The semifinal round of the US Club Soccer US Open Cup qualifying tournament kicked off this weekend, but only one game was able to be completed. The Fresno Fuego Future had no trouble reaching the final, but the same couldn’t be said for the other semifinal which suffered a power outage during extra time, forcing the game to be suspended.
After a 1-1 draw in regulation, the match between Los Gatos Storm and San Ramon FC was suspended with 13 minutes left in the second extra time period. US Club Soccer has decided that Los Gatos will host a full replay of the match to decide who will join the Fuego Future in the title game. The date and time of the match is still to be determined.
For the second year in a row, US Club Soccer is conducting a qualifying tournament to determine their lone entry in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The eight-team field is made up of teams from the NorCal Premier Soccer League. The winner of the April 27 final will enter the Open Cup in the Play-In Round on May 7 against an opponent from the NPSL.
Forward Tyler Reinhart scored a hat trick to help the Fresno Fuego Future dominate Cap FC 10-2 Saturday at Clovis East High School in Clovis, Calif.
Reinhart scored in the 11th, 44th, and 55th minutes, while also setting up two goals to help the Fuego cruise into the US Club Soccer US Open Cup qualifying tournament final which is scheduled for April 27.
The Fuego Future, who also have a club that competes in the PDL, started off the game fast with Eligio Morales breaking the deadlock after being sent behind the defense by Reinhart in just the 8th minute.
Three minutes later, Fresno doubled their lead when Reinhart beat the keeper from 18 yards out off a scuffed clearance from a Cap FC center back.
Gatson Cignetti and Paul Islas each put one in the back of the net in addition to first-half braces from Reinhart and Morales to push the score to 6-0 at the break.
Islas completed a brace of his own shortly after halftime to push the game even more out of reach. After Reinhart completed his hat trick in the 55th minute, the Fuego opted to sub out some of their players, even going down to 10 men for the last few minutes of the game.
Nevertheless, there was still scoring to be done. Cap FC exposed Fuego’s new recruits with two quick goals from Uriel Guevara and Luis Arce in the 53rd and 62nd minutes respectively.
But it was too little, too late as Fresno capped off the night with a fourth and final brace, this time from prospect Jose Segura.
The final will essentially be a home game for the Fuego as it will take place at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif.
2013 US Open Cup qualifying: US Club Soccer
| Bracket A | PTS | W | L | D | GD |
| x-San Ramon SC | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +11 |
| x-Cap FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 |
| North Coast Tsunami | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -4 |
| Southern Oregon Fuego | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -13 |
March 16
Cap FC 0:3 San Ramon SC
North Coast Tsunami 1:0 Southern Oregon Fuego
March 23
Southern Oregon Fuego 0:5 San Ramon SC
March 24
Cap FC 4:2 North Coast Tsunami
March 29
San Ramon SC 3:0 North Coast Tsunami
March 30
Southern Oregon Fuego 0:7 Cap FC
| Bracket B | PTS | W | L | D | GD |
| x-Fresno Fuego Future | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +3 |
| x-Los Gatos Storm | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 |
| Stanislaus United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Bullard United | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -5 |
March 16
Fresno Fuego Future 1:0 Los Gatos Storm
March 17
Los Gatos Storm 3:2 Stanislaus United
March 22
Bullard United 0:3 Los Gatos Storm
March 24
Stanislaus United 2:2 Fresno Fuego Future
March 27
Fresno Fuego Future 3:1 Bullard United
March 30
Bullard United 1:1 Stanislaus United
Tiebreakers: (1) Head-to-head (2) Goal diff. (3) Goals for (4) Goals against (5) Most shutouts
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Semifinals (April 6)
Cap FC 2:10 Fresno Fuego Future
Los Gatos Storm at San Ramon FC*
* The game was suspended when the lights went out at the stadium with the score tied 1-1 in extra time. Make-up date TBA
Semifinals (Replay – Date TBD)
San Ramon FC at Los Gatos Storm
Final (April 27)
Fresno Fuego Future vs. Los Gatos Storm/San Ramon FC
Chukchansi Park (Fresno, CA)