Boca Raton FC

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Nacho’s heroics leads Miami United past Boca Raton in Florida battle

May 15, 2017 by Neil Blackmon

Longtime NPSL star Nacho scored in the 88th minute, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and helping host Miami United defeat Boca Raton FC 2-1 in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round action last night at Milander Stadium. Miami United will host the North American Soccer League’s Jacksonville Armada next Tuesday evening in the Round 3.

Throughout most of the second half, it appeared that the visitors from Boca Raton would score the winner, as they created multiple chances through forward Gio DiMauro and marauding fullbacks Nickardo Blake and Jason Fitzgerald as the hosts played deep and tried to withstand the pressure. But in the 88th minute, Miami United forced a turnover and launched a brilliant counterattack down the left, with a cross splitting two defenders and finding Nacho, who calmly dispatched the ball into the left corner of the net.

“It was a close contest, a great game,” Nacho said after the game, with a large group of Miami United fans just yards away chanting his name in sing-song fashion. “We were able to win the ball and win a one on one wide, and I hit the shot well. It’s a great feeling to help win this game for my teammates and the fans.”

Early in the game, it appeared Miami United would control proceedings. Mattias Menza scored on a rocket of a volley in the 7th minute to put the hosts ahead, and Boca Raton struggled to deal with Miami’s pressure in the midfield zones. The visitors slowly settled themselves, however, largely due to the effective runs of fullback Nickardo Blake, and nearly leveled the game at just past the half hour, when a long Blake run found forward Gio DiMauro who forced Miami United goalkeeper Carlos Alfaro to make a strong save.

The visitors kept coming, however, and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 57th minute. Boca’s Shadi Harb was fouled on the right of the area, and the ensuing free kick found a charging Stefano Bontempo, who buried a close-range chance for the tie.

Eleven minutes later, Boca Raton appeared to win a penalty on a handball after a lengthy sequence of possession led to a shot from distance, which was deflected twice off Miami United hands. There was no call, however, setting the stage for Nacho’s late game heroics.

2017 Meet the Underdogs: Boca Raton FC has MLS ambitions, sees US Open Cup as building block

May 6, 2017 by Neil Blackmon

Boca Raton FC's (right) opening game of the 2017 NPSL season was against Miami United, their First Round US Open Cup opponent. Photo: Boca Raton FC — Boca Raton FC’s (right) opening game of the 2017 NPSL season was against Miami United, their First Round US Open Cup opponent. Photo: Boca Raton FC

Boca Raton FC don’t have to look too far for a reminder of the magic of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. In fact, they don’t even need to leave South Florida.

The defining underdog story of last year’s Open Cup came thirty minutes down I-95 from Boca Raton, with the quarterfinal run of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League.

In truth, however, any comparisons between the Strikers and Boca Raton FC stop at geography.

For the Strikers, last year’s run was one about a headstrong group of players that managed to ignore the dark clouds of mismanagement and specter of financial doom off the field to deliver a lifetime of memorable magic to a small but fiercely loyal, and soon to be heartbroken, set of fans. It was a last hurrah for what had been one of American soccer’s brightest brands. The Strikers run was about defiance and bittersweet endings.

Boca Raton FC, on the other hand, is a club with a story that’s very much just beginning. Founded in 2015, Boca Raton has cultivated a unique, community-first structure from inception, and seen success in the process. Winners of four consecutive American Premier Soccer League (APSL) titles, this summer will see Boca Raton FC make the jump up to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) for the first time. The club will open its NPSL home schedule May 12, just two days after they play Miami United in the US Open Cup.

Boca has not been shied away from big ambitions as they announced the club’s intention to make a long-term push to bring MLS to Boca Raton. The club launched the website, mls2bocaraton.com to help facilitate and promote the club’s long-term ambition.

Moving to NPSL is part of that process, club chairman Douglas Heizer said last week.

“We’re excited to play in NPSL,” Heizer said. “We built a team to play in NPSL two years ago. It gives the team more exposure for sure and we think we have a very good team, but it’s a new experience and we’re more interested in the club-building process than focusing on the move to NPSL.”

Boca Raton FC poses for a team photo before a NPSL game against Miami United. Photo: Boca Raton FC

But according to Heizer, the NPSL and seeking glory in America’s oldest soccer competition are just part of the process of club-building.

“Our main goal is to build a team that the fans and community can be proud of,” Heizer said. “That’s the number one goal. Second is to go wherever the fans bring us. We don’t care about the letters of the league. We care about the fans and the letters on the crest.”

Heizer said the club doesn’t have to reach MLS to accomplish that end.

“Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC are perfect examples ” Heizer said. “They are NPSL teams and they have more people in the stadium than many of the second division sides.”

“Fans look for good soccer. They look for a club they can be proud of. I want to go where the fans are proud and where they want us to go,” said Heizer.

Helping deliver on Heizer’s vow to give Boca Raton FC fans good soccer is the club’s academy structure, a complete pyramid effect that starts children at the age of seven and offers different club levels until they are ready to become professionals. Boca has a partnership with Barcelona Elite that facilitates the last step, along with the NPSL club.

Boca Raton FC US Open Cup history2016 US Open Cup
Round 1: L, 4-1 (AET) at Miami Fusion FC (NPSL)2017 US Open Cup Qualifying
Round 2: W, 4-1 at Hurricane FC (USASA)

Heizer said rooting his club in community helps the club grow in a way that gives the team a skilled foundation but also expands the fan base and with it, the community’s investment in the club’s success long-term.

“I’m from Rio de Janeiro,” Heizer said. “Soccer there is a path to make a living. Clubs partner with academies and in the end, kids know where they will be going. But the important thing- the idea behind the system, is that clubs begin to care about players when they are kids, on and off the field. And then the kids grow up caring about the big club, as something that inspires them.”

It’s part of the reason Heizer has brought in coaches like Athirson, who emerged from that system in Brazil, playing with Flamengo early in his career before moving to Juventus, where he played, among other stops, until returning to Flamengo in 2004.

Athirson, who earned five caps for Brazil as well, will coach the NPSL side. He’ll be joined in the coaching pyramid by Juninho, who will run the club’s South American scouting operation, and Pedro Yunes, who will run the academy. All are familiar with the pyramid, community-based club structure.

“I wanted coaches who could share with young players the story of how you start at a club as early as 12 years old and experience results, later in life, with the top team.” Heizer explained. “That is what inspires the kids. The idea they can play for the top team, get college paid for, play professionally, learn quality skills but also build life experiences.”

Signing players on the field like Edmar, a former Ukrainian national teamer and Metalist Kharkiv regular who nearly led Ukraine to a stunning upset of France in the 2014 World Cup qualifying playoffs, signed with Boca Raton FC this February.

Edmar gives the club a level of proven class not often seen at this level, but the team is hardly a one-man band. Fullback Justin Wilbanks is very capable technically, and dangerous from distance. He has three goals on the APSL season to date. And Bruno Militz, a fast winger, is dangerous on the ball or cutting in on his left foot, a player not unlike Diego Serena was in his heyday with another old south Florida club, the Miami Fusion.

All in all, it’s enough talent to give Miami United all they can handle in the Open Cup Wednesday night.

Eventually, Heizer thinks the academies will do the dirty work.

“My short-term goal is to build with a foundation from the academies,” Heizer said. “I don’t know how long it will take but I think we can do it as early as five years into the system.”

For now, he just wants the community in south Florida to know that unlike last year’s Open Cup darling, the Strikers, whose fans received little recognition from a cold, detached front office, Boca Raton FC is a club that embraces the community. And he’s anxious to keep getting the word out.

As for the Open Cup matchup with Miami United, Heizer thinks it is just the beginning.

“You always play to win, and we will play to win. But whatever happens, we’re proud to be Boca Raton’s team.”

NOTE: Boca Raton FC is offering a free ticket to the US Open Cup game against Miami United on May 10. Fans just need to use the promo code “PREZ”.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1 : Miami Fusion FC pull away in OT to oust APSL champion Boca Raton FC

May 14, 2016 by Randy Bonds

A brace by Alan Faccini in extra time lead Miami Fusion FC (NPSL) over Boca Raton FC (APSL) by a 4-1 scoreline in a First Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match at Broward College South Campus in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

With the win, the Fusion become the second straight Miami-based amateur club to reach the Second Round (Miami United FC, 2015). Next up, they will travel north to Wilmington where they will face the USL’s Hammerheads on May 18.

The game started with each team sharing possession and chances early in the match.

In the 26th minute, Colby Burdette tackled from behind that gave Miami Fusion a free kick from a dangerous spot just outside the penalty area that was put just over the goal for the first real scoring chance of the game. Then, in the 31st minute Boca Raton thought they had opened the scoring only to have the goal called offside. The teams ended the first half tied at 0-0.

Only 7 minutes after the restart, the Fusion opened the scoring with a tap in goal from David Santamaria with an assist by Maxi Schenfeld after a Boca defender missed a clearance. Gabe Taboada, the first sub of the match evened the score in the 63rd minute of the match. Regulation time would end 1-1 sending the game into extra time.

The Fusion scored in the first period of extra time with a goal from Alan Faccini. The Fusion momentum continued on through the second period of extra time with a goal from Daniel Marugo to put the Fusion up 3-1 over Boca Raton. Faccini finished the scoring on the night to put the match out of reach for Boca Raton with a goal in the last 14 minutes of the match.

2016 Meet the Underdogs: APSL champ Boca Raton FC begin US Open Cup debut with rematch

May 6, 2016 by Marissa Blackman

Boca Raton FC is a relatively recent addition to the APSL (American Premier Soccer League). The APSL is a small league comprised of amateur clubs in Florida. Boca Raton FC is a completely amateur team boasting plenty of local high school and college talents in its roster.

The club first began competing in May of 2015. Within its first year of existence, the club earned two titles from two APSL competitions and broke APSL attendance records.

In the APSL’s most recent fall season, Boca ended on top of the table four points ahead of its closest contenders. The club achieved an undefeated record, consisting of five wins and two draws, and maintained a 2.57 goals per game average with 18 goals in seven games.

Although Boca Raton FC is in an amateur league, the club has plenty of professional connections. During preseason, the club scrimmaged against Ukrainian giants Shaktar Donetsk FC and local NASL club Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Colby Burdette and Gustavo Bergmann are two players that opposing teams should certainly keep an eye on. Burdette, a local soccer star, has been a dynamic force for teams around the city since high school. The 22-year-old has scored a career total of 12 goals for Boca Raton in league play. Bergmann has made contributions to the club with a total of eight assists.

This team has continued its record of trendsetting in open cup qualification. The club claimed the single APSL spot in the US Open Cup. In fact, Boca is the only amateur club in the state of Florida to advance past the qualifying rounds.

To qualify for round one, Boca Raton FC defeated fellow APSL competitors Real Miami Club of Football and Uruguay Kendall FC back in the fall of 2015. Boca defeated Miami 2-1 to kick off the competition, but drew 1-1 with Uruguay Kendall FC in the second round. This led to a thrilling 5-4 penalty kick shootout that would ultimately clinch a spot in the Open Cup for Boca for the first time.

The Open Cup journey continues for the club in a round one game against NPSL club Miami Fusion FC on May 11 at the North Miami Athletic Stadium. If Boca Raton FC advances, they will make a trip to the Carolinas to compete in the next round against USL side Wilmington Hammerheads FC. In between the two matches, the Floridian club will face its first match of the summer APSL season.

The biggest factor that will impeded progression for Boca Raton FC within the Open Cup is a lack of familiarity with its opponents. Most of the competition Boca Raton has faced has been amateur APSL clubs that compete against each other multiple times per year. Fortunately, at least for the first few rounds, many clubs will be facing unfamiliar opposition.

As explained by Boca Raton managing partner Douglas Heizer, the club has a round one advantage in this regard.

“We played in the fall tournament,” said Heizer. “We won all the times we played them.”

Although Miami Fusion is a NPSL club, the team also fielded a team in the APSL last season. In a semifinal match, Boca beat Miami 4-0. At the end of the season, Boca Raton finished seven points ahead of Miami. Heizer feels thise bodes well for his team’s Open Cup debut.

Miami Fusion FC boasts a better record within the NPSL. The club finished the 2015 NPSL season at the top of the Sunshine Conference with a 2.50 goal per game average and and 8-1-1 record. In only 10 regular season Sunshine Conference matches, the club scored 25 goals. The club went on to be knocked out of the NPSL playoffs during the southern semifinals. With two teams that score so often, the round one matchup could become a last goal wins situation.

HIGHLIGHTS: Boca Raton FC played an exhibition game vs. New York Cosmos

If Boca Raton advances to round two and faces the Wilmington Hammerheads, it will be defense rather than goal-scoring ability that will be put to the test. The USL club seems to be very skilled at keeping opposition out of the net in the early part of the league season this season with five goals allowed in the first six games.

Despite being rich with talent around the state, amateur teams from Florida have not performed well in the US Open Cup historically. Just one amateur team from the Sunshine State in the Modern Era (1995-present) has won multiple games in a single tournament. Orlando City U23s — now Kraze United — are the only team to advance beyond the Second Round when they reached Round 4 in 2014.

Will Boca Raton FC be the next small club to make it far, challenging professional teams, in this edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup? The bottom line is that in its short history Boca Raton has proven more than capable of scoring goals, and, needless to say, the team with the most goals wins. The beauty of the Open Cup is that anything can happen. Only time will tell.

2016 US Open Cup: Motor City rematch headlines most intriguing First Round games

April 12, 2016 by Adam Uthe

The Michigan Bucks cruised to a 3-0 win over Detroit City FC in their first meeting in 2015. Photo: Michigan Bucks

It’s (almost) back!

The United States Soccer Federation announced the first and second round matchups for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Round 1 will kick off on Wednesday, May 11 and features 18 Premier Development League (PDL) teams, 14 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) sides, and 14 Open Division qualifiers representing the best teams competing in regional leagues throughout the country.

There will be a total of 23 first round games, but here are the five most intriguing matchups (in no particular order):

Detroit City FC (NPSL) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Oakland University Soccer Field; Rochester, MI
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

While this list is not in any particular order, most neutral fans would agree that the rematch between two Metro Detroit rivals is the headliner of Round 1.

Detroit City FC has been one of the NPSL’s biggest success stories off the field as their fan base’s growth and revered supporters culture continues to grab national headlines across the soccer world. Founded back in 2012, the club and its rabid fan base have developed a following that many lower division pro teams would love to have. They averaged 3,528 fans per game last year, which is more than FC Edmonton of the NASL drew in 2015. If Detroit City competed in the 24-team USL, their attendance would rank 10th (granted, with fewer home games).

Just a small sample of Detroit City FC's fans. — Just a small sample of Detroit City FC’s fans.

The fans recently put their money where their collective mouth is as the team announced plans to move to and renovate 80-year-old Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. Keyworth is so old that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended the stadium’s opening. The team is working with the local community to fix up the historic stadium and recently wrapped up a record-breaking fundraising campaign that saw the club pull in a jaw-dropping $741,250. With support like that, many have speculated that’s it’s only a matter of time before the club outgrows its current amateur status.

Saying their opponent has a strong resume in this competition is a bit of an understatement. The Michigan Bucks hold a number of Modern Era (1995-present) records but two of them have helped the club make a name for themselves nationally. No amateur team has more pro team upsets than the Bucks’ nine and only two clubs have more than three (Des Moines Menace with six, Ocean City Nor’easters with five). In fact, if you exclude the Carolina RailHawks, the Bucks have more wins over pro teams than all of the active NASL teams combined (8).

But their biggest accomplishment is that they are the only amateur team to eliminate two Major League Soccer teams. They stunned the New England Revolution at Foxboro Stadium in 2000, 1-0 on a 90th minute winner by Chad Schomaker. They followed that up in 2012 when they hosted the Chicago Fire at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas (their indoor home) and beat the four-time Open Cup champions 3-2 in extra time.

Despite their on-field success, the Bucks’ fan support is only a fraction of what City draws. The Bucks play their home games in Pontiac, Mich. which is almost the exact same distance from downtown Detroit as FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium is from downtown Dallas. There is a rivalry between the two teams that have developed off the field as Detroit City’s fans mock the Bucks’ lack of fan support. On the other side, Bucks fans point to their on-field resume with two PDL titles (2006, 2014), the most wins in league history and their Open Cup success. While they have been very good in their first four seasons (32-7-11 in regular season play), DCFC has yet to advance beyond the conference final in the NPSL playoffs.

The two teams finally met on the field for the first time last year in the First Round of the US Open Cup. At the Bucks’ indoor home in Pontiac, the City fans vastly outnumbered the Bucks fans in the stands, but it was the Bucks who outnumbered City on the scoreboard. Michigan got three first half goals by David Goldsmith, Peri Marosevic, and Brad Ruhaak and they won 3-0. Thanks to the way the draw worked out, there will be a rematch this year. Only this time, the game will be played outdoors at the Oakland University Soccer Field in Rochester, Mich.

Boca Raton FC (USASA) at Miami Fusion FC (NPSL)
North Miami Athletic Stadium; North Miami Beach, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET

South Florida is the place to be if you’re a fan of the beautiful game at any level. David Beckham is leading the charge for the future, yet-to-be named MLS team while Miami FC, led by head coach and AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta, kicked off its inaugural North American Soccer League (NASL) season last week against fellow South Beach rivals Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Now it’s Miami Fusion FC’s turn to get in on the action. The Fusion will be looking to make a deep run in their first US Open Cup appearance after a successful inaugural NPSL season in 2015 when they took the Sunshine Conference title with seven wins, one loss, and one draw. The club, who are led by former New York Cosmos player Ferdinando De Matthaeis, are not related to the now-defunct MLS team by the same name that finished runner-up in the 2000 US Open Cup.

Their opponent, Boca Raton FC, are coming off a pretty impressive debut season themselves. They cruised to first place in the 2015 American Premier Soccer League (APSL) Fall Tournament with five wins in their seven matches and tournament-best plus-11 goal differential. The APSL is a newly-formed South Florida-based amateur league that are part of a new trend of regional amateur soccer leagues across the country. This will be the third straight Miami-based club that they will have to face, as they narrowly defeated fellow APSL clubs Real Miami CF and Uruguay Kendall (in penalty kicks) to qualify for the Open Cup.

The winner will head north to take on the USL’s Wilmington Hammerheads, who have been knocked out of the tournament by an amateur team in three of the last four seasons.

New York Red Bulls U-23 (PDL) at New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY
Kickoff: 7:30p.m. ET

New York Pancyprian Freedoms 2015 Team Photo

You wouldn’t be out of line calling this an “old school vs. new school” matchup. New York Pancyprian Freedoms dominated the US Open Cup in the early 1980’s winning the title in 1980, 1982, and 1983. They even followed up their 1983 title with a semi-final run in what was known back then as the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Today it’s known as the CONCACAF Champions League. You won’t find too many clubs that can match their history and pedigree as they continue to be among the elite in the fabled Cosmopolitan League. It was not an easy path through the open division tournament as the Freedoms had to defeat their biggest rival, and four-time US Open Cup champion, New York Greek Americans in Round 1 by a score of 4-2. They punched their ticket with a 2-1 win over 2012 Open Cup qualifier Jersey Shore Boca.

Representing the “new school” side of this tie is the U-23 side for one of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) premier clubs: the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls’ youth side is one of two teams representing the Mid Atlantic division of the PDL’s Eastern Conference (Jersey Express). The Red Bulls have enjoyed a lot of success in their first six years as a club. They played their first five seasons in the NPSL, winning three division titles in addition to a league title in 2014. They celebrated their first NPSL championship by leaving the league to join the PDL. They qualified for the tournament in 2013 and 2014, and would have made the cut in 2015 but it was unlikely that the NPSL was going to give up one of their Open Cup spots to a team that just left to join a rival league.

The way the draw works out, the winner of this game will get a rather favorable matchup. Rather than playing a USL team, as most Round 1 winners will, the Red Bulls or the Freedoms will take on the winner of Jersey Express (PDL) and the Clarkston Eagles (NPSL).

LA Wolves FC (USASA) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College Sportsplex; Ventura, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET

LA Wolves (orange) and Del Rey City squared off in the opening round of the 2016 US Open Cup open division qualifying tournament. Photo: Del Rey City SC

“Play Like A Wolf” is the slogan for the United Premier Soccer League’s (UPSL) LA Wolves FC. The senior team sure looked like alpha dogs in 2015, winning 20 of their 21 competitive matches (20-0-1) and ultimately falling short in the league title game, losing to fellow Open Cup qualifier San Nicolas FC. Now they’ll set their sights on a new competition as they enter the Open Cup for the first time in team history. To get there, they had two win two games in the open division tournament, one against fellow UPSL side Del Rey City SC and the other against Cal FC, the team that made a name for themselves in 2012 when they upset the Portland Timbers of MLS. The Wolves are one of three qualifiers from the Los Angeles-based UPSL, a fast-growing amateur league that has expanded to Nevada and Arizona in recent years.

Their opponent, the Ventura County Fusion, have qualified for the seventh straight year, one shy of the amateur record for the Modern Era (Reading United AC – 8). In addition being one of the most consistent PDL teams in the league, the Fusion have also hosted teams from the EPL, Liga MX, and other top divisions from around the globe for friendlies.

They’ve seen it all in their 10-year history with eight playoff appearances, three division titles and a 2009 PDL championship. In Open Cup play, they have won a Modern Era amateur record five straight opening round games, which is a Modern Era record, and have upset a pair of professional teams on the road. They beat the Los Angeles Blues (now Orange County Blues) of the USL in the 2012 Second Round, and knocked off the LA Galaxy II (USL).

A fair warning to those who will be in attendance: be prepared for LOTS of orange. Both sides feature a healthy dose of it in their uniforms.

CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) at San Francisco City FC (US Club Soccer)
Beach Chalet #4; San Francisco, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET

San Francisco City FC defeated Cal FC 2-1 in their US Open Cup debut in the 2015 Preliminary Round. Photo: San Francisco City FC

Finally, we turn our attention to the northern half of California. Oakland-based CD Aguiluchos were founded in 2012 in honor of El Salvadoran side CD Augila and, as you might expect, feature a roster full of players drawn from the Bay Area’s Salvadoran population. The club is also managed by former CD Augila coach Hugo Coria. And if you’re still not convinced of their love of all things El Salvador, their away kit is blue and white to honor the national team. This is their second trip to the tournament after qualifying in 2014. They were one-and-done after traveling to Southern California and losing to the Ventura County Fusion, 2-1. The club missed out in 2015 but are back after finishing third in their division with a 7-4-1 record. That third place finish was enough to get into the NPSL playoffs and they made a run all the way to the national semifinals. They lost to the New York Cosmos B, one of the few pro teams in the league that moved on to win the NPSL title and later withdrew from this year’s US Open Cup.

On the other side of the draw is another team with close ties to its community, though in a different way. San Francisco City FC is 51% owned by its club members while the other 49% belongs to their investors/partners. Their Board of Directors, which must vote unanimously to make major changes to the club, is made up of three members: one from the membership group, one from the investor group, and one from the club’s staff. The approach seems to be working as the club is growing. They made the movie from a local amateur league to the PDL, where they will begin play in 2016. There have been reports that the club is being courted to join one of the professional leagues down the road. The roster that will take part in the Open Cup this year will not be the PDL roster that will be on the field this summer, it will be the one that qualified for the competition through the open division qualifying tournament. making its PDL debut this season. This is also their second consecutive Open Cup appearance. Last year, they lost a 2-1 decision to Cal FC at Kezar Stadium.

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Boca Raton FC needs PKs to win battle of Florida with Uruguay Kendall (video)

November 22, 2015 by Joseph Abarno

In a rematch of last year’s American Premier Soccer League final, Boca Raton FC advanced to the final round of 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying over Uruguay Kendall on a windy Sunday.

The match was 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime, with Boca Raton outpointing Uruguay Kendall 5-4 from the spot. Last season, Boca Raton won the APSL final 1-0.

An energetic first half gave Boca Raton plenty of goal scoring opportunities, but they couldn’t put the ball away. Against the run of play, Uruguay Kendall took the lead after left back Alex Joseph headed in a perfectly placed corner kick from midfielder Mathy Schmid in the 21st minute.

The scoreline remained the same into the halftime break. Uruguay Kendall player-manager Mauro Grignola substituted himself out of the game before the second half, having accrued a yellow card and coming close to seeing red before halftime.

The second half kicked off with Boca Raton looking to get themselves back into the game. Uruguay Kendall tried to take advantage of Boca’s high backline, but they couldn’t produce anything from the counterattack.

In the 70th minute the ball fell perfectly to the feet of Boca forward Colby Burdette just outside the box. The 23-year-old former Florida International attacker put his laces through the ball to beat the keeper and tie the game for Boca.

Uruguay Kendall and Boca Raton continued to hunt for another goal, but neither side could break down the other’s defense. Regulation concluded with the scoreline tied up at 1-1.

As two rather uneventful halves of overtime neared their conclusion, Boca Raton defender Scott Gordon, who most recently played with the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers, rose up to receive a curling free kick into the Uruguay Kendall box. The tall defender headed the ball into the top right corner, but he was called offside and the score remained unchanged, forcing a penalty kick shootout.

Boca Raton would win the shootout 5-4 and advance in the competition.

After the match Uruguay Kendall player-manager Mauro Grignola said he felt confident going into penalties, but thought his side should have taken advantage of their good start to the game. He said his team’s reliance on the counter-attack wasn’t planned, but rather how the game played out.

Boca Raton FC manager Marcelo Castillo was happy with his side’s performance overall and is looking to surprise some opponents in Open Cup play.

Look for Boca Raton’s Colby Burdette to continue to shine, as the young attacker scored the equalizer and was a constant threat and menace to the Uruguay Kendall’s defense with and without the ball. Burdette felt his shot was in as soon as he struck it.

Boca Raton FC will continue their run to the tournament in the final round, which is scheduled for early April. The draw for Round 3 will be announced in early January.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: BOCA RATON FC vs URUGUAY KENDALL