Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Atlanta United FC

2019 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Atlanta United blank Saint Louis, becomes first Georgia team to reach Semis in 38 years

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Players from Atlanta United celebrate a goal against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United
Players from Atlanta United celebrate a goal against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United

Atlanta United midfielder Pity Martinez had been saddled with criticism from his fans – and his coach – after a string of flat results. On Wednesday evening, the MLS club’s big-ticket offseason signing delivered.

Martinez’s goal in the 52nd minute on an assist from new signing Emerson Hyndman, and a stoppage-time penalty from Josef Martinez, led Atlanta to a 2-0 win over USL Championship team Saint Louis FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.

Just over an hour after the final whistle, Orlando City and New York City FC played to a 1-1 draw, but Orlando defeated NYCFC 5-4 in penalties to set up a semifinal showdown with Atlanta in early August.

With the win, Atlanta United becomes the first Georgia-based club to reach the US Open Cup Semifinals since Datagraphics advanced to the final four in 1981.

“I think I can be very satisfied with the performance tonight,” said Atlanta coach Frank de Boer. “Maybe the last 15 minutes of the first half we were a little bit sloppy and they made one or two chances out of it, but for the rest we played really concentrated.”

Atlanta United dominated possession in the early going, choosing a patient approach in the attack while depending on the wing play of Justin Meram to create opportunities for Pity Martinez and the forward corps. Despite there being no goals to speak of throughout the first half hour, one appeared to be inevitable for the home side, but Saint Louis began to build confidence as the match went on and nearly scored off a corner routine in the 37th minute.

The breakthrough for Atlanta finally came in the 52nd minute. Emerson Hyndman dispossessed his man in the box and made clever work of it to lay it off to Pity Martinez – leaving the Argentinian with a pretty finish to make it 1-0.

“I kind of saw (the ball carrier) facing his own goal and just tried to jump it,” Hyndman said. “Thankfully it turned the right way for me and Pity made a great finish.”

Atlanta United fans cheer on their team against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United
Atlanta United fans cheer on their team against Saint Louis FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Karl L. Moore | Atlanta United

Atlanta had several opportunities down the stretch to put the match away, but the final ball never found its target. That allowed a chance for Saint Louis to level the match with a succession of corners that they were never able to capitalize on. But late in stoppage time, a penalty awarded to Atlanta saw Josef Martinez confidently step up and convert to double the margin and see his team through to the semifinals.

“You could see the determination to avoid the equalizer in the last minute (with) three corner kicks, and how everybody was determined to not concede the goal,” de Boer said. “Then (we) got our reward in the end with the penalty.”

For Pity Martinez, tonight served as a bit of redemption. He was active on both sides of the field, and while it wasn’t a perfect showing, it provided some optimism for both his fans and his coach.

“I think he played a really good game,” de Boer said. “He knows he wants to see his level go up, and today he made a very good step. Hopefully he continue in that, and it’s great that he scored a goal of importance for the team.”

Despite the loss, Saint Louis FC won’t go home empty-handed. They have won the $25,000 Division 2 prize money as the second division team that has advanced the furthest. They earned the prize money in a tiebreaker with New Mexico United, who were also eliminated tonight. Saint Louis wins the tiebreaker of the number of wins over a team one division higher (MLS). Saint Louis had two, while New Mexico had one. New Mexico eliminated two MLS teams also, but one of them was by penalty kicks, and games that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as a draw.

Atlanta will either travel to or host Orlando in the first semifinal match for both teams. U.S. Soccer will conduct a draw at 2 p.m. Thursday, with the match to be played on either August 6 or 7.

2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: Brandon Vazquez brace leads Atlanta United past Columbus Crew, into first Quarterfinal

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Brandon Vazquez of Atlanta United celebrates one of his goals in the rain with teammate Justin Meram in his club's Round of 16 match against the Columbus Crew in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Ralph Schudel | @schudel_ralph on Twitter and Instagram
Brandon Vazquez of Atlanta United celebrates one of his goals in the rain with teammate Justin Meram in his club’s Round of 16 match against the Columbus Crew in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Ralph Schudel | @schudel_ralph on Twitter and Instagram


The Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicked off with Atlanta United traveling to MAPFRE Stadium to take on Columbus Crew SC in what seemed to be a reasonably overcast evening.
Unlike last time, where there were many showers of rain blessed upon the folks at MAPFRE Stadium, and Crew SC were victorious 2-0. That wasn’t the case this time around as Atlanta United defeated Columbus, 3-2 to punch their ticket to the Quarterfinals for the first time.
Atlanta United got the opening goal in the fifth minute when a poor giveaway from David Guzman gave Brandon Vazquez the room to slide the ball past goalkeeper Jon Kempin to give the away side a 1-0 lead.

“We have to recognize moments,” said Atlanta United head coach Frank de Boer. “Hey, you can’t sit back. You have to track back sometimes. Sometimes an opponent will push you back. I think that’s the most important thing. We lost a little bit of the initiative. We always want the initiative.”
Columbus had a decent look on goal in the eighth minute when David Accam found Patrick Mullins inside the penalty area for a shot on goal. Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan was there for the save, however.
Miles Robinson doubled United’s lead when Barco served in a corner kick and Robinson got his head on the end of the service.

After 15 minutes, Crew SC found themselves down at home. As time progressed, Columbus found themselves getting stronger, gaining more possession, but Atlanta found a way to keep the Black and Gold at bay.
Atlanta nearly got a third in the 37th minute when former Crew winger Justin Meram found space inside the penalty area to take a shot, but it went just wide of the frame and out for a goal kick.
Vazquez almost got his second goal of the game when another bad backpass let Vazquez in on goal all alone, but his sharp-angle attempt hit the far post and back into play.
Columbus would get a goal back in the 40th minute when David Accam got his second goal in as many US Open Cup matches to cut the deficit to one goal.
Columbus would hold the halftime momentum from Accam’s goal as both teams would go to their respective locker rooms, Atlanta holding the 2-1 advantage.
The second half brought Deja Vu when the rain started falling heavily.
Atlanta would extend their league when Vazquez notched his brace in the 65th minute, slotting the ball past Kempin at the far post to extend the lead to 3-1.
Vazquez is now tied for the tournament lead in goals with four, alongside the Richmond Kickers’ Charles Boateng.
Waylon Francis made his return to the Crew SC lineup with a bang, pulling Columbus within one yet again in the 71st minute when his shot took a deflection off of an Atlanta defender and into the back of the net.
Minutes later, Mother Nature got involved when a severe weather delay was placed in effect in the 75th minute. This would be good for Columbus as they attempted to regroup during the break, hoping to score an equalizer in the final 15 minutes.

Brandon Vazquez of Atlanta United celebrates one of his goals with his teammates in his club's Round of 16 match against the Columbus Crew in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Ralph Schudel | @schudel_ralph on Twitter and Instagram
Brandon Vazquez of Atlanta United celebrates one of his goals with his teammates in his club’s Round of 16 match against the Columbus Crew in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Ralph Schudel | @schudel_ralph on Twitter and Instagram

After approximately 49 minutes, the game resumed after both teams agreed to have a 10-minute warm up.

After play resumed, neither team was able to find another goal, but the game didn’t end without controversy.

In the final minute of the match, Accam was brought down in the penalty area but center official Guido Gonzalez Jr. decided not to award a penalty kick. The entire Columbus bench and staff swarmed the referee to offer their opinion on the no-call.
“The way that the official handled the last 15 minutes was shocking,” said a baffled and irate Caleb Porter. “It’s one of the tough things about this competition. They trial officials and see how they do. It’s disappointing. These games, there’s a lot at stake. You need high-level officials that know how to smell a game and manage it.”
With Columbus still struggling to get past the Round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup, their attention now is focused on the real prize, and that’s making a hard push for the playoffs during league play.
“With the Open Cup gone, we’re going to throw everything into the last 18 games, and we need to approach these games with the same attitude, effort, and density.”
Atlanta will now await the winner of Saint Louis FC and FC Cincinnati in the Round of Eight.

“We only go for one thing and that’s to win the cup,” said de Boer.
With the win, this is Atlanta’s first trip to the Quarterfinals, They are the first Georgia team to reach the Quarterfinals since 2014 Atlanta Silverbacks led by head coach Eric Wynalda.

2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Brandon Vazquez helps Atlanta United pull away in OT for 3rd straight win over Charleston Battery

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Brandon Vasquez of Atlanta United celebrates against the Charleston Battery in the Fourth Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Atlanta United
Brandon Vazquez of Atlanta United celebrates against the Charleston Battery in the Fourth Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Atlanta United

Coming off an over two-month spell off the soccer field due to an MCL injury, Atlanta United forward Brandon Vazquez hoped to dispel a frustrating season and make the most of a rare opportunity during the club’s 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Fourth Round matchup against the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship.

He made the most of that chance on Thursday evening.

Vazquez broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 110th minute, and added a second goal in stoppage time of the second extra time session, to send Atlanta United to a 3-1 win over the Charleston Battery at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.

“It definitely helped my confidence,” said Vazquez, who came on in the 74th minute for his second appearance between Atlanta’s first and second team in a week after none since late March. “I’ve been out for a couple months now so this was definitely good for me, and my mentality coming on is right where I want it to be.”

It was a bit of delayed gratification for Atlanta, who were originally set to play the Battery on the road at MUSC Health Stadium on Tuesday. After heavy rains over the area created unplayable conditions on the field, the two teams were forced to reschedule the match for Thursday evening just north of Atlanta – behind closed doors.

With Atlanta United opening the match in sloppy fashion, the upset-minded Battery, looking for its first win against the defending MLS champions in three Open Cup tries, eventually took advantage.

In the 20th minute, AJ Paterson jumped on a heavy from Franco Escobar and fed it to Ian Svantesson, who one-touched it past a diving Alec Kann to give the Battery a 1-0 lead. Charleston frazzled its opponent by putting ten men behind the ball any time it defended, clearly having done due diligence knowing that Atlanta has struggled throughout its brief history when facing a bunkering side.

“We started 20 minutes too late,” Atlanta coach Frank de Boer said of his team’s performance against Charleston. “We thought we could just play around and do silly things and they took their opportunity and scored once. Then you have to deal with 11 men behind the ball. It’s a good, organized team and they showed it today.”

In the second half, Atlanta gradually looked to grow into the match and take advantage of a gradually tiring Charleston defense. It finally broke through in the 79th minute, as a corner kick from Pity Martinez made its way into the box, deflected off the head of Miles Robinson and was poked in by Romario Williams to level the match. For Williams, a player who spent two different loan spells with the Battery, it was his third career US Open Cup goal. All three of those goals came in games that eliminated the Charleston Battery. In 2014, he scored for the Orlando City Under-23s, who upset the Battery in what would be the longest penalty kick shootout of the Modern Era (they won 12-11), and last year, also at Kennesaw State University, he scored for Atlanta United in their 3-0 win over Charleston.

Atlanta may have had a couple of cracks to win it late in regular time, but this one went to an extra 30 minutes – with fatigue starting to set in even more. But in the 110th minute, second half sub Justin Meram connected with Brandon Vazquez in the box, with the youngster drawing the keeper out of the net and touching it home to give Atlanta the late lead.

The Battery, though, looked as if it had tied it twice late in the second half of extra time. A Kann deflection in the box was knocked home, but called offside by the assistant referee. Moments later, Atlanta’s defense broke down and allowed Arthur Bosua a one-on-one opportunity, but his attempt to chip Kann brushed off the crossbar and ended up in the hands of the goalkeeper.

Atlanta would end any notions of a Charleston equalizer for good in stoppage time of the second extra time period. Martinez’s pass found Meram making a goalward run on the left side of the field, and the veteran played a perfect ball to a streaking Vazquez inside the box to set up the game’s third goal and give Atlanta a win over the Battery for the third year in a row.

“I said to the players after the game that it’s a pity we started 20 minutes too late. After that we came into the game with our chances,” de Boer said. “Maybe we were a little reluctant to score a goal, but then we showed character. It was a hard game, and compliments to the Charleston Battery – they pushed us to the limit.”

Atlanta United travels to Columbus on Tuesday, June 18, to take on the Crew at 7:30 p.m. in the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup. Atlanta is looking for its first-ever Round of 16 win, while Columbus defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 for its first Fourth Round win since 2016.

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Atlanta United win rematch with Charleston Battery, 3-0

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Ezequiel Barco of Atlanta United dribbles past a Charleston Battery defender in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Eric Rossitch | Atlanta United
Ezequiel Barco of Atlanta United dribbles past a Charleston Battery defender in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Eric Rossitch | Atlanta United

Atlanta United struggled with the Charleston Battery in the two teams’ Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Fourth Round matchup last year. In their rematch on Wednesday, it was much more straightforward as Atlanta blanked its former USL affiliate 3-0 in front of a sold-out Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. to move on to the Round of 16 for the second year in as many tries.

As expected, Atlanta went with some fresh faces with Brandon Vazquez, Romario Williams and homegrown player Andrew Carleton getting the call in place of players like Michael Parkhurst, Josef Martinez and Jeff Larentowicz, while a few regulars like Ezequiel Barco and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez started as well. Miguel Almiron and Darlington Nagbe didn’t start but were part of an 18 with youngsters Chris Goslin and Yosef Samuel, while Martinez was left off the team sheet altogether.

After a relatively even first quarter of the match, Atlanta opened the scoring in the 14th on a laser of a goal by Carleton that found its way past a diving Odisnel Cooper – the first goal for the Atlanta-area native in first team action.

Things began to get a little physical as the game went on, with Charleston seeking to equalize in front of a partisan Atlanta crowd, but the match remained 1-0 at the break.

Atlanta, though, doubled its margin very early in the second. After Williams drew a penalty in the box, Barco stepped up and banked it off the crossbar and behind Cooper to make it 2-0. In the 65th minute, it was Williams with Atlanta’s third goal on the match on a perfect strike that beat the outstretched Cooper.

“I think we played well,” Atlanta United coach Tata Martino said afterwards. “I think we controlled the majority of the match and were able to win. It was important tonight that we were able to win it without (Martinez and Almiron) and with players like Brandon, Romario, Andrew, Miles (Robinson), Goslin and , just getting the young guys a lot of minutes.”

“I think my performance was solid,” said Williams. “I’m pleased with the performance. I could have been better with my touches on a couple of occasions, but for the most part it was good to get out there and get 90 minutes under my belt.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 5: Poku’s last second winner gives Miami FC dramatic upset of Atlanta United

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Miami FC upset a second straight MLS opponent with a 3-2 win over Atlanta United. Photo: Miami FC
Miami FC upset a second straight MLS opponent with a 3-2 win over Atlanta United. Photo: Miami FC

A storybook breakaway goal from Kwado Poku in stoppage time helped Miami FC defeat Atlanta United 3-2 Wednesday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami.

The thrilling victory marks the second-consecutive year an NASL side based in south Florida has reached the quarterfinals of the Open Cup, after the now-defunct Fort Lauderdale Strikers accomplished the feat in 2016.

It was a deserved result for the hosts, who created the better chances throughout the second half. Miami captain Michael Lahoud credited the side’s character.

“I think Atlanta was shell-shocked. Usually how it works is the MLS side scores the first goal and the lower division side gives up,” Lahoud said. “We didn’t. We kept going, and it says everything about who we are.”

Manager Alessandro Nesta agreed with his captain’s assessment.

“For us it’s important, for the coaching staff and the players,” Nesta said. “This is a dream for us — but a dream costs nothing. You have to believe and you have to have the character to work to get it right.”

Nesta added his side needed character on a night they made plenty of mistakes.

“We didn’t play our best football; the possession was sloppy and we made mistakes,” he said. “But we fought through it, and we beat a team managed by Tata Martino. Managing him is an honor. Beating him is … wow,” the Italian legend said with a smile. “But now — we go back to work.”

Early on, however, Martino’s Atlanta took the initiative, a high line and withering pressure pinning Miami FC back. The pressure earned Atlanta two bright early chances to take the lead. First, an uncharacteristic turnover from Lahoud sent Julian Gressel and Kevin Kratz crashing towards the goal, only to see Kratz’s blast parried away by Miami goalkeeper Danie Vega. Minutes later, it was Atlanta’s 17-year-old hometown star Andrew Carleton slaloming through the orange and blue defense and again forcing Vega to punch-save away.

Eventually, Miami adjusted to the frenetic tempo of the match, however, and were able to settle the game, and even earn chances on the break, exploiting number advantages through the middle thanks to Atlanta’s high defensive line. Miami nearly took the lead in minute 28, a blast from Dylan Mares with a defender on the shoulder saved bravely by Atlanta’s Alec Kann.

In the 34th minute, however, it was Atlanta who made the breakthrough, with another talented Atlanta youngster, Brandon Vazquez heading home on a set piece. The goal was the first set piece goal in Atlanta United’s young club history, and also marked the first time in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup that Miami FC trailed.

The lead for the MLS visitors was short-lived.

Only three minutes later, Chris McCann gave the ball away near midfield and Kwadwo Poku deftly played a pass to Stefano Pinho. The Brazilian forward, who was TheCup.us’ Player of the Round for Round 4, turned his defender with a slick stepover and finished far post, tying the game.

Both teams had splendid chances to enter the halftime dressing rooms with a lead. First, Stefano Pinho collected a Richie Ryan pass on the left wing and darted past Tyrone Mears, only to see his hard and high shot blocked away by Kann. Then it was Atlanta’s turn to nearly score on a dynamic run, with Carleton attacking a pocket of space between the Miami FC CB’s and volleying just over Vega’s net. All told, it was fair the sides were level at the half, with chances created and possession nearly level.

The second half began with more Atlanta pressure, but this time, Miami made the adjustment, cycling the ball quickly through Lahoud to the wings and attacking the young Atlanta flanks. One such sequence helped Miami earn a free kick in the 51st minute. Moments later, Rhett Bernstein’s head met Hunter Freeman’s parabola service, beating Alec Kann and giving Miami FC a 2-1 lead.

Lahoud credited Miami’s fitness for withstanding Atlanta’s high pressure, and ultimately, helping the side gain a bit of control in the match.

“I don’t think Atlanta took us lightly,” Lahoud said. “They are fighting for their playoff lives and they are managing their schedule. They rested some players, but they played their game. With the high pressure they play, if you come down to Miami, good luck in this heat and humidity. They just couldn’t sustain it.”

For a good spell after the hosts took the lead, it looked like they’d add to it.
Another McCann giveaway sent Miami off to the races, Poku playing a soft ball to Enzo Renella, who chipped across Pinho, who beat a defender to the ball but clipped his volley just high far post.

The near-miss seemed to revive Atlanta, who ratcheted up the pressure until Andrew Carleton changed the game again in the 74th minute, dribbling past a pursuing Blake Smith and putting a shimmy on Poku, who chopped him down in the area. Referee Jose Carlos Rivero pointed to the spot, and Julian Gressel, one of the stars of Atlanta’s inaugural MLS campaign, calmly scored to level the proceedings.

Once again, as befitting the rollicking back and forth nature of this match, both sides had tremendous chances to score the vital third goal.

A series of fast, physical counterattacking runs by Pinho and Poku gave Miami two fine chances, only to see Rennella miss cutback passes to Poku in space on each occasion. Meanwhile, Atlanta would pressure Miami centrally, with substitution Lagos Kunga, a veteran of the U.S. U-20 World Cup quarterfinalists, doing well to peel away Miami defenders and create space for Kratz and Vazquez to run on centrally.

With extra time — and lightning — looming on the near horizon, Miami had one final chance to win in regulation. Rennella and Poku won a midfield fifty-fifty, with the latter emerging with the ball and making a final barrel towards the Atlanta net. With Atlanta’s Carlos Carmona closing, Poku managed to stay upright and hit a soft shot past an onrushing Kann, sending the crowd of 9,404 into raptures and the hosts into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals. For Poku, it was his 9th career US Open Cup goal.

Miami will host the quarterfinal against FC Cincinnati (USL) on July 12.

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: After delay, Atlanta United rallies to edge Charleston Battery in debut

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Brandon Vasquez and Mikey Ambrose of Atlanta United celebrate the team's go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute against the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup Fourth Round. Photo: Atlanta United
Brandon Vasquez and Mikey Ambrose of Atlanta United celebrate the team’s go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute against the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup Fourth Round. Photo: Atlanta United

As host Atlanta United and USL affiliate Charleston Battery took the pitch to the tune of the US Open Cup’s theme song on Wednesday night, the PA system announced a lightning delay that would require the Fifth/Third Bank Stadium to be evacuated. A match that was scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff did not start until 10:10, concluding just after midnight.

Most of the crowd waited out the storm under the stadium roof, and greeted the new kickoff time with cheering. The supporters had a 10-minute turnaround to re-enter the gates, while the teams went through warm-ups.

It didn’t take long for the opening goal, as Charleston center back Forrest Lasso flicked in a long throw-in from O’Brian Woodbine in the fourth minute, Lasso’s second goal of the 2017 US Open Cup and sixth in all competitions. The Battery have utilized Lasso’s 6-foot-5-inch height on set piece situations to their advantage throughout the season.

Atlanta United leveled in the 30th minute, as a scramble inside the penalty area following a corner kick fell to Kevin Kratz, who finished at the back post for his first goal with the club.

Seconds later, a shot from Dante Marini deflected off Atlanta rookie Miles Robinson past Alec Kann to restore the Battery’s lead. At the time of the goal, the PA announcer was still reporting United’s earlier equalizer.

There was drama late in the first half, as a penalty was awarded to Charleston, Woodbine sending his shot over the crossbar.

The miss would haunt the Battery, as Atlanta United rallied for a 3-2 victory before a 9,458 crowd.

The Fourth Round US Open Cup game between the Charleston Battery and Atlanta United was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but because of the lightning delay, the game didn't get off until 10:10 p.m. Photo: Atlanta United
The Fourth Round US Open Cup game between the Charleston Battery and Atlanta United was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but because of the lightning delay, the game didn’t get off until 10:10 p.m. Photo: Atlanta United

In the 48th minute, a rising Josef Martinez finished Brandon Vazquez’s cross for his first goal since missing 10 matches due to a torn quad.

Atlanta United finished their comeback, as Mikey Ambrose’s inch-perfect cross found the 18-year-old Vazquez for a simple finish in the 72nd minute.

The home crowd’s collective heartbeat nearly stopped in the 88th minute, as Charleston players crowded Kann while the ball was in the air, and managed to force a bobble, before Lasso buried a shot, the goal disallowed for goalkeeper interference.

“The positive was we found a way to get through it,” Atlanta coach Tata Martino said. “As a team, we didn’t play very well, but we were able to win due to our perseverance.”

Atlanta United, which was making its US Open Cup debut, will visit Miami FC in a fifth-round match July 28.

The Battery play at Cincinnati FC in a USL match at 7 p.m. Saturday at 7 p.m.

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