburgh’s Collins John, the game went to extra time again. This time, Jhonny Arteaga received a pass from John in the 112th minute and scored to make it 3-2, avoiding another penalty kick shootout and advancing beyond the Third Round for the first time since 2001.

With the win, the Riverhounds will travel to Bridgeview to take on the Chicago Fire, the team that eliminated them in the Quarterfinals in that 2001 season.

More details to come …

Scoring Summary
PIT: Danny Earls (Rob Vincent) – 40th min.
RWB: Derek Huffman – 44th min.
RWB: Taylor Bond (Unassisted) – 62nd min.
PIT: Collins John – 80th min.
PIT: Jhonny Arteaga (Collins John) – 112th min.

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Orlando City SC calm Tampa Bay Rowdies to earn rematch with Colorado Rapids

by

orlando-city-logoIn a showdown of central Florida foes, the future MLS side Orlando City of USL Pro dominated from the opening and cruised to a 4-1 victory over the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The Lions used thee goals from three different players in the first half-hour to build an insurmountable lead. Kevin Molino scored 11 minutes in and Austin da Luz doubled the advantage in the 22nd. Adama Mbengue added the third four minutes later and Molino scored a second four minutes before halftime to make it a four-goal margin.

Tampa Bay found some hope just before the break through Blake Wagner, but the second half would go scoreless as the Lions stood firm for the victory and a Fourth Round meeting on the road with the Colorado Rapids.

More details to come …

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Sacramento Republic dominate shorthanded Fresno Fuego, 6-0 (video)

by

sacramento-republic-logoDespite the game being their third in three different cities in six days, Sacramento Republic FC managed to post the largest margin of victory so far in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 6-0 win over Fresno Fuego Wednesday night at Cosumnes River College.
Nermanja Vuković, Justin Braun, Thomas Stewart, Rodrigo Lopez, Emrah Klimenta and Steven Evans all scored to set up a Fourth Round meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes, one of Sacramento’s two MLS affiliates.

“It feels great. I hope the team gets to realize that we’re a good team,” Lopez said, “We’re a very deep team as well. I think we can go pretty far.”

After arriving back at home late Tuesday night due to weather delays from their two-game road trip where they picked up wins in Rochester and Dayton, the Republic started the match out slowly, nearly giving up a goal in the fifth minute only to be saved by a goal-line clearance from defender Harrison Delbridge.

Former Chivas USA draft pick Paul Islas beat two defenders down the left side of the field, and cut the ball back to Jose Cuevas who opened up and side-footed the ball to the far post where the hulking Australian Delbridge was able to deflect the shot out of the penalty area.

The teams traded quality opportunities until Fuego defender Alfred Edmonds was sent off in the 41st minute for his second yellow card, giving Sacramento a man advantage.

Sacramento quickly pounced just four minutes later as some extended possession saw midfielder Octavio Guzman pick out an overlapping run from left back Nermanja Vuković who received the ball 12 yards out in the left side of the box and rifled a left-footed rocket into the roof of the net for the eventual winning goal of the match.

“Nermanja was wide open, it was easy to do,” Guzman said. “I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to test ourselves against an MLS team.”

Shortly after the break, Guzman won the ball at the midfield stripe to set up a three-on-one situation where Justin Braun played Thomas Stewart through onto goal. Stewart cut the ball back, drew the Fuego keeper off his line and returned the ball to Braun, who was able to tap it in from close range to essentially seal the win and a June 11 game against San Jose at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.

The next four goals came in a flurry in which Fuego goalkeeper Francisco Hernandez was forced to make a variety of highlight-reel saves to keep the score as close as it was.

Stewart scored eight minutes after Braun on an assist from Lopez, and then 15 minutes after that, the diminutive playmaker brought the house down with a spectacular effort. Picking the ball up 30-yards from goal, Lopez slalomed between two defenders and then pushed the ball past a third while running around the other side of the helpless defender. He then took a touch to his right and chipped the ball over the onrushing Hernandez, sending the crowd of 1,523 into pandemonium.

“I don’t know where I got it from,” the halftime substitute said in disbelief. “I didn’t know I had the legs to do it.”

Emrah Klimenta and Steven Evans each scored to cap off the blowout that wasn’t done with the controversy.

Republic midfielder Ivan Mirković fouled a Fuego player in the box in stoppage time of the game to receive his second yellow card of the game which set up a penalty for Fuego.

Mirković was given a standing ovation as he exited the field and goalkeeper Jakubek dove to his right to stone Jose Cuevas and then to his right to deny Cuevas again on the follow up as the referee blew for full time.

“We expect to win, you never really contemplate what the score is going to be,” said Rod Underwood, Sacramento’s acting manager while head coach Preki finished serving the second game of a two-game suspension in the Open Cup. “We just expect to win.”

HIGHLIGHTS

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: PSA Elite last remaining USASA club after PK upset of LA Galaxy II

by

PSA EliteIn the late Southern California evening, PSA Elite defender Aaron Simmons lined up for what was surely the biggest penalty in club history. Against the reserve squad of one of Major League Soccer’s premier sides, a berth in a battle against the Seattle Sounders was on the line after 120 minutes elapsed without a goal from either team.

Simmons, lined up, charged toward L.A. Galaxy II keeper Cody Laurendi. He coolly scored, advancing the Irvine, Calif.-based side, the final USASA side remaining in the tournament, to the next round.

“I can’t even describe the feeling,” forward Michael Salazar said postgame. “It was a good game and we came in as underdogs, and, you know, we just try to pack it in. Somehow, they couldn’t find the back of the net.”

It certainly helped to have a stellar performance by keeper Earl Edwards, Jr., who saved 14 shots, including two penalties in the deciding shootout. All night, he and his backline were tested.

The crowd was evenly split between Galaxy supporters, including senior manager Bruce Arena, and friends and family of PSA, cheering on their loved ones in the face of a professional side.

There were certainly signs of home field advantage in the first half as L.A. dominated the first 20 minutes, accruing chances while PSA Elite had to stay disciplined.

“In the beginning they had fresh legs, they were coming at us, and we just wanted to keep our game plan coming in, and I think it worked out fine for us,” forward Michael Salazar said.

A handful of dangerous free kicks were won and taken by Rafael Garcia, testing PSA. But PSA held up in the first 45 minutes despite recording more fouls and the first half’s only booking, a 21st minute yellow shown to Salazar, who played calmly up top with strike partner Lester Hayes in the upset.

The second half featured a more open match, allowing both teams to create chances up and down the pitch. It also opened up the referee’s book, handing out three yellow cards in the second half and two in extra time.

In the 80th minute, a window opened up for Galaxy II and forward Travis Bowen. PSA defender Michael Sahagian brought down the active striker in the box, forcing referee Michael Zapata to give a penalty. Bowen elected to take it but weakly took it, sending a slow shot that deflected off Edwards’ feet. It was the closest both teams got to scoring; a chance that would have sealed Galaxy II’s advancement.

Various chances occurred in extra time, but nothing substantial took shape until the shootout. L.A. Galaxy II won the coin toss and elected to shoot first. Substitute Laurent Courtois scored first followed by a cute chance from Jose Preciado – a chip down the middle, easily saved.

But then PSA’s fortunes shifted. The following three penalties for Galaxy II were mishit, either poorly taken and saved such as Jack McBean or Bradford Jameison IV’s attempts. Andre Auras put his attempt over the bar. Conversely, PSA finished their following three PKs, cementing the victory.

Next up, PSA face the juggernaut that is Seattle. U.S. skipper Clint Dempsey will not be in the fold due to the World Cup. But it’s still an intimidating task for Salazar, a 21-year-old University of California, Riverside student who took an exam early Thursday.

“That’s a whole different level now,” he said of Sigi Schmid’s team, “and I feel like we’re gonna go back, take in this win today and see what we can work on in the next two weeks.”

No matter, what comes next can’t detract from the realized dream of reaching the cup’s Fourth Round. PSA Elite, a side with just over 500 Facebook likes and under 100 Twitter followers edged a group of men paid to play soccer. And they just played for one thing: the love of the game.

 

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Laredo Heat stun Fort Lauderdale Strikers with stoppage time penalty kick (video)

by

Laredo HeatThe Strikers run in the 101st edition of the US Open Cup has come to a devastating end.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the final minute of stoppage time, Orlando Bayona coolly put a penalty kick past veteran Oka Nikolov to give the Laredo Heat of the Premier Development League a 3-2 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League.

The Strikers started off hot, scoring two goals in less than 20 minutes. Fort Lauderdale opened the scoring in the eighth minute on Gonzalo De Mujica’s first professional goal thanks to a great pass by Darnell King that sent Carlos Salazar up the middle, who fed De Mujica to give the home team the early 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, the Strikers added to the lead, once again, thanks to Carlos Salazar who found Yaikel Perez at the top of the penalty box to give Fort Lauderdale the 2-0 lead.

However, the turning point came in the 20th minute when the Strikers were reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Lionel Brown handled the ball outside of the box and was shown a straight red card having denied Laredo a goal scoring opportunity.

Back-up keeper Oka Nikolov entered the match at the expense of Matt Hall.

Down to 10 men, it didn’t take long for Laredo to capitalize on their man advantage. Salvador Luna carved his way into the box and crossed to the back post for Irving Villanueva to head home for a goal in the 27th minute.

As the Heat tried to equalize the game, the play on the field became chippy, and in the 80th minute Laredo’s midfielder Placide Buduri, who had just came into the game, made a hard tackle on Pecka, which saw the Brazilian fall straight on the floor. Referee Caleb Mendez showed Buduri a red card and Laredo was forced to play with ten men.

But the loss of a player didn’t stop the Heat as they continued to work on finding the equalizer. Then in the 86th minute forward Orlando Alvarado, who had been inserted into the match just two minute prior, found a loose ball in the penalty area and sent it past Nikolov to make it, 2-2.

In stoppage time, Laredo drew a penalty kick through Orlando Bayona. The forward stepped up to take the ensuing spot kick, burying a high effort past Oka Nikolov to send Laredo into the Fourth Round of the Cup.

“It’s tough when you’re up 2-0 and you go down a man,” said Strikers head coach Gunther Kronsteiner. “It was the exact same situation as we were in last week . My congratulations to the Laredo Heat, they were down by two goals and they could have given up, but instead they kept fighting back.”

It was the first time the Strikers have fallen to a Premier Development League (PDL) team in three Open Cup matches.

Laredo advances to play the Houston Dynamo of MLS in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Indy Eleven treat big home crowd to win over Dayton Dutch Lions in Open Cup debut (video)

by

Indy_Eleven_Logo.svgExpansion NASL club Indy Eleven exorcised nearly two months worth of demons Wednesday night, brushing aside USL PRO side Dayton Dutch Lions 5-2 in front of 9,181 fans at Michael A. Carroll Stadium to earn a historic first US Open Cup win in club history.

Blake Smith, on loan from Montreal Impact, turned in a virtuoso performance for the home team, bagging a hat trick and recording assists on a pair of goals by former Indiana University standouts Mike Ambersley and Dylan Mares. To its credit, Dayton responded to a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 deficit with a valiant comeback attempt, finding the net twice within eleven second-half minutes through Aaron Schoenfeld and Matt Walker.

With the resounding victory, Indy Eleven advances to the Fourth Round, where they will meet the Columbus Crew in Akron, Ohio on June 17th.

“We get to face Columbus, a high quality opponent, in the next round,” said Eleven coach Juergen Sommer. “That will be a good test for our athletes to see where we are. We’re pleased.”

Having delighted the Indy Eleven faithful with its most significant result of the season last Saturday, a 1-1 draw on the road against the New York Cosmos, the Hoosier club sustained its newfound momentum in its US Open Cup debut against the Dutch Lions.

After an early scare, the Eleven bossed possession and camped out in the attacking third throughout most of the first half, jumping out to a comfortable 3-0 halftime advantage.

“Blake Smith was fantastic tonight,” Sommer. “I wish we could have saved a few for Saturday, but I’m really happy for the guys.

“I felt that going into last week, you could see it kind of building in preparation and training before New York.”

Playing a team from a lower division for the first time in its history, Indy made full use of its wide array of attacking weapons, but, as in weeks past, looked shaky at the back; the mixture unsurprisingly added up to a scoring feast.

The first of many goals on the night came in the 26th minute, as Smith froze the retreating Dayton defense just outside the top of the box before curling a spectacular left-footed shot beyond Dutch Lions goalkeeper Bradley Stuver and into the top-left corner.

Only four minutes later, the Impact loanee and the Eleven had their second. Ben Spencer, another on-loan attacker, sprung the offside trap and showed off vision beyond his years to find Smith, who deftly cut in from the left and slotted into the far corner with his right boot. The man of the hour, who tormented the Dutch Lions’ defense all night, set aside scoring duties to turn provider for Ambersley in the 43rd minute to give the hosts a glossy 3-0 lead.

By the time the halftime whistle sounded, Indy had scored more goals than it had managed in any other match in 2014. Picking up where they left off, the suddenly jelling squad proceeded to double that previous high (two) within seconds of the restart. Smith again unlocked the defense, this time setting Mares up for his first goal in an Eleven shirt.

Instead of capitulating, though, the Dutch Lions regrouped and fought their way back into the contest. After Schoenfeld converted a 66th minute penalty to deny keeper Kristian Nicht his first shutout at Indy Eleven, Matt Walker fired past the German from the middle of the box in the 76th minute, temporarily sparking doubt about the NASL club’s ability to hang on to a massive lead.

Ultimately, Smith capped his remarkable night with a cool left-footed finish on a one-on-one with Stuver. The midfielder’s third goal, made possible by a tremendous through ball by Don Smart, prompted a two-backflip celebration Smith called his “trademark” after the match.

“It’s up there,” Smith said when asked how his performance ranks with other moments in his professional career. “Obviously I came from the MLS and scored some goals there, but to be loaned out here to get some more games and confidence was a good opportunity for me, so I took it with excitement.

“To come out here and help a team that has yet to get a victory, I’d rank this pretty high. It was very important, very special.”

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Orlando City U-23s upset Charleston Battery in record-breaking PK shootout (video)

by

Orlando City U23s goalkeeper Tomas Gomez repeatedly held the Battery at bay, snuffing out chances in his box and recording fives saves en route to the shootout. Not only did Gomez convert his own shot from the mark, he also saved Charleston's one chance at sudden-death victory. Photo: Janet Edens Conover | CHSsoccer.net
Orlando City U23s goalkeeper Tomas Gomez repeatedly held the Battery at bay, snuffing out chances in his box and recording fives saves en route to the shootout. Not only did Gomez convert his own shot from the mark, he also saved Charleston’s one chance at sudden-death victory. Photo: Janet Edens Conover | CHSsoccer.net

Orlando City U-23s became the first amateur team in Open Cup history to defeat the Charleston Battery at home, advancing Wednesday night via a Modern Professional Era record 14-round shootout after 120 minutes of play ended in a 2-2 draw.

Orlando City opened the scoring in the 26th minute when a short clearance off a free kick fell to Jamaican forward Romario Williams near the penalty spot.

They made it 2-0 in the final seconds of the half off midfielder Andrew Brody’s wonder-goal. Brody capped a sudden Orlando counter by chipping over Charleston’s back line and goalkeeper Eric Shannon from long range.

Charleston pulled level in the second half and spent much of the night on the brink of cracking Orlando City’s defense, outshooting the visiting PDL squad 24-10. Forward Dane Kelly ended the frustration in the 63rd minute, finally putting away the rebound of his previous shot that had caromed off the crossbar. Five minutes later he buried a penalty kick to equalize.

Despite their advantages, Charleston was unable to find a game-winner in the final 27 minutes and went to extra time. When the 30 minutes ended with the 2-2 score unchanged, the match proceeded to a shootout.

The Battery instantly earned the upper hand when Shannon, the Battery’s backup goalkeeper, saved the first Orlando shot from the mark. But the pro side’s third shooter in the first group of five — Vancouver Whitecaps loanee Aminu Abdallah — sent his try off the crossbar to give Orlando City new life.

In the third round of sudden death, Shannon came through again, stopping Orlando substitute defender Javier Clavijo. Charleston forward Heviel Cordoves stepped up to take the game-winner, but Orlando goalkeeper Tomas Gomez, a rising senior at Georgetown University, guessed right and earned the junior lions another opportunity.

It would take six more agonizing rounds and a miss by Charleston’s Kelly to separate the two sides. Dejected Battery players looked on in stunned silence as the PDL squad mobbed Gomez — who had not only revived them in the shootout, but whose five saves and fearless defending had helped them weather the Battery assault.

“Besides the national championship (Georgetown’s 0-1 loss to Indiana), I haven’t had that much pressure on me,” Gomez said. “(But) I knew when we went to penalties we were in a good spot. Our team converts. But that was the longest round of penalties I’ve ever been a part of.”

Orlando City will now travel to Portland to take on the Timbers of MLS on May 28.

“You give the guys credit,” said Battery Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “We made a lot of PKs, they made a lot of PKs. We had a chance twice to win it, but we weren’t able to get it done. You gotta commend their keeper for making the big save there.

“It’s a difficult situation. You hate to lose that way. We didn’t want to go to penalties, but they got it done.”

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Minnesota United avenge last year’s upset loss, oust Des Moines Menace 1-0

by

minnesota-united-logoAfter an upset loss in 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to the Des Moines Menace, Minnesota United FC were determined to not have it happen for a second straight year. It took substitute forward Christian Ramirez to make sure of it.

Ramirez, United’s leading goal scorer in NASL play, picked up a miss-hit clearance pass by Menace defender Brandon Fricke, rounded goalkeeper David Meves and coolly slotted home in the 86th minute of a 1-0 win at The Valley Stadium in West Des Moines in a closely-contested Third-Round tie.

“Dave and Brandon played fantastic. They made so many good defensive plays,” said Des Moines head coach Mike Jeffries. “It was unfortunate the way it ended.”

With the win, the Loons earn a trip to take on MLS side Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on June 18 in the Fourth Round.

United were unlucky not to have put the game away much earlier, hitting the woodwork four times – twice in each half – while dominating possession.

Mozesh Gyorio drilled a 25-yard shot that Meves just got a touch on to put it off the post. Just before halftime, Omar Daley hit the post with a tight-angle shot.

Des Moines, on virtually their first attack of the second half, had a penalty claim denied in the 63rd minute. The linesman waved his flag for a handball in the box on United defender Cristiano Faguendes Dias, but the referee waved play-on. In the confusion, Mueng Sunday ripped a shot off the post for the Menace. United countered and Daley responded with another shot of the post.

This is the third consecutive year that Minnesota United FC and Des Moines have played in the US Open Cup. Minnesota United FC won at The Valley two years ago in the Second Round (when the franchise was Minnesota Stars FC), before falling in the Second Round last year.

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Eric Wynalda-led Atlanta Silverbacks silence Chattanooga FC, will host Real Salt Lake (video)

by

chattanooga-fc-logoTwo weeks ago, Chattanooga FC used a well-drilled wing attacking scheme to confound USL PRO side Wilmington, making history as the first NPSL team to defeat a team from USL Pro.

Tonight the dream came to an end as Eric Wynalda’s Atlanta Silverbacks of the second-tier NASL brought the amateurs down to earth with a convincing 5-0 victory in Chattanooga.

Junior Burgos had a brace, Junior Sandoval, Deon McCauley, Jaime Chavez had one apiece, as the Silverbacks dominated in front of an impressive crowd of 4,058 at Finley Stadium.

Atlanta will host MLS side Real Salt Lake in the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup on June 14 at Silverbacks Park.

Technical Director Eric Wynalda said he had seen the tape of the Wilmington game from the 2nd round.

“You can watch tape all the time and think you know what you’re getting in to,” he said, “but really you don’t know until you’re there.”

Sandoval and Burgos both scored from long distance in the first half.

Sandoval scored in the 12th minute to open the scoring before Burgos scored on a free kick from just outside the box in the 17th minute.

Burgos’ second goal in the 42nd minute was a left-footed blast from all of 30 yards out to give Atlanta a commanding 3-0 heading into halftime.

The Silverbacks added another goal in the 68th minute when McCauley — who missed on his previous scoring chances — scored to make it 4-0.

Burgos added an assist to his tally on Chavez’s goal in the 71st minute.

The Silverbacks controlled possession for most of the match while out-shooting CFC, 9-1.

The differences between a talented amateur side and a Second Division pro side are slim. Perhaps a touch more speed, a tiny but distinct tendency to make fewer bad touches and hurried passes, and, usually, an edge in physical conditioning.

When asked what the main difference between amateurs and professionals at this level, Wynalda said, “Everyone can do some tricks and make a pass, but is it the right pass? It’s mostly about vision.”

Highlights from game via WRCB-TV.
WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

FULL MATCH REPLAY

Copyright © 2026 • Built by Jacob Martella Web Development