2014 US Open Cup

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Brooklyn Italians rally to beat Jersey Express, earn date with New York Cosmos (video)

May 20, 2014 by Jason Sieira

The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL's Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson — The Brooklyn Italians opened the 2014 US Open Cup with a 4-2 road win over the PDL’s Jersey Express. Photo: Bob Larson

The NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians survived a slow start and advanced with a four-goal second half performance against the PDL’s Jersey Express at the J. Malcolm Simon Stadium on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.

The 4-2 road victory earned the Italians the right to face the NASL Soccer Bowl champions New York Cosmos in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Brooklyn’s turnaround started early in the second half with a goal by Jiro Barriga, followed by a goal from a penalty kick by Salvatore Barrone, and two goals after the 80th minute by Yvener Guerrier.

Italians coach Lucio Russo, a former Jersey Express assistance coach, credited an increase in his squad’s intensity level for the reversal. “We had to match through intensity,” said Russo. “ came out really strong, knocking the ball around and we were basically just watching them.”

The first half belonged to the Jersey Express who looked the better side as they worked the ball up the right flanks and sent the occasional long ball to their target striker Joseph Ovenseri, who sat in the center channel looking to play off the center back’s shoulder.

The Brooklyn Italians are making their 5th straight US Open Cup appearance. Photo: Bob Larson

The Express had a few early chances and capitalized off of a set piece in the 12th minute. William Torreson Paulino’s free kick from the right about a yard outside the box found an unmarked Markus Hackett at the far post to open the scoring.

Brooklyn’s frustration seems to come out toward the end of the first half. Martin Williams was given a yellow card for a tactical foul in the 42nd minute, followed two minutes later by Ricardo Milano getting himself a yellow for a foul a few yards outside the top of the box. Jersey kept the pressure on through most of the first half, but several key saves by the Italians’ goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson minimized the damage. The majority of Parkinson’s nine saves were in the first half and his performance allowed the Italians to get into the locker room only down 1-0 at the half.

In the second half, Brooklyn immediately looked like a different team. “We were better as far as collectively, defensively we really stepped it up a notch,” said Russo. “We were stealing some balls and we were kind of dangerous up top.”

In the 48th minute, Barriga found himself open in the box with a loose ball at his foot. Barriga, about two yards left of the spot, pushed a low shot to the opposite goal post passed a frozen keeper. Jersey answered with a goal by Chris Karcz off a shot near the top of the box. Karcz got to a free ball in space and hit it past the keeper. The Express appeared to be back in control with a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute. However, 10 minutes later, a handball in the box gave the Italians a penalty kick. Express keeper David Greczek got a hand on Barrone’s hard and low shot to the right post, but the power of the strike was too much and the game was tied.

After that goal the Brooklyn supporters came alive, chanting and stomping on the metal bleachers. Brooklyn’s forward Guerrier scored the match-winning goal on a breakaway set-up by midfielder Karrem Joachim in the 81st minute. Guerrier outran the Jersey center backs and slipped the ball past an oncoming Greczek. Guerrier added a second goal from the spot in second half stoppage time after the Express defender Christopher Lebo denied a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 89th minute. Lebo was giving a red card by referee Neil Barbulescu for the take down just outside of Jersey’s box. The penalty kick goal by Guerrier was a low hard shot of the right post passed Express keeper Greczek. Again Greczek picked correctly, but could not make the save.

For Guerrier it gives him a brace in each of the club’s first three matches of the season. Italians coach Russo had high praise for his forward. “I believe he belongs at the next level, definitely with a USL team or NASL team,” said Russo. “He’s a force on top. He’s difficult to mark”

Russo realizes the challenge his amateur club faces in the next round. “We’re playing pro now, not to take nothing away from the Jersey Express because they are fantastic,” explained Russo. “But are pro, they do it all day long, and we are amateurs and we practice twice a week. A complete hours a day, to match up against a team like that is a great experience for these players.”

The Brooklyn Italians, making their fifth straight appearance in the tournament, improve to 2-4-0 in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). This match was the first for the Jersey Express in the US Open Cup.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Jorge Herrera carries Charlotte Eagles to 3-1 win over Carolina Dynamo (video)

May 18, 2014 by Adam Morgan

For the third time, the Charlotte Eagles and Carolina Dynamo met in US Open Cup play. This time the Eagles won 3-1. Photo: Charlotte Eagles

On Wednesday night in Charlotte, NC, USL PRO’s Charlotte Eagles defeated Greensboro’s PDL side Carolina Dynamo 3-1 in the Second Round of the 2014 US Open Cup, thanks to two goals and one assist from Colombian forward Jorge Herrera.

“We wanted to impose ourselves from the first minute. We wanted to make them uncomfortable,” said assistant coach Steve Shak, who was handed the reigns for the night by Eagles head coach Mark Steffens.

Neither team dominated possession in the first half, but Charlotte took shot after shot until Juan Guzman finally slotted one home in the 43rd minute, on an assist from fellow Colombian Herrera, putting the Eagles up 1-0.

The second half was a bit more one-sided, with Herrera’s two unassisted goals and a plethora of other chances for Charlotte that sailed wide, high, and into Dynamo keeper Alex McCauley’s hands. Before Herrera’s second goal, however, the Greensboro side did put up quite a fight.

“Carolina Dynamo has a great reputation,” coach Shak said after the match. “A lot of those guys will be professionals.”

The towering Mamadee Nyepon, a Greensboro native and High Point University graduate, who scored the Dynamo’s lone goal in the 60th minute, was dangerous all night, especially in the latter part of the second half. Were it not for a few offside calls and mistimed kicks, the Dynamo could have easily tied things up 2-2.

But when it comes to the US Open Cup, the Charlotte Eagles have enjoyed some recent success in the tournament after 13 years of struggles. From the first year they qualified in 1998 until 2011, the Eagles never won multiple games in a single tournament and never defeated a professional team. That changed in 2012 when they won three straight road games in Texas, defeating the El Paso Patriots (PDL), FC Dallas (MLS) and the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) to reach the Quarterfinals for the first time.

Their win over the Dynamo on Wednesday extended a club record with their fourth tournament in a row with at least one win.

In the end, Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera proved to be too much for the Premier Development League side to handle on Wednesday night as he scored his 5th and 6th career Open Cup goals.

“He leads by example,” said Shak. “Which is what you need your top players to do.” A few years back, Herrera got a good look from a few MLS teams, including New England Revolution, but his international status may have hurt his chances. Currently, MLS teams only have eight international spots to work with.

In the 2011 US Open Cup–the last time these in-state rivals met–the results were identical: a 3-1 Charlotte victory. Nevertheless, the Eagles didn’t treat their matchup with the Dynamo lightly. “PDL teams are very good,” Shak said. “We knew we had to be sharp.”

Team morale may have been a factor for the Dynamo, who lost their head coach to nearby Elon University just days before the start of the 2014 season.

With their Second Round victory in the bag, Charlotte now faces another North Carolina team in the Third Round in two weeks time: the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks FC in Cary, NC. The RailHawks, who outdraw the Eagles by an order of magnitude at home, knocked Charlotte out of the 2010 US Open Cup. “We’ll do our research and look into them this week,” said Shak. “We usually play one another in the preseason, but this year’s match was cancelled.”

Regardless of how deep Charlotte Eagles make it in the tournament this year, one thing’s for certain, according to Coach Shak.

“We love the US Open Cup.”

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: NY Greek American Atlas beats Ocean City Nor’easters to snap tournament losing streak

May 18, 2014 by Greg Orlandini

Josh Trott (No. 9) celebrates one of his two goals with his New York Greek American Atlas teammates in their 2-0 win over Ocean City Nor'easters. Photo: Paul Rudderow | PhillySoccerPage.net — Josh Trott (No. 9) celebrates one of his two goals with his New York Greek American Atlas teammates in their 2-0 win over Ocean City Nor’easters. Photo: Paul Rudderow | PhillySoccerPage.net

New York Greek Americans muscled their way into the third round of the US Open Cup traveling to Ocean City’s Carey Stadium and defeating the Ocean City Nor’easters 2-0. Josh Trott scored each goal, both coming in the early stages of each half, as the four-time Open Cup champions won their first game of the Modern Professional Era (1995-present).

The 2014 edition of the Nor’easters is different than last year’s team that reached the PDL final four and took MLS’ Philadelphia Union to the brink in Open Cup play. They are returning just seven players from a year ago, including Jason Plumhoff, who rejoins the club after a stint with Reading United. Before the match though, coach Tim Oswald signed a three-year contract with the team. The loss was the team’s first against a non-MLS team since 2007 and their first loss in franchise history to an amateur club (4-1-0).

Meanwhile the Greek Americans came into the match in midseason form and fitness. The experienced team boasted one player with MLS and European soccer experience in former Philadelphia Union defender Cristian Arrieta. The Greeks victory not only helped them snap their 4-game touranment losing streak, but it avenged a 3-0 loss by Ocean City in 2005.

Almost from the start, the Greeks took Ocean City out of their game. The slightly older, slightly stronger side from New York muscled their way through the Nor’easter midfield, moving with ease. The forward combo of Josh Trott and Keith Detelj pinned back the home side’s back four, with Detelj acting as a battering ram through out the match. The usually pleasing to watch Nor’easters were forced into a long-ball strategy through most of the game. They gave up size on the forward line, so nearly every ball in the box was dealt with easily.

The New York Greek American Atlas defeated Ocean City Nor'easters 2-0 in a rematch of a game played back in 2005. Photo: Paul Rudderow | PhillySoccerPage.net — The New York Greek American Atlas defeated Ocean City Nor’easters 2-0 in a rematch of a game played back in 2005. Photo: Paul Rudderow | PhillySoccerPage.net

The Greeks pressure and possession paid off early when Trott and Detelj broke through the Nor’easter back line. In the 10th minute Detelj put a cross into the box and with Ocean City’s goalkeeper Broja Angoita off his line, Josh Trott easily tapped in the tally putting the visitors up 1-0. From then on, the home team was chasing. The usually crafty Frank Tweneboa played the first half at center forward and struggled with service and with the large Greek American center forwards.

The Greeks showed their fitness throughout the first half, chasing down every loose ball and pressuring Ocean City every time they attempted move out of their end.

The second half opened with two subs for the Nor’easters as with two big forwards Aaron Dennis and Ben Maurey coming to strengthen the side. But whatever game plan coach Oswald has in mind for the second half went up in smoke as Josh Trott scored his second of the night. After that it was pretty much job done for New York Greeks. Their line played a little deep as Ocean City stepped up pressure towards the end of the much. The most excitement of the match came after the second goal when both teams came together after a hard tackle with Ian Hines-Ike seeing red after all was said and done. The match finished up 2-0 to New York Greek Americans.

”We weren’t as sharp as we needed to be,” said Oswald after the match. “We didn’t match the intensity or the work rate of the Greek Americans.” Oswald added that chasing the early goals in both halves worked against what the team wanted to do.

“Our team is a little bit older so we have maybe a little more experience hoping that we have a little bit higher football IQ so we can read the game a little bit faster,” said Greeks coach Stavros Zomopoulos. He praised former Union man Cristian Arrieta who he said has brought a wealth of experience to his side.

The Greeks move onto play the Richmond Kickers in the Third Round. No rest for the Nor’easters as they are competing on two fronts. They head to Long Island this Sunday to take on the Rough Riders in league play. Shortly after, on May 22, they travel to Gambrills, Md. to take part in the US Soccer national Amateur Championships, which feature the champions from the four major amateur competitions in the United States (USASA Amateur Cup, USASA Open Cup, PDL, and NPSL). The Nor’easters are taking part in place of the Austin Aztex, who were unable to represent the PDL.

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Coach Santino Quaranta leads Baltimore Bohemians to debut win over Icon FC (video)

May 18, 2014 by Craig Tower

The Baltimore Bohemians of the Premier Development League made their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debut on Wednesday night against a team who made a splash in their tournament debut a year ago in Icon FC. The USASA club from Montville, New Jersey won their first game last year 4-1 over the Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) on the strength of a hat trick from Argjent Duka and former MLS veteran Danny Szetela.

However, this year’s Icon FC roster was missing Duka and Szetela, and the Bohemians, who finished tied for second in the very competitive Mid-Atlantic Division last year, was the better team in front of their home fans. Baltimore, led by newly-appointed head coach Santino Quaranta, overwhelmed their Garden State opponents, winning 4-1 to earn a home game in Round 3 against the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro).

The University of Maryland Baltimore County Stadium was the venue with an overcast day with a very fine mist in the air at kickoff. The crowd was sparse at first, but thickened as the game heated up. Both teams were playing with relatively new lineups, but Icon appeared to have an advantage entering the match as they had been in action for months in the Garden State Soccer League, while this was the first competitive match for the Bohs in 2014.

For the first 10 minutes or so, the Bohs laid back, absorbing pressure from Icon FC. Chris Panian of Baltimore announced the breakout of his team with a booming shot from the top of the box at 11 minutes, but it rocketed wide right without troubling Icon’s keeper Chris Duggan. After a brief pause in the 15th minute when Ricky Greensfelder of the Bohs was subbed out for Malcolm Harris after suffering concussion-like symptoms, play was restarted with more trouble for Duggan. A penalty was awarded to the Bohs after Icon’s defense sent a Baltimore player down in the box, and Mamadou Kansaye coolly sent the ball to the lower right corner of the goal while Duggan plunged in the opposite direction.

The Bohemians pushed their advantage, pressuring the Icon defense with a break on the right wing. After Icon had recovered the ball, Chris Panian continued to harass the defense, coaxing a turnover out of Gabriel Alvas. Panian turned and slipped a pass into the path of Austin Martz, who nonchalantly controlled the ball and slotted the ball inside the far post past the arcing body of Duggan.

At this point, the game began to get physical, but the referee showed some tolerance until the 42nd minute, when Jarrod Laventure’s lunging studs-up tackle resulted in an ejection. The teams went into the locker rooms for halftime knowing that Icon was down a man for the rest of the game and trailing 2-0.

After the whistle blew to open the second half, Icon pressed the Baltimore defense, forcing a foul and a goal in quick succession. The goal came when Icon’s Adam Bajek sent an outswinging cross through the Bohs defense, finding an unmarked Teddy Niziolet, who pounded the ball in with his head from 5 yards out.

The Bohs began finding more room in the midfield at that point, as gaps began to form in Icon’s original 4-3-2-1 formation. The Bohs forwards started to push the defensive line of the Jersey team while the fullbacks and outside mids, feeling less pressure, sent more balls over the top to big forwards Brandon Allen and halftime addition David Neuberth.

In the 62nd, the Bohs converted a midfield turnover by Icon into a goal, finding Allen just outside the top of the box. Having lost his man, Allen pounded a volley across the goal into the lower right corner for the score.

The game got chippy again after the 75th minute, but Baltimore managed to ice the match after they sprung Graham, who subbed on for right back Stephen Ho in the 84th minute. Graham accelerated and drove a low shot to the keeper’s right, completing the scorign for the home team.

The Bohs had further chances, including an opportunity for Neuberth in the 74th minute and two excellent efforts by Allen in the 75th, including a ball that pinged off the left post and straight back to Duggan, who caught it with Allen standing one yard away, ready to pounce. Icon pushed toward the end but didn’t have the manpower to change the score of the game, which ended 4-1 in favor of the Bohemians.

Bohemians’ new coach Quaranta was upbeat about his team’s performance.

“I was thrilled with the effort,” said Quaranta, who won a US Open Cup title with DC United in 2008. “Some of the guys met each other for the first time tonight, so the challenge for us is to put the best group on shapewise and tactically. Brandon Allen, for example, is one of the guys… But we’re thrilled. Obviously we have a lot of work to do. But overall the effort, the commitment from the players was fantastic.”

Quaranta cited fitness as the biggest challenge his team faces as they move on in the tournament.

“Physically, it’s new for the guys, when you play 90 minutes games with three changes coming from college. So physically you want to make sure you’re managing their minutes, as we play again Saturday, Tuesday, then Saturday again.”

He also emphasized his desire to play an attacking style of soccer, not just for the fans, but for the players as well.

“Overall, you want these guys to play free, you want them to have a chance to get their names out there,” he said, noting that Baltimore is expecting some new arrivals who could make an impact in the pro ranks.

Quaranta did shy away from picking a man of the match. “I think Austin Martz was fantastic. His workrate was second to none. Andrew Harris had a great game. Brandon Allen was great. He could have scored 3 or 4 goals. But I don’t think you can pinpoint one guy.”

In the next round, Baltimore will look to get another team effort as they will aim for an upset against a team that has made their name for upsetting teams in the Open Cup in the Harrisburg City Islanders.

HIGHLIGHT: GOAL BY BALTIMORE’S BRANDON ALLEN

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Oklahoma City Energy beat Tulsa Athletics as tournament returns to Oklahoma (video)

May 17, 2014 by William Schulz

In the first all-Oklahoma Open Cup match in decades (possibly ever), expansion teams Tulsa Athletics (green) battled the Oklahoma City Energy. Photo: Tulsa Athletics

A cool May afternoon served as the backdrop for the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in Tulsa, Okla. In front of 3,834 fans (the highest attendance of the round), the Tulsa Athletics of the NPSL were hosting the Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL PRO) for the very first time as both teams made their Open Cup debuts.

It was the first Open Cup game held in Oklahoma since 1997 when Los Lobos (USASA) welcomed the Central Jersey Riptide to Tulsa for a first round game (Riptide won 1-0). 17 years later, the tournament has returned to the Sooner State.

In the end, it was the professional expansion team, Energy FC, who were too much for the amateur side as Dave Leichty and Cyprian Hedrick scored a goal in each half to win the game 2-0. The Energy now earn a spot in the Third Round where they will travel to Peoria, Ariz. to take on fellow USL PRO team Arizona United SC on May 28.

Tulsa started the match by attempting to outrun Oklahoma City, and earned themselves some solid early possession. All that possession fizzled out when the Athletics reached the attacking third of the field however, as Tulsa only managed to get one shot on goal through the entire first half.

3,834 fans showed up to watch the Tulsa Athletics and the Oklahoma City Energy play their first US Open Cup game. Photo: Tulsa Athletics

Leichty broke the deadlock in the 10th minute on OKC’s first shot of the match. From there, Tulsa’s composure began to waiver and the fouls became more common. The increased physicality of the first half culminated in the first two yellow cards of the match, issued to Kevin Howard and Ray Saari in the 26th and 38th minutes, respectively.

Tulsa began the second half with the substitution of Dave Leung for Levi Coleman and a more focused plan of attack. Physicality remained a part of Tulsa’s play, quickly earning them several fouls. Unfortunately, as in the first half, Tulsa just didn’t have any idea ideas in the final third.

Oklahoma City doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Hedrick fired home a Kyle Miller free kick. Tulsa’s composure crumbled following the goal, their play becoming even more physical and desperate.

The physicality of play intensified on both sides until the 76th minute when Dave Leung was issued a straight red after a vicious tackle. Things spiraled out of control for Tulsa from that point on, until Stephen Brocks was issued a straight red card for a challenge on OKC’s keeper while the keeper was on the ground in possession of the ball.

The match ended 2-0 in Oklahoma City’s favor, ending a 4-game losing streak in all competitions. The loss was Tulsa’s first of the year, and surely contains some hard lessons for the team of youngsters. Oklahoma City Energy FC will travel to fellow USL Pro team Arizona United SC in Round 3 on May 28.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Orlando City U23s earn first tournament win, 2-1 over Jacksonville United

May 17, 2014 by Mike Gramajo

For the first time in franchise history, Orlando City U23s celebrated a victory in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. They got their tournament run off to a strong start with a 2-1 win over the NPSL’s Jacksonville United at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla.

Orlando first qualified for the Open Cup in 2000 under the name Central Florida Kraze, and entering Wednesday night, had entered the competition a total of six times without producing a win (0-5-1, 0-1 in PKs). The winless streak, which included a 2-1 loss to Jacksonville in 2012, was the longest active Open Cup losing streak in American soccer.

In the first game of an Open Cup doubleheader with the Orlando City USL Pro team, Tyler Blackwood would score the lone Orlando City goal in the 30th minute after a shot from Romario Williams found the forward to rebound the shot toward the net. However, Jacksonville equalized the match at the halftime mark when Krizanovic converted on penalty kick.

With the match leveled, the U23s were given an opportunity to control the match when Jacksonville went down a man when Jay Bolt received a red card after a harsh tackle. Orlando City earned the second goal after their corner kick failed to clear the Jacksonville box, leading to an own-goal from the visiting side.

The match would end 2-1 in favor of the Young Lions, and set up another Open Cup rematch. On May 28, just like they did back in 2007, Orlando will travel to Blackbaud Stadium to take on the Charleston Battery of USL Pro.

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Reading United cruise past Greater Binghamton, 5-2 (video)

May 17, 2014 by Phil Naegely

A strong second-half powered Reading United past the Greater Binghamton FC Thunder 5-2 at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium advancing the team to the US Open Cup Third Round.

Reading secured coach David Castellanos his first Cup victory and overall win as Reading manager.

“It’s a special moment for the coaching staff and the players to get that first win,” Castellanos said. “US Open Cup games are like NCAA Tournament games. It is one and done. I was very, very pleased with the result.”

Reading United move on to face USL-Pro side Rochester Rhinos on May 28th in Rochester, NY.

At the half, Reading held the one-goal advantage and stood 45 minutes away from advancing to the Third Round for the second consecutive year.

Binghamton and head referee Darth Newman did not make it easy at first.

Binghamton penetrated into the penalty box and earned a penalty kick after Reading’s Robby Sagel took down an opponent. It appeared to be a clean defensive play, but Newman decided otherwise from a distance – about 20 yards – and pointed to the spot without confirming the call with his near sideline assistant referee, who was much closer to the play.

Binghamton’s Bozidar Jelovic stepped up and shot left past a diving Alex Bono to knot the match at 2-2.

Reading’s Ignacio Maganto came in for Graham Smith in the 61th minute and made an immediate impact. Darius Madison found more space on the left flank again and charged towards the box with favorable numbers. On a 2-on-1, Madison passed over to an open Maganto whose strike put Reading up for good.

From there, the game was in Reading’s favor. Six minutes later Quincy Thomas doubled the lead. Off a corner kick, Binghamton failed to clear the ball out of danger after a few headers that pinballed around the box. Thomas secured the box at the top of the 18-yard box and sent it screaming into the top netting.

As the game wound down and Reading continued to control the game’s pace and possession, Madison put on a show for the 236 fans in attendance. Madison dribbled around his defender, losing his shoe in the process. Before the ball went out of bounds, he saved it on the sideline and drew Stenta off his line leaving the net wide open. Nick Surkamp capped-off Reading’s five goal night by blasting the ball into the open net.

“I basically squared the guy up, faked right and he stepped on my cleat and it game off,” Madison said. “I passed it towards the penalty mark and Surkamp was there to finish it.”

Reading threatened from the opening whistle. In the ninth minute, Madison’s diving header just missed finding the back of the net as it hit the right post.

Moments later the game’s first goal would come as Madison beat his defender on the left flank and found space to send a cross into the box. Oumar Ballo found the ball and sent it through traffic and goalkeeper Jason Stenta’s legs.

With Reading leading 1-0 less than 20 minutes in it continued to pressure, looking to increase its lead. Instead, Binghamton found an equalizer. A mid-field turnover allowed Binghamton an offensive advantage as Jonny Sinclair’s cross set up Alex Varkatzas perfectly for the game-tying goal in the 35th minute.

The hosts continued to press. Madison almost found the net in the 41st minute. Stenta struggled to hold onto the speedy forwards’ shot at first but was able to escape without danger. Moments later Madison found another chance to strike and emphatically put Reading up right before the halftime whistle. Lucas Baldin turned his defender on the attack and sent a precise pass to a streaking Madison who found the right-side netting.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Fresno Fuego burns Orange County Blues for first upset in over a decade

May 17, 2014 by Nick Schiffler

The Fresno Fuego pulled off one of the upsets of the Second Round in the US Open Cup, knocking off professional side Orange County Blues 2-0 behind some solid defending and two opportunistic goals.

Abraham Campos and Jose Cuevas scored within three minutes of each other late in the first half, which was enough for the PDL side to knock off the USL-PRO Blues and move on to the Third Round. The amateur squad last defeated a professional team in the tournament in 2003.

“We defended extremely well,” said Fuego head coach Scott Alcorn, who was ejected in the final 10 minutes of the match. “It was the best defensive effort this season. But the difference tonight was that we won the 50-50 balls.”

Fresno ran into trouble before the match even kicked off, as three of their players were ruled ineligible. Alfred Edmonds and Elliot Hord were both forced into the starting 11 for the Fuego at the last minute, and the match kicked off nearly 45 minutes late as a result of the roster confusion.

Despite the early drama, and despite temperatures at kickoff nearly reaching 100 degrees, Fresno started the first half brightly, creating as many chances as their USL-PRO opponents. Fresno winger Paul Islas forced Blues keeper Mohammad Mohammadi into a good save, tipping a shot over the bar. Soon after, Orange County’s Enrique Cardenas zipped a shot just past the post and wide.

It was the Fuego who would get on the board first at the end of the first half. In the 41st minute, Campos lined up over a free kick about 25 yards out, and banged a low shot that beat Mohammadi, deflected off the post and into the net.

Three minutes later Fresno doubled their advantage. Tyler Reinhart forced Mohammadi into a save, but the rebound deflected right back to the forward. Reinhart nudged it to Cuevas, who slotted in the goal from about eight yards out for the 2-0 lead.

Desperate to find some kind of offensive spark, the Blues made substitutions early – they had used all three by the 60th minute. Orange County was able to turn up the pressure on Fresno, controlling the majority of possession as the second half wore on, but it couldn’t put any good chances on goal.

“To get the second goal right before half totally changed what we wanted to do. We wanted to still put pressure on them,” Alcorn said. “As the second half of the half moved on, obviously we dropped into a little more low-pressure, and the last 20 minutes we basically bunkered in.”

The Blues were given additional life when Fresno defender Trevor Spurgeon was shown a red card in the 85th minute, reducing the hosts to ten men. Five minutes of stoppage time were added, but Fresno defended well and held on for the shutout victory.

Fresno was making its third trip to the US Open Cup. Most recently, in 2012, they defeated Stanislaus United Turlock Express in the First Round, before getting hammered 7-2 by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL.

Orange County, then known as the Los Angeles Blues, entered the US Open Cup in the Second Round in 2013. They defeated the Ventura County Fusion 5-1 before being knocked out of the tournament by Chivas USA of MLS for the second straight year.

Fresno will travel a few hours north for their next Cup match on May 28 to take on the Sacramento Republic, who defeated the Ventura County Fusion 2-1 in the Second Round. The winner of that game will get the chance to take on an MLS club in the tournament’s Fourth Round.

“We’ve played exhibition games against MLS teams, and we feel we can play with any of them,” Alcorn said. “We’re just not as deep as they are. win just earns respect for the PDL, and the PDL is such a high level that doesn’t get the respect it deserves. it just shows you that USL soccer is at an extremely high level.”

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: LA Galaxy II crush tournament darlings Cal FC, 6-1

May 17, 2014 by Joe Curley

“Los Dos” had the antidote for Cal FC’s big heart and bigger dreams.

A early goal and domination on set pieces lifted Los Angeles Galaxy II to a relatively simple 6-1 win over the USASA team from Thousand Oaks, Calif. Wednesday night in the Second Round of the US Open Cup at the Stubhub Center’s track stadium.

Alejandro Covarrubias drove in the opening goal from a sixth-minute free kick and Travis Bowen scored twice as the Galaxy’s first-year USL Pro team built a 5-0 lead by the break.

“That’s what it’s about, being a professional,” Bowen said. “You have to come out and put in a performance, no matter who you are playing, no matter how many people are in the stands.”

Covarrubias drove a low, powerful free kick inside the base of the left post for an early Galaxy lead and “Los Dos” piled on from there to progress to a Third-Round matchup with another southern California USASA side, PSA Elite.

The last time Cal FC was in the US Open Cup, they a pretty big splash on the field, and on social media. — The last time Cal FC was in the US Open Cup in 2012, they a pretty big splash on the field, and on social media.

Defender Bradley Diallo headed in a corner kick to double the lead in the 24th minute. Bowen scored twice in three minutes to make it 4-0.

First beating two defenders to tap in Bradley Jamieson’s shot, then roofing a chance from 10 yards after Jamieson was close in the 33rd minute.

“They’re super well-organized and they came out really quickly,” said Cal FC coach Nick Webster. “It was disappointing that four of the goals were set pieces. That was something that we wanted to be on top of.”

Cal FC, who pulled off upsets of USL Pro and Major League Soccer opposition in its run to the Fourth Round in 2012, found reality in its return to the 101-year-old national competition.

Several players the Tri-County Soccer League team hoped to add for the competition didn’t receive international clearance in time to bolster the squad. It also arrived to find an opponent of a different caliber.

“That was the most structured team that we’ve played all three years,” said Cal FC defender Kai Werring. “That was a big difference. Previous have been scraps. You could tell a couple of those guys are going to go places.”

Cal FC scored its goal five minutes after the break. Midfielder Kramer Runager put Reymundo Reza through on goal with a defense-splitting pass and the halftime substitute slotted home the finish.

“I was really proud of the second half,” Webster said. “The team showed a lot of character and heart. They refused to lay down. That could have gotten really out of hand.”

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Sacramento Republic, without Preki, win debut vs. Ventura County Fusion (video)

May 16, 2014 by Evan Ream

Two second-half goals propelled Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup debutante Sacramento Republic FC past the Ventura County Fusion 2-1 Wednesday night at Cosumnes River College.

Republic forward Dakota Collins scored the winning goal with 12 minutes left after a pair of former Fusion players, Rodrigo Lopez and Harrison Delbridge, combined to level the game in the 59th minute.

“In this knock-out, elimination tournament, it’s always hard because you only have 90 minutes and you have another 30 if it’s still tied,” said assistant coach Rod Underwood who was standing in for suspended head coach Predrag “Preki” Radosavlijević. “It’s a lot of pressure, but we made it more difficult than it should have been.”

Sacramento dominated the whole game, but found itself behind at halftime when Ventura County forward Jordan Rideout was sent through on a counterattack by Agustin Cazarez in the 36th minute.

With the ball on his right foot, Rideout blasted the ball past onrushing Republic goalkeeper Dominic Jakubek and into the back of the net.

Underwood responded by bringing on Lopez, who usually starts, after the break.

The former Chivas USA man whose father played one game in the Open Cup for San Nicolas in 1998, made his first contribution 13 minutes after coming on when he lofted a free kick to the back post that towering Aussie defender Harrison Delbridge was able to get a head on.

Delbridge’s header was perfectly placed into the upper corner of the net, tying the game in front of a crowd of 1,347.
“It’s always important, the first game in Open Cup history for this franchise,” said Lopez. “It’s important to get the win. We had a slow start, but we pulled away with the win. Good teams find a way to win against a good opponent. Ventura Fusion is always one of the top PDL teams.”

“It’s just a tournament that personally I want to advance in, being here with such an amazing crowd and atmosphere at our games,” Lopez said. “I think deserves an MLS team. Outside of the field they’re doing things right, so I think inside of the field, we gotta do our job and keep advancing and make a statement, not just for our league, but for MLS and all the other leagues in our country.”

“Ro-Ro is a key player for us,” Underwood said of Lopez. “We needed someone to come in and help us do the things we like to do. And he did that.”

Nineteen minutes later the comeback was complete when Collins latched onto a saved shot to tap the ball into an empty net from inside the six-yard box.

Right back Emrah Klimenta’s run forward found Chad Bartlomé at the top of the box. Bartlomé played a 1-2 with Klimenta, then turned and shot the ball low and hard to Fusion keeper Trey Mitchell’s right.

Mitchell got a hand on the ball, but he was powerless to stop Collins from cashing in the rebound.

The game was sealed 10 minutes later when Ventura County defender Javan Torre was sent off after making physical contact with the referee after he received a yellow card for a bad challenge.

Republic FC will host the Fresno Fuego from the PDL on May 28 in the Third Round.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS