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Azzurri

Things you should know about the First Round of the US Open Cup

September 1, 2009 by Josh Hakala

David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club's five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com
David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club's five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com
David Geno and the Seattle Sounders Under-23s celebrate one of the club’s five goals in a 5-1 win over Doxa Italia in the First Round of the 2013 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Coulter | SoundersPhotos.com

A total of 40 clubs took part in the first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (then known as the National Challenge Cup) tournament in 1913/14, a majority of whom came from the Northeast region of the country.

In 2008, the Seattle Sounders USL franchise became the first club in the Modern Era to advance to the Semifinals in consecutive seasons after beginning play in the First Round.

Since 1996, only five teams have advanced to the Semifinals after beginning play in the First Round. The Charleston Battery (2008), Carolina RailHawks (2007), San Francisco Bay Seals (1997) and the Seattle Sounders who did it twice in 2007 and 2008. San Francisco remain as the only third division club to advance to the final four (after beginning in Round 1) during that span.

Since 1995, an Open Division Local team has failed to advance past the First Round only three times (1995, 1998, 2002). Uruguay SC from Florida made the Second Round in back-to-back years (2000, 2001), and Mexico SC (Fresno, CA) joined them in 2000. Dallas Roma FC advanced in consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006 and Bavarian SC (Milwaukee, WI) moved on to the next round in 2003 and 2007. From 2008-2010, only one USASA club survived the opening round each year (Hollywood United – 2008, Sonoma County Sol – 2009, Arizona Sahuaros – 2010). After the tournament expanded in 2012, it has become more common.

In 1999, the Wilmington Hammerheads saw two players score hat tricks in their First Round match. Ryan Walker and Luke Griffith both scored three times in Wilmington’s 8-1 rout of Los Lobos, a USASA team from Oklahoma.

The Atlanta Silverbacks (USL First Division, Div. 2 pro) embarrassed Azzurri, an Open Division Local club from North Texas, 10-0 in the First Round of the 2007 tournament. It was the biggest route in the Modern Era, topping the Chicago Stingers’ (USL D3 Pro) 8-0 win over SAC Wisla (USASA) in 1997.

2007 marked the first year that all non-MLS teams began the tournament in the First Round. It was also the first year that any Division 2 pro teams started in Round 1.

In 2013, David Geno of the Seattle Sounders U-23s (USL League Two) became the first player from an Open Division team to score four goals in one game, and just the 10th player from any division to pull off the feat. He did this in Seattle’s 5-1 home win over Doxa Italia, and he scored all four of his goals in the first half.

The First Round in 2013 marked the first time that four different players scored a hat trick in the same round. Prior to that year, no more than two players had ever done it in the same round in the Modern Era (1995-present).  David Geno of the Sounders U23s scored four against Doxa Italia (USASA), while Hakan Ilhan (Carolina Dynamo), Kwadwo Poku (Georgia Revolution) and Argjent Duka (Icon FC) each scored a trio of goals in their respective games.

The attendance record for the First Round of the US Open Cup (Modern Era) is 5,816, when the Arizona Sahuaros (D3 Pro League) hosted the San Gabriel Valley Highlanders (PDL) at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona on June 12, 1998.

The record for highest average attendance in the First Round (Modern Era) is 1,247, but there were only four games scheduled that year (and one of them was forfeited).

The record for the biggest Second Round in the Modern Era is 2017 when there were 28 games played.

Updated after the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Filed Under: US Open Cup, US Open Cup History Tagged With: Argjent Duka, Arizona Sahuaros, Atlanta Silverbacks, Azzurri, Bavarian SC, Carolina Dynamo, Carolina RailHawks, Charleston Battery, Chicago Stingers, Dallas Roma FC, David Geno, Georgia Revolution, Hakan Ilhan, Hollywood United, Icon FC, Kwadwo Poku, Los Lobos, Luke Griffith, Mexico SC, Milford International, Reggae Boyz FC, Ryan Walker, SAC Wisla, Salinas Valley Samba, San Francisco Bay Seals, Seattle Sounders U23s, Seattle Sounders USL, Sonoma County Sol, Things You Should Know, Uruguay SC, Wilmington Hammerheads

2007 First Round: Silverbacks score 10 against lowly Azzurri of USASA

June 12, 2007 by

In one of three games on the night to be delayed by bad weather, the Atlanta Silverbacks exploded for six goals in the final fifteen minutes to cruise past Azzurri 10-0. Rodrigo Rios notched three goals as well as two assists, and Warren Ukah also tallied a hat trick in the span of four minutes, just eleven minutes after coming on as a substitute late in the second half.

The ’Backs started the scoring in the 10th minute, when Dayton O’Brien notched a goal after receiving a ball that deflected off an Azzurri defender. Rodrigo Rios scored the first of his three goals just four minutes later, off a pass from Daniel Antoniuk. Just three minutes later, a severe thunderstorm rolled through, and the game was stopped for an hour due to lightning.

Once play resumed, Atlanta added two more goals to the board, from Rafique Hassim, and a second from Rios. Azzurri had a good chance in the final moments of the half when Tomiwa Ogunsola hit a shot off the post.

In the second half, Azzurri tried to use an offside trap to slow Atlanta down, catching the ’Backs with eight offside calls in the first twenty minutes. As the half moved on, the Azzurri defense wore down, and Atlanta opened the floodgates, scoring six goals in the final fifteen minutes of play.

The 10-0 final score is the biggest route in the Professional Era (1995-present) and the second time that two players have scored a hat trick in the same game. The 10-goal deficit beat out the Chicago Stingers’ (USL D3 Pro) 8-0 win over SAC Wisla (USASA) in 1997.

Atlanta will host the Charlotte Eagles on June 26 in the Second Round.

Scoring
(ATL) Dayton O’Brien 10’
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 14’ (Daniel Antoniuk)
(ATL) Rafique Hassim 19’ (Angel Rivillo)
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 25’ (Dayton O’Brien)
(ATL) Rafique Hassim 74’ (Rodrigo Rios)
(ATL) Dan Antoniuk 80’ (Angel Rivillo)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 84’ (Rodrigo Rios)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 86’ (Dayton O’Brein)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 88’ (Daniel Antoniuk)
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 90’ (Angel Rivillo)

Cautions
(ATL) Hudson 40’

Atlanta Silverbacks –  Ryan McIntosh (Felipe Quintero, 17’), David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Tony McManus, Omar Jarun (Alvin Hudson 14’) (Justin Moore 65’), Scott Buete, Dayton O’Brien, Angel Rivillo, Rafique Hassim (Warren Ukah 77’), Rodrigo Rios, Daniel Antoniuk.

Azzurri – Michael Lahoud, Brian Hooten (Jeff Harwell 57’), Greg Mottinger, Adrian Chevannes, Daniel Dobson, Michael Anderson (Esteban Mariel 62’), Greg Martin, Matt Whiteley, Tomiwa Ogunsola (Nathan Neal 77’), Ryan Kneipper, Freddie Garcia (Manuel Mariel 16’).

Most goals, one team, single game, Professional Era (1995-2007)
10, Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Azzurri, June 12, 2007, First Round
9, Seattle Sounders vs. Everett BigFoot, June 12, 1995, First Round
9, El Paso Patriots vs. Arizona Sahuaros, June 24, 1998, Second Round
9, San Diego Flash vs. Arizona Sahuaros, June 30, 1999, Second Round
8, Chicago Stingers vs. SAC WISLA, June 11, 1998, First Round
8, Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Los Lobos, June 5, 1999, First Round
8, Richmond Kickers vs. Ocean City Barons, July 19, 2005, Third Round

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2007 First Round, Angel Rivillo, Atlanta Silverbacks, Azzurri, Dan Antoniuk, Dayton O'Brien, Rafique Hassim, Rodrigo Rios, Warren Ukah

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