Alex Afonso

2008 Third Round: Abe Thompson’s timely goals bounce the Blues, put FC Dallas in Quarterfinals

July 1, 2008 by

Abe Thompson sure has a thing for timing.

The FC Dallas forward scored goals in stoppage time at the end of both halves, with the latter coming just moments before the final whistle, to push Dallas over Miami FC 2-1 at Pizza Hut Park.

It was Miami’s goal machine, Alex Afonso, who started the evening’s scoring in the seventh minute. Afonso, the leading goalscorer in the USL First Division, nutmegged two FC Dallas defenders before beating goalkeeper Ray Burse with a powerful shot, giving the USL-1 side a 1-0 lead. Sean Cameron nearly doubled the lead in the 38th minute, but his shot hit the right post. Miami looked to be headed into halftime with that lead, but Abe Thompson scored in the third minute of stoppage time, off a pass from Dominic Oduro.

Playing deep into second half stoppage time, Drew Moor sent a pass from 40 yards out into the box, which Thompson reached and headed toward the right post. Miami goalkeeper Josh Saunders got a hand on the shot, but could not stop it from going in for the winning goal. For Thompson, it was his sixth career Open Cup goal.

Dallas will host the Charleston Battery in the Quarterfinals next Tuesday. The two clubs met in the Quarterfinals of the 2007 tournament with Dallas emerging witha 2-1 extra time victory.

Lineups

Miami FC Blues — Josh Saunders, Eric Brunner, Caue de Mata, Avery John, Chris Williams, Sean Cameron (Eric Vasquez 80), Jarryd Goldberg (Bruno Menezes 58), Leo Nunes, John Pulido, Alex Afonso, Sean Fraser (Juan Galavis 58),

Substitutes Not Used: Luis Calix, Ricardo Cavalcante, Nicolas Mosquera, Samuel Reynolds

FC Dallas — Ray Burse, Drew Moor, Aaron Pitchkolan, Blake Wagner, Marcelo Saragosa, Juan Toja, Anthony Wallace (Eric Avila 39), Andre Rocha (Michael Dello-Russo 64), Chase Wileman, Dominic Oduro (Kenny Cooper 46), Abe Thompson,

Substitutes Not Used: Ricardinho, Andrew Daniels, Josh Lambo, Brek Shea

FC Dallas Miami FC Blues
total shots: 21 (Dominic Oduro 4) 9 (Alex Afonso 4)
shots on goal: 6 (Dominic Oduro 2) 3 (Alex Afonso 2)
fouls: 8 (Marcelo Saragosa 2) 17 (Leo Nunes 4)
offsides: 1 (Kenny Cooper 1) 4 (4 tied with 1)
corner kicks: 9 (Andre Rocha 7) 1 (Sean Cameron 1)
saves: 2 (Ray Burse 2) 5 (Josh Saunders 5)

Misconduct Summary:
MIA — Leo Nunes (caution; Delaying a Restart) 36
DAL — Drew Moor (caution; Game Disrepute) 84
MIA — Caue de Mata (caution; Delaying a Restart) 88

referee: Jasen Anno
Referee’s Assistants: Adam Gardner; Kyle Borne
4th official: Fernando Galvan
time of game: 1:51
attendance:
weather: Clear -and- 92 degrees

2008 Second Round: Miami FC edge Silverbacks, earn first win over pro team

June 24, 2008 by

With Alex Afonso’s lone strike of the game in the 40th minute, Miami FC advanced past the Second Round of the US Open Cup for the first time with a 1-0 win over the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks.

In a rare switch, Miami FC head coach Zinho decided to rest players in advance of Tuesday’s Open Cup contest, instead of the other way around. The move paid off as Miami recorded another shutout, adding to the eight they had in league play to that point. Atlanta nearly took an early lead when a shot from Rodrigo Rios in the 6th minute struck the top of the crossbar. Just before halftime, Afonso unleashed a long range shot to the top left corner of the goal, giving goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh no chance at a save.

Both teams worked furiously to score an additional goal, each defense held just as firm. In the final minute, Miami goalkeeper Josh Saunders saved a close range shot from Jason McLaughlin, and Eric Vasquez nearly scored on a counter attack for Miami, but his shot was off the mark.

Miami moves on to face FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park next Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.

2008 First Round: Miami FC (finally) earns first Open Cup win vs. Bradenton

June 10, 2008 by

Miami F.C. finally shook the Open Cup monkey off their back, earning their first win in three tries with a 4-2 victory over the PDL’s Bradenton Academics. They were not only trying to avoid their third straight Open Cup loss, but their third loss to an amateur club. In 2006, they famously were beaten by Dallas Roma F.C. of the USASA and last year the PDL’s El Paso Patriots eliminated them in a penalty kick shootout.

Zak Boggs started the scoring for Bradenton with a goal in the 18th minute, which was answered by Miami’s Sean Cameron just seven minutes later. After the break, an own goal by Eddie Gutierrez put the PDL club back on top. Leo Inacio drew Miami level again in the 58th minute, and the Blues never looked back.

Even after Miami was reduced to 10 men with Cristiano Dias’ red card in the 69th minute, Miami had control of the match. Alex Afonso scored the final two goals to send Miami to a Second Round meeting with fellow First Division side, the Atlanta Silverbacks.