2016 US Open Cup

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Indy Eleven NPSL hold on after 2-hour delay to edge Cincinnati Dutch Lions

May 14, 2016 by Randy Bonds

Indy Eleven’s NPSL side prevailed 1-0 over the Cincinnati Dutch Lions in a matchup between two first-time participants in a First Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match at Grand Park’s Championship Field in Westfield, Ind.

Indy took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute as Vincent Mitchell scored with a low shot inside the far post. McClure of IEN earned the first yellow for a heavy challenge inside the defensive third. Cincinatti could not equalize in the first half despite having six shots on goal, despite many of them being very good chances. The teams would head in to half time with Indy leading 1-0.

The second half started with dark clouds gathering on the horizon and weather reports warning on some dangerous weather heading towards Grand Park. After some early action in the half from both sides, in the 62nd minute the weather turned bad enough for the officiating crew to suspend the match. Play would not resume for an hour and 58 minutes.

As play resumed under the lights, Cincy took advantage of the restart and got a couple quick chances off right away. The first shot was blocked for a corner, and then on the ensuing corner kick, Cincinatti’s DuPont flicked his chance just wide left.

During the three minute stoppage time period, tempers began to flair a bit with Schmitt and Merhaut both receiving yellows for altercation off the ball. Cincinnati substitute forward Jake Meyer nearly leveled the match after getting in behind the Eleven backline, but unfortunately he sent his shot high. Indy was close to finding a second goal late in the match as Mitchell found himself on a breakaway, however, his shot was fired wide left.

The Eleven will travel to play FC Cincinnati of the USL in the Second Round on Wednesday, May 18.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Well-traveled first-timers La Maquina eliminate Timbers U23s, 2-0

May 14, 2016 by Kristen Gehrke

Portland Timbers U23s La Maquina — Photo: Kristen Gehrke

La Maquina, a team that qualified for Open Cup play last fall before being suspended by its league following an altercation at the end of a playoff match, bested the Portland Timbers U23s 2-0 Wednesday night at Providence Park.

Travelling with just fifteen players, the Southern California United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) side was aggressive from the get-go, dominating possession and bossing the home team.

The visitors opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Alejandro Velazquez tipped the ball past the near post. An already confident team only grew more dominant.

The game was chippy at times, perhaps showing the inexperience of the home team and the passion of the visiting side. U23s’ Ben White was shown a yellow in the 45th minute for a fairly harsh challenge on goal-scorer Velazquez. La Maquina’s Eduardo Almaraz picked up a yellow in the 70th and the Timbers Chavez earned his own yellow for a tackle on former Chivas de Guadalajara forward Edwin Barboa.

Barboa was down on the field for an extended period, but recovered and, catching the U23s keeper off his line, tapped the ball over the goal line in added time to seal the win for the UPSL side.

La Maquina will host NPSL’s Sacramento Gold May 18 at Westminster High School in Westminster, Calif.

Scoring Summary
MAQ: Velazquez, 6
MAQ: Borboa, 90+

Lineups
POR: Nelson, De Vera, Chavez, White, Coffee, Murphy (Martinez, 56), Johnson, Dee (Macchione, 72), Jones (Small, 53), Prescott, Mueller.
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 12; SAVES: 2

MAQ: Sosa, Vasquez, Orozco (Palomares, 79), Borboa, Velazquez (Godinez, 88), Godinez Jr. (Almaraz, 57), R. Perez, J. Perez, Paniagua, Ramirez, Martinez.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 12; SAVES: 4

2016 US Open Cup Round 1 : Miami Fusion FC pull away in OT to oust APSL champion Boca Raton FC

May 14, 2016 by Randy Bonds

A brace by Alan Faccini in extra time lead Miami Fusion FC (NPSL) over Boca Raton FC (APSL) by a 4-1 scoreline in a First Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match at Broward College South Campus in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

With the win, the Fusion become the second straight Miami-based amateur club to reach the Second Round (Miami United FC, 2015). Next up, they will travel north to Wilmington where they will face the USL’s Hammerheads on May 18.

The game started with each team sharing possession and chances early in the match.

In the 26th minute, Colby Burdette tackled from behind that gave Miami Fusion a free kick from a dangerous spot just outside the penalty area that was put just over the goal for the first real scoring chance of the game. Then, in the 31st minute Boca Raton thought they had opened the scoring only to have the goal called offside. The teams ended the first half tied at 0-0.

Only 7 minutes after the restart, the Fusion opened the scoring with a tap in goal from David Santamaria with an assist by Maxi Schenfeld after a Boca defender missed a clearance. Gabe Taboada, the first sub of the match evened the score in the 63rd minute of the match. Regulation time would end 1-1 sending the game into extra time.

The Fusion scored in the first period of extra time with a goal from Alan Faccini. The Fusion momentum continued on through the second period of extra time with a goal from Daniel Marugo to put the Fusion up 3-1 over Boca Raton. Faccini finished the scoring on the night to put the match out of reach for Boca Raton with a goal in the last 14 minutes of the match.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: State of Mississippi earns first tournament win as Brilla FC shuts out CD Motagua

May 14, 2016 by Datti Jinkiri

Players from Mississippi Brilla and CD Motagua of New Orleans battle for the ball in their First Round US Open Cup match. Photo: Mississippi Brilla

Mississippi Brilla FC picked up their first ever US Open Cup win by beating CD Motagua of New Orleans 2-0. Goals from Brazilian Eduardo Cruz and Chilean Ignacio Flores provided the difference for the match. It was CD Motagua’s first ever Open Cup appearance and Brilla’s third.

Not only was this the first US Open Cup win for Brilla FC, but according to TheCup.us records, this is the first tournament win for any team from the state of Mississippi in the 103-year history of the tournament.

Cruz opened up the scoring in the 28th minute. The Brilla captain picked up the ball in the middle of the park and unleashed a venomous shot from 25 yards away. The shot deflected off of a Motagua player and went past the keeper Lamoy Graham.

The home team increased their advantage right on the stroke of halftime. Forward Lucas Cordeiro played a well-weighted pass into the path of winger Ignacio Flores, whose run was well-timed. Flores’ shot struck the post and went in to give Brilla the 2-0 lead.

Motagua increased their pressure as the game went on and attempted to get back into the match. Midfielder Leonardo Barros led the team with three shots and looked dangerous on the ball. Brandon Chagnards had two shots, including a powerful free kick that Brilla keeper Brendan Ledgeway did well to handle. Graham had three saves for the New Orleans club as well.

Ledgeway picked up the win for Brilla, making five saves in 90 minutes of action. Cordeiro was an attacking threat throughout the night, leading the team with three shots.

Brilla advances to the second round of the Open Cup for the first time in their history. They will host the Oklahoma City Energy of the USL at the same venue at Traceway Park in Clinton, Miss. on May 18.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Harpo’s FC kicks off second straight tournament with win in Albuquerque

May 14, 2016 by Robert Wilson

Harpo’s FC (USSSA) rode two first half goals to an away victory at Albuquerque Sol (PDL) in the First Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Casual fans may see it as an upset, but after last year’s run to Round 3, nobody should be surprised by the veteran and in-form group from Boulder, Colo.

Harpo’s opened the game with a 3-5-2 lineup intent on allowing the hosts maintain possession amongst their defenders but cutting down every attempt out of their own half. Eventually defensive miscues and some timely passes by the Harpo’s counterattack gave the visitors the lead and they never looked back.

Harpo’s opened the scoring in the 14th minute when midfielder Chris Salvaggione pounced on Dan Campbell’s long ball that was misplayed by the Albuquerque goalkeeper Andres Seazzu and his backline. Salvaggione and the rest of the Harpo’s full team press continued to pressure the Albuquerque defense corralling the hosts back into their own half. Seventeen minutes later long free kick picked up by Kyle Luetkehans forced the Albuquerque defense into another precarious situation. Luetkehan’s cross in side to penalty area was defected, by a handball not called by the referee, but collected by forward Shane Wheeler whose first touch drove the ball into back of the net for the second goal.

Albuquerque Sol’s playmaker Patrick Pacheco and second half substitute Elliot Prost provided the hosts with a number of second half attacking combinations, few which tested Harpo’s goalkeeper Zac Gibbons. Harpo’s Chris Salvaggione, on the other hand, never took his foot off of the gas, testing Seazzu numerous times in the second half including a disallowed finish from an offside position in the 53rd minute and a long-range effort that required a diving Seazzu fingertip save.

The victory sets up a Centennial State rematch with second year USL side Colorado Springs Switchbacks. The Switchbacks ended Harpo’s three-game Open Cup run before setting off on a three game run themselves in last year’s tournament. The 2015 match turned into a fierce back and forth battle on a cold, rainy evening. This year’s matchup is guaranteed to be equally as heated with both teams confident and eager to push into the later rounds of their second U.S. Open Cups.

Man of the Match: Team effort. Chris Salvaggione’s pace along with Dan Campbell and Kyle Luetkehans’ passing created many of the highlights for Harpo’s however it was defender Joey Matibag that held a very high and very consistent three man backline throughout the match. As the field was compacted the counterattack was pushed higher and higher into the Albuquerque backline eventually forcing the pivotal mistakes.

Moment of the Match: Shane Wheeler’s goal in the 31st minute. At this point Albuquerque was already a goal down, but they were establishing possession and starting to build into dashing attacks led by winger Patrick Pacheco. The offensive foul by Wilkinson and ensuing long free kick by Joey Matibag led to a messy situation that if the missed handball on Kyle Luetkehans’ cross passed without effect perhaps the tide could have turned in the host’s favor. Instead Shane Wheeler blasted the deflected ball into the net and pushed the game out of reach.

LHUSOC highlights Harpo’s 2, ABQ Sol 0 from Patrick Shea on Vimeo.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Charlotte Eagles get first amateur win, hold off Myrtle Beach Mutiny in OT

May 14, 2016 by Zach Hall

While the rain might have held off on Wednesday night, the drama didn’t as the Charlotte Eagles won 3-2 against the Myrtle Bay Mutiny in overtime.

With the win, the Eagles advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in their first game as an amateur club. They were a professional team in the USL from 1993-2014 until dropping down to the Premier Development League prior to the 2015 season.

It was Charlotte that would have both the first and last word scoring in the 49th and 59th minutes, both put away by Jamie Siaj the junior from Pfeffer University. Both goals were assisted by Charlotte native Tresor Mbuyu.

Just a few minutes later, midfielder Santi Moar almost put the game away making it 3-0, but couldn’t find full contact with Mbuyu’s cross. The miss would come back to haunt the Eagles, as Ryan Arambula found himself with the ball at his feet after a scuffed clearance and had no problem putting it past Will Pyle and into the net.

Charlotte didn’t make it any easier for themselves on what was essentially the next play of the game, with Cam Boytes earning himself a straight red card for taking down a streaking Tobenna Uzo. The Eagles defense would hold strong for 20-plus minutes until the dying breaths of added time when Jon Ander Ibarrondo scored an absolute golazo from 25 yards out, taking a quick restart from a free kick, marching it up 30 yards by himself with no pressure and gave Pyle absolutely no chance and keeping the ball out.

The referee would call an end to the ninety-minutes just seconds after the Eagles restarted the match, all of a sudden tied up 2-2 and down a man.

When extra time began, it was obvious both teams were pushing hard for a winner. Even down a man, the Eagles played a tough, on the ground possession game. In the end however, it would be from penalty spot that Charlotte would earn their winner and even then it wasn’t with drama.

In the 109th minute, Eagles midfielder Marco Micaletto played a lovely give-and-go sequence with a teammate to get into the box where Jeremy Bonyaa took him down, heard the referee’s whistle blow and point to the spot. Micaletto took the ball himself and fired home a shot to the keeper’s right, but the ball bounced off the bottom pole of the goal frame and for a few seconds the entire stadium thought the shot had hit the post and not gone in. After a few seconds of staring at the field waiting for someone to say something, it was soon realized that the ball had in fact gone completely into the goal and the home team was ahead once more, 3-2.

After the winning goal, the Mutiny would pile and pile on pressure, throwing men forward at the depleted Eagles side, but Pyle and his defense kept any and all attacks away from the net until the final whistle blew.

“It’s really exciting to see the character of the group,” said Eagles head coach David Dixon. “They showed a lot of heart to pull back into the game. I think we gave up an easy goal and then to have a screamer right at the end, it’s really hard to bounce back from that. I think we’ve got a good group and I’m excited to keep going.”

The Eagles will move on to Round 2 where they will host the USL’s Charlotte Independence, the club that took their place when they left the league. They will square off on Wednesday, May 18 at the Charlotte Christian School at 7 p.m. ET.

Zach Hall is your friendly neighborhood soccer fan with a blog, based in Charlotte, NC. He runs CrownTownSoccer.com and hosts the Crown Town Cast – the only Charlotte soccer focused podcast in the whole wide world. Find him on Twitter, @crowntownsoccer.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Lansdowne Bhoys get first Open Cup win, 2-1 over Long Island Rough Riders

May 14, 2016 by David Harris

Lansdowne Bhoys pose for a team photo before their 2016 US Open Cup match vs. Long Island Rough Riders.

Lansdowne Bhoys missed a late penalty but converted the rebound and held off the Long Island Rough Riders 2-1 in a hard fought and hotly contested first round game of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The two teams exchanged goals in the first half, but Lansdowne opened the scoring with a goal by Jamaican forward Ovan Oakley in the 7th minute. The goal came off some nice work by winger Sikele Sylvester to create the chance for Oakley.

Lansdowne continued their strong start in the first half, with the Rough Riders creating the occasional chance. As the half continued, the Rough Riders started to generate some better scoring opportunities through some nice combinations with forwards Tyler Botte and Junior Rosero. Midfielder Anthony “Nino” Alfonso and right back Danny Kramer also generated some chances for the Rough Riders.

Meanwhile, Lansdowne continued to look for Oakley, along with Sylvester and forward Daryl Kavanagh. Both teams used long balls out of the back to apply pressure and create scoring opportunities, but Lansdowne held the 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Rough Riders started the second half well, but just couldn’t create a dangerous scoring chance in the final third. River Seybolt came on as a substitute for the Rough Riders and he immediately provided a spark, which led to a goal by Alfonso to tie the game at 1-1.

Lansdowne stormed back and attacked the Rough Riders goal looking to get the lead back. Rough Riders goalkeeper Richard Trench was there time and again to make a key save or punch the ball away. After about five minutes of sustained pressure, suddenly the Rough Riders started to gain the advantage and put Lansdowne goalkeeper Kabo Danso under pressure. The game continued as a back and forth affair with both teams having several good scoring chances until the final whistle blew and extra time beckoned.

Both teams made substitutions as Stephen Megaloudis came on for the Rough Riders and Ciaran McGuigan came on for Lansdowne. The first fifteen minutes of extra came and went with a goal as both teams kept creating chances, but couldn’t get the final touch to any of them. At this point, both teams were also feeling the effects of a long midweek game after having played on the weekend.

With time quickly running out, Lansdowne forward Daryl Kavanagh broke through the Rough Riders defense and was fouled in the box for a penalty kick. Up stepped McGuigan to take the kick and after an initial save by Trench, McGuigan put away the rebound to give Lansdowne the 2-1 lead.
A tense few minutes followed, but Lansdowne held on to claim the victory and a place in the second round of the competition. Awaiting Lansdowne is a trip to Pittsburgh to face the Riverhounds from the USL in the Second Round of the competition.

Prior to this year, only two Cosmopolitan League teams had won an opening round match in the Modern Era (Pancyprian Freedoms in 2011, Greek American SC in 2014), but with the Bhoys’ win, combined with the Freedoms win over the New York Red Bulls U23s, that number has been doubled.

For an amateur club, the prospect of facing a full time professional club from the USL is a daunting task. After the game, Lansdowne manager Austin Friel described the challenge that awaits him and his club.

“It’ll be a very tough game for us, but we look forward to the challenge,” Friel said. “Our players are used to being challenged by strong teams like the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. As I’ve said in some recent interviews, we respect these teams, but we don’t fear them. Our club and our supporters want good games against strong competition. We’re an ambitious club and we’re looking forward to going to Pittsburgh on May 18 to compete against the Riverhounds and hopefully come away with a win.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: AFC Cleveland travels far to earn first Open Cup win

May 12, 2016 by Brian O'Connell

Story used with permission from New England Soccer Today

Matt Danilack nearly scored a last-gasp equalizer for GPS Portland Phoenix, but the flag went up as AFC Cleveland survived to secure a 1-0 win in Wednesday’s US Open Cup first round tie at Deering High School in Portland, Me.

The Royals scored their lone goal in the 26th minute when Antonio Manfut converted on a cross from outside the box. The Phoenix nearly leveled it before the hour when substitute Guilherme Da Silva Leme hit the post moments after he entered the match in the 56th minute.

Danilak appeared to level the match in stoppage time on a deflected shot, sending the home crowd into jubilation. But the cheers immediately died down when the attention turned to the raised flag of the assistant referee, which nullified the would-be goal.

The Phoenix was the aggressor for much of the match, outshooting the Royals 10-2 on the evening. However, the one shot on goal that went in was all Cleveland needed to earn its first Open Cup win in franchise history.

Portland earned their first round spot by winning the PDL’s Northeast Division championship in 2015 with a 9-2-3 mark while Cleveland booked its ticket via an at-large NPSL berth after finishing 8-2-2 in NPSL play last season. Cleveland, who qualified but declined to enter due to lack of player availability in 2013, became the first amateur team from the city to qualify since the Cleveland Kickers in 1994.

Cleveland made the roughly 750-mile trip to Maine to pick up their first Open Cup win. How will they be rewarded? With a nearly 600-mile trip to Fenton, Mo. to play Saint Louis FC on May 18. Meanwhile, Portland will begin its divisional title defense on Saturday when they face AC Connecticut at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Ct.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Sacramento Gold rally to beat Burlingame Dragons in NPSL vs. PDL battle

May 12, 2016 by Evan Ream

Players from the Sacramento Gold and Burlingame Dragons battle for the ball in a 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match. Photo: Sacramento Gold

SACRAMENTO – Feats of awe-inspiring skill may be rarer in lower division soccer, but they still exist on a regular basis – Sacramento Gold forward Manolo Pina is living proof of this.

Tied with visiting Burlingame Dragons FC in the second half, Pina produced two immaculate bits of skill to propel the Gold to a 3-1 comeback victory, the first Open Cup victory in Sacramento’s six-year history.

“It’s exciting,” said head coach Ruben Mora Jr. “We knew we had the players here five years ago. We just had to find our momentum and combination of guys and get the right match-up. Today it happened to be that way, so we’re excited.

“I don’t think many gave us an opportunity to win today, but we did.

In the 58th minute, just three minutes after Gold forward Jose “Cuco” Martinez leveled the game with a header, Pina received a pass near the top of the box with his back to the goal.

The diminutive attacker quickly turned, leaving his opposite number scrambling on the turf, and blasted an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net for the winning goal of the match.

Pina then helped ice the game in stoppage time, taking the ball down the line as he appeared to head for the corner to stall. Instead though, the creative forward drew two defenders and then crossed the ball to a wide open Chimdum Mez, who tapped the ball in to seal the victory.

“I know if we took them down the line, we would get them,” Pina said. “Fortunately I got by them, did a cross, and Chimdum beautifully just tapped it in. It was a good goal. We worked for it, got it, off to the next round.”

“He’s been scoring goals and tallying up assists from day one when he arrived in 2010,” Mora Jr. said. “He’s put on a few more pounds and a few more years, but he’s still putting up the goals and assists. He’s a special player for sure.”

The Dragons originally took the lead in first half stoppage time when forward Jamael Cox curled in a 20-yard free kick goal that beat Gold goalkeeper John Connolly.

But it was because of Connolly that it was only 1-0 at that point in the game as Burlingame came out of the gate flying and probably could have scored three or four in the first half if it weren’t for Connolly.

The young netminder, serving as captain on the night, produced five saves in the first half and seven overall to keep the Dragons at bay.

“He was instrumental, he kept us alive,” Mora Jr. said of Connolly. “Without him, we wouldn’t have had a chance to be in the position that we were, where we just needed to come to life. And we did. We had the right players respond. It was a team effort, but it all started with John Connolly keeping us in the game.”

Leading up to the game, much of the talk around the tournament had been how the Premier Development League was allegedly a stronger league than the National Premier Soccer League.

While both are de facto fourth division sides due to the fact that the United States Soccer Federation only sanctions the top three divisions in the country, the Gold had something to say about the perceived inferiority.

“I think we’re building a name for ourselves and credibility for league as well,” Mora Jr. said. “I don’t think the staff for the Burlingame team really gave our league much credit and took us a little lighter than they should have.”

Sacramento now moves on to travel to Southern California next Wednesday for a match-up against USASA side La Maquina, who defeated the Portland Timbers U-23’s 2-0.

“I believe we can win the next round and make it to the third round, I think. It would be great for us,” Mora Jr. said. “We definitely believe in ourselves and we can make it at least to the third round.”

“We can get pretty far if we step up our game,” Pina said. “The first half was awful. (We) stepped it up in the second half.

“We play like that every game, we can get as far as we want.”

Evan Ream covers Sacramento Republic FC and soccer in Northern California for the Davis Enterprise. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanReam.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Des Moines Menace rally to beat FC Wichita, earn rare home game vs. pro team

May 12, 2016 by Ian Knighton

The Des Moines Menace is through to the next round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Menace used a late, breakaway goal from Leigh Veidman to secure the 1-0 victory over FC Wichita (NPSL) and move on to host the Tulsa Roughnecks Wednesday at Valley Stadium.

“It’s exciting for the club,” said Veidman. “We’re excited to get to play a pro team at home.”

Wichita opened the scoring in the 46th minute, after a miscue in the penalty area gave the hosts a free tap-in. Carlos Contreras was left wide open on the back post to knock home a cross from the right side of the goal area.

Mark Heath Preston knotted the game up in the 57th minute on a breakaway attempt from a quick throw-in. Working down the left flank, Heath Preston cut in and was one-on-one with Steven Hamersky. The forward powered his shot to the near post and put the Menace on level terms once again.

Veidman capped off Des Moines’ comeback to give the Menace the opportunity to host a US Open Cup game for the seventh straight season. .

The England native worked behind the Wichita defense in the 85th minute and slotted home the breakaway goal, just one minute after the Menace had multiple opportunities to find a winner.

Hamersky kept out two shots and watched as a Heath Preston-header clipped the crossbar.

“I think it shows a lot of character, going down a goal and coming back for the win,” Veidman said. “We were creating chances, and it was a just a case of being patient and composed when the opportunity came. This gives us a sense of momentum going into next week, and I’m just happy for the team.”

Des Moines now has the Tulsa Roughnecks on deck at home. This season, Tulsa sits 13th out of 15 teams in the USL Western Conference.

This will be the first time in 11 years the Menace has hosted a professional team in the Open Cup. The last time they did was in 2005 when they upset the USL’s Charleston Battery 3-2 at Waukee Stadium. Next week will mark the first time the club will host a pro team at Valley Stadium.