2016 Third Round

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: City Islanders comeback denies Chattanooga FC chance to make NPSL history

June 2, 2016 by Ian Foster

Chattanooga FC hosted the Harrisburg City Islanders with a chance at becoming the first NPSL team to earn a game against an MLS team. However, the City Islanders, who are known for being giant-killers in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, played spoiler as they rallied to beat Chattanooga FC 2-1 to deny the amateur side a chance to add a third pro team upset to its resume.

With the win, the City Islanders earn a date with the Philadelphia Union, Harrisburg’s MLS affiliate, in Round 4. Since the two clubs are just affiliated, and don’t share an owner, they are allowed to compete in the tournament against each other. This will be the third meeting between the Eastern Pennsylvania clubs.

Chattanooga and Harrisburg played a mostly even first 40 minutes, with Chattanooga controlling much of the possession but the teams garnering equal chances. Chattanooga’s Juan Hernandez proved dangerous from the get-go, springing Michael Brooks on a through ball through the Islanders defense in the 15th minute. Two minutes later, Hernandez shot it himself, clipping the crossbar.

Chattanooga’s goalkeeper Tom Halsall, who had kept Reading off the board in the last round while delivering two critical penalty saves, made what may have been the save of the tournament in the 40th minute off a header from a free kick.

The sides were gearing to go into the half level until Harrisburg’s Shane Johnson gave up a somewhat cheap corner in the 44th minute. The ensuing kick set up perfectly for Hernandez, who scissor-kicked it off a defender, off the head of Soren Yohaschek, and into the goal. It seemed likely that Yohaschek had hit it from an offside position, but the sequence was too chaotic for any assistant referee, so the goal was awarded, and the home fans cheered what they hoped to be a third straight defeat of a USL side in the US Open Cup.

All was going well for Chattanooga until Harrisburg’s 65th minute introduction of the speedy Craig Foster. He immediately showed danger, making a cutting run into the box in the 66th minute, freeing himself for a shot that required a desperation sliding block by a Chattanooga defender.

Harrisburg continued putting the Chattanooga goal under siege. A penalty shout was (rightfully) denied as a header off a corner kick flew into the hand of Hernandez in the 68th minute. The equalizer was coming though.

And it did, in the 72nd minute as Foster slipped behind the Chattanooga defender at the near post and jabbed home the point-blank volley. The goal saved the USL side from possible elimination, but no one celebrated, instead picking the ball out of the net and running back to their half to restart the game. They were looking for the kill shot, understandable for a team in the midst of a grueling USL season.

Eight minutes later, Samuel Goni broke the Harrisburg back line, only to be called offside. The call, while quite unpopular among the partisans, seemed just correct upon replay. Harrisburg sprung on the counter and a moment later, Paul Wilson, another second-half substitute, struck home the kill shot after Foster drew the defense to his side of the box before laying it off to Wilson for the easy finish.

Not used to the US Open Cup rules of three substitutes per game (the NPSL allows seven) and in the midst of a match-heavy stretch, Chattanooga seemed gassed as the minutes ticked down on their Open Cup run. However, Hernandez and Luis Trude engineered one last effort, as Trude spun around a defender and fired a shot that deflected out for a 93rd-minute corner kick. However, the corner was headed away and the ref blew his whistle.

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Early goal advances Tampa Bay Rowdies past FC Cincinnati

June 1, 2016 by Zach Smith

Georgi Hristov scored in the 11th minute and the Tampa Bay Rowdies held off surging FC Cincinnati 1-0 Wednesday night in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

Cincinnati of the USL outshot the NASL Rowdies 14-7 but only had a pair of shots on target and had an 8-3 advantage in corners in the second Open Cup game of their first season as a franchise. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, will travel to Ohio to face off with MLS side Columbus Crew SC in the Fourth Round on June 15.

“We did great with our effort and intensity,” Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell said. “It’s tough playing a team from that league because they’ve got nothing to lose. The longer the game went, the more got numbers forward.”

Kenney Walker had the best chance of the first half for FC Cincinnati less than ten minutes in with a shot from the top of the box that was pushed aside by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
Hristov let a long, high ball from Neill Collins up the right side take a big bounce in the box in the 11th minute and took three touches to get around the two defenders before slotting it past Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt.

“Right before the game, me and Neill were talking about it,” Hristov said. “I was ready for that run, I knew he was going to play the ball there and it worked out. The whole team played well and we deserved to win.”

Each team had five shots apiece in the first half, but Cincinnati had just one shot on goal compared to three for Tampa Bay.

“It’s always crucial to get the first goal and set the tempo of play,” Campbell said. “They’re a threat going forward and we knew they had goals in them so I never moan anyone for shooting.”

Cincinnati came out in the second half pushing hard for a goal. An early chance was easily corralled before a weak shot from the top of the box by Ross Tomaselli was deflected and forced Pickens into a diving save to his right.

Both teams could have had a man sent off with under 30 minutes to play. Pickens came out of his net in the 66th minute and went one-on-one before clearing the ball with no foul given. The Rowdies came right back when Hristov was taken down from behind at midfield four minutes later. Tomaselli was given a yellow.

Cincinnati had its best chance of the second half with less than five minutes to play. Sean Okoli tapped a header back to Andrew Wiedeman just above the penalty spot, but he sent it way over the bar. Antoine Hoppenot had another chance to level the game a minute later but he too sent it wide of the post.

Advancing to the Fourth Round is already one step further than Tampa Bay has gotten in recent years. The Rowdies lost in Round 3 the last two years and they last won an Open Cup game against VSI Tampa Bay FC in the Second Round in 2013.

“This is my fifth season here and we don’t have a good record,” Campbell said. “I’m delighted to get a win and progress to the next round against a good MLS team. It’s about time we had a run in this competition.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Energy FC win first Oklahoma City derby over Rayo OKC

June 1, 2016 by Jay F. Marks

Substitute Kyle Hyland powered home a header in extra time to propel Oklahoma City Energy FC past crosstown rival Rayo OKC, 2-1, in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Hyland, who may have been the smallest man on the pitch at the time, said fullback Kyle Harris did a good job getting up the line and whipping a ball into the box, just over leaping striker Wojciech Wojcik.

“I was able to get my head on it and it went in,” said Hyland, who entered the match in the 62nd minute.

The goal proved to be the match-winner in the first ever matchup between Energy FC, a third-year USL franchise, and Rayo OKC, which is eight games into its first season in the NASL. It was also Rayo’s first-ever U.S. Open Cup game.

The match drew 4,385 fans to Rayo’s home, Miller Stadium in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon.

Energy players were jubilant after the game, which ended with Rayo fielding only nine players after two late red cards.

Energy coach Jimmy Nielson said his team was “extremely weak” for much of the first half, but found its footing after going behind on a 43rd minute goal by Rayo’s Billy Forbes.

The Rayo winger pounced on a rebound, smashing the ball past Energy goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, after a nice interplay on the right wing by Georgios Samaras and Kosuke Kimura.

Samaras played a ball into the middle of the box to fullback Richard Menjivar. Menjivar’s shot was saved by Laurendi, but Forbes was there to capitalize on the loose ball.

Nielson said going down 1-0 seemed to galvanize his team.

“I think we were a little bit too impressed” with the NASL side, the coach said.

The Energy responded quickly with a goal just before halftime. Fullback Kalen Ryden carried by ball along the end line and placed a perfect ball into the box for Sebastian Dalgaard to bury in the back of the net.

In the second half, the Energy seemed to be the better side, but neither team was able to add to its goal tally.

The stalemate continued in the first period of extra time, as Rayo goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes kept the game tied with a diving 99th minute save to prevent an Energy header from nestling in his net.

Hyland scored early in the second overtime period, then Rayo saw a ball glance off the inside of the post off a set piece two minutes later.

It was the home team’s last threat however, as the Energy was able to fend off Rayo’s long-ball attacks.

The USL side was able to hold possession to bolster its defense in the game’s dying minutes, forcing Rayo to attempt some questionable tackles to win the ball back.

Midfielder Derek Boateng earned two quick yellows in the 115th minute for a late tackle and some harsh words for referee Daniel Radford.

Rayo captain Michel was sent off a few minutes later, drawing his second yellow card for a tackle inside the Energy’s goal box. The foul sparked a brief scuffle that resulted in a yellow card for Energy keeper Laurendi.

After the final whistle, Energy players celebrated in front of a large knot of traveling fans, while Rayo players trudged back into their locker room.

Rayo coach Alen Marcina said his team dominated the match, but was not able to capitalize on its scoring chances.

“In my humble opinion, the better team lost,” Marcina said. “We put ourselves in this position by not burying chances.

“You’ve got to them them in the back of the net. You’ve got to be clinical.”

The stats kept by the NASL show both teams managed 19 shots, but Rayo had six shots on target to Energy FC’s five. Possession was relatively even, with Rayo managing a 53-47 advantage.

With the win, Energy FC advances to plays FC Dallas, its MLS affiliate, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. FC Dallas will host the match June 15 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.