2019 US Open Cup

With less than a week until qualification begins for the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, it’s difficult to look back at the 2019 tournament and pick out only one individual to be named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament. The eight rounds of competition were filled with studded offenses and sensational defensive efforts with some teams coming practically inches away from altering their history.

The 2019 tournament saw two lower division sides reach the Quarterfinals while the rest of that field consisted of Major League Soccer teams which had never won the Lamar Hunt Trophy. As such, the field is dominated by MLS players for this vote.

Since 2006, TheCup.us has presented the award yearly for the most outstanding player of the most recent edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. For this year, voting is being conducted by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and patrons who’ve pledged $10 or more to the TheCup.us on Patreon.

While voting isn’t open to the general public we encourage our readers to make their voice heard on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Here are the finalists for the 2019 TheCup.us Overall Player of the Tournament (in alphabetical order):

Steve Clark (Portland Timbers of MLS – Division I)

With two shutout wins and seven saves in a Cascadia Cup clash win, Steve Clark’s 360+ minutes between the posts for the Portland Timbers are a big reason why 2019’s perennial road team advanced so far in the tournament. After making those seven stops to help the Timbers eliminate their rivals from Seattle in the opening round, Clark earned two clean sheets in back-to-back games. And he did it against two top offensive teams. In the Round of 16, Portland knocked off the LA Galaxy 4-0 before traveling to Southern California where they shut out the best offense in MLS with a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC in the Quarterfinals. His work allowed the Timbers to not trail a game in the tournament until a 2-1 road loss in the Semifinals where Clark was beaten by a Darwin Quintero penalty kick early in the match and gave up a second half game-winning counter attack goal by Mason Toye

Round 4: Started, played 90 mins., made 7 saves in a 2-1 road win at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Round 5: Started, played 90 mins., made 4 saves in a 4-0 home win vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins., made 1 save in a 1-0 road win at LAFC (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 90 mins., made 4 saves in a 2-1 road loss at Minnesota United (NOTE: one goal was a PK)

Sam Fink (Saint Louis FC of USL Championship – Division II)

The winner of the 2019 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament award is a St. Louis native who propelled his club through the tournament with stellar defense and a hard head. In Saint Louis FC’s best tournament performance to date, the side only allowed three goals in their four wins, two of which were penalty kicks, en route to the Quarterfinals. Fink, who played every minute of the tournament, etched his name into his hometown club’s history books during the Fifth Round (Round of 16) when he headed in a stoppage time corner kick from Lewis Hilton into the net of MLS side FC Cincinnati for the 1-0 win. The goal earned him Player of the Round honors from TheCup.us.

Round 2: Started, played 120 minutes in a 1-1 draw (3-1 PK win) at Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) – NOTE: Only goal allowed was a PK
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes in a 3-1 home win vs. Forward Madison (USL League One)
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes in a 2-1 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS) – NOTE: Only goal allowed was a PK
Round 5: Started, played 90 minutes, scored a late game-winning goal in a 1-0 home win vs. FC Cincinnati (MLS). Was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 minutes in a 2-0 road loss at Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Adam Grinwis (Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer – Division I)

The US Open Cup can produce moments that will last a lifetime in the annals of history and for Adam Grinwis that came in the Quarterfinals against New York City FC. The Michigan native was Orlando City’s starting goalkeeper during its tournament run, a job that has belonged to City’s Brian Rowe during the regular season, allowing him to earn a road win against Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) and an extra time victory over the New England Revolution. In the Elite Eight, Grinwis made three saves but allowed in a stoppage time sliding shot by Maxi Moralez to force overtime. After withstanding a NYCFC push in the extra frame, and with “The Wall” supporting him from behind (albeit out of breath from running to the other side of the stadium for the shootout), the 27-year-old saved both the opening and sixth round shots in the penalty kick shootout to punch the Lions into the Semifinals for the first time in their history. Grinwis was named TheCup.us Player of the Round for that performance before falling to eventual champions Atlanta United FC, 2-0.

Round 4: Started, played 90 mins., made 3 saves in a 3-1 road win at Memphia 901 FC (USL-C)
Round 5: Started, played 120 mins., made 2 saves in a 2-1 OT home win vs. New England Revolution (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 120 mins., made 3 saves in a 1-1 draw (5-4 PK win, 2 saves in shootout) at home vs. NYCFC (MLS). Was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
Semifinals: Started, played 90 mins., made 5 saves in a 2-0 home loss vs. Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Justin Meram (Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer – Division I)

Justin Meram was an essential set-up and control man for Atlanta United during it’s championship run in the 2019 US Open Cup. In Round 4, only a month after being traded to the defending MLS Cup champions from the Columbus Crew, Meram came off the bench in the second half to lead his new team to a 3-1 extra time win against the Charleston Battery (USL-C).  When the game was forced into overtime, the Michigan-born Iraqi National Team player set up Brandon Vazquez for both the game-winner and a stoppage time goal to put the game away. Meram would start the rest of the games in the tournament once again made an impact when his fantastic cross from the left side of the box was slammed into the top of the net by Pity Martinez for what would prove to be the winning goal in the 107th US Open Cup Final.

Round 4: came off the bench in the 59th min., had 2 assists (game-winner in 110th min.) in 3-1 OT home win vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Round 5: Started, played 68 mins. in a 3-2 road win at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 84 mins., in a 2-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL-C)
Semifinals: Started played 66 mins., in a 2-0 road win at Orlando City SC (MLS)
Final: Started, played 90 mins., assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Darwin Quintero (Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer – Division I)

With six goals through his team’s first four games, Darwin Quintero tied the tournament record for the most goals scored by a single player in the Modern Era (1995-present). The former Columbian National team player started 2019 with two goals and one assist in a 4-1 home win against the 2017 Open Cup champion Sporting Kansas City. Quintero would score two more goals in the next round in one of the biggest comebacks of the 2019 tournament. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Quintero sparked the comeback with a goal in the 66th minute and the equalizer in the 82nd minute before Mason Toye’s game-winner in the 90th minute. Quintero added the game-winning goal in a 6-1 home rout against USL Championship side New Mexico United as his team took control in the first half. In the Semifinals, his record-tying sixth goal came from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute in a 2-1 home win against the Portland Timbers. In a controversial decision, Quintero did not start the championship game, coming off the bench in the 75th minute in a 2-1 road loss to Atlanta United FC.

Round 4: Started, played 90 mins., had 2 goals and 1 assist in a 4-1 home win vs. Sporting KC (MLS)
Round 5: Started, played 90 mins., had 2 goals in a 3-2 road win at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 73 mins., 1 game-winning goal in a 6-1 home win vs. New Mexico United FC (USL-C)
Semifinals: Started, played 72 mins., 1 goal (PK) in a 2-1 home win vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)
Final: Came off the bench in 75th min. in 2-1 road loss at Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer – Division I)

Robinson, who has recently broken in with the U.S. National Team, had a strong tournament from start to finish, helping Atlanta United not only win the club’s first US Open Cup title, but also becoming the first team from Georgia to lift the trophy in the tournament’s 107-year history. The defender who played his college ball at Syracuse played every minute of Atlanta’s five wins. Robinson also contributed on the offensive end, assisting on a 79th minute equalizer in a 3-1 extra time win over the Charleston Battery (USL-C). In the Round of 16, he scored a goal of his own in a 3-2 road win over the Columbus Crew (one of those goals scored by the Crew was an own goal). Robinson led a defensive unit that had back-to-back shutouts in the Quarterfinals and the Semifinals. A 2-0 home win over Saint Louis FC (USL-C) put United into the final four where they traveled south to Florida, earning a 2-0 win over Orlando City SC (MLS) to punch Atlanta’s ticket to the Final. In the championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he put together a man of the match-level performance as Atlanta United defeated Minnesota United FC, 2-1. 

Round 4: Started, played 120 mins., assisted on equalizer in 79th min. in 3-1 OT home win vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Round 5: Started, 90 mins., 1 goal in a 3-2 road win at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins., in a 2-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL-C)
Semifinals: Started, played 90 mins., in a 2-0 road win at Orlando City SC (MLS)
Final: Started, played 90 mins., in a 2-1 home win vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Past winners of TheCup.us Player of the Tournament
2018: Mauro Manotas (Houston Dynamo)
2017: Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
2016: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas)
2015: Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting Kansas City)
2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders FC)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders, USL)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

At its core the US Open Cup is a grueling test for any soccer team that takes part. This is true for all competitors but especially so for the lower league sides that start in the early rounds, possibly even qualification, and have to play at least two games before they even have a chance to face a Major League Soccer team.

While the big boys are usually the ones who walk away with the trophy and champions league berth, some players from the smaller sides make an impact worth commemorating. Following each year’s competition, TheCup.us honors a player with the distinction of being named “Player the Tournament”for their outstanding performance. However in 2012, an additional honor was added: TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament. The goal is to honor the players on lower division teams (Open Division, Division III, and Division II) who have stood out and helped their team make a memorable run in the Open Cup that year.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. If you’d like to vote in this, or the upcoming “Player of the Tournament” vote, consider pledging $10 or more and help us continue to cover the US Open Cup and research it’s long history.

We encourage everyone to read over each players’ tournament resume and make your case for who you think should win the award in the comments or on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instragram).

Here are 2019’s finalists (in alphabetical order):

Sam Fink (Saint Louis FC of USL Championship – Division II)

Sam Fink was on the field for every moment of his team’s 2019 US Open Cup run and helped lead the defensive effort through the five games. In Saint Louis FC’s best tournament performance to date, the side only allowed three goals in their four wins, two of which were penalty kicks, en route to the Quarterfinals. Fink etched his name into his hometown club’s history books during the Fifth Round (Round of 16) when he headed in a stoppage time corner kick from Lewis Hilton into the net of MLS side FC Cincinnati for the 1-0 win. The goal earned him Player of the Round honors from TheCup.us.

Round 2: Started, played 120 minutes in a 1-1 draw (3-1 PK win) at Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) – NOTE: Only goal allowed was a PK
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes in a 3-1 home win vs. Forward Madison (USL League One)
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes in a 2-1 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS) – NOTE: Only goal allowed was a PK
Round 5: Started, played 90 minutes, scored a late game-winning goal in a 1-0 home win vs. FC Cincinnati (MLS). Was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 minutes in a 2-0 road loss at Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Kevaughn Frater (New Mexico United of USL Championship – Division II)

In New Mexico United’s inaugural tournament run, they became the second straight debuting USL club to reach the Fifth Round (Round of 16) following Nashville SC in 2018. Kevaughn Frater was a big reason for that as he made a huge impact, scoring in three of the four games he played in and going at least 90 minutes in all of them. His three goals in three games were the difference makers in his team’s narrow wins, including his game-winning penalty kick against the Colorado Spring Switchbacks in Round 3 and a stoppage time equalizer to force MLS side Colorado Rapids into extra time (where New Mexico would eventually prevail in PKs) in the Fourth Round. His final goal came just before halftime to tie the game in New Mexico’s 2-1 road win over FC Dallas (MLS) in the Round of 16. Unfortunately for United, Frater received a yellow card in the 59th minute in that game, which gave him a total of three in the tournament, which led to a one-game suspension. Because of this, Frater had to miss the team’s match against eventual runner-up Minnesota United FC in the Quarterfinals, which the Loons won, 6-1.

Round 2: Started, played 98 minutes in a 2-2 draw (4-3 PK win) on the road against Phoenix Rising (USL-C)
Round 3: Started, played 115 minutes, scored 1 game-winning PK goal, dished out 1 assist in a 2-1 OT road win at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C)
Round 4: Started, played 120 minutes, scored the equalizer in 2nd half stoppage time, and converted his PK in the shootout in a 2-2 draw (4-2 PK win) on the road at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Round 5: Started, played 90 minutes, scored a goal in a 2-1 road win at FC Dallas (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Did not play (yellow card suspension) in 6-1 road loss at Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Blake Frischkecht (Orange County FC of the National Premier Soccer League – Open Division)

Frischkecht begin the tournament by assisting on his team’s opening goal in a 2-0 home win over USL League Two power FC Golden State Force. After helping OCFC upset Orange County SC (USL-C), the Player of the Round winner for Round 3 then played a game where everything seemed to come together. His side, the only one remaining in the tournament from the National Premier Soccer League, came out blazing against his hometown Las Vegas Lights FC. The two former U.S. Men’s National Team players who had been at the USL Championship sides’ tryouts the day he arrived, Eric Wynalda and Paul Caligiuri, stood as coaches at opposite benches that night. After assisting on a goal earlier in the game, Frischkecht’s 89th minute header was the game-winner it what seemed ike the perfect culmination to his career up until that point.

Round 1: Started, played 90 minutes, assisted on the opening goal in a 2-0 home win vs. FC Golden State Force (USL League Two)
Round 2: Started, played 120 minutes in a 2-2 draw (5-3 PK win) on the road against Orange County SC (USL-C)
Round 3: Started, played 90 minutes, scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute, dished out an assist in a 5-3 road win at Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C). Voted TheCup.us Player of the Round
Round 4: Started, played 90 minutes in a 3-0 road loss at LA Galaxy (MLS)

Devon Sandoval (New Mexico United of USL Championship – Division II)

Along with fellow nominee Kevaughn Frater, Devon Sandoval was the other force behind New Mexico United’s offense. Sandoval started the tournament as a late game substitute but found himself as a starter by tournament’s end. The Albuquerque native made his biggest impact in his team’s first game against fellow USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC. Coming off the bench, he scored both of his team’s goals, the latter coming in the fifth minute of stoppage, to force extra time and penalty kicks where his successful attempt helped advance his team through. In the Fourth Round he played a part in both goals in the upset against the Colorado Rapids of MLS and went the full 120, including another successful penalty kick shootout attempt that helped United eliminate the hometown Rapids. Sandoval played a big role in his start (and 75 minutes of game play) in the club’s 2-1 road win over FC Dallas (MLS).

Round 2: Came off the bench in 75th min., scored 2 goals (79′, 95′), converted his PK in the shootout, in a 2-2 draw (4-3 PK win) on the road at Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
Round 3: Came off the bench in 60th min. in a 2-1 OT road win at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
Round 4: Started, played 120 mins., scored a goal, assisted on a stoppage time equalizer (90+5), and converted his PK in the shootout in a 2-2 draw (4-2 PK win) at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Round 5: Started, played 75 mins. in a 2-1 road win at FC Dallas (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins. in a 6-1 road loss at Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Valentin Sabella (Florida Soccer Soldiers of the United Premier Soccer League – Open Division)

Despite his Florida Soccer Soldiers playing the least amount of games of any other nominee, Valentin Sabella’s actions in the Open Cup not only brought success to his team but also himself. After playing 90 minutes in the Soccer Soldiers’ 2-1 win over pro side Miami FC (who would finish the season with their second straight NPSL championship). In his team’s Second Round match against USL Championship side Charlotte Independence, Sabella’s side was down a man and trailing late in the second extra time half. The Buenos Aires native took advantage of a poor back pass by the Independence and notched the equalizer to send the game to a shootout – all while suffering a minor leg injury during the celebration. He made his penalty kick which allowed goalkeeper Bryant Martin to come up with a huge save in the fifth round to send his team through, an action that earned him Player of the Round honors from TheCup.us. Despite narrowly losing the next game to North Carolina FC (USL-C), 1-0, Sabella later went on to be signed by Charlotte, the team he helped eliminate, in his first ever professional soccer contract.

Round 1: Started, played 90 mins. in a 2-1 road win at Miami FC (NPSL)
Round 2: Started, played 120 mins., scored an 118th min. equalizer, and scored the clinching PK in the shootout in a 2-2 draw (5-4 PK win) on the road at Charlotte Independence (USL-C)
Round 3: Started, played 90 mins. in a 1-0 road loss at North Carolina FC (USL-C)

Past winners of TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament

2012: Danny Barrera (Cal FC – USASA)
2013: Ty Shipalane (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)
2014: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)
2015: Michael Salazar (PSA Elite – USASA)
2016: Diego Restrepo (Fort Lauderdale Strikers – NASL)
2017: Mitch Hildebrandt (FC Cincinnati – USL)
2018: Allisson Faramilio (FC Golden State – PDL)