An experienced Charm City squad was a 3-1 winner over a strong but young Baltimore Juniors team on Sunday paving the way for their entrance into the US Open Cup Maryland state final March 4. On the other side of the bracket the defending champion Maryland Bays blanked Christos FC, 2-0, in the second match of the semifinal doubleheader at Western Regional Park in Woodbine despite using a field player in goal for the overtime affair.
The championship pairing in two weeks’ time will be a rematch of the 2011 final between Charm City and the Maryland Bays, a pair of clubs that have been to the past two Region I tournaments, respectively, as representatives for the state.
Charm City capped a hard fought first 45 against Baltimore Juniors when Scott Zakroski delivered a picturesque volley into the upper corner off a Lou Brunetti cross in first half stoppage time to give Charm City the momentum going into the half.
The game, however, got chippy after the break, including Ben Pardew being taken down in the penalty area. Baltimore Juniors’ Dan Martinnsen was ejected for the foul as it was a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity, but Charm Cmarity missed the kick from the spot when Baltimore Juniors keeper Tom Durkin tipped the shot wide.
Not to be deterred, Charm City kept their foot on the gas and came right back down the field. Wiji Jones delivered a perfect cross, his third assist in two games, and Tommy Appel-Schumacher headed it in for the 2-0 advantage on 62 minutes.
Baltimore got one back in the 80th minute when Andrew Stoenfeld hammered in a free kick from distance.
A chance at equalizing was dashed though for Baltimore when Wiji Jones, showing a penchant for game sealers, tapped home his second late goal in as many weeks. It was the result of a strong individual effort from Luke Pardew beating his defender down the end line and going hard in the box before finding Jones for the tap in for a 3-1 win, giving Charm City an aggregate score of 12-2 over the opposition through two rounds of play having won 9-1 the week before.
While the first match was clinched for certainty in the late stages, the second contest went the distance as the Bays and Christos played to a scoreless stalemate for 90 minutes. The Bays would advance through to the final with a pair of strikes in the final three minutes of overtime.
The deadlock ended in the 117th minute via an Andrew Gillis goal, deep in the second overtime assisted by Will Beckman.
The scoring was capped off by a Jon Ports empty netter as the Christos goal was open after the whole team had pushed up in search of an equalizer in the waning seconds.
Christos had their chances in the second half, but failed to capitalize while the Bays displayed the form that delivered them the 2011 State Open Cup title. Making the victory all the more impressive for the Bays was that they did it without an established goalkeeper. Matt Beale played in goal for the Bays, a change from his usual role as a defensive outside midfielder. According to coach Bryan Bugarin, regular keeper Phil Latham is expected to be back in goal for the final.
Bugarin used to play for Christos himself before the Bays were formed in 2009 as a result of a reunion of a group of talented post-collegiate players who rose together through the youth ranks.
“The players’ comfort with each other shows on the field.” said Bugarin. It is certainly reflected in the clubs all-time record of 69-7-6.
The final is a rematch of last year’s championship clash, a game that went 5-1 in favor of the Bays courtesy of four Marco Mangione goals. The Bays will be without Mangione this time around as he signed with GD Tourizense of the Segunda Divisao (Portuguese third division) in January.
It is the third consecutive year in which Charm City has reached the final, though in 2010 the state skipped the contest and sent both finalists directly onto the Region I tournament without crowning a singular champion.
Charm City player/coach Pat Crawford is looking forward to the challenge. “The Bays won the league last fall with a 14-0-2 record, they are well coached, are always technically sound, and I’m sure they will be looking to get back at us after we beat them 3-0 in the fall,” he said of the opposition.
The championship game will be held on March 4 at the same field where the rest of the games have been held: Western Regional Park (Field #5) in Woodbine.
Maryland USASA Open Cup Semifinals
Western Regional Park, – Woodbine, MD
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012
Charm City 3:1 Baltimore Juniors
CC: Scott Zakroski (Lou Brunetti) 45
CC: Tommy Appel-Schumacher (Wiji Jones) 62
BJ: Andrew Stoenfeld 80
CC: Wiji Jones (Luke Pardew) 89
Maryland Bays 2:0 (AET) Christos FC
MB: Andrew Gillis (Will Beckman) 117
MB: Jon Ports 120
