Austin Bold FC

2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo hold off Austin Bold rally, advance to Round of 16

June 12, 2019 by Louis Roesch

DaMarcus Beasley of the Houston Dynamo plays the ball against the Austin Bold FC in the Fourth Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos || Twitter, IG: Vos_Castellanos

The defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo started off their title defense with a nail-biting 3-2 win over Austin Bold FC on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Houston opened with a dominating first 45 with goals by Tomas Martinez, Ronaldo Pena and Matias Vera, but had to hold on after Austin answered with two second half goals.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Martinez opened the scoring with his first career US Open Cup goal in the 14th minute of play. After forward Marlon Hairston’s attempt was blocked, the deflection fell to the feet of Martinez and he put away the opening tally. It was his third goal of the season across all competition in 2019.

Seventeen minutes later, Martinez would assist on Ronaldo Pena’s first goal of the season coming in his first start following a preseason injury. Houston’s No. 10 pulled the keeper Diego Restrepo and the Austin defense to the near post before slipping the ball to Pena who delivered, doubling the Houston lead.

Houston seemed in complete control when an unmarked Matias Vera blasted home a ball off a perfectly timed heel pass from Pena. The forward bulled his way past the remaining Austin defense and slotted home the marker giving Houston a three goal lead heading into the halftime locker room.

Austin Bold worked its way back into the match pulling to within a goal as the teams neared the hour mark. Former Chivas great Xavier Baez scored off a free kick in the 48th minute and forward Isaac Promise scored in the 58th minute but it was too little too late as Austin Bold FC could not find the equalizer.

“I don’t know if you saw the same game we saw but it was two different teams,” Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera lamented following the match. “I’m disappointed and also I offer my apologies to the fans that made the effort to come over here and watch that second half from our team. We just played 45 minutes.”

The win moved Houston into the Round of 16 for the sixth straight year. US Soccer will conduct a draw at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday, June 14 to determine the opponents for games to be played on June 18th and 19th.

2019 US Open Cup Round 3: Sonny Guadarrama carries Austin Bold FC to dominant win over San Antonio FC

May 30, 2019 by Zach Smith

Sonny Guadarrama of Austin Bold FC was involved in three of the team's four goals (1 goals, 2 assists) in a 4-2 win over San Antonio FC. Photo: Austin Bold FC — Sonny Guadarrama of Austin Bold FC was involved in three of the team’s four goals (1 goals, 2 assists) in a 4-2 win over San Antonio FC. Photo: Austin Bold FC

Sonny Guadarrama lofted the ball into the box, where Klèber headed it up and smashed it off the volley past a diving San Antonio FC keeper to give Austin Bold FC an early lead on Wednesday night.

It was a stunning start to a dominant game for the Bold, which beat their Texas rivals 4-2 in the Third Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and will travel to face off with the Houston Dynamo in the Round 4 next month.

“He did more of the work, mine was the easy part,” Guadarrama said.

San Antonio FC scored in the waning moments of both halves. Wálter Restrepo scored with a close-range shot in the 44th minute to cut the Austin lead to a pair of goals at the break, and Jack Barmby scored four minutes into extra time.

Guadarrama finished with one goal and two assists in the game, while forward Andre Lima finished with a brace and Klèber started things off with the game’s opening goal.

As the dust settles…?⚽

The battle for the Lone Star State is won by @AustinBoldFC over @SanAntonioFC 4-2!?

Final | 4-2 AUS | #USOC2019 pic.twitter.com/svefGCIV9i

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 30, 2019

“Sonny is becoming the Sonny from the past after two years off,” Bold head coach Marcelo Serrano said. “He’s playing for the community that he loves. That’s the reason we brought him back. Every game, he’s increasing his level and he’s getting the fitness back again. He’s a baller.”

After losing two straight games for the first time all season, Austin experimented with a 4-3-3 formation for the first time, with Guadarrama in the middle and Lima, Klèber and Isaac Promise up top.

It worked, as the Bold outshot San Antonio 26-16 — including a 9-6 advantage in shots on target — and had 52 percent of the possession.

“We’re disappointed with the outcome of the game,” San Antonio FC head coach Darren Powell said. “We were able to play some young players who earned valuable experience and now know what it’s like to play at this level. It was a very open game with plenty of chances both ways, but the bottom line is we need to regroup and prepare for our league game on Saturday.”

The Bold locker room is filled with former MLS players and players with Open Cup experience.

Defenders Amobi Okugo and Jermaine Taylor each spent a few seasons in the top professional league, and Okugo was a member of Sporting Kansas City when they won the Open Cup in 2015.

Diego Restrepo was the starting goalkeeper for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers that reached the Quarterfinals of the tournament in 2016, upsetting MLS teams D.C. United and Orlando City SC along the way. That year, Restrepo was voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament.

The Open Cup is something that Austin has made a high priority in its first-ever season.

“We knew what was at stake,” Guadarrama said. “When we started back in February, one of our bigger goals was to be on a bigger (stage) and we knew for that to happen we have to play against an MLS team.”

2019 US Open Cup Round 2: Sean McFarlane orchestrates Austin Bold’s 2-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks

May 21, 2019 by Zach Smith

Andre Lima and Sean McFarlane of Austin Bold FC celebrate a goal against Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the Second Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Austin Bold FC

Austin Bold FC head coach Marcelo Serrano knew the risks of putting two aggressive forwards out for the first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game in Austin in four years. His decision paid off big time.

Sonny Guadarrama opened the scoring in the first half and his attacking partner, Andre Lima, doubled the lead late in the second half to help the Bold down the Tulsa Roughnecks 2-0 on Tuesday night.

“It was a great performance, we had so many chances,” Serrano said. “We had a clean sheet and we’re moving forward as a team.”

Austin will get a rematch when it hosts San Antonio FC — a team they beat 1-0 earlier in the USL season — in the Third Round of the US Open Cup on May 29.

.@AustinBoldFC takes the victory 2-0 over the @RoughnecksFC and will move on to compete against the @SanAntonioFC or @LaredoHeatSC!?#USOC2019 | ? Highlights ⤵ pic.twitter.com/kIjeSfUu2O

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 15, 2019

Tuesday was a dominant performance by the Austin offense, which was largely the same lineup that beat the OKC Energy FC in league play the previous Friday. The Bold outshot the Roughnecks 25-10 and had seven shots on target.

Pulling the strings was right back Sean McFarlane, who assisted on both goals.

His first assist saw his pass get dummied by Kléber and allowed Guadarrama to take one touch and find the bottom corner of the net in the 34th minute. He then sent in a low cross in front of the net for Lima to tap in the 74th minute.

Players from Austin Bold FC celebrate a goal against Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the Second Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Austin Bold FC

“Every game, he’s becoming more and more dangerous, and it can be hard to find players like that,” Guadarrama said. “He’s obviously got talent, and coach is helping him get even more out of what he can give.”

Bold academy singing Beto Avila, an 18-year-old Austin native, made his professional debut in the match, subbing in for Guadarrama in the second half and picking up the second assist on the goal by Lima.

Despite signing less than a month ago, former Lonestar SC and Houston Dynamo Academy player has proven he can make an impact.

“I’m glad that coach is strong enough to give the kids a chance,” Guadarrama said. “A lot of coaches don’t because they’re worried about the result. he’s keeping his word on playing local talent. I think they deserve it.”

Austin has yet to lose a game at Bold Stadium at Circuit of the Americas. The winner of the next round could see an MLS team come to the brand-new soccer stadium.

“It’s always fun to play against San Antonio, and it’s a big game because we know that if we win, we take that big step that I think every team in the USL wants to go out and play an MLS team,” Guadarrama said.