The 2022 UPSL National Champions FORO SC rounded out its first US Open Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Alamo City SC.
The San Antonio outfit travelled north to the DFW Metroplex looking to avenge a defeat to FORO’s near-neighbors D’Feeters Kicks SC a year prior, but ran into a late flurry of goals after losing goalkeeper Vincent Florio to a red card.
Opportunities were few and far between in the first half, with Alamo City’s compact defense keeping FORO SC at bay. The South Texas side had the best chance to break the deadlock after a long ball upfield found its way through to Kai Louviere on a clear run at goal. Ivan Bengono produced a world-class tackle from behind in the area to knock the ball away as Louviere looked to shoot.
The night turned for the visitors after a moment of madness by Vincent Florio in the early stages of the second half. The Alamo City goalkeeper came out of his area to challenge for the ball, but lost possession. Rather than making a beeline for goal, Florio chased the FORO players in possession, scything down Juan Ramirez with a late challenge as the shot from Ramirez was comfortably cleared away. With only three outfield players on the bench, defender Cameron Cortez took over the gloves for the final 37 minutes.
The opening goal came in cruel fashion as Cortez spilled a save off a Juan Ramirez shot through a crowd of players. A couple of players in orange attempted to guide the ball in before Nigel Katawa stabbed the ball home in the 67th minute.
Katawa then doubled the lead seven minutes later with a header off a throw-in from Rio Ramirez.
FORO SC saved another pair of goals for the closing stages, as Alex Molano saw a low drive from outside the box keep inside Cortez’s near post with three minutes to play. In stoppage time, Molano had another shot from outside the box. This time Cortez got to the ball, but could only watch Hector Romero poke the rebound home from just beyond his fingertips to end the night and see FORO SC through to the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.