Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Boston Olympiakos

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Keith Caldwell leads GPS Omens to 5-0 win over shorthanded Boston Olympiakos

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gps-massachusetts

Massachusetts-based Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Omens kicked off their first open division qualifying match in the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was much easier than originally expected.

Thanks to two goals and two assists from Keith Caldwell, GPS Omens beat Boston Olympiakos FC 5-0 on Sunday, Oct. 18. GPS, who were known as GPS Massachusetts last year, are aiming to qualify for the US Open Cup fourth year in a row. That quest got off to a nice start as Omens scored two goals in the first 13 minutes as Olympiakos started the match with just eight players. The first goal came from the penalty spot as former Colorado Rapids draftee Caldwell converted and then later assisted on a goal by former US youth international Scott Prozeller. Boston added two more players before halftime and outlasted the Omens attack and headed into the break trailing 2-0.

Caldwell was at the center of the offense after halftime, assisting on a Jake Johnson goal in the 50th minute. Three minutes later, Charlie Romero gave GPS a four-goal lead to put the game out of reach against 10-man Boston.

Olympiakos had a pair of chances to get back in the game midway through the second half, and so did GPS as they were awarded another penalty kick, but Romero’s attempt was saved by the Boston netminder.

Omens put the nail in the coffin when Caldwell scored his second goal when he ran past the Olympiakos back line and chipped the ball in for the fifth and final goal. Omens had a chance to score a sixth with two minutes left, but the shot sailed over the bar.

Omens is now undefeated in the last five league and cup games dating back to Sept. 19. They take on Boston-based rivals Southie FC in the next round of the Open Cup on Nov. 15 at Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Mass. with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Massachusetts final four set after high-scoring weekend

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There was no shortage of scoring in the opening round of the Massachusetts US Open Cup qualifying tournament as the Commonwealth attempts to send their best to regionals in hopes of the state’s first Open Cup berth since 2009.

East Providence Sports (LUSA) and Mass Premier Soccer (BSSL) combined for a dozen goals in their respective first round matches on Sunday to join Saturday winner Battery Park Gunners and Strela Negra, who received a bye, in the state semifinals.

In the Modern Professional Era (1995-present), only two clubs from the Bay State have qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (Emigrantes Das Ilhas in 2009, Boston Olympiakos in 2008)

It was a beautiful New England fall day to watch the beautiful game at Clemente Park in Boston. With the Boston skyline in the background, Boston Olympiakos and Mass Premier Soccer took to the pitch for a 2 p.m. start.

MPS were the aggressors from the first whistle led by their player/coach Dan MacGregor, a tough two-way central midfielder. MPS’s continued pressure paid off in the 24th minute when Tyler MacNee took advantage of the keeper coming 25 yards off his line only to mishandle the ball, allowing MacNee to skillfully tap in the half volley off the turf. Olympiakos settled down after that and were keeping possession but that didn’t last long. Five minutes before the half MacGregor’s hustle paid off finishing off a deflection on a free kick right in front of the net. Nicholas Christman added another a minute later off a long cross as MPS went into the half up 3-0.

At the start of the second half, Olympiakos looked the part of a beaten club. The two Mac’s came out firing, first MacGregor scored in the 48th minute, and soon after MacNee added his second from the left wing as he fired a shot from distance over the outstretched keeper.

MPS were firing on all cylinders the back line of Edwards, Brill, O’Relly were a organized trio who frustrated the lone striker for Boston, Yusuf Wahab, all day. The speedy Wahib already sitting on a yellow lost the plot late in the game as he came crashing into goalkeeper Jeff Newman and was shown his second yellow for dissent. MPS continued the pressure after that. TJ Thompson capped off the scoring finishing off a three-on-one break to finish the scoring at 6-0.

The only thing left to do was to keep the shutout and Newman made sure of that stopping the few shots that made it by the MPS backline. As the sun was setting on the Boston skyline so did Olympiakos’ dreams of advancing next round of the Open Cup.

With the win, Mass Premier, who was the state runner-up last year, moves on to the semifinals where they will face Strela Negra (NELASA), who were given a first-round bye, on Nov. 18.

In Dorchester, East Providence grabbed a 6-1 win over Middlesex FC (BSSL) at Dorchester High School. The LUSA Cup champions earned a 2-1 halftime lead before opening it up with four goals in the second frame. Jimmy Hernandez and Nick Tavares each bagged a brace, while Armando Gomes and Kyle Teixeira each added a goal for the Red and White.

The victory puts East Providence into the semis against the defending Massachusetts Open Cup champion Battery Park Gunners, who defeated Mass United FC, 2-1, the day before with first half goals from Ben Shuleva and Joe Annese.

2013 Massachusetts Open Cup tournament schedule

First Round
Battery Park Gunners 2:1 Mass United FC
Boston Olympiakos 0:6 Mass Premier Soccer
Middlesex FC 1:6 East Providence Sports
Strela Negra (BYE)

Semifinals
Mass Premier Soccer vs. Strela Negra
Sunday, Nov. 18
Citizens Bank Park Field – Lancaster, MA – 11 a.m.

Battery Park Gunners vs. East Providence Sports
Saturday, Nov. 17
Madison Park High School – Roxbury, MA – 12 p.m.

Final (Sunday, Dec. 9)

Recent Massachusetts Open Cup champions
2013: TBD
2012: Battery Park Gunners
2011: Mass Premier Soccer
2010: Emigrantes Das Ilhas
2009: Emigrantes Das Ilhas*
2008: Boston Olympiakos*
2007: Lowell Revolution
2006: Green Briar Rebels
2005: Green Briar Rebels
2004: Boston Olympiakos
2003: Green Briar Rebels
2002: Hellas United

*Qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Mass Premier edge Mass United, will face Battery Park Gunners in MA final

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Mass Premier Soccer continued its run in the Massachusetts U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Tournament, picking up a 1-0 win against Mass United FC. MPS snuck a goal in on a free kick by Nick Figueiredo late in the game.

The Battery Park Gunners defeated Boston Olympiakos 2-0 in the other semifinal to punch their own ticket to the championship game.

MPS had the lion’s share of the chances in the first half, but could not find the net, as MUFC keeper Steven Liechti was able to handle the shots that were on target. After a very sluggish start, United finally picked up some steam on the counterattack, but were equally as unsuccessful with scoring chances. Possession and chances were more even in the second half, as Untied switched to a 4-4-1-1 formation, and Premier kept firing away. MPS caught a huge break around the 85th minute, when MUFC midfielder Christopher Sharpe was sent off for a hard challenge on Figueiredo in front of the box. Figueiredo took the kick himself, and sent it past Liechti to finally break through. Short on time and short a man, United was unable to mount any serious challenge to equalize, leaving MPS the victors.

The other semifinal featured a pair of champions as the Battery Park Gunners from the Bay State Soccer League (BSSL) and Boston Olympiakos from the Massachusetts State Soccer League (MSSL) squared off. The difference in the game was a pair of first half goals by Joe Annese and Jesse Milling. The first came in the 26th minute when the Olympiakos goalkeeper, Renato Paivo Barbosa, picked up a back pass from one of his teammates, giving the Gunners an indirect kick from about eight yards out. Ben Shuleva touched the ball to Annese, who found a gap in the wall, and put Battery Park up, 1-0.

Just two minutes later, the Gunners added a second when Mark Parshley attacked from the right wing and found the head of Milling who nodded it into the back of the net to double the lead.

Battery Park, one of the top defensive teams in the BSSL (allowed 10 goals in their last 21 matches in all competitions), had to hold off the pressure put on by Boston as they tried to get back in the game. In the 40th minute, Denivaldo Da Silva connected on a bicycle kick which rattled off the post. In the 75th minute, the Gunners watched another Olympiakos shot strike the post, but their defense, led by goalkeeper Phil Nelson, kept the clean sheet and emerged victorious, 2-0.  The two teams will meet again, in the Massachusetts Amateur Cup final on Sunday, Dec. 18.

MPS will play the Gunners in the Final which will be scheduled at a date to be determined. The two clubs met in the BSSL regular season, where they split the series at a game a piece. The Gunners were victorious in the second game, which clinched the league championship for them in the season finale. The winner of that game will advance to play in the USASA Region I Open Cup Qualifying Tournament, to be held in the Spring of 2012. Both clubs are trying to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time.

Battery Park Gunners 2:0 Boston Olympiakos

SCORING SUMMARY:

BPG: Joe Annese (Ben Shuleva) – 26th minute
BPG: Jesse Milling (Mike Parshley) – 28th minute

LINEUPS:

BPG: Phil Nelson (GK), Joe Annese, Jason Pan, Steve Hepburn, Myles Gerraty, Jesse Milling (James Begen 88th), Ben Shuleva, Greg O’Neil, Mike Parshley, Aaron O’Neal (Bobby Linaberry 60th), Joe Vitale (Kevin Griffith 70th)

BOS: Renato Paiva Barbosa (GK), Queivon Correia, Russell Guidici, Allen Ashenfelter, Thomas Smith, Jessey Fernandez, Baffour Boateng, Geoffrey Walker, Admilson Miranda, Alenca Ventura, Denivaldo Da Silva

Mass Premier Soccer 1:0 Mass United FC

SCORING SUMMARY:
MPS: Nick Figueiredo (Unassisted) – 86th minute

LINEUPS:

MUFC: Steven Liechti; Christopher Sharpe, Daniel Antonio Jr., Adrian Kawuba, Anton DaSilva; Christopher Bedi, Bruno (James Grant 1st), Rafael Santos, Enco Lika (Gerry Munani 2nd), Victor Costa (Austin Reed 2nd); John Bavota

MPS: Jeff Newman; Nick Christman, Matt Cross, Sam Brill (Pumele Maqubela 2nd), Matt Handy; Desmond Mitchell, Harris Smriko, Matt Lemire, Derek Nobrega (Mariano Arrua 2nd); Nick Figueiredo, Matt Hoff

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: Mass Premier Soccer thriller highlights opening round of Massachusetts tournament

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Four teams have advanced to the semifinals of the Massachusetts Open Cup qualifying tournament, with the goal of moving on to regionals.

Boston Olympiakos needed overtime, while Mass Premier Soccer survived an eight-goal thriller that required penalty kicks to punch their ticket to the final four. Meanwhile, Battery Park Gunners had no trouble with Strela Negra, hammering them 7-0, while Mass United FC got a free pass when CF Canon Sportif were unable to field a full squad and forfeited.

Olympiakos faced a stingy defense in Boston Cambridge Somerville Eleven (BCS XI), but they came away with a 1-0 extra time victory. According to the Olympiakos website, they launched 73 shots at the BCS XI goalkeeper with 32 of them on goal, and only one found the back of the net. The breakthrough came in the 8th minute of extra time when Quievon Correia served a cross into the penalty area and found Samuel Appiah for the game-winning goal.

Boston Olympiakos  are looking to return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 2008. Last year, they won the Massachusetts Open Cup championship, but lost to Danbury United (Connecticut) 2-1 in the opening round of the Region I tournament. The year before, they lost to Emigrantes Das Ilhas in the Massachusetts Open Cup final. In 2008, they qualified for the Open Cup but lost to the Western Pass Pioneers (USL-2 , Third Division professional) 2-0 in the First Round.

Olympiakos will face off with the Battery Park Gunners in the semifinals, a team that cruised through their opening round match with Strela Negra, 7-0.  The two will play at Madison Park High School in Roxbury, Mass. at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 with a spot in the state championship game on the line.

The other semifinal will take place at the same field and on the same day at 11:30 a.m. It will feature Mass United FC, the beneficiaries of a first round forfeit by CF Canon Sportif, and Mass Premier Soccer.

Mass Premier Soccer: 2011 Massachusetts Open Cup champions
Mass Premier Soccer won last year's Massachusetts Open Cup championship

Mass Premier Soccer reached the final four in thrilling fashion, defeating East Providence Sports in the eighth round of penalty kicks, 7-6, after finishing extra time tied at 4-4. The contest was a rematch of last year’s Region I opening round contest in which MPS advanced, 4-1, to the semifinals. East Providence advanced to the regionals a year ago as the lone entry from Rhode Island, but were placed into the Massachusetts qualifying tournament this year due to the club’s participation in a league based in the neighboring state.

Most of the action took place in back-and-forth seven-goal second half after the first 45 minutes finished with MPS clinging to a 1-0 lead. Matt Hoff scored the lone first half goal on a bending ball from the left wing.

That lead didn’t last long as East Providence countered a couple of minutes into the second half by sending a ball across the box to the onrushing Anthony Petrarca. The former Cape Cod Crusader (PDL) and Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) midfielder tracked it down and volleyed it into the back of the net with an acrobatic scissor kick. Shortly after, Hoff gave MPS the lead once again when his low cross was redirected by a defender and ended up beating his goalkeeper for an own goal. About 10 minutes later, East Providence leveled the match when MPS defender Derek Nobrega took down Kyle Teixeira in the penalty area and the spot kick was awarded. Teixeira, another former USL-2 Pioneer, converted the penalty kick to make it 2-2.

For the remaining 30 minutes of the match, East Providence pushed several players into the attack, trying to go for the win, but the MPS defense held strong and the game went into overtime. Key in the effort was goalkeeper Nick Armington, who made a fantastic diving save in the final minutes of regulation.

As if the opening 90 did not have enough drama, the visitors from Rhode Island amped up tension with a strike two minutes into extra time. Teixeira schooled the MPS defenders, popping the ball over the midfield before touching it around the centerback and firing a volley past Armington.

Approximately eight minutes later Nick Christman put the match on level terms again when he drew a penalty created by an excellent individual effort when he snared the ball while speeding by a defender attempting to shield the ball out of play. Christman would have to wait for the celebration as the East Providence goalkeeper made a dramatic save, but followed up the attempt and put in the rebound.  Three minutes later, Yoshio Kaneko picked up the ball at the top of the box and sent a floating cross to the back post where Nick Figueredo buried a volley for a 4-3 MPS advantage two minutes before the two clubs switched sides for the final 15.

With both sides exhausted, MPS was looking to keep East Providence from creating more fireworks. But the December evening continued to resemble the Fourth of July. With five minutes remaining, hearts skipped a beat on the MPS bench when a shot rang off Armington’s post. Two minutes later, however, another mistake proved costly as Teixeira got another crack from the spot when Pumelele Magubela took down an East Providence striker dribbling through the box. Teixeira completed his hat-trick by slamming the ball into the roof of the net, sending the contest onto penalties.

Neither goalkeeper had much luck in the early stages of the tiebreaker, though Nobrega’s attempt went in off the underside of the crossbar in the fourth round and Cross’ shot trickled in over the netminder’s hand in the fifth. Still tied, Magubela was first up for MPS in sudden death, but his chance at redemption went horribly wrong when he attempted an unusual stutter-step attempt and missed the goal three yards wide. East Providence, however, failed to take advantage as the next shooter missed high.

With both converting in the seventh round and Bedig tallying for MPS in the eighth, Armington made the final statement of the night with his head, literally, as his save sent the ball ricocheting off his head and away from the goal.

2010 US Open Cup qualifying: First round of Region I tournament in the books (Video)

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The USASA Region I tournament that got underway this weekend, is the beginning of what will eventually send two clubs to the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The opening round which kicked off this weekend will be followed by the quarterfinals on May 2 and the semifinals on May 23. The two teams that emerge victorious in the semifinals will both be awarded a spot in the US Open Cup, and if the format remains true to recent form, they will be matched up with either a second division or a third division side. Major League Soccer teams will not enter the competition until the third round.

Go Soccer FC from New Jersey pose for a team picture before their Region I match with Olympia Stamford of Connecticut on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Photo: Go Soccer FC

There will be a lot of familiar faces when the quarterfinal round of the USASA Region I tournament begins on May 2. Out of the six opening round matches, five of the winners have qualified for the US Open Cup before with Go Soccer FC from New Jersey representing as the lone newcomer.

Two games were not played due to forfeits. Fenerbahce USA of Eastern New York got a bye because the NPSL’s Erie Admirals couldn’t field a full team due to player availabilities and injuries. Maryland’s Charm City FC, a former NPSL club, got a free pass when Athletic Club (Western PA) lost their main sponsor.

Here are the results from the weekend:

Olympia Stamford (CT) 0:1 Go Soccer FC (NJ) | Sat. April 10 at Torpey Athletic Complexl

Go Soccer FC from New Jersey defeated Olympia Stamford of Connecticut 1-0 on Saturday to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. Alex Russo scored the lone goal in the 35th minute as the Go Soccer defense held Olympia in check for most of the evening.  CLICK HERE FOR A FULL REPORT.

Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD) 0:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) | Denison Nursery – Ft. Washington, MD

The Aegean Hawks, the runner-up from the Metro D.C. / Virginia tournament, dispatched Jilly’s Bar & Grill from Maryland, 3-0. Watson Prather converted a penalty kick for the Hawks in the 37th minute and it wasn’t until the 76th when Ricky Schramm added a second and John Stephens put the game away in the 82nd to make it 3-0. The Hawks move on to the quarters to face the New York Pancyprian Freedoms. CLICK HERE FOR A FULL REPORT FROM AEGEANHAWKS.com

Boston Olympiakos (MA) 1:2 Danbury United (CT) | Portuguese Cultural Center – Danbury, CT

Danbury United avenged their 2007 Region I tournament loss with a 2-1 win over Boston Olympiakos. Back in 2007, the two teams squared off in the Region I semifinals, with a spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on the line. Danbury scored midway through the first half on a penalty kick that was scored by Gerson Canhao. On the other side of halftime, Valdo Miguel tied the game up at 1-1 around the 65th minute. The game-winner would arrive near the 80th minute when veteran Toni Fernandes sent a blast into the back of the net from outside the box.

“It was two different styles of play,” said Danbury United manager Victor Sousa. “Olympiakos played a very direct and physical brand of soccer with long balls being sent directly from the defense, so their chances were limited in the first half. We played more short passes, bringing the ball up the field, creating chances to score. In my opinion, the result showed justice.”

With the win over Boston, Danbury snap a two-game losing streak to Massachusetts-based clubs in the Region I competition.  United will face Fenerbahce USA of Eastern New York in the quarterfinals.

Danbury United lineup: Andres Sanchez, Robert Miller, Justin Dell, Walter Salinas, Daniel Tomas, John Meyer, Michael Mingione, Toni Fernandes, Lamar Chancey, Gerson Canhao, Mauro Dos Santos | Dennys Farias, Joseph Dos Santos, Arthur Hilario, Ryan Chmielewski, Mauro Costa, Kenneth Cook, Ajani Maillard

Emigrantes Das Ilhas (MA) 3:2 Brooklyn Italians (East NY) | John Dewey High School – Brooklyn, NY

Almir “Zoro” Barbosa scored a pair of first half goals to help put Emigrantes Das Ilhas on their way to a 3-2 win over the NPSL’s newest team, the Brooklyn Italians. Brooklyn, who has a rich history and is a two-time Open Cup champion (1979, 1991), mounted a comeback with a goal by Marco Ruiz in the second half but Jose Veiga of Emigrantes extended the lead back to two with a goal in the 70th. 18-year old Kevin Beaton scored a second for Brooklyn, but it was too late as Emigrantes win to move on to face Go Soccer FC in the next round.

Phoenix SC (East PA) 2:3 NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY) | Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.) – Queens, NY

Julio Cesar Dos Santos carried the New York Pancyprian Freedoms past Phoenix SC 3-2. Phoenix scored twice in the first 30 minutes, then the Freedoms, specifically, Dos Santos (featured by the USL as one of the best players in USL players in the last decade) stormed back. Dos Santos scored two and also had an assist in leading his team to the next round, where they will play Aegean Hawks FC on May 2. CLICK HERE FOR A FULL REPORT FROM THE NY POST

Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) 2:2 (1:4 PKs) United German Hungarians (East PA) | UGH Field (Oakford, PA)

One of the tighest matches of the opening round, the United German Hungarians eliminate Club Atletico Virginia  in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw. UGH, hosting the match at their home field in Oakford, PA, just outside of Philadelphia, trailed 1-0 at the break after CAV’s Billy Whittington scored on a header in the 20th minute after a cross from the right side from Andrew Richardson. UGH came out in the second half and leveled the match a few minutes after the break, after a shot on goal was saved but spilled by CAV goalkeeper Matt Scheer. UGH forward Jeremy Ortiz jumped on the loose ball to tie the game up 1-1. UGH added a second in the 70th minute off a corner kick that found Ben Marucci in the box, but CAV equalized ten minutes later. Virginia’s John Carson sent a long throw into the box and multiple defenders failed to clear, leaving the ball to Billy Whittington who missed on a volley attempt. After the ball snuck through all that penalty area traffic, it fell to Victor Krasij, who put it away. After going scoreless through extra time, United won the penalty kick shootout 4-1 to move on to the next round to play Charm City FC.

CAV lineup: Matt Scheer (GK) Tremaine Chinapoo & Phil Purdy (center backs), Jordan Cullinane (right back), Dave Leon (left back), Matt Davis and Victor Krasij (defensive center mids), John Carson (offensive center mid), Andrew Richardson (right mid), Fabio Andrade (left mid), Billy Whittington (forward)

UGH lineup: GK – Eric Talbot, (13) Tony Rod, (6) Will Thornton, (7) Blair Carson, (20) Ken Tomczuk, (9) Brian Blesi (Capt), (19) Matt Hemberger, (12) Ben Marucci, (10) Tim O’Neill, (15) Ryan Moseley, (8) Jeremy Ortiz
Subs: (5) Ryan Tadley for Moseley (46’), (18) Kevin Sherry for O’Neill (46’), (11) Brian Bowers for Blesi (87’), (4) Lou Daniele for Tadley (117’)

2010 USASA Region I tournament – first round results:

Olympia Stamford (CT) 0:1 Go-Soccer FC (NJ) – Sat. April 10
Boston Olympiakos (MA) 1:2 Danbury United (CT)
Emigrantes Das Ilhas (MA) 3:2 Brooklyn Italians (East NY)
Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD) 0:3 Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
Phoenix SC (East PA) 2:3 NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY)
Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) 2:2 (UGH advances on PKs 4-1) United German Hungarians (East PA)
Athletic Club (West PA) at Charm City FC (MD) – Athletic Club forfeits (Loss of sponsor)
Erie Admirals (NPSL) at Fenerbahce USA (East NY) – Erie forfeits (Injuries/Not enough players avail.)

Quarterfinal schedule (May 2)

Fenerbahce USA at Danbury United – 2 p.m., Portuguese Cultural Center (Danbury, CT)
Aegean Hawks FC at NY Pancyprian Freedoms – 2 p.m., Belson Stadium (St. John’s University)
Charm City FC at United German Hungarians – 2 p.m., UGH Field (Oakford, PA)
Go-Soccer FC vs. Emigrantes Das Ilhas *Emigrantes Das Ilhas disqualified*
Go Soccer FC at Brooklyn Italians – 4p.m., John Dewey High School (Brooklyn, NY)

2010 US Open Cup qualifying: Region I down to 14 teams as tournament begins this weekend

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The USASA Region I tournament gets underway this weekend, the beginning of what will eventually send two clubs to the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The opening round kicks off with a game on Saturday, April 10, with the rest of the round to be played Sunday, April 11, followed by the quarterfinals on May 2, and the semifinals on May 23. The two teams that emerge victorious in the semifinals will both be awarded a spot in the US Open Cup, and if the format remains true to recent form, they will be matched up with either a second division or a third division side. Major League Soccer teams will not enter the competition until the third round.

The 2010 edition of the tournament was expanded to 16 teams, but it wasn’t meant to be as two teams were forced to drop out. Athletic Club, the lone entry from Western Pennsylvania, had their main sponsor abandon them, thus making it impossible for them to cover their travel expenses to Maryland to take on Charm City FC.

The other team that won’t be competing is the Erie Admirals of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). A combination of injuries and a lack of player availability left them without a full roster for their game against Fenerbahce USA, the Eastern New York runner-up.

The two teams who benefit from the forfeits, Fenerbahce USA and Charm City FC, will both move on to the quarterfinals where they will be forced to play on the road.

The rest of the games on the opening round schedule feature a number of intriguing matchups.

Boston Olympiakos has been a regular in Open Cup qualifying, but has only reached the Region I tournament twice. In 2004, they lost in the semifinals and in 2008, they defeated Danbury United from Connecticut in the group final to punch their ticket to the Open Cup. Those two teams will meet again on Sunday at the Portuguese Cultural Center. Danbury qualified for the Open Cup in 2007, but lost that deciding game against Boston in 2008 and last year to Emigrantes Das Ilhas, another Massachusetts team.

That win over Danbury last year was the first trip to the Open Cup for Emigrantes. Repeating will be a challenge as they will travel to New York to take on the Brooklyn Italians. The two-time Open Cup champions (1979, 1991) just joined the NPSL after decades as a member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

On Saturday, Olympia Stamford from Connecticut will begin their quest to qualify for the Open Cup for the second time in a decade when they open up against Go-Soccer FC from New Jersey. Olympia last made a trip to the big dance in 2001 when they had a one-and-done Cup run, falling to the PDL’s Seattle Sounders Select.

The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks, complete with their committed sponsor, are aiming to be a Region I finalist (and thus, an Open Cup participant) for the third time in four years, a rare feat among USASA clubs. They will begin at home against one of the Maryland co-champions Jilly’s Bar & Grill, who highlighted the opening round of the Maryland Open Cup tournament with a 10-0 thrashing of and knocked out the defending state champions, Christos, by a score of 3-0.

Phoenix SC of Eastern Pennsylvania will have the task of facing the New York Pancyprian Freedoms, a club that not only plays in the ultra-competitive Cosmopolitan Soccer League, but they also boast the greatest Open Cup pedigree of any club in the tournament. The Freedoms have qualified for the Open Cup three times in the Professional Era (1995-present) and prior to that, they won the competition three times (1980, 1982, 1983) and are the last team to ever repeat as champions. Phoenix SC is making their first appearance in the tournament after beating the United German Hungarians (UGH) 2-1 in overtime in the Eastern PA final.

With the expansion of the Region I finals, that made room for UGH as Eastern PA runners-up and they will take on Club Atletico Virginia. The champions of the DC/VA Open Cup championship, beat the Aegean Hawks for the first time in nine tries, denying the Hawks their fifth straight DC/VA title. The Washington Premier League club will take on UGH who have not qualified for the Open Cup since 1999 when they upset the Staten Island Vipers of the D3 Pro League. UGH have finished runners-up in the Open Cup twice (1977, 1993).

2010 USASA Region I tournament – first round schedule:
(All times Eastern)

Boston Olympiakos (MA) at Danbury United (CT) – 2 p.m. at Portuguese Cultural Center
Erie Admirals (NPSL) at Fenerbahce USA (East NY) – Erie forfeits (Injuries/Not enough players available)
Olympia Stamford (CT) at Go-Soccer FC (NJ) – Sat. April 10, 5:30 p.m. at Torpey Athletic Complex
Emigrantes Das Ilhas (MA) at Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) – 3 p.m. at John Dewey High School
Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) – 2 p.m. at Denison Nursery
Phoenix SC (East PA) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (East NY) – 2 p.m. at Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.)
Athletic Club (West PA) at Charm City FC (MD) – Athletic Club forfeits (Loss of sponsor)
Club Atletico Virginia (DC/VA) at United German Hungarians (East PA) – 2 p.m. at UGH Field

Quarterfinal schedule (May 2)

Fenerbahce USA at Danbury United/Boston Olympiakos
Go-Soccer FC / Olympia Stamford vs. Brooklyn Italians / Emigrantes Das Ilhas – Site TBA
Aegean Hawks FC / Jilly’s Bar & Grill vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms / Phoenix SC – Site TBA
Charm City FC at United German Hungarians / Club Atletico Virginia

Bracket

First Round (April 11) Quarterfinals (May 2) Semifinals (May 23) Final (June 27)
Danbury United (CT)
Boston Olympiakos (MA)
Fenerbahce USA (E NY) Fenerbahce USA (E NY)
Erie Admirals (NPSL) (forfeit)
Go-Soccer FC (NJ)
Olympia Stamford (CT)
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)
Emigrantes das Ilhas (MA)
DS Aegean Hawks (DC/VA)
Jilly’s Bar & Grill (MD)
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (E NY)
Phoenix SC (E PA)
Charm City FC (MD) Charm City FC (MD)
Athletic Club (W PA) (forfeit)
UGH Majors (E PA)
Club Atletico (DC/VA)

2010 Qualifying: Emigrantes Das Ilhas to represent Massachusetts in Region I Finals

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Emigrantes Das Ilhas will make their second straight appearance in the USASA Region I Finals
Emigrantes Das Ilhas will make their second straight appearance in the USASA Region I Finals

2009 Massachusetts State Cup Champions Emigrantes Das Ilbarhas booked their place in the USASA Region I Open Cup tournament next Spring by defeating Boston Olympiakos (2007 National Amateur Cup champions) 4-2 on penalty kicks on a rainy evening in East Boston. The build up to the game needed no extra incentives as the two teams had just met 48 hours earlier in a fiercely contested US Amateur Cup game in Brockton. The game ended in a 2-2 tie with Emigrantes advancing to the group finals ahead of Olympiakos on goal difference.

The game would prove no different. Emigrantes were first out of the blocks and on the scoresheet within the first eight minutes of play after some delightful skill by Edens Chery down the left flank. His cross into the box was met by Almir Barbosa whose shot was superbly saved by the Olympiakos keeper, but the rebound kindly fell to Cherry who needed no second invitation to shoot and score. It was a fantastic start for Emigrantes considering they began the game without a goalkeeper or any substitutes as many of their players and fans were stuck in the city of Boston’s notorious rush hour traffic.

By the 25th minute Emigrantes were down to 10 men when Jose Veiga picked up a foot injury in a challenge with the Olympiakos keeper. Fortunately their missing players began to arrive and Emigrantes were back to full strength with goalkeeper Jordan Mota coming on for injured Veiga and replacing Aderito Pina in goal who then took up his normal position in defense.

Instead of pushing for a second goal, Emigrantes eased off and Olympiakos began to make a push for an equalizer through playmakers DaSilva and Walker. But the execution of their final pass was poor. Frustration began to mount for twin strikers Jessey and Justin Fernandes as they couldn’t muster any chances against a solid Emigrantes defense. They settled for long range shots which were handled comfortably by Mota. With the evening temperature dropping and rain falling, both teams seemed to be looking forward to the halftime whistle which came after four minutes of injury time.

The second half started with Emigrantes forming an assault on the Olympiakos goal. Wave after wave they attacked. First with Barbosa coming close after some nice work by Daniel Xavier down the right. Then it was Zico Veiga to carve out a decent shot that sent the Boston keeper sprawling to his left. And before he could get on his feet, Iuca was there to rattle his crossbar. It seemed like only a matter of time before Emigrantes would score. But credit to Boston Olympiakos who somehow found a way to weather the storm. Those opening 20 minutes of the the second half must have felt like two hours to them.

Their fortunes would get better as Carlos Amado of Emigrantes pulled a hamstring and had to be replaced by Ernesto Lopes. With only one substitution available, Emigrantes were forced to shuffle their midfield by moving Carlos Semedo to left back. This would become his third position of the night after filling in at center back and midfield. This opened up the center of the park and Olympiakos began to find some space. As time ticked closer to the 90-minute mark, Olympiakos began throwing numbers forward forcing the Emigrantes defense to drop deeper onto their own 18-yard box. Two minutes into stoppage time, a failed clearance fell to the feet of Justin Fernandes who scored the equalizer to send the game into extra time.

It was tough blow to Emigrantes as Olympiakos created a limited number of scoring chances. With overtime looming and Emigrantes dejected, Olympiakos now felt they could win it. Within the 2nd minute of overtime, they used their momentum to go up 2-1 thanks to a cracker of a free kick from 25 yards out by Joshua Grenier. Mota had no chance.

Now Emigrantes were left to chase the game. With time winding down in the second half of extra time, they would find an opening through Chery, who put together a ‘man of the match’ level performance. He made a run down the left wing and sent a cross into the box that was met and turned in by Barbosa to bring the game level. Following the tying goal, each team took a defensive approach into the final minutes, sending the match into a penalty kick shootout to decide the Massaschusetts state championship.

Emigrantes won the toss and opted to shoot first. The defending champs scored on their first three attempts with Lopes, Chery and Daniel Xavier beating the goalkeeper. Olympiakos scored on their first two, but Mota guessed correctly and saved the third try by Geoffrey Walker. Following the save, Zico Veiga stepped to the spot and sent the ball into the back of the net putting the pressure on Jessey Fernandes to score or go home. Once again, Mota dove the right way and made the save to give Emigrantes their second straight Massachusetts Open Cup championship.

Emigrantes Das Ilhas will represent the state at the USASA Region I Finals, which will take place next Spring.

Emigrantes Das Ilhas lineup:

GK: Aderito De Pina(normally central defender and later went back to his regular position replaced by #1 Keeper Jordan Mota)
RB: Carlos Amado(came off injured replaced by Ernesto Lopes)
CB: Carlos Semedo, Carlos Semedo
LB: Sandro Pina
LW: Edens Cherry
CM: Claudino Barros, Zico Veiga
RW: Ze Veiga
ST: Almir Barsosa, Daniel Xavier

2008 First Round recap: Hollywood United historic upset headlines the opening round

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2008 US Open Cup First Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 10
Yakima Reds 1:5 Harrisburg City Islanders
Boston Olympiakos 0:2 Western Mass Pioneers
Fredericksburg Gunners 0:3 Richmond Kickers
Crystal Palace Baltimore 2:1 LA Legends
RWB Adria 1:2 (aet) Rochester Rhinos
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4:0 AAC Eagles
St. Louis Lions 1:4 Minnesota Thunder
Cleveland City Stars 2:1 Michigan Bucks
Bradenton Academics 2:4 Miami FC
Atlanta Silverbacks 2:2 (5:4 PKs) Austin Aztex U23s
Clearwater Galactics 2:5 Charlotte Eagles
Seattle Sounders 1:0 (aet) Arizona Sahuaros
Hollywood United 3:2 Portland Timbers
Brooklyn Knights 0:1 Carolina RailHawks
ASC New Stars 0:3 Charleston Battery
June 13
NY Pancyprian Freedoms 2:3 (aet) Real Maryland
Player of the Round: Pat Healey (CP Baltimore)
Notable upsets in the First Round
Things you should know about the First Round

In the lone upset in this year’s opening round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Hollywood United became only the second USASA club to defeat a USL First Division team in the tournament, knocking off the Portland Timbers with a dramatic, stoppage-time goal from Earl Alexander.

A pair of penalty kicks by Matt Taylor kept Hollywood level with their professional hosts. The Timbers tallied with goals fron Chris Brown (32nd minute), and Arsene Oka (51st minute). A crucial turning point in the match came in the 53rd minute, when Hollywood goalkeeper Javier Barragan saved a penalty kick from the Timbers’ Takayuki Suzuki, keeping the score 2-1 in favor of Portland.

Four other amateur teams nearly joined Hollywood in the Second Round.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the defending USL First Division Champion Seattle Sounders needed 118 minutes to find the winning goal against the USASA’s Arizona Sahuaros. Kenji Treschuk scored the winning goal with just a couple minutes remaining in extra time, before the match would go to penalty kicks.

In Austin, Texas, the Atlanta Silverbacks got a penalty kick goal from David Hayes late in overtime to tie the game back up at 2-2 and sent the game into a tiebreaking shootout against the PDL’s Austin Aztex U23s. However, Atlanta would prevail, with Hayes sending the USL-1 side to the next round with the winning kick.

In Rochester, the Rhinos also needed extra time to knock off Chicago USASA club RWB Adria 2-1. Awadallah Morad tied the game for Adria with just four minutes remaining in regulation, and Hamed Diallo scored the eventual winning goal for Rochester just seven minutes into the extra period.

One match on Tuesday’s schedule was washed out by inclement weather, but the day after New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA Region I) took the Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) to overtime. The Monarchs needed an 85th minute equalizer and a late extra time goal to end the Freedoms’ upset bid.

2008 First Round: Pioneers survive Greek charge, top Olympiakos 2-0

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In an ugly game hampered by the oppressive heat, the Western Mass Pioneers edged their USASA opponents from the eastern part of the state, Boston Olympiakos, by a 2-0 scoreline.

The Pioneers played the match with a heavy heart, as head coach Lesznek Wrona returned to his native Poland to attend his mother’s funeral.

Neil Krause opened the scoring for the Pioneers in the 33rd minute, when his shot deflected off an Olympiakos defender and caught goalkeeper Chris Charnecky leaning the wrong way. Boston nearly tied the score just before halftime, when Samuel Appiah’s shot from 15 yards out was blocked by Pioneers netminder Matt Glaeser.

In the second half, Western Mass dodged another bullet, when Geoff Walker’s shot trickled toward the goalline after a save from Glaeser, but James Greenslit beat Boston’s Sherron Manswell to clear the ball.

In the 68th minute, the Pioneers got their insurance goal. Everson Maciel passed up a shot to send the ball to Jeff Deren, who beat Chernacky for a 2-0 lead.

The match was only the second time in the Professional Era (1995-present) that two teams from the state of Massachusetts faced off in the Open Cup. In 2004, Western Mass was upset by the PDL’s Cape Cod Crusaders 3-2 in the Second Round.

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