Carolina RailHawks

2016 US Open Cup Round 4: Zachary Herivaux’s OT winner sends New England Revolution into Round of 16

June 17, 2016 by Ian Foster

Zachary Herivaux of the New England Revolution battles for the ball against the Carolina RailHawks in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Rob Kinnan | Carolina RailHawks

The New England Revolution truly outlasted the Carolina RailHawks, winning 1-0 after extra time in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Fourth Round game interrupted after ten minutes by a two-hour lightning delay. 20-year-old Zachary Herivaux netted the winning goal in the 103rd minute on a firecracker from just outside the box. Herivaux, the Revs’ homegrown player who had played all of seven minutes since the beginning of the 2015 season, was the difference-maker on the night, also being responsible for holding back many a dangerous 2nd-half RailHawks attack.

The first nine minutes proved uneventful, but not as uneventful as the following two hours, during which play was suspended for lightning and overall nasty conditions. Fortunately, the RailHawks field held up and play resumed.

It was an unusually starter-laden lineup for an MLS team playing a lower-division team on the road. Diego Fagundez, Juan Agudelo, and Kelyn Rowe started alongside rookie revelation Femi Hollinger-Janzen, promising a youthful, dynamic attack. However, that attack never really materialized in the interrupted first half, with the RailHawks getting the slightly better of the first 45. Austin da Luz found the game’s first real chance in the 23rd minute, sending a close but wide-angle shot just past the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Mark Watson got on the end of a corner at the top of the box and sent a laser shot just wide of the goal. Brian Shriver generated the first half’s best chance, skimming the crossbar in the 33rd minute.

For all Carolina’s efforts, however, they went into the half goalless. But it continued to be all RailHawks into the second half, with Austin da Luz, Shriver, and second-half sub Jonathon Orlando bossing the final third, only to come up short on the final touch.

Controversy erupted in the 55th minute, when New England’s London Woodberry appeared to headbutt Drew Beckie, who had just picked up a yellow card a minute earlier, after a scramble in the RailHawks box. The official didn’t give Woodberry a yellow card until after the video replay.

Shriver and da Luz continued to threaten the New England goal, only for Herivaux to provide the saving tackle each time. In the 59th minute, da Luz appeared to miss a sitter. Harivaux was the real culprit, getting to the ball a split-second before da Luz.

The match continued with everyone on the pitch into the 79th minute, when Chris Tierney came on, completing a trio of MLS-regular subs for the Revs (Tierney, Lee Nguyen, and Kei Kamara). The superior talent finally started to shine as the Revs dominated possession, but without a regulation goal to show for it.

That talent would have to win out after the first full-time whistle. In the 103rd minute, Herivaux collected a loose ball at the top of the box and fired into the back of the net.

“Before the break, we thought he was a little tentative, a little nervous,” said New England coach Jay Heaps about Herivaux after the game. “During the break, we had a little heart-to-heart with him just to free himself up, play himself into the game and that’s what he did. When you have young players, you want them to play into the game and of course he scored the goal but he did a lot of things up to that point, winning challenges, defending when we had to.”

The RailHawks would not let up, as second-half substitute Alex Perez nearly equalized in the final moments. Brad Knighton, however, foiled two point-blank Perez efforts in the 117th minute and 121st minute, respectively, to seal New England’s spot in the Round of 16.

“If Knighton isn’t as good as he is tonight,” Heaps said, “we’re probably kicking penalty kicks right now. He was just in the right spots tonight, and that was the difference.”

“We thoroughly deserved to win the game and we didn’t,” said Carolina head coach Colin Clarke. “We didn’t take our chances. I thought we were by far the better team over the course of the 120 minutes, we should be through to the next round and I’m very disappointed.”

For the Revolution, it was just the second game decided in extra time in the club’s history. The first coming against the RailHawks in the 2007 Semifinals when they denied the first-year club a spot in the Final. It was a 93rd minute goal by Pat Noonan that denied Carolina a spot in the championship game.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2015 US Open Cup Round 3: Charlotte Independence makes Carolina RailHawks’ bad day even worse with surprise 1-0 win

May 28, 2015 by Neil Morris

Capping arguably the darkest day in Carolina RailHawks history, the USL expansion Charlotte Independence quelled the hosts 1-0, ousting Carolina from the US Open Cup in the Third Round. It’s the earliest the RailHawks have exited the Open Cup since 2010.

A match that saw little offense turned in the 81st minute when Ryan Finley beat Carolina’s backline before slotting the game-winner past goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

After the game, Sylvestre protested that Finley was offside. RailHawks manager Colin Clarke laid blame on his team’s lack of execution.

“We had a throw-in and we threw it to them,” Clarke said. “That’s where it starts. Awful decision, awful play.”

Prior to Finley’s score, both teams exchanged wanting scoring chances. In the 56th minute, an effective RailHawks buildup gave second-sub Jamie Dell with an open shot in the box. However, he pulled his attempt wide right of goal.

In the 61st, Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera held up the ball in the box before turning and unleashing a snap shot that nearly sailed over Sylvestre before the leaping 6-foot-5 keeper finger-tipped the ball over the crossbar.

In the 71st minute, Sylvestre rushed out of goal in an attempt to clear away a Charlotte through ball. Finley beat Sylvestre to the spot, but as Finley attempted to maneuver around Sylvestre the keeper dispossessed him to thwart an open-goal opportunity.

Sylvestre got the start upon being recalled from loan to the Philadelphia Union, where he earned a spot on the MLS Team of the Week last weekend.

After tonight’s loss, a visibly angry Sylvestre expressed his frustration over the outcome, seemingly channeling his teammates in the process.

“What ticks me off is we have the potential to go out there and beat anybody, but we’re not showing it,” Sylvestre said. “We have a great team. If we had played to our potential we would have killed this team, easily. I know that because I trained with these guys.”

The Independence not only scrimmaged the RailHawks during the preseason, but their roster includes three former RailHawks: Daniel Jackson and brothers Enzo and Alex Martinez.

Charlotte manager Mike Jeffries said insight wasn’t essential to preparing for Carolina. However, he admits to game-planning his team’s tactics to take away the RailHawks’ strengths, chiefly speedy midfielder Ty Shipalane.

“That was number one on the list, I gotta be honest,” Jeffries said. “I have a lot of respect for Shipalane and Novo, and we felt like we had to keep those two under wraps. We knew if we managed to do that we would give ourselves a great opportunity to win the game.”

Wednesday began with the soccer world awakening to the news that 14 FIFA executives and sports marketing officials were indicted in an ongoing US corruption probe. Among those charged is Aaron Davidson, now ex-Chairman of the Board of Governors for the North American Soccer League (NASL) and President of Traffic Sports USA, Inc., the company that owns the RailHawks. On May 14, Traffic Sports USA and their parent company Traffic Sports International Inc. pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.

The surreality of the day is capped by Carolina’s lackluster performance. Clarke refused to concede these shocking events impacted his players’ preparation.

“It wasn’t a distraction, doesn’t even come into it,” Clarke said. “I just didn’t think we did enough good things on the field. We had our moments but didn’t make their keeper work enough.”

Distraction or not, the RailHawks’ early exit is a bitter pill for a team accustomed to Open Cup success the past three years.

“It’s hard because we’ve been successful and now we won’t get that opportunity to play against one of the big boys,” Clarke said. “For the players, we won’t get that opportunity to showcase their talents. It’s disappointing.”

2014 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Blas Perez scores three as FC Dallas ends Carolina RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak (video)

July 10, 2014 by Neil Morris

UPDATE: Blas Perez of FC Dallas was named TheCup.us Player of the Round of the Quarterfinals

The first question posed to Enzo Martinez after FC Dallas’ 5-2 win over the Carolina RailHawks Wednesday night in Cary was whether the RailHawks’ early opening goal conjured confidence that the WakeMed Soccer Park magic would again propel them to victory over a Major League Soccer opponent.

Before the Carolina midfielder could respond, florescent light bulbs flicked off, temporary cloaking the media room in darkness.

No further response was really necessary.

After surrendering one goal and nearly another over the opening 20 minutes of their quarterfinal match in the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, a speedy, technically proficient FC Dallas turned out the lights on both the RailHawks’ tournament hopes and their 23-match home unbeaten streak.

FC Dallas opened the game with a three-man back line, a tactical decision that manager Oscar Pareja later admitted was in error. While Dallas’ formidable forwards would eventually feast on the RailHawks’ defense, their initial lack of cover in the defending third afforded Carolina’s own potent attackers space to make runs into the box.

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That paid early dividends in the 9th minute. Jun Marques Davidson played a nifty chip pass ahead to a streaking Martinez in the box. Martinez centered the ball over to Zack Schilawski, whose left-footed toe poke flew past FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez for an early 1-0 lead.

“We decided to go with some pressure ,” Pareja said, “but they made us change the plan quick due to their technical ability.”

FC Dallas center back Matt Hedges deferred a question about why the team started out with a three-man back to his manager.

“We tried it and it didn’t work as well as we wanted it to,” Hedges said. “So we made some changes, and we got much more organized afterwards.”

Carolina attempted to keep up the attack, with another Martinez blast in the 20th minute bounding just wide of the goal. But in the 23rd minute, Tescho Akindele drove along FC Dallas’ right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box that found an unmarked Blas Perez, whose header found the upper netting and knotted the score at 1-1.

Unfortunately, the RailHawks’ offensive eagerness eventually played into FC Dallas’ plan. Too often midfielders Cesar Elizondo, Ty Shipalane and Martinez would dribble into a sure-footed defender and get dispossessed, triggering counterattacks that allowed Fabian Castillo, Andres Escobar and others to carve up and break down the Carolina defense all evening.

In the 34th minute, Carolina center back Austen King attempted a slide tackle to clear out a FC Dallas through ball intended for JeVaughn Watson. However, King’s clearance ricocheted off Watson and behind King, allowing Watson to regather the ball and center it to Perez stationed atop the box. Perez’s strike somehow dissected Daniel Scott and Kupono Low before skimming past goalkeeper Scott Goodwin to give Dallas a 2-1 lead.

However, just two minutes later an Elizondo dribble was handled in the area by Moises Hernandez, drawing a penalty call from referee Ricardo Salazar. Martinez stepped to the spot and hammered his PK past Fernandez to level the score at 2-2.

With Carolina harboring hopes of carrying a tie score into halftime, a RailHawks miscue gave FC Dallas the eventual game-winner in the 44th minute. Another Elizondo dispossession, this time to Watson, launched a Dallas counter led by Escobar, who galloped into the attacking third before sending a seeing eye through ball ahead to Castillo. All Castillo did was beat Low to the ball, maneuver past Scott and then round Goodwin before calmly depositing the ball into an open goal for a 3-2 lead at intermission.

It was a moment of technical class that epitomized the talent gap between FC Dallas’ speedy, skilled attackers and an outmatched RailHawks back line, whose output was a far cry from their flawless performance two weeks ago during Carolina’s Open Cup win over the LA Galaxy.

After halftime, FC Dallas subbed in defender Stephen Keel and retreated to a flat four-man back line with a compact midfield. Dallas remained content to surrender much possession to Carolina, but the RailHawks were unable to convert their chances.

As Carolina threw players forward late in the match in search of another equalizer, it opened space for FC Dallas to ultimately pad their lead. In the 89th minute, another Martinez turnover near midfield triggered yet another Dallas counter. Mauro Diaz drove past the center line before playing the ball wide left to Castillo. Castillo drew defenders before calmly passing the ball back to Diaz for a professional finish.

Then a couple of minutes later during added time, another dynamic drive up the left side by Castillo ended with him driving toward the top of the 18-yard box, rounding a helpless Scott, and then laying the ball to an unmarked Perez. All that remained was for Perez to complete his hat trick and account for the final scoring tally. Perez became just the third Dallas player to score three goals in a game, joining Kenny Cooper (2006) and Bobby Rhine (1999).

The sad irony is while Carolina had more possession and attack against FC Dallas than the Chivas USA and LA Galaxy games combined, the ultimate result was very different.

“I thought we played pretty well,” said RailHawks manager Colin Clarke. “I thought we competed with them. I thought we passed the ball and moved the ball. Just the little details in each box, defensively and being clinical in the other box. They were better than us tonight at that.”

The match carried a sense of occasion and connections about it. Jason Kreis, the new manager of New York City FC and a former Duke University standout, was on hand for a scouting expedition — before the game he was at a nearby bar watching the Netherlands-Argentina FIFA World Cup match with RailHawks’ supporters.

Also, Pareja both played for and served as an assistant coach under Clarke when Clarke managed FC Dallas from 2003-2006.

“It was good to see them, good to catch up with them,” Clarke said. “I think they’re doing good things down there. They’re a fun team to watch … and have some great players.”

And, there was another reunion of sorts between Martinez, Goodwin and Hedges, who were teammates on the 2011 North Carolina Tar Heels men’s national championship team.

“Obviously, it was the kind of reunion I hoped we’d have,” Hedges joked about getting the win over his former college mates.

The loss to FC Dallas squanders Carolina’s chance to host an Open Cup semifinal tie against the Philadelphia Union next month. However, with this year’s Open Cup run now over, the RailHawks’ attention turns squarely toward the NASL fall season, which kicks off this Saturday in Cary against Indy Eleven. Indy finished at the bottom of the league’s spring season standings, failing to win any of their nine games. However, one of their four draws came against the RailHawks.

Saturday’s match presents Carolina a chance to kick off the fall campaign with a home win and maybe exorcise a few demons in the process. That said, three of the team’s ensuing four games after this weekend will be on the road at Minnesota, San Antonio and New York, the three top teams in the NASL spring season.

Fortunately, the RailHawks spent the NASL “midseason” World Cup break playing three competitive matches against MLS teams an additional friendly against Puebla FC from Liga MX, winning three of those four contests. Clarke says his team enjoyed the much-needed preparation, and he learned a few things about them in the process.

“We need to be more clinical,” Clarke said. “We also need to be a little nastier in some ways, a little more professional. There were a few times tonight when we could have stuck in some tackles tonight and we didn’t. They didn’t mind giving us a kick from time to time, and we’ve got to get that into our game, particularly when we go on the road.”

After punching their ticket to the Semifinals for the 8th time, FC Dallas will enjoy a 10-day break before returning to league play at home against the New England Revolution on July 19.

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: Scott Goodwin of Carolina RailHawks shuts out LA Galaxy, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round (video)

July 7, 2014 by Grant Czubinski

Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves the shot of Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks — Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves a shot taken by Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

Scott Goodwin, the Carolina Railhawks’ rookie backup goalkeeper is using the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament as his own personal coming-out party, and quickly proving he deserves first team minutes in the process.

After leading the RailHawks to victories in the US Open Cup’s Third and Fourth Round, the University of North Carolina graduate put in the finest shift of his young professional career in a 1-0 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy in Cary, NC. The victory sends the NASL club through to the Quarterfinals for the third time, and earned Goodwin TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. Goodwin becomes the second goalkeeper (PSA Elite’s Earl Edwards Jr.) to earn the award in 2014.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Goodwin ran away with the award due to his admirable poise and netminding against the Galaxy, who fielded a mostly first-choice team in their attempt to avoid a third straight upset to the second division side. Goodwin’s Player of the Round snub last round made the Railhawks goalkeeper’s performance hard to ignore this time around, as he clearly outpaced the other star performers of the Fifth Round. The Philadelphia Union’s Sebastien Le Toux record-tying brace and the Chicago Fire’s Juan Luis Anangono‘s impressive work off the bench received considerable attention, but ultimately did not garner enough votes to snatch the award way from Goodwin. The Portland Timbers’ Gaston Fernandez also received several votes for his two goals against Sporting Kansas City.

Goodwin proved the difference in the Railhawks matchup against the Galaxy, who gave Robbie Keane his first-ever US Open Cup start. Under siege the entire game from Los Angeles, Goodwin faced 30 shots and saved all eight shots on goal of them in 120 minutes of work ensuring the RailHawks a third consecutive victory over the Galaxy in Open Cup play.

“It was a really exciting game, I really can’t be more proud of my teammates,” said Goodwin. “I think everyone just put out an incredible effort to keep the ball out and maintain our composure and took advantage of the opportunity we had, so you really have to give it up to them.”

In a first half dominated by the Galaxy, Goodwin continually snuffed out the MLS club’s attacks leading the RailHawks into the half level with Los Angeles 0-0. All Goodwin did in the second half was put on a performance that proved he belonged in net by saving shots from Landon Donovan in the 84th minute and Robbie Keane in the 90th.

The Raleigh native held steadfast in extra time as well. After Daniel Jackson put the Railhawks up 1-0 in the 105th minute, Goodwin held off a continued Galaxy onslaught. Goodwin made another save against Keane in the 117th, which proved to be enough to make Jackson’s strike the game-winner.

“I thought I had a good solid game,” Goodwin said about his performance. “Any time you keep a shutout against guys like that, the majority has to really be put on the guys in front of me, but I felt that I had a solid game.”

The Railhawks game against the Galaxy was just Goodwin’s third game as a pro. The UNC standout and 2011 College Cup champion made his Carolina debut during the club’s Open Cup Third Round game against the Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) after signing with the NASL club in January and spending a season in Iceland with IF Hottur.

In his American professional debut, all Goodwin did was make five saves and record a shutout in the Railhawks’ 2-0 win over the Eagles. Goodwin’s performance coupled with an injury to starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald saw the Chapel Hill product claim his second consecutive start in this year’s tournament when the Railhawks met Chivas USA in the Fourth Round. Goodwin built upon his fine performance against Charlotte guiding the Railhawks to another win after making 11 saves in 120 minutes of work capped by three additional saves in the game’s penalty shootout nearly earning Player of the Round honors in the process. Deshorn Brown’s hat-trick performance against Orlando City SC ultimately captured the award for the Fourth Round.

Goodwin’s pair of outstanding performances more than earned him a chance to take on a full strength Galaxy team. His play against Los Angeles and his string of performances are sure to catch the attention of clubs throughout the country.

“It’s about as good of a start as I could have hoped for,” Goodwin said. “In professional sports, you’re just waiting for your opportunity and you never know when that’s going to happen. What it’s really all about is getting as far as we can in the Open Cup, it’s not about any one individual. We went into this tournament not to just win a couple games, but to take it all the way to the end. At the end of the day, my performance is just a piece of the puzzle and we’re just trying to get on to the next round.”

Goodwin and the Railhawks will look to continue their run in the tournament when they host FC Dallas on July 9 in Cary.

2014 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
Round 1: Vlad Baciu (RWB Adria – USASA)
Round 2: Luke Winter (Chattanooga FC – NPSL)
Round 3: Earl Edwards Jr. (PSA Elite – USASA)
Round 4: Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids – MLS)
Round 5: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)

Recent Goalkeepers to win TheCup.us Player of the Round
2014 Round 5: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)
2014 Round 3: Earl Edwards Jr. (PSA Elite – USASA)
2013 Final: Bill Hamid (DC United – MLS)
2013 Semifinals: Joe Willis (DC United – MLS)
2011 Quarterfinals: Ronnie Pascale (Richmond Kickers – USL PRO)
2011 Round 1: Zach Lubin (Kitsap Pumas – PDL)
2010 Round 3: Tim Melia (Charleston Battery – USL-2)
2009 Tournament MVP: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC – MLS)
2008 Tournament MVP: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders – USL-1)
2008 Quarterfinals: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders – USL-1)
2006 Round 3: Jesse Llamas (Dallas Roma FC – USASA)

HIGHLIGHTS: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: Rookie GK leads Carolina RailHawks to 3rd straight win over full-strength LA Galaxy

June 25, 2014 by Neil Morris

UPDATE: Scott Goodwin was named TheCup.us Player of the Round

Shots: 31 to 6. Corner kicks: 11 to 4. Time of possession: seemingly infinity to nil.

In virtually every statistical category, the LA Galaxy held sway over the Carolina RailHawks during their Fifth Round match in the US Open Cup. Except one.

Goals: 1-0 RailHawks.

It was the third consecutive year the RailHawks have hosted and now dispatched the Galaxy from the tournament. Unlike the previous two tournaments, this year was supposed to be different.

First, Galaxy manager Bruce Arena actually made the trip to Cary (unlike in 2013). The game didn’t take place in the nearly 10,000 seat WakeMed Soccer Stadium, but instead an adjacent Koka Booth Stadium (aka Field 2) lined with lawn and temporary bleacher seating with a maximum capacity of 3,000.

Moreover, unlike the roster of reservists the Galaxy have previously run out against the RailHawks, this year the Galaxy were playing for keeps.

“e’re sick of losing to Carolina and we’re sick of going out of the Open Cup early,” said LA’s Landon Donovan in the run-up to the match.

The Galaxy fielded a formidable, full-strength lineup that included Robbie Keane, Juninho, Robbie Rogers, AJ DeLaGarza, and Gyasi Zardes. And, the player with the most goals in both U.S. national and Major League Soccer history, Donovan entered the game in the 64th minute.

On the other side, the RailHawks were fielding a bit of a patchwork 11 that was missing starting striker Mike Grella and center back Toni Stahl. Both players’ Carolina contracts expired after the Chivas USA Open Cup win on June 14, and both players are absent while the team attempts to negotiate extensions for the NASL fall season.

With starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald still injured, Scott Goodwin got his second straight start. Against Chivas USA, all Goodwin did was make 11 saves in 120 minutes of regulation and overtime, then saved three kicks from the penalty mark to secure the RailHawks’ victory.

For those asking whether Goodwin could duplicate that stellar performance, the former Tar Heel standout answered with a clean sheet and eight saves against the formidable Galaxy attack.

It was a hot and humid start on the sunbathed Field 2, still in the mid 80s at the 7 p.m. kickoff.

It was the Galaxy putting the heat on the RailHawks in the early going. The Galaxy dominated possession against a tentative Carolina squad, and the RailHawks’ usually potent offensive met its match against a big and fast Galaxy back line. LA snuffed out virtually every through ball and attempted attack from wingers Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo.

While the Galaxy sent one sortie after another into their attacking third, they were either snuffed out by Goodwin or cleared out by a RailHawks’ back line that barely made a misstep or ill-timed tackle the entire match. Quite simply, Connor Tobin, Daniel Scott, Austen King, and Kupono Low were sublime in the back; RailHawks manager Colin Clarke said it was one of the best games he’s ever seen the 35-year-old Low play.

Carolina RailHawks fans poked fun at Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena in 2013. Photo: Twitter @daveslounge — Carolina RailHawks fans poked fun at Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena in 2013 for not making the trip to Cary. Photo: Twitter @daveslounge

The RailHawks were fortunate to hold the Galaxy scoreless in the first half. That second lease on the game appeared to galvanize Carolina’s resolve in the second stanza.

While LA continued to dominate the run of play, Carolina began to find seams to attack after substituting off Shipalane and Elizondo, heroes of past Open Cup wins over the Galaxy and Chivas USA. With the Galaxy crowding the wings all match, the insertion of substitutes Daniel Jackson and Nick Zimmerman — making his first official RailHawks appearance since 2012 — stretched the field and gave Carolina more punch through the center of the field.

In the 48th minute, Leonardo got a head on a LA corner kick, but his shot sailed wide and high. In the 50th minute, Kofi Opare got his own point-blank header in the goalmouth, but Goodwin made a spectacular save.

In the 83rd minute, Donovan found the ball at his feet in the box and delivered a short range poke that Goodwin somehow managed to swat away from danger.

In a game full of close calls, Goodwin said that was the closest.

“I didn’t really think about it until five or ten minutes later,” he said. “I was like, ‘I think that was Donovan.’ You’re watching the ball and scrambling around, and you have no time to think about it during the game. It’s just onto the next play.”

In the 90th minute, Keane got free in the box and found himself in a 1-v-1 with Goodwin. But the Carolina keeper won that battle, too.

Just when it appeared the RailHawks would be fortunate to hold on for overtime, Carolina nearly snagged a shock winner on the final play of regulation. Finding space along the right flank, Jackson made an angled drive toward the south goal and cut loose a blast that was parried away by Galaxy goalkeeper Jamie Penedo.

In the 105th minute, the RailHawks improbably broke the scoreless deadlock. A one-two exchange between Jackson and Zimmerman ended with Zimmerman playing a nifty through ball behind Leonardo to a streaking, onside Jackson. With Keane and Donovan watching helplessly, Jackson drove to goal and powered his shot near post past Penedo for the 1-0 lead.

“On that possession, Nazmi had a broke up play and he played it to me,” Jackson said. “I brought in and played a one-touch with Zimmerman. I rolled around and played a ball through.”

From there, it was up to Jackson to notch his first RailHawks goal.

“It was a little similar to the I had before overtime,” he said. “I mishit the previous one, but this time I just thought I’d blast it and see where it goes. It was near post and it was good rip.”

From there, it was time for the RailHawks to intentionally park the bus. In the 114th, a seeing-eye header from Keane bounded wide left of goal. Three minutes later, Goodwin saved yet another blast in the box from Keane.

Even with three more minutes added by the referee on top of the 15-minute second overtime period, the Galaxy could never find the back of the net.

After the match, Arena declined to speak with the media, sending associate head coach Dave Sarachan in his stead. When Sarachan wasn’t griping about the supposedly poor lighting illuminating Field 2, he reflected the mood of the snake-bitten Galaxy.

“It’s a quiet locker room,” he said, “because they’re disappointed and because they put everything out there today.”

Donovan was incredulous yet gracious in defeat.

“You have to give them a lot of credit,” he said. “Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you win that game. had everything go their way tonight. They played well, they defended well and their goalie had one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. And they got the goal that they needed.

“We can’t fault our effort. We gave everything, but everyone’s been part of games like that in soccer. It’s a crazy, cruel game sometimes.”

With three straight Open Cup wins over the Galaxy on top of knocking LA out of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League when he was managing the Puerto Rico Islanders, Clarke has become quite the burr in the Galaxy’s saddle.

“ are a great team,” Clarke said. “They’ve been one of the best teams in the country for a long time. They have players with lots of talent, and they play the right way. We knew we were going to have to defend to get the result … We found a way to get a win, which is pretty special.”

The RailHawks’ midseason NASL break is turning into anything but. Carolina now advances to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup for the second straight season. Riding an unbeaten home streak that has now reached 23 games, the RailHawks will host FC Dallas on July 9.

Before that, the RailHawks will undoubtedly take a few days to bask in the afterglow of this victory. It was an unusual outcome to an unusual event, where the RailHawks were tasked with the Herculean task of putting together a high-profile match on a converted practice field in just over a week. The configuration of the venue created a festive environment for fans. The players had to navigate their way through the stands in order to enter and exit both the park and field, and the fans took advantage of the close proximity to snare autographs from Donovan, Keane, and others.

Indeed, before saluting his players, Clarke first paid tribute to the team’s staff.

“Under tough circumstances of having to play out on Field 2, the staff put that together on short notice,” Clarke said. “I thought it looked professional and well set up. It was great to play on, and that goes a long way to winning the game. They made it a special game.”

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: Carolina RailHawks oust Chivas USA again as rookie GK plays hero in PK shootout (video)

June 15, 2014 by Neil Morris

Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks makes a kick-save on Marco Delgado of Chivas USA in what would prove to be the deciding save in the PK shootout. Photo: Carolina RailHawks — Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks makes a kick-save on Marco Delgado of Chivas USA in what would prove to be the deciding stop in the PK shootout. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

In soccer, it’s commonly called a penalty shootout. However, the Laws of the Game officially refer to the tiebreaker as “kicks from the penalty mark.” Regardless of the moniker, it’s a construct that’s long been the subject of intense fan debate. Some decry it as a contrived method to determine the winner of a hard-fought match, something akin to deciding a basketball game by shooting free throws or an American football contest by alternating 30-yard field goal attempts.

Others point out that after 120 minutes of exhausting play between teams allowed only three substitutions all game, you have to do something to crown a winner when necessary other than an exercise in last man standing. Moreover, kicks from the mark aren’t simply a matter of shooting from close range into an empty net. Yes, the kick taker has a significant advantage. But he must also overcome fatigue, nerves and an agile goalkeeper looming between ball and net.

Kicks from the penalty mark were taken Saturday night between the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer to decide their fourth round tie in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. On one side was Dan Kennedy, the veteran Chivas USA goalkeeper and team captain now in his 14th year with the MLS club. On the other side was Scott Goodwin, the RailHawks’ 23-year-old backup goalkeeper making only his second start since joining the club this season. Goodwin, a former UNC Tar Heel standout, spent last year playing soccer in Iceland before latching onto the RailHawks’ squad.

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But, after a “shootout” that saw Goodwin make three saves, Kennedy make two, and both teams convert only five of their combined 14 kick attempts, a successful conversion by Daniel Jackson gave the RailHawks a win over Chivas USA 1-1 (3-2 shootout) to advance to the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The win also extends the RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak to 22 games in all competitions.

As expected, the RailHawks ran out a full-strength side against their MLS opponent. The huge exception, of course, was Goodwin, who learned only two days prior to Saturday’s match that he would start in place of injured starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. Indeed, according to RailHawks manager Colin Clarke, Fitzgerald might miss the next six weeks of action due to a thumb injury suffered last week during training.

On the other hand, Chivas USA sat out several of their best-known starters, including Carlos Bocanegra and Mauro Rosales. Erick Torres, the team’s leading goalscorer and the third-ranked scorer in MLS, did not start but eventually entered the match in the 77th minute. Chivas was also without the services of Marvin Chavez and Oswaldo Minda, each of whom was called up by his respective country’s FIFA World Cup team.

However, Chivas did start a number of regulars, including Kennedy, Eric Avila, Agustin Pelletieri and Bobby Burling. The remainder of the starting XI, however, comprised irregular starters in need of playing time and a chance to make an impression on manager Wilmer Cabrera.

After several minutes of uncertainty to start the game, it was the RailHawks that first found their offensive rhythm. The attacking quartet of Mike Grella, Zack Schilawski, Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo found running and passing lanes in the attacking third. However, their final touch and finishing proved elusive.

An apparent Schilawski goal in the 20th minute was discarded for offside. In the 27th minute, Chivas forward Leandro Barrera found himself behind the RailHawks backline but onside. However, his 1v1 clash with Goodwin ended with the keeper parrying Barrera’s shot away.

The Carolina RailHawks eliminated Chivas USA for the second time in three years at WakeMed Soccer Park. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

Carolina struck first in the 29th minute. Some nice link-up play by the RailHawks ended with Schilawski on the end of pass into the box from Nazmi Albadawi. Schilawski depositing the ball past Kennedy for a 1-0 lead.

“Really good pass from Naz,” Schilawski said. “He made it look easier than it was. Instead of playing a through ball he played it right to my feet so I could take a touch past the defender, and I was able to finish.”

However, as the first half wore on the RailHawks appeared fatigued and their play became nervy. That resulted in a Chivas USA goal in the 40th minute. A defensive miscue by the RailHawks allowed forward Ryan Finley to get on the end of delivery from Tony Lochhead. Finley headed the ball past a helpless Goodwin to even the count at 1-1 entering halftime.

In the second half, Chivas USA solved the problem of Carolina’s opening offensive lanes.

“We understood we were putting good pressure and blocking out wide,” Cabrera said. “But through the middle they were penetrating. So in the second half we closed the line, especially in the middle with our midfielders.”

The adjustment succeeded, as the RailHawks conjured only a single shot on target for the remainder of the match. Meanwhile, Chivas USA controlled possession and the shot count (24 to 10 for the match). But, stout defending by Carolina’s entire back line complimented some tremendous play from Goodwin.

RailHawks manager Colin Clarke made several key decision during the latter stages of regulation and during overtime. His first substitution in the 71st minute was to bring in Jackson for Shipalane, the RailHawks late-game hero of several past Open Cup matches who, in fairness, didn’t look terribly effective beyond the first half. Clarke then removed Elizondo for Enzo Martinez in the 98th minute.

“I thought (Ty) had a tough night against them,” Clarke said. “I thought they did a good job closing him down. Cesar had a little bit more joy against them, but I just decided to bring fresh legs on in those positions to see if we could get at them a little more.”

Aside from their potent wingers, however, Carolina failed to muster many offensive opportunities in the 30 minutes of overtime. The only shot on target came in the 106th, when a meek boot in the box from Grella was easily gathered by Kennedy.

It fell to Goodwin and his back line to hold the Red-and-White at bay. By the end of 120 minutes, Goodwin had amassed a whopping 11 saves against the MLS visitors.

And that’s when the fun really began.

In addition to his 3 saves in the deciding penalty kick shootout, Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks made 11 saves and gave up one goal in 120 minutes against Chivas USA. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

The kicks from the marks were taken toward the north end of the stadium into the teeth of a throng of RailHawks partisans. Nevertheless, Chivas took the early advantage after Albadawi’s first attempt for Carolina caromed off the post. After Eriq Zavaleta skied Chivas’ third attempt over the goal and Kennedy saved Carolina’s third kick taken by Kupono Low, Chivas held a 2-1 advantage.

Kennedy then took Chivas’ fourth attempt. It wasn’t the keeper’s first kick from the spot—he scored a goal on a true penalty kick against the Los Angeles Blues during last year’s US Open Cup. However, this year the vet’s boot was blocked by Goodwin. After Schilawski buried his attempt, Goodwin then stoned an attempt by Avila.

Martinez—Goodwin’s teammate on the 2011 NCAA champion UNC Tar Heels—then squandered a chance to secure a RailHawks victory when he screwed his attempt wide right.

After Kristopher Tyrpak missed Chivas’ sixth attempt, late-substitute Aaron King’s chance to win the match for Carolina was blocked by Kennedy.

To open the seventh frame, Goodwin thwarted the attempt by Marco Delgado, Goodwin’s third save of the shootout. The third time also proved a charm for Carolina, as Jackson calmly converted his kick to clinch the RailHawks’ win.

“After some great soccer all day long on TV and then to come out and see a game like that sort of tops them all,” said an elated Clarke. “I thought the boys showed a lot of character and hung in there, and it came down to PKs. It’s never easy, a little bit of a lottery. Looked for a time like nobody wanted to win it.”

As opposed to those harboring pregame trepidation about Goodwin’s appearance in place of Fitzgerald (a group including yours truly), Clarke said he never held any doubt.

“We had Scott in last year for a little bit. We tried to sign him, but he decided he wanted to play abroad and experience that for a year. So we kept in touch with him. He’s a great keeper; you speak with anybody when he was in college … All his hard work has paid off.”

The RailHawks’ next match will be Tuesday, June 24 in the Fifth Round. The RailHawks will face the winner of the June 18 game between the LA Galaxy and Arizona United SC. Should Carolina face LA, it will be the third straight year Carolina has hosted the Galaxy in Open Cup competition.

Neil Morris writes for indyweek.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByNeilMorris

HIGHLIGHTS: CAROLINA RAILHAWKS 1:1 (3:2 PKs) CHIVAS USA

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: New York Cosmos battle Red Bulls to highlight rare Saturday gameday (live stream links)

June 14, 2014 by Josh Hakala

UPDATE: All three Major League Soccer teams were eliminated by their NASL opponents tonight. The New York Cosmos dominated the Red Bulls 3-0, while the Carolina RailHawks eliminated Chivas USA for the second time in the last three years, this time by way of PK shootout. And finally, last year’s runner-up, Real Salt Lake followed up their best tournament run in team history by losing to the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 on a 90th minute goal by Kwadwo Poku.

Check back with TheCup.us for details …

The New York Cosmos defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in their US Open Cup debut. Photo: New York Cosmos — The New York Cosmos defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in their US Open Cup debut in Round 3. Photo: New York Cosmos

For the first time since 2003, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will feature tournament games on a Saturday. Three Major League Soccer (MLS) vs. North American Soccer League (NASL) matchups are on the schedule with the headliner featuring a game two years in the making with the New York Cosmos hosting the New York Red Bulls. The other two games are rematches from a year ago as the Carolina RailHawks welcome Chivas USA, and the Atlanta Silverbacks will host Real Salt Lake. Both games from last year went to extra time with the MLS team emerging victorious in both contests.

NY RED BULLS AT NY COSMOS

Over the years, the tournament, as is the case in many domestic cup competitions around the world, holds their games midweek to minimize the impact on league schedules. Since 1995, there have only been 50 Open Cup games that have been played on Friday (19), Saturday (11) or Sunday (20) out of the 742 (6.7%). The reason a weekend date was made possible was because of the MLS break during the FIFA World Cup. The last Saturday game was a 2003 First Round game where a young Clyde Simms and the Raleigh CASL Elite (PDL) defeated DS United (USASA, FL), 4-1.

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MLS will attempt to keep their perfect record so far in 2014 as the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes emerged victorious on Wednesday night. The Dynamo edged the PDL’s Laredo Heat 1-0, while the Earthquakes eliminated USL PRO expansion team Sacramento Republic 2-1.

All three games on Saturday night are scheduled to be streamed live online, with the Cosmos-Red Bulls being chosen as US Soccer’s ‘Game of the Round.’ The other two games will be broadcast live on NASLLive.com.

As always, fans can follow and use the hashtag #USOC2014 on Twitter for the latest updates and discussion from all three games. Be sure to follow all the latest news with the tournament on Twitter at @USOpenCup.

Here is a preview of each of the three Saturday games:

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at New York Cosmos (NASL)
Shuart Stadium (Hofstra Univ.); Hempstead, NY – 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (YouTube)
NEXT: Winner will play at Philadelphia Union or host Harrisburg City Islanders

New York Red Bulls Open Cup records
Overall: 15-15-1 (1-0 PKs) | Away: 8-9-1 (1-0 PKs) | vs. Div. 2: 4-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 4-2 at New England Revolution of MLS – Round 4)
Best finish: 2003 Runner-Up (Lost 1-0 vs. Chicago Fire of MLS)
How they got here … First game

New York Cosmos Open Cup records
Overall: 1-0-0 | Home: 1-0-0 | vs. MLS: N/A
Last entry: First entry
Best finish: N/A
How they got here …
Round 3: 2-0 home win vs. Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)

By Mike Anderer

Since the official announcement that the Cosmos would be joining the NASL for the fall 2013 season, New York soccer fans have been waiting for one game; The New York Cosmos versus the MLS’s New York Red Bulls. The Cosmos entered the NASL openly commenting that they preferred the league structure of the second division as opposed to the stringent rules in MLS. The Cosmos fans reveled in the rebellious move of their team, while Red Bull fans chuckled and made small market jokes about the NASL. Saturday night, the two teams clash in Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, NY.

Both teams come into the match on the heels of award winning seasons. The Red Bulls won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded for most points in the regular season. Cosmos are reining NASL Soccer Bowl champions, though some critics argue that they had an advantage of only playing half of the NASL split season. Equally, both teams are suffering from underwhelming play in the beginning of their 2014 campaigns.

Although the Cosmos finished second in the Spring Season, their 14 goals scored over nine games tied them for third in the scoring category despite upgrading their offense in the off-season. It would be three goals, the only three the defensive-minded team gave up all season that ended costing them a total of 8 points. Those 8 points, or even just three of them, would have secured a position in the new NASL post-season playoff. Now, Cosmos find themselves still fighting to defend their title.

The Red Bulls find themselves fifth in the MLS’s Eastern conference at the halfway mark of the season. The team has played some hard-fought matches and owes a fair amount of credit to the outstanding play of goalkeeper, Luis Robles. The Red Bulls also has the offensive firepower of players like Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and one of the league’s breakout stars of 2014 in Bradley Wright-Phillips. Their Achilles’ heal has been their road play. They have only two wins out of nine road games this season and are minus three in goal differential.

One thing that will dampen some of the excitement surrounding the game will be the line-ups. Although neither side has released their 18 for the match, there are some notable Red Bull players unavailable. First is captain, Thierry Henry. Red Bull manager Mike Petke commented earlier in the week that he is not using field turf as the reason, but the 36-year-old striker does not play in away games on artificial surfaces like the turf at Shuart. Additionally, midfielder, Tim Cahill and defender, Roy Miller are away representing their country’s at the FIFA World Cup. Cahill, since arriving last season, has been a fan favorite and in many people’s opinion the MVP of the club.

Petke did say to reporters on Thursday that he does expect to rest goalkeeper, Luis Robles, and give the start to Ryan Meara. Meara was sidelined in 2012, his rookie season, with a hip injury and has not played in an MLS game since July of that year.

Cosmos’ manager Giovanni Savarese is notorious for keeping his lineup a secret to the very end although a few positions are locks for Saturday. Norwegian striker Mads Stokkelien will play his first game against an MLS side. Defenders Hunter Freeman and Carlos Mendes are no strangers to MLS or the Red Bulls having played for the club previously. Also in the backline for the Cosmos is Seattle Sounders’ loan player Jimmy Ockford and from Spain and La Liga, Ayoze.

Savarese also has history as a player with the Metrostars organization and is currently ranked third in goals scored. Savarese has been very vocal about the excitement he feels about the game, likening the matchup to a derby. Petke on the other hand has downplayed the event saying that because the teams lack history and play in two different leagues that the competitive relationship needs time to build.

Either way, fans are sure to get a great match on Saturday, a perfect way to end a soccer-filled day. Even US Soccer is taking note of the event, carrying the broadcast stream on USsoccer.com for fans from across the country to see.

———————————————————–

Chivas USA (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, NC – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (NASLLive.com)
NEXT: If Chivas USA wins … play at Los Angeles Galaxy or Arizona United SC
If Carolina wins … will host Los Angeles Galaxy or Arizona United SC

Chivas USA Open Cup records
Overall: 7-7-1 (0-1 PKs) | Away: 5-7-0 | vs. Div. 2: 2-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-1 in OT at Carolina RailHawks of NASL – Round 4)
Best finish: Semifinals (2010, 2012)
How they got here … First game

Carolina RailHawks Open Cup records
Overall: 14-5-1 (0-1 PKs) | Home: 14-2-1 (0-1 PKs) | vs. MLS: 4-4-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-0 at Real Salt Lake of MLS in Quarterfinals)
Best finish: 2007 Semifinals (Lost 2-1 in OT at New England Revolution of MLS)
How they got here …
Round 2: 2-0 home win vs. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)

By Neil Morris | @ByNeilMorris

Two years ago, a Chivas USA lineup that included Juan Agudelo, Juan Pablo Angel and Danny Califf visited Cary, NC and knocked the Carolina RailHawks out of the 2012 US Open Cup. A year later, the RailHawks returned the favor, netting two goals in extra time to eliminate the Goats from the tournament.

Brian Shriver of the Carolina RailHawks celebrates his game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012 with his teammates. Photo: Rob Kinnan | Carolina RailHawks

Today, the RailHawks host Chivas USA for the third consecutive Open Cup, this year in the tournament’s Fourth Round. However, Chivas USA comes to Carolina this time with a full week of rest and no looming league games. In their previous two Cup ties, Chivas had to fly to Carolina for midweek matches bracketed by weekend MLS engagements.

While Chivas USA is currently mired at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference, the league’s break during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup affords the Rojiblancos the opportunity to field a near-full strength squad, if for no other reason than to maintain match fitness. That said, manager Wilmer Cabrera also said that he intends to rest some of his top players during the break from league play.

So, it remains to be seen whether Cabrera will field leading goalscorer Erick Torres, who has nine goals through 14 league matches, the third-most in MLS. Mauro Rosales has 5 assists since joining Chivas USA this year following three seasons with the Seattle Sounders. Former US National Team defender Carlos Bocanegra anchors the backline. And goalkeeper and team captain Dan Kennedy is in his seventh season with the Red-and-White.

Another possible lineup inclusion is Leandro Barrera. The 23-year-old forward, on loan from Argentinos Juniors, has started all but one match this MLS season but hasn’t yet notched a goal.

Meanwhile, the RailHawks enter the match with two distinct advantages. The first is their tremendous Open Cup success under manager Colin Clarke, including wins over the LA Galaxy in 2012 and 2013, plus the victory over Chivas USA last year that advanced Carolina to the tournament quarterfinals. Overall, the RailHawks are 6-2 in Open Cup play since 2012 under Clarke.

The other is the RailHawks’ 21-game home unbeaten streak, a run that comprises both North American Soccer League (NASL) and Open Cup competition. Carolina has not lost a competitive match at WakeMed Soccer Park since October 12, 2012.

With the NASL also on break until mid-July, the RailHawks will certainly field a full-strength starting XI. Ty Shipalane and Cesar Elizondo, who scored the equalizing and game-winning goals, respectively, against Chivas USA last year, remain the team’s most potent attacking playmakers. Shipalane is hoping to duplicate his tournament performance from last year as he was named TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament.

Helming the midfield is team captain Jun Marques Davidson, who spent the last two seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald has three clean sheets out of Carolina’s four home games this season. And Mike Grella has become ensconced as the team’s target man since signing with Carolina three games into the 2014 season. Grella, the former Duke University standout, spent the last five seasons in Europe, including three years with Leeds United, before joining Carolina.

———————————————————–

Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Chamblee, GA – 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Video (NASLLive.com)
NEXT: Winner plays at Colorado Rapids or Orlando City SC

Real Salt Lake Open Cup records
Overall: 6-5-0 | Away: 0-2-0 | vs. Div. 2: 3-2-0
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 1-0 vs. DC United in US Open Cup Final)
Best finish: 2013 Runner-Up (Lost 1-0 vs. DC United in US Open Cup Final)
How they got here … First game

Atlanta Silverbacks Open Cup records
Overall: 8-9-2 (1-1 PKs) | Home: 4-3-0 | vs. MLS: 0-4-1 (0-1 PKs)
Last entry: 2013 (Lost 3-2 in OT at Real Salt Lake of MLS – Round 3)
Best finish: 2004 Fourth Round (Lost 4-1 vs. Kansas City Wizards of MLS)
How they got here …
Round 3: 5-0 road win at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)

By Josh Hakala

For the second year in a row, the Atlanta Silverbacks will be the first opponent in Real Salt Lake’s US Open Cup run. Last year, in the first of five straight home games, RSL got extra time goals from Devon Sandoval and Khari Stephenson to lead the MLS side to a 3-2 victory. It was the beginning an impressive journey for the Utah club as they reached the championship game for the first time, only to fall to DC United in the Final, 1-0.

Real Salt Lake cruised past the NASL's Carolina RailHawks to reach the Semifinals for the first time in club history last year. Photo: Real Salt Lake — Real Salt Lake cruised past the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks to reach the Semifinals for the first time in club history last year. Photo: Real Salt Lake

RSL will play their first road game since 2011 as they look to get back to their winning ways as the club is on a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) after starting the 2014 campaign on a 12-game unbeaten streak (6-0-6). The MLS side will be without the services of U.S. internationals Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando, as well as Costa Rican striker Alvaro as they are competing in the World Cup in Brazil. Alvaro Saborio is also out for the next 3-4 months suffered while getting ready for the World Cup with Costa Rica. RSL’s depth under new head coach Jeff Cassar will definitely be tested.

RSL will look to carry the momentum from their first successful Open Cup run, after years of disappointment. Prior to reaching their first title game last year, the Sandy, Utah-based club had never won multiple games in the competition, suffering two upset loses to Division 2 teams (Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota United FC) and failing to even qualify for the tournament from 2007-2010.

The Silverbacks will need to keep an eye on diminutive forward Joao Plata, RSL’s leading scorer. Jeff Attinella, who made his professional debut against Atlanta in 2011 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, is likely to get the nod in goal.

The Open Cup has not been kind to Atlanta over the years as the club is under .500 in club history (8-9-2, 1-1 in PKs). They have only won multiple games in one tournament once in franchise history (2007).

Atlanta is currently in 8th place in the NASL Spring Season with a 3-5-1 record. For the third year in a row, the Silverbacks defeated an NPSL team on the road to kick off the tournament, but will look to upset their first MLS team and avoid their third straight loss to a team from the top division. This year, Atlanta kicked off their tournament with a 5-0 win over Chattanooga FC (NPSL) with Junior Burgos leading the way with two goals and one assist. Junior Sandoval, Deon McCauley and Jaime Chavez also scored for the Silverbacks.

This will also be the first home game for the Silverbacks since 2007, and will be the first time they will host an MLS team in the Open Cup. In 2012, they were awarded a home game against the Seattle Sounders in the Third Round, but agreed to sell their hosting rights to the eventual champions. This was an unpopular decision among Atlanta fans, and signalled the end of the practice of selling hosting rights as the US Soccer Federation outlawed the practice the following year.

Silverbacks head coach Eric Wynalda has been trying to shake up the lineup recently in an effort to spark the team’s offense, and he saw his lineup shakeup pay off with three goals against the Indy Eleven last week. However, they would give up a late equalizer and finish the game at 3-3. Chavez has been responsible for give of the team’s nine goals in league play, while Eric Ati anchors the defense in goal. Both will need to contribute if the club wants to defeat their first pro club since 2007.

—————————————————————————

2014 US Open Cup Fourth Round Schedule

Laredo Heat (PDL) 0:1 Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, TX – June 11 at 10 p.m. ET
———————–
Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) 1:2 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, CA – June 11 at 10:30 p.m. ET
———————–
Real Salt Lake (MLS) 1:2 Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Chamblee, GA – June 14 at 8 p.m. ET
———————–
Chivas USA (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, NC – June 14 at 8 p.m. ET
———————–
New York Red Bulls (MLS) 0:3 New York Cosmos (NASL)
Shuart Stadium (Hofstra Univ.); Hempstead, NY – June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET
———————–
DC United (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, NY – June 17 at 7 p.m ET
———————–
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – June 17 at 7 p.m. ET
———————–
Indy Eleven (NASL) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
FirstEnergy Stadium (Univ. of Akron); Akron, OH – June 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
———————–
San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) at FC Dallas (MLS)
Toyota Stadium; Frisco, TX – June 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET
———————–
Orlando City SC (USL PRO) at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO – June 17 at 9 p.m. ET
———————–
Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Portland Timbers (MLS)
Providence Park; Portland, OR – June 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET
———————–
New England Revolution (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – June 18 at 7 p.m. ET
———————–
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – June 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
———————–
Minnesota United FC (NASL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – June 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
———————–
PSA Elite (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – June 18 at 10 p.m. ET
———————–
LA Galaxy (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO)
Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, AZ – June 18 at 10:30 p.m. ET

2014 US Open Cup Fifth Round Potential Pairings

New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
OR
New York Cosmos (NASL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, PA – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO) at New York Cosmos (NASL)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Queens, NY – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
———————————————————
New England Revolution (MLS) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, MD – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, MD – June 24, 7 p.m. ET
OR
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Stevenson Field (Brown Univ.); Providence, RI – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – Date TBD, 7 p.m. ET
———————————————————
Indy Eleven (NASL) / Columbus Crew (MLS) winner at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, IL – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, OH – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO) at Indy Eleven (NASL)
Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, IN – June 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
———————————————————
San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) / FC Dallas (MLS) winner at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, TX – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) / FC Dallas (MLS) winner at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International Univ. Soccer Complex; Laredo, TX – Date TBD, 9:15 p.m ET
———————————————————
LA Galaxy (MLS) / Arizona United SC (USL PRO) winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park Field 2; Cary, NC – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
OR
Chivas USA (MLS) at Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
StubHub Center; Carson, CA – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET
OR
Chivas USA (MLS) at Arizona United SC (USL PRO)
Peoria Sports Complex; Peoria, AZ – June 24, 10 p.m. ET
———————————————————
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – Date TBD, 10 p.m. ET
OR
Sacramento Republic (USL PRO) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, WA – June 24, 10 p.m. ET
OR
PSA Elite (USASA) at Sacramento Republic (USL PRO)
Bonney Field (Cal Expo); Sacramento, CA – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET
OR
PSA Elite (USASA) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, CA – Date TBD, 10:30 p.m. ET
———————————————————
Real Salt Lake (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO – Date TBD, 9 p.m. ET
OR
Real Salt Lake (MLS) / Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) winner at Orlando City (USL PRO)
ESPN Wide World of Sports; Kissimmee, FL – June 24, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, KS – Date TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET
OR
Orlando City U23s (PDL) at Minnesota United FC (NASL)
National Sports Center Stadium; Blaine, MN – June 25, 9 p.m. ET
OR
Portland Timbers (MLS) at Minnesota United FC (NASL)
National Sports Center Stadium; Blaine, MN – June 24, 9 p.m. ET

2014 US Open Cup Round 3: Carolina RailHawks eliminate Charlotte Eagles; will host Chivas USA for third straight year

May 29, 2014 by Neil Morris

The last time the Carolina RailHawks faced the Charlotte Eagles in a competitive soccer match was the First Round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The RailHawks won that game 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Four years later, another U.S. Open Cup clash between the in-state avian rivals produced a similar outcome. The RailHawks clipped the Eagles 2-0 Wednesday evening in Cary, paced by two first-half goals from Nazmi Albadawi and Jun Marques Davidson. Carolina now advances to the Fourth Round of the 2014 Open Cup and will host Chivas USA of Major League Soccer on June 14.

The win also extends the RailHawks’ home unbeaten streak to 20 games.

Four days following the RailHawks’ draw at NASL-leading Minnesota United FC, manager Colin Clarke ran out a nearly full-strength side against the USL Pro opponent. The lone notable exception was the insertion of backup goalkeeper Scott Goodwin, making his first start since joining Carolina. With a possible MLS home match hanging in the balance, it was a curious decision to leave Akira Fitzgerald, just named NASL Player of the Week for his clean sheet against Minnesota United last Saturday, on the bench.

However, Goodwin proved up to the task. The former UNC Tar Heel standout made five saves to earn a clean sheet, including a couple of leaping fingertip deflections in the second half to preserve the RailHawks’ advantage.

“Scott’s a very good keeper,” Clarke said. “He deserved his chance. He’s worked very hard and pushes Akira every single day. He deserves a chance to play.”

Carolina got that advantage beginning in the 14th minute. With the Eagles playing a high back line coupled with a compact, eight block midfield, the RailHawks met some difficulty cracking the Charlotte defensive alignment. However, RailHawks’ midfielder Ty Shipalane tends to disrupt opponents’ best laid schemes, and so he did again against Charlotte. Driving off the right wing, Shipalane poked a ball into the box that found its way to midfielder Nazmi Albadawi. The former NC State standout gathered possession before turning to fire a left-footed shot that skimmed across the face of Eagles goalkeeper Brock Duckworth and into the far net for a 1-0 lead.

“Ty made a great run,” Albadawi said. “He always attracts two or three defenders whenever he gets the ball. He played me a good ball in, and I was able to turn over my shoulder. I just went for it, took a shot with my left foot and it went in far post.”

It was solid outing for Albadawi, who scored his first goal as a RailHawk in his second consecutive start. He proved an effective two-way threat, coupling effective defensive play with dangerous distribution, including several effective long balls over the top of the encroaching Eagles back line.

Davidson said Albadawi did lots of little things to help the RailHawks.

“ was in a spot where he could get the ball and distribute it for us at the right time,” Davidson said. “He played into space when he needed, and he scored a good goal that gave us confidence and made the game easier.”

In the 40th minute, RailHawks center back Toni Stahl left the match after sustaining a couple of first-half knocks, the last a rib injury whose severity remains undetermined.

In the waning seconds of the first half, the RailHawks notched their second goal. Forward Mike Grella blazed a trail toward goal, carrying a defender along the way. Grella’s angled blast was deflected away by Duckworth, but the ricochet bounded toward the center of the box and into the path of a streaking Davidson. The RailHawks’ captain buried the loose ball into an open net.

Davidson, who missed last Saturday’s game at Minnesota in order to attend his sister’s wedding, admitted he can’t remember the last time he scored a goal.

“When the ball went to Grella, I looked around and everyone was tired,” Davidson said. “So I thought this our last chance of the first half, I’m going to spin as hard as I can and see what happens. If Grella scores from that, great. If he doesn’t, I could get the rebound. The rebound happened, so I just had to tap it in.”

A back and forth second half was mostly highlighted by missed opportunities for both teams. Carolina easily could, and probably should have scored two or three additional goals against a tired Eagles team forced to push forward. At the same time, Charlotte generated multiple opportunities, including a whopping 12 corner kicks for the game. In the end, Carolina and Charlotte attempted 11 shots each.

Eagles manager Mark Steffens said it was emblematic of a team that has experienced difficulty scoring goals all season.

“We’re not a high scoring team,” Steffens said. “Some of the guys we signed who we felt like would be goalscorers for us have not produced.”

Steffens also said his team’s recent run of road matches left them flagged coming into a hot, humid midweek match. Earlier this month, Charlotte played two matches in California and another in Arizona. Last Wednesday, the Eagles traveled to Orlando and last Saturday, they played in Richmond, VA. This Saturday’s match back in Charlotte will be the Eagles first home game since April 25.

“We’ve been on the road all month,” Steffens said. “Been out to California and Arizona, so we didn’t have any life tonight. We were dead, not only in our press but in our passing and movement. Everything was off a little bit.”

Clarke was happy with his team’s performance against a higher caliber opponent than the RailHawks have faced to open their U.S. Open Cup account the previous two years.

“I think everyone was maybe expecting it was going to be easy for us to get to the next round,” said Clarke. “But they’re a very good team, and it was a tough night with the humidity. I’m absolutely delighted with the result.”

The RailHawks return to NASL league play this Saturday when they host the Tampa Bay Rowdies. When Carolina hosts Chivas USA in June, it will be the third consecutive year the RailHawks have hosted the MLS side in Open Cup competition.

“We’ve had some great nights in this competition over the last couple of years,” said Clarke, alluding to the RailHawks’ two victories over the LA Galaxy and last year’s win over Chivas USA. “We’re looking for another one on the 14th.”

Notable upsets in the Third Round of the US Open Cup

May 22, 2014 by Josh Hakala

The Michigan Bucks upset the Chicago Fire of MLS in 2012 Third Round. Photo: Kelly Haapala

MORE: Things you should know about the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2006 – Dallas Roma FC (USASA) 0:0 Chivas USA (MLS)
(Dallas advances 4-2 in PKs)

For all of you who ever wanted the #16 seed to win in the NCAA basketball tournament, we hope you are soccer fans.

Dallas Roma FC, from the North Texas Premier Soccer Association, made history defeating Chivas USA of Major League Soccer on penalties, after playing to a 0-0 draw after extra time. Not only did they defeat their second straight professional opponent in the US Open Cup, they became the first USASA club to eliminate a team from Major League Soccer in the US Open Cup. Chivas was dealt a major blow when their leading scorer, Ante Razov, was sent off in the 57th minute for a reckless foul on Roma defender Todd Paulette. Soon after, Chivas head coach Bob Bradley sent in more of his regular starters, Jason Hernandez, Tim Regan and Juan Francisco Palencia.

The Roma defense, named TheCup.us Players of the Round for their win vs. Miami FC, held firm yet again against the Chivas attack, holding the scoreless draw through 120 minutes, at times keeping all 11 players in their own end in extra time.

Roma had a few chances in the second half as well, most notably Dominic Schell hitting the crossbar after Mark Rowland’s shot was knocked away by Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Chivas took the first spot kick in the penalty session, and Juan Francisco Palencia saw his attempt saved by Jessie Llamas. Roma’s Matt Clark and Mark Rowland converted the next kicks, as Sacha Kljestan for Chivas. Fortunes turned Roma’s way when Llamas came through again and saved Jesse Marsch’s kick, and Brad Flanagan scored for Roma to make it 3-1. After Claudio Suarez made it 3-2, Dominic Schell stepped up and put Roma in the history books. Previously, the closest a USASA side has come to defeating an MLS club was in 2000, when Florida’s Uruguay SC fell to the Tampa Bay Mutiny 1-0 in extra time.

1997 – Chicago Stingers (D3 Pro) 2:1 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro) 2:1 Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

The Modern Era of the Open Cup was still young, and Rochester caused a stir in ’96 with their amazing run to the final.

The San Francisco Bay Seals and Chicago Stingers were determined to top that, and top it they did.

Each team made their way to the third round, no small feat in itself. Both clubs defeated A-League sides in the second round, and now stepped up to face the daunting challenge of Major League Soccer. The Seals were first, taking on the Kansas City Wizards on July 24.

As if being the underdog wasn’t motivation enough, Seals forward Marquis White had something to prove of his own. White was dropped in 1996 by the New England Revolution, and he was eager to prove that he could play at the highest level. White didn’t waste any time, scoring in the very first minute of the game, taking a pass from Chris Davini and racing past the Wizards defenders and goalkeeper Chris Snitko for the goal. On the other end, the Seals defense kept the Kansas City forwards stifled and frustrated, but the Wizards eventually equalized in the 39th minute with a Frank Klopas goal.

Marquis White then stepped up a second time, taking another Davini pass home for the game-winning goal in the 55th minute, setting off celebrations at Negoesco Fiield once the final whistle blew. “I knew I could play, and this proves it” said an ecstatic White after the game. The Seals, as a team, also proved they could play, defeating the San Jose Clash in the quarterfinals to move on to the semifinals, eventually losing a close game to DC United 2-1.

Six days later, the Chicago Stingers took their turn at giant killing, knocking off the Colorado Rapids 2-1 in front of 4,730 fans at Chicago’s Forest View Park. Misfortune started early for Colorado, as the Rapids goalkeeper Paul Grafer was sent off after 17 minutes. The Stingers then took control, as Matt Hamnett and Chris Jahr scores goals before and after halftime to take a lead they would never surrender. Chris Henderson pulled one back for Colorado, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the upstart Stingers. Chicago were eventually overwhelmed by the Dallas Burn in the next round, 4-1, but the Seals and Stingers proved that the Open Cup would never be an easy walk for any MLS team.

2012 – Cal FC (USASA – 4th Div.) 1:0 (AET) Portland Timbers (MLS)

2012 – Michigan Bucks (PDL – 4th Div.) 3:2 (AET) Chicago Fire (MLS)

The Third Round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was one of the craziest rounds in tournament history. 16 Major League Soccer teams joined the competition and only eight of them survived to play in Round 4. The two biggest stunners came from the Michigan Bucks (PDL) and newcomers Cal FC (USASA).

14 of the 16 games were played on Tuesday, May 29 and among those were the Michigan Bucks hosting four-time champion Chicago Fire indoors at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. It was just the 4th US Open Cup game ever played indoors and the Bucks upset the Fire 3-2 in extra time.

The Bucks struck first just nine minutes into the match when Tommy Catalano received a pass from star veteran Kenny Uzoigwe to put the home team up 1-0. The Fire would equalize on a goal from Corben Bone in the 28th minute and take the lead in the 58th minute thanks to Frederico Puppo and it looked like the MLS team was going to take control, as they so often do in these underdog scenarios, but today wasn’t their day as a cross from Crnkic found the head of Nate Boyden in the box to tie the match at 2-2. The match would go into extra time and after play resumed, the Bucks wasted no time in putting the pressure on the Fire. What proved to be the eventual game-winning goal came just three minutes in when Crnkic ripped a shot toward the net. The goalkeeper got a hand on it but it wasn’t enough to keep it out as the Bucks would go on to win 3-2 to become the first amateur club in the Modern Era to defeat two MLS teams (They upset the New England Revolution back in 2000).[+]FULL MATCH RECAP

After seven MLS teams were eliminated on Tuesday, what could possibly be in store for the following day? It would turn out to be arguably the biggest upset of the Modern Era (1995-present).

Cal FC, led by their manager former US international Eric Wynalda, traveled from Southern California up to Portland, Ore. and upset the Portland Timbers 1-0 in extra time. After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, Artur Aghasyan streaked down the middle of the field, easily beating a lopsided offside trap, collected a well placed through ball and calmly chipped goalkeeper Troy Perkins. It was the only goal they would need to become the first USASA team to defeat a Major League Soccer team (Dallas Roma FC in 2006 eliminated Chivas USA in a penalty kick shootout). A USASA team defeating a MLS team was rare enough, but there had only been four previous USASA teams that had advanced far enough to even play against the top division. In those four games, none of the USASA teams even scored a goal. They were also just the fifth amateur team to eliminate a MLS sidse, and the 12th USASA team to eliminate a pro team of any kind. [+]FULL MATCH RECAP

2013 US Open Cup: Ty Shipalane of Carolina RailHawks named Lower Division Player of the Tournament

November 6, 2013 by Michael Berton

Ty Shipalane of the Carolina Railhawks has been named 2013 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament. Shipalane and the Railhawks upset two MLS sides en route to a Quarterfinals appearance in the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Many players earned votes for the award, which is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Others receiving consideration were Dom Dwyer of Orlando City SC, Georgi Hristov of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Conner Bevans of FC Tucson, and Kwadwo Poku of the Georgia Revolution.

Shipalane was instrumental in the Railhawks’ opening game against the Carolina Dynamo in the Second Round. He scored the opening goal and assisted on Zack Schilawski’s tally that put the game away in the 75th minute. The RailHawks won 3-1, earning them a home game against an MLS team.

In the Third Round, Shipalane played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 home win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. They hosted another MLS team in Round 4 and he played a major role in another upset, beating Chivas USA 3-1. Shipalane scored the opening goal and assisted on the game-winning goal by Cesar Elizondo in overtime.

Carolina’s run ended in the Quarterfinals against Real Salt Lake in a 3-0 loss. However, the Railhawks were the only NASL team to make advance that far in the 2013 tournament, and one of two lower division teams to make it to the Quarterfinals. For the RailHawks it was their third and fourth MLS upsets in their seven-year history as a franchise, and it marks just the seventh time a lower division team has upset two MLS clubs in one tournament.

2013 TheCup.us Player of the Round Honors

Final: Bill Hamid (DC United)
Semifinals: Joe Willis (DC United)
Quarterfinals: Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
Fourth Round: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
Third Round: Frederic Piquionne (Portland Timbers)
Second Round: Brandon Fricke (Des Moines Menace)
First Round: David Geno (Seattle Sounders U23)
Preliminary Round: Gustavo Villalobos (FC Hasental)