2017 US Open Cup

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Nacho’s heroics leads Miami United past Boca Raton in Florida battle

May 15, 2017 by Neil Blackmon

Longtime NPSL star Nacho scored in the 88th minute, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and helping host Miami United defeat Boca Raton FC 2-1 in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round action last night at Milander Stadium. Miami United will host the North American Soccer League’s Jacksonville Armada next Tuesday evening in the Round 3.

Throughout most of the second half, it appeared that the visitors from Boca Raton would score the winner, as they created multiple chances through forward Gio DiMauro and marauding fullbacks Nickardo Blake and Jason Fitzgerald as the hosts played deep and tried to withstand the pressure. But in the 88th minute, Miami United forced a turnover and launched a brilliant counterattack down the left, with a cross splitting two defenders and finding Nacho, who calmly dispatched the ball into the left corner of the net.

“It was a close contest, a great game,” Nacho said after the game, with a large group of Miami United fans just yards away chanting his name in sing-song fashion. “We were able to win the ball and win a one on one wide, and I hit the shot well. It’s a great feeling to help win this game for my teammates and the fans.”

Early in the game, it appeared Miami United would control proceedings. Mattias Menza scored on a rocket of a volley in the 7th minute to put the hosts ahead, and Boca Raton struggled to deal with Miami’s pressure in the midfield zones. The visitors slowly settled themselves, however, largely due to the effective runs of fullback Nickardo Blake, and nearly leveled the game at just past the half hour, when a long Blake run found forward Gio DiMauro who forced Miami United goalkeeper Carlos Alfaro to make a strong save.

The visitors kept coming, however, and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 57th minute. Boca’s Shadi Harb was fouled on the right of the area, and the ensuing free kick found a charging Stefano Bontempo, who buried a close-range chance for the tie.

Eleven minutes later, Boca Raton appeared to win a penalty on a handball after a lengthy sequence of possession led to a shot from distance, which was deflected twice off Miami United hands. There was no call, however, setting the stage for Nacho’s late game heroics.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Michigan Bucks earn hard-fought 1-0 win over AFC Ann Arbor

May 14, 2017 by Fletcher Sharpe

The Michigan Bucks, a pillar of consistency in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, triumphed over the upstart AFC Ann Arbor 1-0 in a very tightly contested match, that had all the fans fully invested.

“That was a tough game,” said Bucks head coach Gary Parsons. “AFC, they’re a top club in the NPSL, so we had to come to play tonight.”

With the win, the Bucks win its 14th tournament win, which adds to the club’s Modern Era (1995-present) record for an amateur team. They will move on to host the NASL’s Indy Eleven in Round 2.

Play started in the fourth minute with AFC’s Tendai Jirira making a dangerous throw down the left line to Alec Lasinski, but Bucks center back Mo Kaba screened Lasinski off the ball.

The game turned in the 13th minute, when the Mighty Oak failed to clear a ball from the back, and it fell to the midfield. It was poked forward to Andre Landell, who rounded the keeper, and slipped the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 for the Bucks.

NPSL Midwestern Golden Boot winner Dario Suarez was fouled from outside the box in the 21st minute, and his ensuing free kick swerved just over the left crossbar.

From that point forward for the rest of the half, it was the Bucks setting up shop in Ann Arbor’s half, and preventing them from playing their high flying style people were accustomed to seeing.

“We started out with a more defensive approach,” said AFC Ann Arbor head coach Eric Rudland. “The second half we ended up inserting Yuri (Farkas) into the match to try and liven things up.”

Farkas’ substitution into the match did change things for Ann Arbor, as they became a lot more aggressive, getting the ball down the side, and working it through the seems.

The Bucks got lucky with a very hard foul on Suarez committed by Daniel de Oliviera in the 63rd minute. The Brazilian midfielder attempted to challenge the ball, and as the former Cuban international pulled away from him, de Oliviera threw his body into Suarez. The referee deliberated for a minute, but decided that a yellow was punishment enough.

Six minutes later, the Mighty Oak almost grabbed a goal back. As mentioned, Farkas’ inclusion to this match allowed for other players to press more. On one particular play, Suarez made a direct run down the left seam, and received the ball. He cut into the box, with a one on one situation with Bucks goalie Drew Shepherd but his finesse chip shot sailed just over the bar.

The Bucks tried to add another goal via Francis Atuahene. The Ghanaian forward unleashed a barrage from about 30 yards out. It beat the keeper but came off the crossbar.

Shouts for a penalty rang out in the 90th, as Nick Walker aggressively shouldered down Lasinski in the Bucks penalty area, but the head official waived play to continue.

With the win, the Bucks move to 14-11 (0-2 PKs) in US Open Cup play. Michigan’s next Open Cup game is at home against Indy Eleven. But Coach Parsons isn’t thinking about that.

“We have a game between now and next Wednesday against a very good team (K-W United), so we’re focused on that first. But Indy is a very good team, so we’re going to have to change how we played today. Maybe a little more conservative.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Wichita holds off shorthanded Azteca FC in the rain

May 14, 2017 by Robert Wilson

FC Wichita defeated Azteca FC 1-0 in extra time of a long, rainy first round US Open Cup match in central Kansas. The lone goal came in the 104th minute when Travis Pittman redirected Deri Corfe’s deflected shot into the visitor’s net.

Azteca FC’s first venture into the US Open Cup could not have been more trying. The night before the game Azteca’s already lengthy seven-hour trek from Denver to Wichita was derailed when their bus broke down in western Kansas and the game itself will be remembered for the lengthy rain delay, two red card ejections and the endless effort the Colorado team put in without getting the result.

12 minutes in to the first half Azteca FC defender Christian Moran was given a red card ejection for a studs-up tackle on Wichita’s Deri Corfe. Despite going down to 10 men, Azteca maintained their organization and occasionally tested Wichita goalkeeper Mark Weir.

Throughout the second half the home team dominated position but both teams had equal amounts of shots on net, including the 75th minute shot by Azteca FC that rang off the cross bar. Just as the game was heating up heavy rain and lightning took over forcing the game to be paused at the 81st minute.

After a 45-minute delay, the game resumed and the final nine minutes were goalless ending the 90 minutes at 0-0.

The visitors tested Weir on multiple occasions in the first extra time period and looked like they may have what it would take to pull off the against-all-odds victory. But it was the hosts that claimed the go-head goal in the dying second of the first extra time period. Forward Travis Pittman pounced on Deri Corfe’s deflected shot and tucked his shot under the Azteca goalkeeper.

In second period of extra time Wichita looked like they were about to double their lead as Wichita attacker Matt Clare opened up the defense again. Azteca FC midfielder Jorge Velasquez flew in with a crunching tackle resulting in his second yellow card leaving the visitors short two players.

Once again the understaffed Azteca FC dug deep to find a boost of energy after the second ejection. Azteca FC tired and depilated tested Wichita up until the very end of the match however it was the home team that came out the victor.

The victory was FC Wichita’s first-ever Open Cup victory, after falling to the Des Moines Menace in their tournament debut last year. On Wednesday, May 17, they will take on their first professional opponent as they will hit the road to take on Saint Louis FC of the USL.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Late flurry of goals lead AFC Cleveland to road win over Des Moines Menace

May 14, 2017 by Matthew De Witt

Story used with permission from FiftyFive.One

The Open Cup is over for the Des Moines Menace before they could even get running. AFC Cleveland left Valley Stadium in Des Moines with a 3-1 win over the Menace in the 104th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Wednesday night.

The game played out as a stalemate until Cleveland broke through in the 76th minute. The Royals won a penalty that Benjamin Tux dispatched to put them up over Des Moines. But the Menace quickly responded when Hayden Partain drew them back on level terms in the 82nd with a hard strike just under the crossbar from 12 yards out. After Partain’s goal, Cleveland looked to be the better side as they pressed for chances.

The visiting legs held up long enough to produce goals in the 90th and 90th+ minutes, with Chris Cvecko putting the Royals ahead. His shot from the right side of the penalty area, about three yards off the endline, left Menace goalkeeper Kyle Ihn watching as it caromed of the far post and back across the goal line.

Reymar Klochko-Khoo added the late goal in stoppage to seal the win for AFC Cleveland.

It seemed, coming in, the Menace had a bit of an advantage. Cleveland, making its second Open Cup appearance, drew the short end of the straw again on travel. Last year, the Royals had to go to Portland, Maine, and Saint Louis for its two Cup matches — a total of 2,594 miles. This year, the trip to Des Moines nearly eclipsed the half-way mark of that, having to go 660 miles one way.

And yet, the reigning NPSL champions proved jet lag might not be as big of an issue as first thought.

For much of the game, the Menace controlled the offensive outpouring, especially in the first half. Des Moines had three shots on frame by the time Cleveland mustered its first at Ihn. Partain was part of the offensive show, nearly giving the hosts the lead in the 45th minute. His hot from the left side of the penalty area hit the outside of the post in what would to proved to be the Menace’s best chance of the first half.

Other chances from the hosts included Devyn Jambga getting in behind the defense twice — once on either side of the half — only for AFC Cleveland goalkeeper Alex Ivanov to get a hand to the ball or disrupt Jambga’s dribble enough to win the one-on-one battle each time.

This is the first time since 2011 that the Menace fail to appear in the tournament’s second round. Des Moines had a knack getting into some of the later stages for amateur teams, earning berths in the third round in three of the previous four years (2013, 2014, 2016). This is also the first loss for the Menace against an NPSL team in the tournament, coming in with a 3-0 record against the fellow fourth-tier side.

For their efforts, Cleveland will once again be on the road for the next round. This time, it will have a bit more of a rivalry match. The Royals will head four hours south next week to take on one of the top attendance-drawing teams in the USL in FC Cincinnati.

The Menace, meanwhile, will take the next week and a half to get the legs back and prepare for the PDL season opener against WSA Winnipeg on May 20 at Valley Stadium. Des Moines has dropped just two points to Winnipeg since WSA joined the PDL in 2011, and head coach John Pascarella, who made his debut Wednesday night, and the Menace will look to keep that streak alive.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Carolina Dynamo return to Round 2 for second time in a decade

May 14, 2017 by Ian Foster

The stage is set for an all-North Carolina battle as Carolina Dynamo of the PDL dispatched Legacy 76 (NPSL) 2-1 to advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Mamadee Nyepon, a player who grew up in the Greensboro United youth system, scored the winning goal for the Dynamo in the 57th minute.

The Dynamo went up early in the 13th minute, as Shane Mecham turned on a ball at the corner of the box and smashed it into the bottom corner, leaving Legacy goalkeeper David Phillips helpless.

The goal opened up the game as Legacy started to put together possession and even a few chances. As the clock wound into the 20th minute, Legacy put in two dangerous crosses. James Grace, Legacy’s dangerous attacking midfielder, made it to the endline but couldn’t find anyone with a cross before a corner narrowly missed the head of Henry Gotay.

The game continued at a comfortable pace for Dynamo, as midfielder Daniel Elliott sent a shot just over the bar in the 28th minute. The pace was not so comfortable for Legacy, as they made an early sub in the 30th minute, bringing on Justin Burrell for Gotay.

Early subbing wasn’t a bad strategy against a Dynamo team operating with just a 4-man bench. But it didn’t have much pay off in the first half, as Dynamo continued to generate the majority of the danger. Nyepon first showed his aggressive touch as he jumped on a poor back pass from Ryan Flesch in the 36th minute, only for Phillips to deny the near-post effort.

Things started to come together for Legacy at the end of the first half, as Grace was brought down on the edge of the box. The equalizer nearly came then, but James Lee’s free kick skipped just wide.

The equalizer did come six minutes after the restart, as halftime substitute Max Poelker roofed a wonderful endline pass from Marcel Berry. It was the culmination of a rough night from Dynamo left back Samuel Orisatoki, who played multiple awkward back passes to goalkeeper Ryan Cretens that required attention.

Despite the turn in the run of play, Nyepon got his winner in the 56th minute. He collected and fired a ball from the top of the box past Phillips into the bottom corner. But perhaps the more impressive play was the assist, as Ebe Kudolo evaded a Legacy defender with a spin.

The game then became very disjointed for the next 30 minutes, which was no accident. “I think as we re-took the lead, the guys slowed it down,” said Dynamo Head Coach Tony Falvino. “We didn’t want to be chasing the game, especially short numbers with many of our guys still coming out of exams. We had to be smart about how to play defensively.”

Between cramps and stoppages, Legacy never really got back into the flow of game. They did still manage to create two more chances though: One in the 87th minute where Poelker’s wide-angle shot was easily saved by Cretens, and a final 94th minute diving desperate header by Phillips, the goalkeeper. Alas, the ref blew his whistle as the header went wide, preserving another Open Cup win for the Dynamo.

“The first half was big for us as we had to shake off the rust,” said Carolina Head Coach Tony Falvino of his team that was playing its first competitive game of the season. “I thought we were lively in the first half, the second half was a little bit different.”

The Dynamo will host an NASL team for the first time in their history in the Open Cup next Wednesday.

“For our guys,” said Dynamo General manager Scott Zapko, “it’s a chance to play against the pros, and that’s where they want to be ultimately.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Motown’s extra time free kick is enough to edge NJ Copa FC

May 14, 2017 by Romulo Vieira

FC Motown (green) defeated New Jersey Copa FC 2-1 in extra time in the First Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Bob Larson

FC Motown made a good impression in the club’s first-ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game. The amateur team from Morristown, NJ defeated New Jersey Copa FC 2-1 in extra time away from home. Looking at the scoreboard you might think that the encounter was heavily contested, however, FC Motown dominated the entire game from start to finish en route to the Second Round.

From the start of the game, FC Motown found their rhythm and began attacking NJ Copa from the flanks with dangerous crosses. Even though FC Motown had more possession and looked more likely to score, NJ Copa was able to get on the scoreboard first. Ryan Campbell was able to put the ball past the goalkeeper after receiving a beautiful pass from Kevin Veliz in the 25th minute.

Despite going down a goal, FC Motown was not discouraged and continued to press forward. Their hard work paid off in the 39th minute when Dritan Sela headed the ball past the keeper after he saved a shot from Rodrigo Santiago.

After the half, FC Motown continued to dominate possession and created numerous opportunities, but they weren’t able to convert any. NJ Copa was relying heavily on counterattacks to try to seal their ticket for the next round. At the end of the 90 minutes neither team was able to take the lead and the game went into extra time.

In the first half of extra time, more of the same took place on the field. FC Motown were pressing harder to take the lead, as NJ Copa waited for the perfect counterattack to take the victory. The first 15 minutes went by without anyone scoring. Then in the second half of extra time as some were already beginning to think about a penalty shootout. FC Motown’s Samuel Gehman scored a beautiful free kick goal in the 108th minute. After going down 2-1 NJ Copa pressed forward to try to tie the game, but in the end they were unable to take the game to a penalty shootout.

Samuel Gehman of FC Motown celebrates his goal off a free kick in the 108th minute that proved to be the game-winner against NJ Copa FC in Round 1 of the 2017 US Open Cup. — ____ of FC Motown celebrates his goal off a free kick in the ___ minute that proved to be the game-winner against NJ Copa FC in Round 1 of the 2017 US Open Cup.

On May 17, FC Motown will face USL side Rochester Rhinos in the second round of the US Open Cup. After the game FC Motown head coach Sacir Hot said that while dominating such an important game is an amazing feeling it is also “scary because we have tendencies of dominating a lot of games and just getting one counter attack and conceding a goal.”

With an Amateur Cup game on the 13th and the US Open Cup returning on the 17th, Coach Hot says he’ll make good use of his roster rotation to make sure the team is ready for the second round.

The game-winning goalscorer Samuel Gehman says that his goal when he came on the field was to “to push the game as much as possible to get our team back into it, its nice that I scored, but the most important thing is that we won.”

Gehman hopes the same when FC Motown will play the role of underdog when they take on the Rochester Rhinos, a team with a rich history in the tournament, next week.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Newcomers Dutch Lions FC knock off Open Cup regulars NTX Rayados to earn first win

May 14, 2017 by Dan Sousa

The Dutch Lions FC scored two goals in a 64-second span early in the second half and cruised to a 3-1 win Wednesday over the North Texas Rayados in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup first round matchup.

Jose Pablo Covarrubias had a goal and an assist for the Houston-area squad and Jesus Cortes added two assists for the Dutch Lions playing in their first ever US Open Cup contest.

The Dutch Lions, which play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), earned a second round matchup May 17 against USL side San Antonio FC, which had a first round bye. The match is tentatively scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Dutch Lions FC Soccer Facility.

“We are putting our name on the map,” said Dutch Lions forward Covarrubias.

One of just three returning starters Wednesday from last year’s Dutch Lions squad that went 11-2-2 in NPSL play, Covarrubias got the Dutch Lions going in the 54th minute when his low cross from the left flank was flicked home by Lawal Olayimika.

Just seconds after the restart, Cortes forced a turnover in the midfield and found Covarrubias all alone behind the Rayados defense. Covarrubias calmly slotted the ball into the net for the 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.

“The defender was having trouble controlling the ball,” said Cortes, the oldest player on the Dutch Lions roster, turning 28 this year. “I saw him struggling a little bit and took advantage of the opportunity.”

Rayados, making their fifth US Open Cup appearance in six years after missing out last season due to a technical disqualification prior to the first round, sliced the lead in half just a minute later on an own goal by the Dutch Lions defender Remy Broekmans, whose attempt to clear a screaming cross was buried into the net.

Despite that hiccup, it was all Dutch Lions in the second half as Rayados could not mount a sustained attack. Even with the one-goal lead, the Dutch Lions continued pushing forward.
“We took some risks by pushing people forward but in these cup games that is what you have to do,” said Covarrubias.

All the pressure finally paid off in a third goal in the 90th minute as Dutch Lions midfield workhorse Jerry Scholman gathered in a Cortes pass inside the 18 and beat the Rayados keeper with a crisp shot.

Dutch Lions FC manager Marco Pruis was happy with his team’s performance in their first game of the 2017 season, especially since many of the players had not played together before today. It was evident in the first half that the team is a work in progress.

“Today we had three returning starters in the line-up so we can do only better,” said Pruis. “In the first half I rated them a 6 out of 10 but the second half grew towards an 8.”

Both Covarrubias and Cortes said the uneven first half was a result of being so early in the season and the fact that many players had never been on the field together before.

“Some of the guys had never played together before but we got the chemistry going,” said Covarrubias, a Mexico native who went to high school just down the road in The Woodlands and plays at St. Edward’s University in Austin where he led the Hilltopers in goal last season with nine.

“He’s a local kid with an amazing skill level,” said Pruis of the 21-year-old Covarrubias.
There wasn’t much action in the first half but both keepers were called upon for big saves to keep things scoreless.

In the 19th minute, Christopher Escalera nearly put Rayados ahead when he muscled a defender off the ball and fired a shot at Dutch Lions keeper Marc Skytte Olson who made a sprawling save with his legs.

In the 40th minute, the Dutch Lions started putting the pressure on with Felix Verhaar forcing Rayados keeper Eduardo Sanchez to make two fine saves on one series in the box before the ball was cleared away.

Sanchez also shut down another great Dutch Lions scoring chance in the 72nd minute when he save a Scholman shot.

Rayados didn’t have a lot of possession in the second half but the Dallas area club had a chance to tie it up in the 85th minute when Victor Pinal’s free kick from about 28 yards out was slotted onto the foot of Gerardo Salas but he was unable to get off a shot thanks to a quick recovery by the Dutch Lions defense.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Ocean City Nor’easters beat Junior Lone Star 3-1 to reach double digit cup wins

May 14, 2017 by Zach Rayment

The Ocean City Nor'easters pose for a team photo at "The Beach House", their home field in Ocean City, NJ before their 2017 US Open Cup match against Junior Lone Star. Photo: Ocean City Nor'easters — The Ocean City Nor’easters pose for a team photo at “The Beach House”, their home field in Ocean City, NJ before their 2017 US Open Cup match against Junior Lone Star. Photo: Ocean City Nor’easters

The Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) prevailed 3-1 in the First Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against Philadelphia’s Junior Lone Star (USASA). With the win, the Nor’easters will move on to host the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) in Round 2 on May 17.

The victory gives the Nor’easters 10 Open Cup wins as a franchise, nine of those coming as a member of the PDL. Nine wins ranks third among all amateur teams in the country in the Modern Era (Michigan Bucks 14, Des Moines Menace 12).

Ocean City started the game firing going ahead in the 4th minute through Fredlin Mompremier. Ignacio Tellechea collected the assist after sending the ball from the corner to the far post. Mompremier hit a first time effort under the keeper in the bottom corner.

It did not take long for the hosts to double their lead. In the 11th minute, English midfielder Tyler Collishaw tapped home an easy effort after a cross from Ismael Noumansana to give Ocean City the 2-0 lead.

The hosts were dominant in the first half and even looked liked they could have grabbed a third goal a few times, but Junior Lone Star goalkeeper, Prince Monyan played a huge role in keeping his team in the game headed into the break.

Junior Lone Star assistant coach, Charlie Flowe, said that they were a “second half team.” He praised their fitness and said that it kept them in the game.

That proved to be true as JLS started the second half with three players at the back as they brought on Joshua Chelleh to give the struggling Anthony Allison some help up top. This would change the match, giving the JLS a spark starting in the 48th minute. Allison hit a curling shot that nearly found the side netting, but later he was denied by the right post.

Junior Lone Star continued to create chances and it finally paid off in the 62nd minute as Koussai N’Guessan slotted home Yaya Fane’s cross to score the first Open Cup goal in club history.

They continued to fight for the equalizer but it was a second half sub that paid off for Ocean City’s first-year head coach John Thompson. After inserting Akeil Barrett, who helped the Swope Park Rangers win the USL title last year, he set up the clinching goal. Barrett made a run through the JLS defense and set up Collishaw for his second goal of the game in the 82nd minute. With the goal, Collishaw becomes the second Ocean City player in history to score multiple goals in a US Open Cup game.

Late in the second half, Junior Lone Star midfielder Zoncher Dennis, a former Ocean City player, was sent off for a second bookable offense which hurt their chances of a late comeback.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Charlotte Eagles blank Chattanooga FC to earn derby rematch in Round 2

May 13, 2017 by Johnny Wakefield

The US Open Cup kicked off in Charlotte on Wednesday night with a battle between perennial PDL and NPSL playoff contenders, the Charlotte Eagles and Chattanooga FC. Charlotte defeated Chattanooga, 2-0 in front of its home fans. With the win, Charlotte hosts cross-town rivals and USL side, the Charlotte Independence, in the second round of the 2017 US Open Cup on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m.

The “CLT Derby” is a rematch of last year, when the Independence defeated the Eagles, 2-0, on goals from Chris Hellman and former Eagles legend Jorge Herrera.

Neither side had played a competitive match in 2017 before Wednesday night’s contest, but there wasn’t much rust as both teams got off to fast, attacking starts.

Chattanooga had the better of the first 10 minutes, as Danny Whitehall and Kieran Bywater combined for several chances early on, but Charlotte goalkeeper James Pyle kept the game scoreless.

Then in the 12th minute, the Eagles had their first real chance, as Andrew Revanales began to impose himself on the game.

Faster than anyone else on the field, Revanales took advantage of a Chattanooga mistake and had a break on net, but Chattanooga keeper Paulo Pita stopped him in a one-on-one situation.

Pita denied the speedy Eagles forward twice more in the next few minutes, while also having to defend against his own team. His best save of the match came on an accidental backwards header from his own center back in the 17th minute.

The game could have easily been 3-0 Eagles after 20 minutes, but Chattanooga wasn’t done either.
In the 22nd minute, Whitehall found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper at the other end, but Pyle made a miraculous save at full stretch to keep the game scoreless.

The first half changed entirely in the 23rd minute when Revanales had to leave because of a hamstring injury. His early substitution allowed both defenses to hydrate and regroup on the sidelines, while removing the Eagles’ biggest threat from the game.

The rest of the first half played out in midfield struggles without any real chances. The teams settled into their respective game plans, and back-and-forth passing resulted in a 0-0 score at the break.

The second half was nearly all Charlotte Eagles.

Possession, attacks built from the midfield, and speed all over the pitch caused problems for the Chattanooga defense, and midfielder Kelvin Omondi took advantage in the 71st minute.

On a break down the right, Eagles substitute Joao Costa’s shot was denied and Omondi put the rebound away for the opening goal of the match: 1-0 for the home side.

Charlotte settled into a defensive formation after taking the lead, as Chattanooga could not break through to level the score.

Whitehall, Leo DeSmedt and Felipe Oliveira had chances for Chattanooga in the final 20 minutes, but it was an Eagles player, Joao Costa, that found the decisive goal.

He scored on an incredibly difficult shot from a tight angle on the left endline that snuck past Pita in the 89th minute.

Costa earned “man of the match” honors for his goal, but the Chattanooga traveling supporters made a mark as well. A five-and-a-half hour bus ride on a weeknight for US Open Cup first round action did not phase the Chattahooligans, and they were gracious in defeat as well. Bravo.

Eagles GM Andrew Pierce was proud of his team after the game.

“I think the boys did really well tonight,” Pierce said. “It was their first game, and we’ve had a limited amount of training sessions with the full squad. The first part of the game was frantic, but they slowed it down and possessed the ball after Andrew’s injury, playing coach Dixon’s style of soccer. I was proud of the effort, and I’m looking forward to our PDL opener on Saturday against Wilmington.”

Chattanooga starts its NPSL season on Saturday in New Orleans.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Burlingame Dragons oust former Open Cup champs to advance for first time

May 13, 2017 by Evan Ream

The scene from historic Boxer Stadium in San Francisco with El Farolito hosting Burlingame Dragons in the First Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Evan Ream

In a match that featured a former US Open Cup winner pitted against a side that had yet to win a match in the competition, it was the newcomers who ended up victorious on the day.

The Burlingame Dragons FC, a third-year PDL franchise, managed their first win in three first round tries, beating El Farolito at Boxer Stadium 6-5 on penalties after the two teams drew 0-0 through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.

The circumstances of the match replicated those of many early round matches in the tournament, with several instances out of the control of both squads playing a factor.

Any side competing at this portion of the competition may be familiar with the the following aspects that impacted the match:

* The lack of field lights at Boxer Stadium forced the match to a 3 p.m. kickoff, meaning that several Dragons couldn’t attend the match due to conflicting college classes.

* Up until just days before the game, neither side was sure who winger Gabe Silveira would suit up for, as he had played for both teams in the past few months (he ended up starting for the Dragons).

* The playing surface was less-than-optimal, with a bumpy pitch also lined for lacrosse.

“Not only did we not know much about our opponent, but our boys have only been together a few times, and we had a few players play today that we haven’t even seen,” said assistant coach Albertin Montoya, who took the reins on the night from head coach Joe Cannon, who was in Hawaii. “It’s more about an attitude and a mindset in the way we approached this game.”

Still, both sides came out attacking in a back-and-forth match, until the air was taken out of it by a stoppage of play late in the first half due to a pair of head injuries.

That pause resulted in 13 minutes of stoppage time in the first half, disrupting any momentum that was previously had by either side.

And that disruption was further exacerbated by a 52nd minute red card to Luis Nieves of El Farolito for a two-footed challenge in the middle of the park.

From there El Farolito, who were making their first appearance in the tournament since winning the US Open Cup title under the name CD Mexico in 1993, packed it in to try to play for overtime and penalties. This strategy was aided by the howling winds which saw corner flags perpetually bent over at a 45-degree angle.

Burlingame nearly prevented the inevitable in the 69th minute, but Silveira’s close-range attempt throttled the crossbar in the closest attempt either team got to actually putting the ball in the back of the net.

El Farolito dodged one more bullet just after Silveira’s shot when one of their players nearly scored an own goal, but it too could only rattle the woodwork.

The match ended up going to penalty kicks with Dragons keeper Mitchell North ending up as the hero in the shootout with two saves to help the visitors advance, 6-5.

“More often than not in PKs, the team that deserves it comes out on top,” Montoya said. “That’s just how it works. I thought we deserved it.”

For their efforts, the Dragons earned a second round match Wednesday against NASL expansion side San Francisco Deltas, who had trained at Boxer Stadium earlier in the day — many Deltas players stayed to scout their opponents.

“I haven’t even thought about ,” Montoya said. “We’re very excited that we moved on, but more importantly is the team’s coming together, they’re starting to believe in themselves. Who knows what’s going to happen? As long as we’re disciplined and we play with heart and play for each other, good things can happen.”

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