Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2018 US Open Cup qualifying

USSF allows NY Cosmos B, Miami FC 2, Jacksonville Armada into 2018 US Open Cup in unprecedented decision

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Despite not qualifying for the 2018 US Open Cup, Jacksonville Armada U-23s, New York Cosmos B, and Miami FC 2 will be allowed in because their senior teams were left out as members of the NASL.
The three remaining North American Soccer League (NASL) teams Jacksonville Armada, New York Cosmos, and Miami FC are being allowed to enter the 2018 US Open Cup.

UPDATE: All three Play-In Round games will take place on May 6. Click here for the full schedule.

A little over two weeks ago, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced the format for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The 105th edition of the United States championship tournament would feature 94 teams, but last Friday afternoon, in an unprecedented decision, the federation added three teams that didn’t originally qualify for the competition into the 2018 field.

The New York Cosmos B, Jacksonville Armada Under-23s, and Miami FC 2, the three reserve teams for the remaining clubs in the North American Soccer League (NASL), will be allowed to enter the US Open Cup. Since the NASL canceled the 2018 season, the three teams shifted their remaining players to their reserve squads which all compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as professional teams.

In previous years, the only way for NPSL teams entered the US Open Cup is through the NPSL qualifying process, which is determined (somewhat complexly) by the previous year’s league and playoff results. Cosmos B and the Armada U-23s failed to qualify and Miami FC 2 are a 2018 expansion team and did not compete in league play last season.

The statement from the US Open Cup Committee read: “The Committee carefully considered the teams’ exceptional situation which involved all three moving from Professional Division II status in 2017 to solely Open Division league participation earlier this year. Since the move occurred after the Open Division league’s 2018 Open Cup entry deadline in mid-2017, the Committee decided to allow the three teams the opportunity to compete in the 2018 edition of the U.S. Open Cup.”

All three teams accepted their invitations and will enter the tournament in a newly-created Play-In Round that is scheduled to take place the weekend of May 5-6.

US Soccer announced on Monday, April 2 that the New York Cosmos B will face the Brooklyn Italians FC of the NPSL, while the PDL’s FC Miami City will take on Miami FC 2, and The Villages SC (PDL) will face off with the Jacksonville Armada. The winners of those three matches will move on to the First Round on May 9.

The dates, times and locations for the Play-In Round will be announced at a later date. Brooklyn, FC Miami City and The Villages will have the first option to host and according to the press release, they have until 4 p.m. ET on Friday, April 6 to submit their hosting proposal to the federation.

The USSF will also announce the First Round pairings and the potential Second Round matchups on Wednesday, April 4.

“These three teams, the players and the coaching staff and their fans, who had planned to participate in the 2018 US Open Cup, and because they are no longer in a professional league and because now they are participating in an amateur league, they missed all of the deadlines to participate in the 2018 tournament,” said John Motta, President of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and Open Cup committee member. “This situation was out of their control … and in my opinion, we had to find a way to allow these three teams to participate. Because it’s not the fault of any of the players, their fans, their coaches, so let’s take the politics aside and let them play.”

The NASL lost their Division 2 professional sanctioning on Sept. 3, 2017, which was after the registration deadline to enter the Open Division qualifying tournament for the 2018 US Open Cup.

The argument, as detailed in a letter submitted to the USSF by New York Cosmos chairman Rocco Commisso and shared on social media, laid out a number of complaints.

One of them being that Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC both left the NASL and were automatically entered into the US Open Cup as members of the USL. The main difference between the two situations is that since 2012, every US-based professional team is automatically entered into the competition. The Premier Development League (PDL) and the NPSL both choose their Open Cup entries based on the previous season’s results. All other teams are required to enter the Open Division qualifying tournament.

The letter also cited MLS (Los Angeles FC) and USL (Nashville SC, Las Vegas Lights FC, Fresno FC) expansion teams as examples of clubs that have been allowed to enter the tournament. Again, all professional teams are automatically entered into the Open Cup, so this is common practice.

Miami FC CEO Sean Flynn also submitted a similar letter to the US Soccer Federation.

TheCup.us has confirmed that the three NPSL teams will all be competing in the 2018 league season and the US Open Cup tournament as fully professional teams. There is no rule, either at the federation level or with the NPSL itself that prevents them from doing this. Although they are in the minority, they are not the only NPSL teams that compete in the league as professionals.

Earlier this year, amateur side El Farolito, winners of the 1993 US Open Cup, were disqualified for switching leagues during the qualifying process. They made the move from the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL) to the NPSL. Motta was quick to point out the difference between the two situations. One of them had a choice.

“These NASL teams were left out, through no fault of their own … while made a decision to change leagues mid-way through and that’s a clear violation of the Open Cup bylaws,” said Motta.

Section 202c1i of the Open Cup Handbook clearly states: “To remain eligible throughout the tournament, a team must remain a playing member in good standing within its club/league competition, starting from the Open Division entry deadline (which was last summer) and continuing until the Open Cup Final for the competition year.”

One minor detail is that the Jacksonville Armada Under-23s, who prior to this year were largely made up of college players, are putting that franchise on hiatus as the team converts to a fully-professional roster. Miami FC 2, which was announced prior to the NASL canceling the 2018 season, will remain under that name despite the team being converted to a roster full of NASL players. The New York Cosmos will be entering their usual professional roster under the name “Cosmos B”, therefore, just like Miami FC 2, they will be making the club’s first tournament appearance.

With this change, for the first time in tournament history, the NPSL will have more entries (22) than the PDL (20). This will also give the state of Florida 11 entries and the state of New York seven entries in this year’s tournament, both are Modern Era records.

Ian Foster also contributed to this report

El Farolito, 1993 US Open Cup champions, disqualified from 2018 tournament

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el-farolito-logo-bigThe 1993 US Open Cup Champions will not get a chance at a second title this year as El Farolito, a San Francisco-based amateur club, has been disqualified on account of moving leagues. After decades of thriving in the famed San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL), El Farolito decided to take its talents to the continually-growing National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

Minneapolis City SC suffered a similar fate last year as they transitioned from the Premier League of American to the NPSL. However, while last year’s Minneapolis City disqualification resulted from a miscommunication, El Farolito seems like they knew exactly what they were getting into.

“Yes, we understand the rule and it is unfortunate that we, like other amateurs clubs in the past years, have been eliminated,” Santiago Lopez, El Farolito general manager and head coach told TheCup.us.

After qualifying in 2017 for the first time since the club won the tournament under the name CD Mexico in 1993, El Farolito will miss out on the competition due to the rule spelled out in this year’s Open Cup Handbook. Section 202c1i reads: “To remain eligible throughout the tournament, a team must remain a playing member in good standing within its club/league competition, starting from the Open Division entry deadline (which was last summer) and continuing until the Open Cup Final for the competition year.”

Some teams have gotten around this rule by keeping a team in their previous league while also playing in their new league. For example, Boca Raton FC continued to compete in the American Premier Soccer League to maintain their Open Cup eligibility when they joined the NPSL.

This was a non-starter for El Farolito.

A undated team photo of El Farolito
An undated team photo of El Farolito

“SFSFL is one of the toughest amateur leagues in the country and having two clubs at the same time is extremely difficult,” Lopez said. “The President decided to just focus on NPSL.”

Further, that regulation would have forced the Open Cup team to continue in the SFSFL, meaning El Farolito would either have to field two teams or play their first team twice each weekend.

So while the regulation is clear, the purpose behind the regulation is less so. TheCup.us reached out to USSF for comment but received no response as of Thursday morning. Lopez implied that the regulation existed to prevent teams from qualifying and simply moving to unsanctioned leagues to focus on the Open Cup and other tournaments.

Further complicating matters is that, according to Lopez, El Farolito didn’t yet know whether they’d be accepted into NPSL once the Open Cup Qualifying deadline rolled around. But that uncertainty didn’t deter the former champions from applying for, and eventually winning three games in, the open division qualifying tournament.

“We wanted to play and show everyone we are an Open Cup team,” Lopez said.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: Miami Nacional suspended, fined for quitting match before halftime

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Miami Nacional SC logoTrailing 4-0 in the 40th minute of a 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying match October 22, Miami Nacional SC committed a foul on a Red Force FC player in the penalty box. The referee pointed to the spot and Red Force was given a chance to add a fifth goal to the one-sided game before halftime. They would not get that chance.

Miami head coach David Garcia entered the playing field to protest the call and refused to leave. According to Nacional’s head coach and their team president, the penalty kick was one of many calls that went against them in the first half. The penalty kick was the last straw for Garcia, and after a lengthy protest, he walked his team off the field, never to return.

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced a punishment for Miami Nacional’s actions during the match. The National Soccer League club will be suspended for one year and has been fined an undisclosed amount. (Since the announcement, TheCup.us has learned that the amount of the fine is $1,000.)

This is the first time in recent memory that a team has walked off the field in the middle of a game during qualifying rounds or during the tournament proper, so this was the first time that the federation was forced to hand out a punishment for a team quitting before the end of a match.

“We were asked to send a letter to US Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline panel, after another very poor work of the referees that without my intervention could have ended with a very serious problem on the field,” said Miami Nacional president Gaston Basulto.

According to Miami’s team president Gaston Basulto, a series of bad calls by the referee led to his head coach’s on-field protest. Among his complaints about physical play, he claims that Red Force had as many as six offside plays that were not called in the opening 40 minutes. Those plays led to a pair of Red Force goals and the controversial penalty kick call that ultimately brought the game to an abrupt end.

With the win, Red Force advanced to the final round of qualifying where they would punch their ticket to the US Open Cup for the second year in a row and the fourth time in the last six years.

“I would like to thank USSF for their quick response to the action Miami Nacional took during our match,” said Red Force team president Gabriel Vega. I hope in the future they make it a bit tougher for teams to enter this prestigious tournament so that scenarios like this do not occur. But once again it is much appreciated that some form of punishment was taken to a team forfeiting and leaving the field mid-match. Red Force can now move on and look forward to represent the cup in the best way possible.”

MORE SUSPENSIONS

Along with the announcement about Miami Nacional, the USSF also announced two player suspensions. Upon further review, Sporting Kansas City’s Diego Rubio got away with kicking Felipe Martins of the New York Red Bulls in the 2017 US Open Cup Final. After the Adjudication and Discipline Panel reviewed the incident, they handed down a one-game suspension to Rubio.

Elsewhere, Cal Victory FC’s Jesus Quintero received a five-game suspension after “making deliberate contact with the referee” during the club’s second round qualifying match. The forward received a red card in the 44th minute, but according to the referee’s report, Quintero stepped on the official’s feet as he walked off the field. Cal would win the game 4-2 despite playing the game shorthanded.

 

As road teams huddle in bathrooms, warehouses, what are venue standards for US Open Cup qualifying?

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Players from Motagua of New Orleans gather in a warehouse in Balch Springs, Texas, the site of their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against NTX Rayados. Photo: Motagua of New Orleans Facebook page
Players from Motagua of New Orleans gather in a warehouse in Balch Springs, Texas, the site of their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against NTX Rayados. Photo: Motagua of New Orleans Facebook page

Like all knockout competitions, open division qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is a grind that often has a charming edge to it lost in the later rounds when professional teams enter the fray. But there’s hardly anything romantic about a coach giving his team a halftime talk in a public bathroom or another team finding shelter from the cold in a storage shed only to be kicked out by a groundskeeper.

That’s the situation a couple of amateur teams found themselves in when they went to great lengths to travel and play in unsuitable venues for the final round qualifying two weekends ago.

For Stegman’s SC, the parent club of the NPSL’s Minneapolis City SC, that meant flying to Rochester, New York to play in 30-degree weather at a venue that didn’t have suitable locker rooms. Instead, the team had to huddle in a bathroom during halftime while it was actively in use by the public.

“They definitely weren’t prepared to host us, which was particularly disappointing considering how far we had to travel,” Stegman’s SC player Daniel Warner said.

Sarah Schreier had an even more difficult time as a member of the team’s staff, noting that because the facility was locked when they arrived there were no restrooms available.

“I was told I could go into the woods or drive into town,” she said. “I’m a staff member of Stegman’s City, traveling with a skeleton staff, so I couldn’t just leave for 25 minutes just to use the bathroom. After the guys had checked in, and about 15 minutes before kickoff, I took a van ‘into town’ about 15 minutes away so I could finally go to the bathroom. I missed kickoff and our first and only goal.”

Motagua of New Orleans traveled more than seven hours to Balch Springs, Texas, where they claim to have had an interesting encounter with a groundskeeper.

“Well, we had to go into a warehouse just to keep warm last night,” a post on the club’s Facebook account reads. “To add insult to injury, the groundskeeper kicked us out stating we could not utilize said space. Not to say this was reason we lost but after traveling long hours, to find out we have no where (sic) to rest, change, prepare for a very important match, is very unacceptable.”

The argument from both teams is that they were better equipped to host the match, but instead had to travel. Stegman’s also traveled to Illinois in the second round and won by forfeit in the first round. Motagua traveled to Missisippi in the first round and to Lafayette, Louisiana for Round 2.

Host sites for the qualifying rounds are determined by “a random draw or coin flip” but there is a process by which teams have to submit up to two potential venues should they be selected to host.

While there are extensive requirements for suitable venues once the “US Open Cup proper” begins, the responsibilities of the home team are limited to providing a safe playing field a minimum of 100 yards by 65 yards, regulation-size goals and corner flags, at least three properly-inflated match balls and making sure the officiating crew is paid at the end of the match. Beyond that, it’s on the host team.

Tito Salas, a player/coach/manager for NTX Rayados, was surprised to hear of the complaints from CD Motagua, a team he has become well-acquainted with in regional competitions and for whom his brother-in-law Reece Wilson plays.

Both Salas and Wilson missed the game that sparked the complaints, which the Rayados won, because they were away on a family vacation but Salas said the two teams played at the same facility in the second round last year and he didn’t hear any complaints. The weather was a factor, however, this year as the wind chill was in the 40s.

“I think locker rooms for me are very much an extra,” Salas said. “I get it, they expect more and they want more and that’s fine but there are a lot of reasons, financial and availability, that we can’t play in a stadium that has all of those things for qualifying.”

Elizabeth Sánchez, a spokeswoman for the US Open Cup, organized by the US Soccer Federation, said the looser venue standards for local qualifying are designed to enable more teams to participate.

“We want as many amateur teams as possible to participate in Open Cup qualifying,” she wrote in an email to TheCup.us. “The venue requirements for this phase of the tournament are meant to allow for this. In all practicality, only an adequate field marked for soccer, goals, nets, corner flags and balls are needed. This is not unlike most amateur-level leagues.”

Rochester River Dogz, which beat Stegman’s SC 2-1 in their game, did not respond to a request for comment.

2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In Review: Christos FC, La Maquina, NTX Rayados headline 14 amateur winners

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Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC battle for the ball in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC
Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC battle for the ball in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC

The 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup open division qualifying tournament is now complete with 14 amateur teams from across the country punching their ticket to the 105th edition of the tournament.

There are plenty of familiar faces from recent years that will return to next year’s tournament. Christos FC, the Baltimore, Md. club that became just the 13th amateur club to reach the Fourth Round during the 2017 competition, will be back. La Maquina (Santa Ana, Calif.) took the Los Angeles Galaxy to extra time in 2016 and they are back for the third year in a row, and Lansdowne Bhoys (New York City), who pulled off a stunning upset the last time they qualified (2016) are back after missing out last year. Also, the NTX Rayados have qualified for a Modern Era record seventh consecutive tournament.

There are also some teams who will make their US Open Cup debut in 2018: FC Denver (Denver, Colo.), FC Kendall (Miami, Fla.), Kendall Wanderers (Boston, Mass.), Santa Ana Winds (Santa Ana, Calif.), and Rochester Rivar Dogz (Rochester, NY). Sporting AZ FC (Phoenix, Ariz.) are a new name to the tournament, but they are the same club as the Arizona Sahuaros, a club that has participated in the tournament in many forms: a pro club in the USL, an NPSL team and an independent team.

This was the third and final round of a new qualifying tournament that was launched three years ago by the US Soccer Federation. The new format welcomes all amateur teams that compete in US Soccer-sanctioned leagues (National leagues like the Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League base their qualifying on the previous season’s results) to sign up and compete in a single-elimination tournament.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying schedule/results

Let’s take a brief look at each game with links to each game’s match report.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Indios Denver FC (USASA/UPSL)
0:2 (AET)
FC Denver (USSSA/Colorado Amateur Soccer League)

In a battle between two Denver-based clubs seeking their first US Open Cup berth, FC Denver scored twice in extra time to come away with a 2-0 win over Indios Denver FC. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Azteca FC (USSSA/Colorado Premier League)
4:3
Harpo’s FC (USSSA/Colorado Premier League)
Broomfield County Commons Park Stadium – Broomfield, CO

A year ago, Azteca FC denied Harpo’s FC a chance to qualify for the US Open Cup. In this year’s rematch, Azteca FC did it again, with a 4-3 win over Harpo’s FC in an exciting match in Broomfield, Colo. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

FC Kendall (USASA / American Premier Soccer League)
4:2
Nashville United (USASA/Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance)
E.S. Rose Park – Nashville, TN

FC Kendall traveled from Miami to Nashville and was greeted by some horrible weather as their game against Nashville United had to change venues a few hours before the game due to the heavy rain. In the end, the visitors received four goals from four different goalscorers to win 4-2 and earn their first trip to the US Open Cup. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Kendall Wanderers (USASA/Bay State Soccer League)
2:1
Mass United (USASA/American Soccer League)
Dilboy Stadium – Somerville, MA

In rainy day just outside of Boston, Kendall Wanderers defeated in-state foe Mass United FC 2-1 to earn the club’s first-ever US Open Cup berth. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Junior Lone Star U-23s (USASA/Philadelphia Premier Soccer League)
1:3
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (USASA/Cosmopolitan Soccer League)
Tibbetts Brooke Park – Yonkers, NY

Defending USASA Amateur Cup champion Lansdowne Bhoys FC ended the unlikely qualifying run of the Junior Lone Star Under-23s with a 3-1 win in Yonkers, NY. Lansdowne were led by Irish striker Daryl Kavanagh who scored a pair of goals to put the Bhoys back in the US Open Cup for the first time since 2016.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Motagua of New Orleans (USASA/Gulf Coast Premier League)
1:2
NTX Rayados (USASA/North Texas Premier Soccer Association)
Premier Park – Balch Springs, TX

NTX Rayados qualified for the US Open Cup for the seventh year in a row with a 2-1 home win over Motagua of New Orleans. The Rayados scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to come back to win. No open division amateur team has more consecutive Open Cup berths than the Rayados’ seven. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Galati FC (USASA/Arizona Champions League)
1:6
Sporting AZ FC (USASA/UPSL)
Chandler-Gilbert Community College – Chandler, AZ

Alejandro Aguilar scored a pair of goals to lead Sporting AZ FC, the club formerly known as the Arizona Sahuaros, to their first US Open Cup berth since the new club was launched last January. They defeated fellow Arizona club Galati FC 6-1 to punch their ticket. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

San Pedro Monsters (USASA/SoCal Premier League)
1:4
Santa Ana Winds FC (USASA/UPSL)
Lake Forest Sports Park – Lake Forest, CA

Santa Ana Winds FC made club history by qualifying for the US Open Cup for the first time, in their second attempt. Kramer Runager scored a pair of goals as the Winds defeated the San Pedro Monsters FC of the SoCal Premier League by a score of 4-1.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Phoenix SC (USASA/United Soccer League of Pennsylvania)
1:5
Christos FC (USASA/Maryland Major Soccer League)
Anne Arundel Community College – Arnold, MD

Christos FC stole the headlines with a run to the Fourth Round in last year’s tournament and they will be back for an encore in 2018 for an encore with a 5-1 home win over Phoenix SC (Oakford, Pa.).  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Stegman’s SC (USASA/Minnesota Amateur Soccer League)
1:2
Rochester River Dogz (USASA/Rochester District Soccer League)
Pittsford Thornell Farm Park Turf Field – Pittsford, NY

The Rochester River Dogz defended their home turf with a 2-1 win over the well-traveled Stegman’s SC from Minneapolis, Minn. With the win, the River Dogz, led by their head coach former Rochester Rhinos star Doug Miller, became the first open division amateur team from Western New York to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Era (1995-present). [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Cal Victory FC (USASA/UPSL)
1:2
El Farolito (USASA/San Francisco Soccer Football League)
Boxer Stadium – San Francisco, CA

1993 US Open Cup champion El Farolito stormed into the 2018 US Open Cup with an 8-0 win over Cal Victory of the UPSL. The San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL) champions and former Open Cup champions (1993) took care of business to qualify for the Open Cup proper rounds for the second consecutive season. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

South Florida FC (USASA/American Premier Soccer League)
1:2 (AET)
Red Force FC (USASA/American Premier Soccer League)
Kendall Soccer Park – Miami, FL

In a battle of South Florida clubs, Red Force FC edged South Florida FC in extra time to earn their second US Open Cup berth in a row and the club’s fourth trip to the tournament in the last four years. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT COMING SOON

La Maquina FC (USASA/UPSL)
4:1
Chula Vista FC (USASA/SoCal Premier League)
Chula Vista Elite Training Center – Chula Vista, CA

Edwin Borboa scored again as La Maquina continued their dominance in US Open Cup qualifying by earning their third straight US Open Cup berth.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Los Angeles Wolves FC (USASA/UPSL)
4:0
Buena Park FC (USASA/SoCal Premier League)
OC Great Park Championship Stadium – Irvine, CA

The Los Angeles Wolves punched their ticket a third straight Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory over Buena Park FC at Championship Stadium, at Great Park in Irvine, Calif.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

 

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: La Maquina continues qualifying dominance, clinches third straight Open Cup berth

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La Maquina logoIt was a beautiful Sunday in Chula Vista, just outside San Diego, as the home side Chula Vista FC prepared to host La Maquina – a juggernaut in their own right from up the road in Los Angeles. The beauty of the day would soon prove to be prophetic for La Maquina, but agonizingly taunting for Chula Vista FC, as the former rolled through the latter with ease in the final 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying match, 4-1.

As the game kicked off, the crowd had trickled in and although there was only a small set of bleachers above a hill on the sideline, the atmosphere was lively for the Chula Vista faithful who expect a lot from their club that has qualified for the US Open Cup in two of the last three years.

Both clubs are known for their attacking flair and possession style of play, but it was clear from the beginning that La Maquina had manufactured the true threat, utilizing a high-pressure forward line that paid all the dividends.

Chula Vista wasted valuable energy chasing the game early as La Maquina owned much of the ball and it took less than 20 minutes for La Maquina to find their first goal. A misunderstanding between goalkeeper Sammy Quinones and defender Manuel Carrillo left Quinones out of position at the top of the box. As the pressure increased around Carrillo, he lost possession to former Chivas de Guadalajara forward Edwin Borboa who took full advantage and curved a shot from the corner of the box around the goalkeeper with his right foot. Borboa, who tied for the tournament lead with five goals in 2016 has been involved in a goal in nearly every qualifying and tournament game La Maquina has played in the last three years.

With that goal by Borboa, La Maquina never looked back.

In the 31st minute, La Maquina scored what would prove to be the winner by exploiting another defensive mistake by the CV back line, courtesy of Rosendo Castro.

Trailing 2-0 at the halftime, Chula Vista knew they were in trouble. After speaking with some players, it was clear that a drastic change would have to take place in the players’ mindsets to get back on track. As the second half began, it looked, for a moment, that they had accepted the mission as they opened the half at a full sprint, but La Maquina responded with cool heads and took advantage of the end to end confusion with an insurance goal, this time from the wing as a beautiful cross dropped right onto the head of Braulio Godinez.

All but out of reach for Chula Vista, the pushed on, finding a bit more breathing room as La Maquina fell back to close out the game. As they probed for a sniff of the goal, forward Alberto Diaz found himself on the receiving end of a slick give and go with one man to beat inside the box. As he took his touch, the defender brought him down with a hip check, and Chula Vista was awarded a lifeline. In the 59th minute, Francisco Ramirez slotted it home and wasted no time digging it out of the net, as Chula Vista suddenly seemed energized.

For the next ten minutes, Chula Vista streamed forward launching attacks straight down the middle of the pitch aiming to exploit a comfortable La Maquina back line. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be enough, as La Maquina took advantage of a quick break in the 72nd minute. As the ball was worked into the goal box, it was clear that Chula Vista had no fight left in them as Rosendo Castro walked his brace over the line. La Maquina continued to control the game and was awarded foul after foul around Chula Vista’s goal box for the remainder of the match, and just like they did in 2015, they eliminated Chula Vista in a Win & You’re In match.

La Maquina will attempt to outdo themselves in 2018’s US Open Cup that will feature no shortage of potential Cinerella stories. Chula Vista FC will not be granted any such opportunity, and with their elimination there will be zero San Diego representatives from amateur teams in next years competition, a massive disappointment to all in America’s Finest City.

For La Maquina, they continue their dominance over the qualifying tournament over the last three years. They have won all six of their qualifying matches and have outscored their opponents 22-3 and have never scored less than three goals in a game.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: Rochester River Dogz make history by qualifying for first US Open Cup

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Rochester River Dogz pose for a team photo before their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Stegman's SC. Photo: Domenico Vella | Rochester River Dogz
Rochester River Dogz pose for a team photo before their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Stegman’s SC. Photo: Domenico Vella | Rochester River Dogz

On a blustery afternoon amid chilling winds and freezing rain in Rochester’s suburb of Pittsford, NY, the Rochester River Dogz earned a place in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Hosting Stegman’s Soccer Club, a local amateur side and the parent club of Minneapolis City SC of the National Premier Soccer League, the River Dogz are themselves related to the NPSL team founded under the same name and since re-branded to the Lancers.

The River Dogz would defend their home turf, prevailing 2-1 to become the first open division amateur team from Western New York to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Era (1995-present).

The River Dogz entered the competition through the Rochester District Soccer League, an elite amateur circuit recognized by USASA, but used the players and kits from the NPSL side. Similarly, Stegman’s, a member of the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, fielded much of its NPSL roster and suited up in MPLS City’s jerseys.

The visitors struck in just the first minute of play, before the Minnesota-style weather took hold.

Nicholas Hutton sent dangerous service into the area from the right wing. Forward Ben Wexler did well to meet the cross but his strike whistled off the crossbar. Stegman’s Timothy Wills reacted first and poked home the rebound to take the early lead.

After conceding, the River Dogz regrouped and mounted some chances of their own. The hosts appeared to notch a goal in quick response after the right winger cut inside and fired a shot on his left that fell nicely to a teammate for an easy rebound. The assistant referee has raised his flag, however, and the score remained 1-0 for the Minnesotans.

The Rochester River Dogz (white) and Stegman's SC square off in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifier at Pittsford Thornell Farm Park in Pittsford, NY. Photo: Domenico Vella | Rochester River Dogz
The Rochester River Dogz (white) and Stegman’s SC square off in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifier at Pittsford Thornell Farm Park in Pittsford, NY. Photo: Jameson Pester | Rochester River Dogz

Despite some flowing passing moves, Rochester’s equalizer came from another rebound. Rochester forced a turnover in Stegman’s third with coordinated pressure from midfield. Center forward Austin Gerber received a through ball that split Stegman’s defense and hit a heavy strike that goalkeeper Matt Elder reacted quickly to kick away. Unfortunately for the visitors, the balled popped out to attacking midfielder Stefanos Stamoulocatos and the former U.S. youth international buried the follow-up from a tight angle with his left foot to tie the match in the 26th minute.

Stegman’s number 11, Whitney Browne was active throughout the game. He forced Rochester’s Will Banahene into a diving save from a set piece in the opening 15 minutes and was not shy about unloading shots from distance either.

Rochester held court for much of the remainder of the first half. The River Dogz tried to build measured attacks through midfield, probing for an opening between defenders, while still effectively using the long ball upfield for Gerber to chase. In contrast, Stegman’s kept several players deep even when in possession in the final third.

In the second half, Stegman’s pushed forward more often looking for a second goal but left themselves more vulnerable to counterattacks. A quick break chance almost put the hosts ahead early in the second half but the shot from Anthony Rozzano’s cross bounced off the crossbar.

Rochester’s utility defender Alex Harling, having played center back, right back, and left back on Sunday preserved equity in the middle of the second half. Stegman’s capitalized on a poor pass from Rochester’s No. 14, who had just entered the match as a substitute, and attacked quickly through the middle. The visitors may have thought difficult part of the move was over when a Stegman’s attacker rounded Banahene, but Harling recovered expertly to clear the eventual shot off the goal line.

Shortly after nearly conceding on one end, Rochester grabbed the go-ahead goal at the other. Gerber received another well-timed through ball that put him through with Elder and set himself up for a right-footed instep shot curled low to the far post. To his credit, Elder got a touch on the shot but could not prevent the game-winner from dribbling over the line.

Facing elimination after an unforgiving qualification process, Stegman’s rose to the occasion. The visitors moved the ball around the field well while pressing forward with urgency, peppering Banahene’s goal with efforts.

“Stegmans came to play that’s for sure,” said River Dogz general manager/assistant coach Marc Mandell. “After an early goal a minute into the game, our players had to buckle down and focus on how to get back in the game. I was very pleased that we were able to come back being a goal down to win 2-1. Our goalkeeper Will Banahene was definitely the man of the match coming up with some huge saves and Austin Gerber came through with the game-winning goal for the second game in a row.”

Perhaps an effort to run the clock down, two Rochester players received bookings in the final minutes of the match. The first was to Rochester’s No. 11 for his part in some shoving and gesticulating during a fracas near the Stegman’s goal and the second was to Rozzano for time-wasting after he cleared a ball past the bleachers once it had already crossed the sideline.

Stegman’s players showed well and can be proud of their efforts (after raising the funds to cover their airfare), but it was Rochester that came away with the 2-1 victory.

With the win, the River Dogz will qualify for the 105th edition of the US Open Cup that will begin next May. Their head coach, who has plenty of US Open Cup experience as a player with the Rochester Rhinos, was proud of his team’s performance.

“Rochester has a ton of local talent and I am happy to see the community rally around these guys,” said Doug Miller, who scored the game-winning goal for the Rhinos in the 1999 US Open Cup Final. “This cup means a lot to me and my ex-teammates and to be a part of it again is exciting”

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: Christos FC beats Phoenix SC to qualify, plans to “go farther” than last year

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Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC
Christos FC pose for a team photo after their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Phoenix SC. Photo: Christos FC

Christos FC wore down their open division-qualifying visitors Phoenix SC on a sunny but windy day in Arnold, MD, taking the game 5-1 in front of approximately 50 fans. The hosts move on to the full Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second year in a row, while Phoenix SC will try again next year to qualify, having last qualified in 2011.

Christos keeper Phil Saunders didn’t have much work during on the field, but in a pre-game interview he laid out his team’s challenges and strategies to a T. “Teams know our name and want to beat us, so we have to be extra good.” Still, he added, “our depth is unbelievable.”

It turns out that Christos were extra good on the day, and it was their depth that made the difference in defeating the storied Pennsylvania club.

Possession was relatively balanced at the start of the game, with both sides trading chances. Christos had the edge in chances created, but Phoenix left wing Dan Murtagh shaped a beautiful shot towards Saunders’s back post in the fifth minute, only to see it glance off the upper right corner of the goal.

Tyler Rudy put Christos on the board first with a beautiful 25-yard freekick that cleared the Phoenix wall before settling into the lower corner of Pratico’s goal in the 32nd minute. Christos kept the pressure on and found the goal again in the 38th minute when a cross by Cody Albrecht from the right found Daniel Baxter about 10 yards in front of goal. Baxter calmly settled the ball before shooting under Practico for the second goal.

Phoenix SC came out with renewed determination in the second half, but they weren’t able to conjure the kind of solid chances they’d seen at the beginning of the first half.

As Saunders predicted, the depth of the Christos side made the difference when Elton Joe subbed on for Caringi in the 69th minute, soon to be joined by Levi Houapeu and Christopher Panian. The pace of Joe and Houapeu caused Phoenix particular problems, but it was Joe’s blistering shot that drew blood in the 74th minute as he turned just inside the 18-yard box and rifled the ball into the upper right corner of the Phoenix goal. “Panian played it one time to me, and I just hit far post as hard as I could. It went there, exactly where I wanted it to,” Joe said after the game. Daniel Baxter pounced on a deflection off his own shot in the 78th minute to extend the Christos lead to four.

At that point, Phoenix SC started to lose control, registering yellow cards in the 78th (Joseph Brocker), 79th (Shane Kronick), and 80th minutes (Jamen Rowen) as they tried to halt the Christos attack.

Elton Joe was having none of it as he found himself behind the defense on a break in the 86th minute and settled the ball in the left corner after Pratico had saved a similar break by Joe in the 84th.

Ben Castor of the Phoenix registered a consolation goal in the 88th minute to ruin the Christos shutout.

After the game, Joe echoed Saunders on the strategy of bringing Joe off the bench: “The message from the coach coming off the bench was to come on the pitch and take over – or at least to close the game out.” Joe was confident about the prospects for Christos in 2018, having marched to the 4th round in the 2017 tourney before dropping a heartbreaking decision to DC United by a deceiving 4-1 scoreline. “We’re trying to come this year very strong. We’re definitely going to go farther than we went last year. That’s the plan.”

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: LA Wolves dominate Buena Park FC to reach third straight Open Cup

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Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC battle for the ball in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC
Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC battle for the ball in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC

The Los Angeles Wolves punched their ticket a third straight Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory over Buena Park FC at Championship Stadium, at Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

Though Buena Park put up a spirited effort toward the end of the game, the damage had been done. The Wolves’ possession game was uncontested by the Buena Park forwards early on. The Wolves’ center back pair of Carlos Figueroa and Mason Klerks was free to distribute the ball to the midfield where Buena Park were left wanting in their efforts to maintain possession. The Wolves fired on all cylinders from their wing backs Henry Escobar and Joel Ampofo to the speedy Sory Keita playing in defensive midfield position.

Far and away, the most dynamic player in attack was midfielder German Alfaro who reveled in the time and the space the Buena Park midfielders gave, keeping their distance from him, fearing a close contest would result in him playing the ball around them.

All four Wolves goals were scored in open play. Cesar Rivera started off with a pair of goals. He struck first in the 12th minute off of a Dimitry Zhuravlev assist and again in the 21st minute after an errant parry from Buena Park keeper David Padilla, giving the Wolves a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC go up for a header in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC
Players from the LA Wolves FC and Buena Park FC go up for a header in a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Tmesis FC

Alfaro came out fast in the second half, engineering a breakaway before receiving a sideways assist and beating the keeper. Zhuravlev scored their last in the 89th minute.

The Wolves’ shutout was nearly spoiled in the 82nd minute when Buena Park’s Nathan Darosa was fouled in the penalty area. A Grant Carlson penalty kick was turned away by Wolves goalkeeper Cesar Ortega who leaped to his right with arms outstretched. He parried the ball out of danger to maintain the clean sheet.

Throughout the match, Buena Park’s passing was disjointed, their forwards never quite fast enough to pursue a long ball option. Their attacking runs usually consisted of midfielder Darosa running into any space on the field which was covered effectively by the Wolves’ back four, preventing one-on-ones with Ortega.

Buena Park coach Arturo Gutierrez was not disappointed with his team’s performance, saying he was glad to have made it to the third round having beaten UPSL’s Santa Clarita Storm in the previous round.

For the Wolves, however, it was another day at the office. The organization can rightly be proud that they consistently perform well, and the players have nothing but time to hone their game and make another positive impression when the First Round of the Cup resumes next spring. The Wolves have reached the Third Round in each of the last two years and will hope to take the next step.

2018 US Open Cup Qualifying – Win & You’re In
Buena Park FC 0:4 LA Wolves

Scoring Summary
Cesar Rivera – 12th min.
Cesar Rivera – 21st min.
German Alfaro – Early 2nd half
Dimitry Zhuravlev – 89th min.

Shots
BPFC 6:9 LA

Booking Summary
BPFC: Valdemar Vera 67th min.
BPFC: Scott Locken 75th min.
BPFC: Jesse Funes 77th min.

Referee: Osvaldo Delgado
Assistant Referees: Alex Luttman, Maria Magana.
Fourth Official: David Ramirez

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: FC Kendall overcomes lengthy travel, bad storm to earn first USOC berth

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FC Kendall poses for a team photo after a 4-2 win over Nashville United in the 2018 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: FC Kendall
FC Kendall poses for a team photo after a 4-2 win over Nashville United in the 2018 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: FC Kendall

On Saturday, Nov. 18, FC Kendall’s flight left Miami at 6:30 a.m. and arrived in Nashville about four hours later. With only a few hours of sleep, the team anxiously waited and prepared for their “Win & You’re In” match in the 2018 US Open Cup qualifying tournament against Nashville United.

FC Kendall owner Mauro Grignola called it the “most important game in the history of the club thus far.”

After their lengthy trip to Nashville, which was a risky one considering they were flying out the morning of the gameday, they got settled and defeated the home team in a heavy rain storm, 4-2 to qualify for the US Open Cup for the first time.

The clouds were already thick when FC Kendall arrived in Music City before lunchtime. The winds picked up throughout the afternoon ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff at Richard Siegel Soccer Park in nearby Murfeesboro, Tenn. With heavy rain in the forecast, the two teams agreed to move the match to the original venue, E.S. Rose Park in Nashville, (it was moved to Murfeesboro in the weeks leading up to the match) which featured an artificial turf field.

On the way to the field, players and coaches were receiving alerts on their phones informing them of a tornado warning. Fifteen minutes before kickoff, the rain stopped, but the gusty winds of more than 40 mph remained. The match commissioner and the referees decided that the game would begin on time.

After winning the coin flip, Nashville United decided to defend against the wind and they were more comfortable on their home field, creating a couple of chances which forced FC Kendall Ronald Garces into action in the opening five minutes.

FC Kendall, a team representing the American Premier Soccer League, started to build possession, and created a few wind-aided shots, but Nashville maintained control and no one was able to find a goal in the opening half-hour.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, FC Kendall took control of the match. It all started with an impressive combination play that found Daniel Gonzales on the right wing. Gonzales, a former captain at Florida International University, sent a low cross into the box where former Fort Lauderdale Strikers player Gonzalo de Mujica put the ball into the back of the net at close range.

Just a few minutes later, Gonzales was back at it again, as he made a run and was fouled just outside of the box. Former NASL player Martin Nunez, took the free kick and with a little help from the wind, he found the back of the net to make it 2-0.

And just a few minutes after the second goal, FC Kendall scored another. It was another similar combination play from the first goal. This time, it was Jona Andrade who was open on the right side of the penalty area. Andrade turned and beat the keeper with a low shot to the right of the netminder to give the visitors at three-goal lead.

Kendall did not take their foot off the gas pedal as they added one more goal before the halftime break. Santiago Schmid beat two defenders and fired a shot into the upper corner, to the left of the goalkeeper.

FC Kendall continued to put the pressure on but a couple of chances failed as they went into the halftime break with a 4-0 lead. On a windy and cold night, the visitors, used to the warm Florida weather raced into the locker room.

In the second half, Nashville came out firing and put pressure on Kendall. United received a pair of goals from Andrew Chamberlain (60th min.) and Joe Omondi (75th min.) but ultimately Kendall would hold on to win 4-2 to secure the club’s first-ever trip to the US Open Cup.

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