Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Charleston Battery

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Heviel Cordoves hat trick helps Charleston Battery cruise past Panama City Beach (video)

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Andre Lewis (right) of Jamaica congratulates Cuban teammate Heviel Cordoves after assisting him for Cordoves first goal of the night. Cordoves scored three times to lead Charleston Battery of USL PRO to a 4-0 win Wednesday over the Panama City Beach Pirates of PDL. Janet Edens Conover/CHSSoccer.net.
Andre Lewis (right) of Jamaica congratulates Cuban teammate Heviel Cordoves after assisting him for Cordoves first goal of the night. Cordoves scored three times to lead Charleston Battery of USL PRO to a 4-0 win Wednesday over the Panama City Beach Pirates of PDL. Janet Edens Conover/CHSSoccer.net.

Heviel Cordoves logged his first professional hat trick and his fellow Cuban teammate Maikel Chang scored his first goal as a pro Saturday to lead the Charleston Battery to a 4-0 win over visiting Panama City Beach Pirates in the second round of the 2014 US Open Cup. Second-year forward Cordoves scored twice in the first half, missed a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time, and then took a pass from rookie midfielder Dante Marini, shrugged off a defender and finished strong in the box in the 50th minute.

It was also a big night for Chang, who came to Charleston after defecting from the Cuban National Team in Canada in 2012. He missed almost all of 2013 with injuries, but has been asserting himself in early 2014. Not only did he volley home a nice cross from rookie midfielder Justin Portillo in the 5th minute, he went the distance for the first time since turning pro.

The game was delayed by 15 minutes as the Panama City Beach staff and officials from U.S. Soccer tussled over the eligibility of three players on the Pirates roster. Eventually the Pirates removed the three — Andrew Beasley, Vitor Silva and Jack Wilson — from their starting XI and the game began. With only four reserves traveling with the Pirates to Charleston, Panama City Beach had no choice but to suit up reserve goalkeeper Andrea Giombetti as an outfield player in the 19th minute when defender Anderson Savage went down with an injury.

“That’s the only time I’ve ever had to (substitute a goalkeeper for an outfield player) at this level,” said Pirates Coach Greg DeVito. “But I’m very proud of the way our guys played tonight.”

The score could have been far worse. With a last-minute lineup change, no substitutes and a brand new squad playing its first game on the road at traditional Cup power Charleston, the Pirates looked in disarray during the first half hour. By the time they settled into the game the Battery were up 3-0.

“I always try hard,” Cordoves said. “For my team, for my city, for my flag. Charleston is my flag.”

While Cordoves and Chang got the goals, three rookies got credit for the assists: Midfielders Justin Portillo (2), Dante Marini (1) and Andre Lewis (1). The Battery went on to out-shoot the Pirates 21-5, but took the foot off the gas in the final 15 minutes.

Charleston will host the Orlando City’s U-23 PDL team at Blackbaud on May 28th in the Third Round of the Open Cup.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Charleston edges San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 as Battery bag ninth win against MLS

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The Charleston Battery claimed their ninth victory all-time over an MLS Open Cup opponent in the US Open Cup Tuesday night, edging the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Blackbaud Stadium in the Third Round on a 73rd minute goal from Colin Falvey.

The Earthquakes came into the contest with a 0-4-2 road record in league play while the host Battery were unbeaten at home in USL Pro action.

The first half initially saw each team’s defense lock down their respective ends, knocking away many potential scoring chances through the first 20 minutes of play. The half’s major chances came from the perimeter as San Jose’s Mike Fucito broke through midfield but was forced wide by Battery defenders before getting a dangerous shot off that Charleston’s Colin Falvey had to clear off the line. The Earthquakes would push a few moments later as Brad Ring sent a header towards the goal’s left side forcing Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper diving to push the ball away.

Charleston mounted their own attack but a combination of less than stellar passing plus the overall aggressive play of San Jose kept the Battery attack at bay. Charleston managed a couple runs that broke past the San Jose midfield but were forced to cycle many of chances around the perimeter, testing Quakes keeper David Bingham on only a couple occasions. That same aggressive play would earn the Quakes three yellow cards in the scoreless first half.

The second half would see Charleston answer the physical play, hoping to lure San Jose into making a game-changing mistake, especially when play involved the three Quakes already with yellow cards. The sides traded chances but both would struggle to get shots on net. Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 73rd minute after the Battery’s Zach Prince was taken down outside the far-left corner of the area. A free kick by Jose Cuevas was knocked past the San Jose keeper by a Falvey header.

Shortly after Ring picked up his second yellow and was ejected from the game, forcing the Quakes to push for the equalizer with only 10 men. Despite the heavy pressure San Jose applied, Charleston would collapse their defense and turn away everything San Jose could throw at them.

The victory was the first for Charleston against an MLS opponent since 2010 having previously defeated DC United (1999), MetroStars (2001, 2004), Houston Dynamo (2007, 2008), FC Dallas (2008), Chivas USA (2009) and Chicago Fire (2010) prior to this year.

The Battery now advance to the Open Cup’s Fourth Round and will face Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, June 12.

Scoring Summary

CHB: Colin Falvey (Jose Cuevas) 73’

Discipline

SJ: Justin Morrow (caution) 28

SJ: Steven Lenhart (caution) 30

SJ: Brad Ring (caution) 40

CHB: Jose Cuevas (caution) 45

CHB: Nicki Paterson (caution) 62

SJ: Brad Ring (caution / ejection) 74

Attendance: 1954

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: Savage puts Charleston Battery past Timbers U23s 1-0

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The Charleston Battery needed an hour to find a goal against the Portland Timbers U23s, but Austin Savage’s header on Tuesday night at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland was enough to send the USL Pro side on to the Third Round. On a night when four other PDL teams upset higher-seeded opponents, the Timbers U23s simply could not find the form that saw them into the Second Round last week against Sacramento Gold.

To say Savage’s goal was against the run of play would not be fair to Charleston, but the Timbers certainly had the better of the play and chances to start the second half. Mark Sherrod, Reinaldo Brenes and Gabriel Conelian applied the pressure on the Battery goal for several opportunities in the first part of the second half.

Yet a quick counter and a looping cross from Jose Cuevas in the 60th minute found Savage’s head in the six. The former Battery academy player positioned himself perfectly as Cuevas’ ball drifted just over Bryan Gallego’s head and allowed Savage to surprise Timbers goalkeeper David Meves with a strong header to the far post.

Meves looked like the hero for Portland when his 38th minute save kept the Timbers U23s in the game after Charleston’s Dane Kelly got on the end of a long ball in the box. Meves came off his line and denied Kelly just outside the six-yard box when it looked certain that the Battery would take a deserved lead. The save buoyed the Timbers through halftime and up to the hour mark when Savage finally scored.

Cuevas was the most dangerous player on the field throughout the game as Portland’s attackers could not do much with their limited chances. Cuevas, the 2012 USL Pro Rookie of the Year and Championship MVP, nearly opened scoring in the 17th minute but smashed his shot off the crossbar. Meves got a slight touch, denying the 23-year old and forcing the visiting Battery to wait until the hour for the lead.

The Battery move on to the Third Round where they are scheduled to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, May 28. They’ll host Rochester Rhinos on Saturday May 25 in league play as a prelude to the next round.

Scoring:

CHB: Austin Savage (Jose Cuevas), 60

Misconduct:

CHB: Zach Prince (caution), 11

CHB: Jarad van Schaik (caution), 20

POR: Mitch Lurie (caution), 55

CHB: Nicki Paterson (caution), 90

Line-ups:

POR: POR: GK David Meves, D Saad Abdul-Salam, D Mitch Lurie (Nick Palodichuk, 75), D Bryan Gallego, D Will Semore, M Eric Miller, M Zach Barnes, M Gabriel Conelian, F Zack Foxhoven (Jose Ribas, 62), F Reinaldo Brenes (Jaime Velasco, 73), F Mark Sherrod

Subs not used: GK Blake Hylen, D Travis Brent, D J.J. Greer, D Anthony Hobbs

CHB: GK Kevin Klasila, D Shawn Ferguson, D Colin Falvey, D Cody Ellison, D John Wilson, M Jarad van Schaik, M Zach Prince (Emmanuel Adjetey, 70), M Nicki Paterson, F Austin Savage (Taylor Mueller, 66), F Jose Cuevas, F Dane Kelly

Subs not used: GK Odisnel Cooper, D Mark Wiltse, F Heviel Cordoves

Things you should know about the Semifinals of the US Open Cup

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The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls take on FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup Semifinals at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Tuesday August 15, 2017. Photo: Ryan Meyer | New York Red Bulls

Since 1996, only 14 non-MLS teams have advanced to the Semifinals.

2022 – Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)*
2017 – FC Cincinnati (USL)
2011 – Richmond Kickers (USL Pro – 3rd Division)
2009 – Rochester Rhinos (USL First Division)
2008 – Charleston Battery (USL First Division)*, Seattle Sounders (USL First Division)
2007 – Carolina RailHawks (USL First Division), Seattle Sounders (USL First Division)
2005 – Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division)
2004 – Charleston Battery (A-League)
1999 – Charleston Battery (A-League), Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League)*
1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals (USISL Division 3 Pro League)
1996 – Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League)*

* Advanced to the Final

Since 1996, only seven teams have advanced to the Semifinals after beginning play in the First Round. The Richmond Kickers (2011), Rochester Rhinos (2009), Charleston Battery (2008), Carolina RailHawks (2007), San Francisco Bay Seals (1997) and the Seattle Sounders who did it twice in 2007 and 2008. San Francisco and Richmond are the only Third Division pro clubs to advance to the final four during that span.Ukrainian Nationals logo

When the Sacramento Republic eliminated Sporting Kansas City in penalty kicks in the 2022 Semifinals, they became just the fourth lower division club in the Modern Era (1995-present) to advance to the Final. They joined the Charleston Battery who eliminated the Seattle Sounders in the 2008 Semifinals, and the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1996 and 1999. The Rhinos were the only non-MLS team (since 1996) to win the title when they defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in 1999.

In 2008, the Charleston Battery and the Seattle Sounders ended in a 1-1 draw, and then went to penalties where the Battery moved on 4-3. It was the first time a Semifinal game went to penalties during the Modern Era and the first time two non-MLS teams met in the final four.

The Chicago Fire entered Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 1998, and won the US Open Cup (and MLS Cup) in their inaugural season. In total, they have advanced to the Semifinals 13 times, which is more than any team in the history of the tournament (1913-present).

After Major League Soccer debuted in 1996 (1996 doesn’t make sense to include, since every Semifinalist was in their inaugural season that year), only four teams have advanced to the Semifinals in their inaugural season. The Fire (1998), Houston Dynamo (2006 – although they were essentially the San Jose Earthquakes, but they were still technically a “new franchise”), Carolina RailHawks (2007). The Seattle Sounders were a new MLS franchise in 2009, but the club had existed in the USL for several years prior to joining MLS.

In 2010, the Seattle Sounders became the first MLS expansion team to win a Semifinal match in each of their first two seasons as a franchise. They also won a Semifinal match in their third year (2011), and their fourth year (2012).

The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeated LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo celebrate after defeating LAFC in a PK shootout in the 2018 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The 2007 US Open Cup marked the first time that both Semifinal matches went to extra time. The New England Revolution edged the Carolina RailHawks 2-1, followed by FC Dallas eliminating the Seattle Sounders (USL-1) by the same scoreline. Since then, this has only happened one other time: 2017 US Open Cup when Sporting Kansas City needed penalty kicks to take out the San Jose Earthquakes and then the New York Red Bulls came back to beat FC Cincinnati, 3-2 in extra time. It happened again in 2017 when Sporting Kansas City eliminated the San Jose Earthquakes in penalty kicks while the New York Red Bulls edged USL side FC Cincinnati 3-2 in extra time.

Semifinal appearances by MLS teams:

Chicago Fire – 13 (6-7-0 record)
DC United – 9 (5-4-0)
FC Dallas – 9 (4-4-1, 0-1 PKs)
LA Galaxy – 7 (4-3-0)
New York Red Bulls – 6 (2-4-0)
Sporting Kansas City – 6 (3-1-2, 1-1 PKs)
Seattle Sounders – 5 (5-0-0)
Columbus Crew – 4 (3-1-0)
New England Revolution – 4 (3-1-0)
Philadelphia Union – 4 (2-1-1, 1-0 PKs)
Houston Dynamo – 4 (1-2-1, 1-0 PKs)
Real Salt Lake – 3 (1-2-0)
Chivas USA – 2 (0-2-0)
Colorado Rapids – 2 (1-1-0)
Orlando City SC – 2 (1-1-0)
Portland Timbers – 2 (0-2-0)
San Jose Earthquakes – 2 (0-1-1, 0-1 PKs)
Atlanta United FC – 1 (1-0-0)
FC Cincinnati – 1 (0-0-1, 0-1 PKs)
Inter Miami CF – 1 (0-0-1, 1-0 PKs)
Los Angeles FC – 1 (0-0-1, 0-1 PKs)
Miami Fusion – 1 (1-0-0)
Minnesota United FC – 1 (1-0-0)
Tampa Bay Mutiny – 0

Note: The New York Red Bulls (Metrostars) have the most semifinal appearances (six) without an Open Cup championship.

Semifinal appearances by non-MLS teams:

Charleston Battery – 3 (0-2-1, 1-0 PKs)
Rochester Rhinos – 3 (2-1-0)
Seattle Sounders – 2 (0-1-1, 0-1 PKs)
Carolina RailHawks – 1 (0-1-0)
FC Cincinnati – 1 (0-1-0)
Minnesota Thunder – 1 (0-1-0)
Richmond Kickers – 1 (0-1-0)
Sacramento Republic FC – 1 (0-0-1, 1-0 PKs)
San Francisco Bay Seals – 1 (0-1-0)

Most consecutive Semifinal appearances (all-time):

Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia) – 8 (1959-66) — champions: 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966
Seattle Sounders (USL/MLS) – 6 (2007-2012) — champions: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Stix, Baer & Fuller (St. Louis) – 6 (1932-37) — champions: 1933, 1934, 1935
Bethlehem Steel (Bethlehem, Pa.) – 5 (1915-19) — champions: 1915, 1916, 1918, 1919
Chicago Fire – 4 (2003-06) — champions: 2003, 2006
Chicago Fire – 4 (2013-16) — champions: None
Los Angeles Galaxy – 4 (2000-03) — champions: 2001
Philadelphia Nationals (1949-52) — champions: None
DC United – 3 (2008-2010) — champions: 2008
Pawtucket Rangers – 3 (1933-35) — champions: 1941
Dallas Burn (FC Dallas) – 3 (1996-98) — champions: 1997
Maccabee AC (Los Angeles) – 3 (1980-82) — champions: 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981
NY Greek Americans (New York City) – 3 (1967-69) — champions: 1967-69
Brooklyn Hispano (Brooklyn, NY) – 3 (1943-45) — champions: 1943, 1944
Croatian SC (Chicago) – 3 (1979-81) — champions: None
Ponta Delgada (Mass.) – 3 (1946-48) — champions: 1947
Fall River Rovers (Mass.) – 3 (1916-18) — champions: 1917
Scullin Steel (St. Louis) – 3 (1921-23) — champions: 1922

The most popular Semifinal matchup in the Modern Era has been the Chicago Fire against the Los Angeles Galaxy who have played each other three times.

2000: Chicago Fire 2:1 (ASDET) Los Angeles Galaxy (at Los Angeles)
2001: Los Angeles Galaxy 1:0 (ASDET) Chicago Fire (at Los Angeles)
2003: Chicago Fire 3:2 Los Angeles Galaxy (at Chicago)

The highest attendance for a Semifinal match in the Modern Era was 16,117 set by Sporting Kansas City when they defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 at Sporting Park in Kansas City on Aug. 12, 2015. Two years later, USL side FC Cincinnati more than doubled that record with an announced crowd of 33,250. At the time, according to TheCup.us records, this was the second-highest attendance ever recorded for a US Open Cup match.

The highest average attendance between two Semifinal matches came in 2013 when Real Salt Lake hosted the Portland Timbers and the Chicago Fire hosted DC United. The average was 12,889. Real Salt Lake drew a then-record 14,742 and Chicago had an announced crowd of 11,036. However, in 2017, FC Cincinnati’s record crowd of 33,250 pushed the average attendance to nearly double the previous record: 24,722.

The following states have never had a team advance to the Semifinals:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming

The longest current Semifinal drought is from the state of Rhode Island, who hasn’t had a time reach the Semifinals since 1942 when the Pawtucket Rangers reached the final four for the ninth and final time.

Things you should know about the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup

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MORE: Notable upsets in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup (Modern Era)

The 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals are one of two Division 3 clubs to not only reach the Quarterfinals, but to advance to the Semifinals. Photo: San Francisco Bay Seals

In 2019, Los Angeles FC broke the Modern Era’s Quarterfinal attendance record in the club’s 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium. The announced attendance was 18,947, which narrowly broke the previous record of 17,898 which was set last year in the same stadium, against the same opponent.

That big number for LAFC in 2019, combined with 12,401 at Minnesota United’s win over New Mexico United, it broke the Modern Era’s Quarterfinal record for average attendance for the entire round with 11,525. Elsewhere, Atlanta United drew 7,523 in their 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC (USL-C) and Orlando City SC drew 7,227 in their penalty kick win over New York City FC.

The 2008 US Open Cup marked the first time that a pair of 2nd Division teams advanced out of the Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

In 2007, when the Seattle Sounders (USL First Division) defeated the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 5-0, it was the worst loss suffered by an MLS team in the US Open Cup.

In 2007, the USL First Division (2nd Division) had three teams in the Quarterfinals (Carolina, Charleston, Seattle), the most ever. That same year, only three MLS teams advanced to the Quarterfinal round, the fewest ever. For the first time ever, two USL Second Division (3rd Division) teams (Richmond Kickers, Harrisburg City Islanders) made the round of eight in the same year. In 2010, a pair of USL-2 clubs advanced to the Quarterfinals (Charleston Battery, Harrisburg City Islanders) in the same year.

2012 marks the first year in the Modern Era that three Division 3 clubs reached the Quarterfinals with the Harrisburg City Islanders, Dayton Dutch Lions and the Charlotte Eagles all playing in the Round of Eight.

The Carolina RailHawks and the Seattle Sounders won their Quarterfinal matches in 2007, marking only the second time that two USL First Division (2nd Division) teams had done that in the same year. In 1999, the Charleston Battery and the Rochester Raging Rhinos both made the Semifinals, with Rochester eventually winning the tournament.

The Second Division of US Soccer has been represented in the Quarterfinals by at least one team in all but five tournaments (2000, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015). In 2010, it was the first year that the Quarterfinals were without Second Division representation but there were still USL Second Division (3rd Division of US Soccer) remaining: Charleston Battery and the Harrisburg City Islanders.

The Harrisburg City Islanders are the first Third Division team to ever reach the Quarterfinals in consecutive seasons (2009, 2010). 2010 also marked the first time that two USL-2 clubs (Third Division) reached the Quarterfinals two years in a row. (Wilmington & Harrisburg in 2009, Charleston & Harrisburg in 2010).

FC Dallas have the most Quarterfinals appearances among all Major League Soccer teams.

16 FC Dallas 8-7-1 (1-0) 1996^ 1997^ 1998^ 1999 2000 2002^ 2004 2005^ 2006 2007^ 2008 2011^ 2013, 2014^ 2016^ 2017
14 Chicago Fire 11-1-2 (2-0) 1998^ 2000^ 2001^ 2003^ 2004^ 2005^ 2006^ 2008 2011^ 2013^ 2014^ 2015^ 2016^ 2018^
12 LA Galaxy 6-5-1 (1-0) 1999 2000^ 2001^ 2002^ 2003^ 2005^ 2006^ 2010 2011 2015 2016^ 2017
11 DC United 9-1-1 (0-1) 1996^ 1997^ 2000 2001^ 2003^ 2005 2006^ 2008^ 2009^ 2010^ 2013^
11 Sporting Kansas City 5-5-1 (0-1) 1996 2002^ 2004^ 2005 2008 2009 2011 2012^ 2015^ 2017^ 2018
9 NE Revolution 2-5-2 (2-0) 2001^ 2003 2006 2007^ 2008^ 2013 2014 2016^ 2017
9 New York Red Bulls 4-3-2 (1-1) 1997^ 1998^ 2000^ 2002 2003^ 2006 2011 2015 2017^
9 San Jose Earthquakes 1-5-3 (1-2) 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2004^ 2005 2012 2017^
7 Columbus Crew 4-2-1 (0-1) 1998^ 1999^ 2000 2001 2002^ 2004 2010^
6 Colorado Rapids 2-4-0 1996^ 1999^ 2002 2003 2006 2007
6 Houston Dynamo 3-3-0 2006^ 2009^ 2010 2015 2016 2018^
6 Seattle Sounders 5-1-0 2009^ 2010^ 2011^ 2012^ 2014^ 2016
5 Philadelphia Union 3-0-2 (1-1) 2012^ 2014^ 2015^ 2016 2018^
4 Tampa Bay Mutiny 0-4-0 1996 1997 1998 1999
4 Portland Timbers 2-2-0 2013^ 2014 2018 2019^
3 Real Salt Lake 2-1-0 2011 2013^ 2015^
2 Chivas USA 2-0-0 2010^ 2012^
2 Miami Fusion 1-1-0 1998 2000^
3 Orlando City SC 0-2-1 (1-0) 2015 2018, 2019^
2 Los Angeles FC 1-1-0 2018^, 2019
1 Atlanta United FC 1-0-0 2019^
1 Minnesota United FC 1-0-0 2019^
1 New York City FC 0-1-0 2019

^ Advanced in their Quarterfinal match

The Charleston Battery have the most lower division Quarterfinal appearances since 1996.

6 Charleston Battery 3-3-0 1999^ 2004^ 2007 2008^ 2009 2010
5 Rochester Rhinos 3-1-1 (0-1) 1996^ 1999^ 2004 2005 2009^
4 Richmond Kickers 1-3-0 2001 2004 2007 2011^
4 Seattle Sounders 1-2-1 (1-0) 1996 2003 2007^ 2008^
4 H’burg City Islanders 0-4-0 2007 2009 2010 2012
3 Carolina RailHawks 1-2-0 2007^ 2013 2014
2 Minnesota Thunder 1-0-1 (0-1) 2004 2005^
2 Wilm. Hammerheads 0-2-0 2003 2009
1 Atlanta Silverbacks 0-1-0 2014
1 Carolina Dynamo 0-1-0 1996
1 Charlotte Eagles 0-1-0 2012
1 Chicago Stingers 0-1-0 1997
1 Crystal Palace Baltimore 0-0-1 (0-1) 2008
1 Dayton Dutch Lions 0-1-0 2012
1 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 0-1-0 2016
1 L.I. Rough Riders 0-1-0 1997
1 Louisville City FC 0-1-0 2018
1 Milwaukee Rampage 0-1-0 2002
1 Nashville Metros 0-1-0 1998
1 New Mexico United 0-1-0 2019
1 Orlando City SC 0-1-0 2013
1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0-1-0 2001
1 Saint Louis FC 0-1-0 2019
1 San Fran. Bay Seals 1-0-0 1997^
1 Staten Island Vipers 0-1-0 1999
1 FC Cincinnati 1-0-0 2017^
1 Miami FC (NASL) 0-1-0 2017

^ Advanced in their Quarterfinal match

2012 U.S. Open Cup Third Round: New York Red Bulls silence Charleston Battery, 3-0

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John Wilson fights for position against Jan Gunnar Solli and Kenny Cooper. Photo: Charleston Battery

The New York Red Bulls, who are notorious for throwing their second team into the Open Cup and losing early, decided to take a different approach into their game against the Charleston Battery. This approach would serve them well, as for once they avoided being upset by a lower division side, winning 3-0 and advancing to the fourth round.

It was a welcome offensive outburst for the Red Bulls who scored three goals in an Open Cup game for the first time in a decade

The Battery challenged early, however New York keeper Ryan Meara met the early challenges, and Red Bull quickly started pressing themselves. Mehdi Ballouchy helped the team strike paydirt first, as he found forward Kenny Cooper in the box. Cooper then unleashed a ground shot into the corner with his left foot. The teams spent most of the half’s remainder going up and down the field, yet unable to capitalize. This changed at 41 minutes in, and it was once again the visitors able to break through. Ballouchy once again started the play, as his corner found Dax McCarty in the corner of the penalty area. McCarty then led on for Heath Pearce, who sent it past Charleston keeper Brock Duckworth to double the lead by halftime.

Sallieu Bundu tried to rally Charleston multiple times to get them back in it, yet Meara proved to be up to the task every time. Connor Lade finally put the game away for the Red Bulls with 20 minutes left, as Solli got him the ball, and Lade launched a top-corner shot from 27 yards out.

New York had initially planned on hosting New England, as the Revolution had built up a 3-0 lead with ten minutes left in extra time. However, the Harrisburg City Islanders of USL Pro would not be denied, tied the game, and emerged victorious in a penalty shootout. This means Harrisburg will host NY in Hersheypark Stadium (Hershey, PA) at 7:30 PM Eastern Time next Tuesday.

New York Red Bulls 3:0 Charleston Battery
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, SC

SCORING
NY- Kenny Cooper (Mehdi Ballouchy) 14’
NY- Heath Pearce (Dax McCarty) 41’
NY- Connor Lade (Jan Gunnar Solli) 70’

LINEUPS:
NY- Ryan Meara (GK); Brandon Barklage (Jonathan Borrajo 77’), Markus Holgersson, Wilman Conde, Heath Pearce, Jan Gunnar Solli (Victor Palsson 74’), Dax McCarty (Ryan Maduro 88’), Mehdi Ballouchy, Connor Lade, Jhonny Arteaga, Kenny Cooper
Charleston- Brock Duckworth (GK); John Wilson, Colin Falvey, Taylor Mueller (Dane Kelly 67’), Kyle Hoffer, Amadou Sanyang, Tony Donatelli (Ryan Richter 71’), Jose Cuevas, Nicki Paterson (Zach Prince 81’), Navion Boyd, Sallieu Bundu

BOOKINGS
CHS- Amadou Sanyang 65′ (caution)

STATS:
Shots: NY- 13; CHS- 11
Saves: NY- 5; CHS- 5
Fouls: NY- 10; CHS- 12
Corners: NY- 3; CHS- 4
Offsides: NY- 0; CHS- 2

2012 US Open Cup Second Round: Charleston Battery come back to defeat resilient Reading United 2-1

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Dane Kelly tallied Battery equalizer | Photo: Vin Duffy, Charleston Battery

The Charleston Battery survived a scare from PDL club Reading United AC and scored twice in the final 21 minutes to post a 2-1 win in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery, one of just two non-MLS clubs to reach the Open Cup final since 1996, will host the New York Red Bulls in the Third Round next Tuesday.

Reading United acquitted itself well after a shaky first 20 minutes, and the amateur club made up mostly of rising college seniors took the lead in the 64th minute. Substitute Steve Neumann, a rising junior from Georgetown, whipped in a corner kick from the left, floating the ball over Charleston goalkeeper Brock Duckworth, starting in place of cup-tied Andrew Dykstra. Wake Forest defender Tolani Ibikunle arrived at the back post to head Neumann’s cross into the net and give Reading dreams of a spot in the third round.

At that point, Charleston had gone more than 40 minutes without a shot, but the Battery responded quickly by forcing Reading goalkeeper Emmanuel Martin to make his first save of the night from a soft Ryan Richter header. The Battery kept up the pressure and tied the game in the 69th minute, as substitute winger Navion Boyd fed fellow Jamaican Dane Kelly at the top of the penalty area, and Kelly turned to rifle a left-footed shot that skipped into the lower left corner.

Photo: Vin Duffy, Charleston Battery

Midfielder Nicki Paterson, a starter in all six of Charleston’s league games and one of the Battery’s leading scorers, had come on as a substitute just before Kelly’s goal, and he made the difference 10 minutes later. The gap between the clubs was illustrated perfectly, as Reading fired a free kick straight into the wall at one end of the field, only to see Paterson draw a free kick at the other end of the field. From just shy of 30 yards away, Paterson curled a right-footed shot over the wall and into the top left corner, finally giving Charleston the lead in the 79th minute.

From there, Reading threw numbers forward and Charleston repeatedly failed to extend its lead despite several great chances, notably Paterson’s lobbed try at an open net from 40 yards away after Martin had charged out to deny a Kelly breakaway chance. Reading got several late chances of its own from set pieces, but Duckworth punched away a Neumann corner in the 90th minute, and United’s attempt to play a short corner four minutes into stoppage time were broken up by the Battery.

Just two weeks into its season and having already produced the first Open Cup win in club history, Reading United can be proud of its brief tournament run, but the experienced Battery will now get the chance to continue their storied Open Cup history when they host New York next week.

Reading United vs. Charleston Battery

May 22, 2012 — Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Round 2

Scoring Summary:

RDU – Tolani Ibikunle 1 (Steve Neumann 1) 64
CHR – Dane Kelly 1 (Navion Boyd 1) 69
CHR – Nicki Paterson 1 (unassisted) 79

Reading United — Emmanuel Martin, Matthew Baker, Tolani Ibikunle, Ged Quinn (Leonardo Fernandes 85), Greg Cochrane, Stephen Okai, Jacob Barron (Steve Neumann 56), Paul Wyatt (Deshorn Brown 69), Sean Peckham, Pedro Ribeiro, Ryan Finley.
Substitutes Not Used: unavailable.

Charleston Battery — Brock Duckworth, Taylor Mueller, Cody Ellison, Colin Falvey, Sean Flatley, Charlie Romero (Navion Boyd 63), Mike Azira, Jose Cuevas, Zach Prince (Nicki Paterson 68), Ryan Richter, Dane Kelly (Sallieu Bundu 92+).
Substitutes Not Used: unavailable.

Misconduct Summary:

CHR — Taylor Mueller (caution; Reckless Foul) 35
RDU — Stephen Okai (caution; Reckless Tackle) 58
CHR — Mike Azira (caution; Reckless Tackle) 62

Referee: Scott Arthur Banning
Referee’s Assistants: Melanie Johnson; Howard Ash
4th official: unavailable

Attendance: TBA
Weather: Rainy-and-74 degrees

All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial


Notable Semifinal matches in US Open Cup history

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4/18/14  Pawtucket, Rhode Island
New Bedford FC 1-2 Brooklyn Field Club

New Bedford – Beckton 24’
Brooklyn – Robert Millar (2)
Sent Off – Clark (Brooklyn) 34’, Chadwick (New Bedford) 34’

4/26/14  Olympic Park – Paterson, New Jersey
Brooklyn Celtic 6-2  Niagara Falls Rangers (3-0 HT)

Celtic – O’Hallaran (3), King (Campion), Campion, Lonie
Rangers – Kemp, Wallace

The very first Semifinal round of the US Open Cup (then called the National Challenge Cup) saw a pair of Brooklyn teams reach the Final. On April 18, the Brooklyn Field Club, which finished first in the National Association Football League, defeated New Bedford FC 2-1, on two goals by Hall of Famer Robert Millar, after Beckton had given the New Englanders a 1-0 lead. Both teams played much of the game with ten men each, after Clark of Brooklyn and Chadwick of New Bedford were sent off in the 35th minute for fighting.

In the other Semifinal on April 26 Brooklyn Celtic, eventual winners of the New York State Amateur Foot Ball League, easily defeated the Niagara Falls Rangers 6-2. O’Hallaran lead the way for Celtic with a hat trick.

3/17/29  Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
Madison Kennels 7-4 Sparta A & BA

Madison – Bud Grennon (3), Dinty Moore, Worden, Oster, Eddie Flavin
Sparta – Barger (2), Kratochvil, Oster (og)

St. Louis’s Madison Kennels and Chicago’s Sparta A & BA combine for 11 goals, setting a new Semifinal mark that would later be equaled in 1962. Madison’s Bud Grennon led all scorers with three goals, while Barger led Sparta with two.

3/16/30  Polo Grounds – New York, New York
Bethlehem Steel 1-1 Fall River Marksmen (Match Report)

Bethlehem – Sandy Dick
Fall River – Alex McNab 82’

Bethlehem – Fraser, Finlayson, McGregor, Reid, Carnihan, Pitt, Gillespie, Jaap, Stark, Massie, Dick

Marksmen – Reder, McGill, R. McAuley, McPherson, Priestley, Ballantyne, McNab, Gonsalves (Nilsen), Patenaude, J. McAuley, White

Att – 17,000   Referee – C. E. Creighton. Linesmen – F. DeGroof and M. Hutchinson

3/23/30  Battery Park – New Bedford, Massachusetts
(replay) Fall River Marksmen 3-2 Bethlehem Steel

Fall River – Billy Gonsalves 50’, Dave Priestley 67’, Bobby Ballantyne 71’
Bethlehem – Archie Stark 64’ 70’

Bethlehem Steel makes their final appearance in the National Challenge Cup, losing to the Fall River Marksmen 3-2 and ending the first great dynasty of the Cup. After a 1-1 draw at the Polo Grounds in New York, Fall River took the replay at New Bedford. Billy Gonsalves gave the Marksmen a 1-0 lead after 50 minutes, but Archie Stak put Bethlehem ahead with two goals in the middle of the half. Fall River snatched the lead for good on scored from Dave Priestly and Bobby Ballantine. Effects of the Great Depression forced Bethlehem Steel to stop fielding a team after 1930.

Bethlehem made the Semifinals a total of nine times from 1915-1930, including five in a row from 1915-1919, in which they reached the Final each time.

3/6/32  St. Louis, Missouri
(first leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 3-2 Bricklayers FC

Stix – McCarthy (2), Willie McLean
Bricklayers – Lillie, Coutis

3/14/32  Sparta Field – Chicago, Illinois
(second leg) Bricklayers FC 2-0 Stix, Baer & Fuller

Bricklayers – Munro, Lillie

3/19/32  Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Stix, Baer & Fuller 1-0 Bricklayers FC

Stix – Jack O’Reilly 1’

Stix, Baer & Fuller, featuring Hall of Famers Billy Gonsalves, William Lehman, Alex McNab, Willie McLean, began their run of six straight appearances in the Open Cup Final by defeating Chicago’s Bricklayers SC over three legs in the 1932 Western Final. The team reached the 1932, 1933 & 1934 Finals under the sponsorship of Stix. Baer and Fuller, a St. Louis department store. The team switched sponsorship for the 1935 season, playing as Central Breweries. Sponsorship changed again, and the team reached the 1936 & 1937 finals under the name Shamrocks. The team finally folded after many of its players left to play for another St. Louis club, St. Patricks.

3/24/35  St. Louis, Missouri
(First leg) Central Brewery 2-1 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

4/1/35  De Paul Field – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 1-1 (aet) Central Brewery

Weibolt – Littie 28’
Central – McNab 30’

4/6/34  St. Louis, Missouri
(Second leg replay) Central Brewery 3-3 (aet) Weiboldt Wodnerbolts

4/14/35  Sparta Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
(Second leg – second replay) Weiboldt Wonderbolts 3-2(aet) Central Brewery (0-2 HT, 2-2 FT)

Weibolt – Monroe (2 PK), Hill
Central – Billy Gonsalves, Bert Patenaude

4/21/35  St. Louis, Missouri
(third leg) Central Brewery 1-0 Weiboldt Wonderbolts

Central – Bert Patenaude 68′

The longest Semifinal matchup was between Chicago’s Weiboldt Wonderbolts and Central Brewery of St. Louis. The three-leg Western Final actually lasted five games. Central won the first game 2-1 in St. Louis. The second leg in Chicago finished 1-1 after extra time. A week later in St. Louis, the second leg replay finished 3-3, meaning a second replay of the second leg would take place a week later in Chicago. That game also went to extra time, but the Wonderbolts managed to come out on top 3-2. Nearly a month after it started, the series finally ended when Central won the decisive leg 1-0.

4/23/44  Winnemac Park – Chicago, Illinois
(first leg) Viking AA 0-2 Morgan Strasser

Morgan – Elgie Grant 21′ 80′

5/7/44  Bridgeville Park – Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
(second leg) Morgan Strasser 9-0 Viking AA (Chi.) (4-0 HT)

Morgan – Aldo Donelli 15′ (Hart) n/a’ , Felix Mitchell (2), Pucker (2), Urbanic, Grant, Pietersek

The most lopsided Semifinal pairing was in 1944, when Pittsburgh’s Morgan Strasser demolished Chicago’s Viking AA 11-0 over two legs. Morgan won the first leg in Chicago 2-0, but the return leg in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania turned into a rout. Aldo Donelli, Felix Mitchell and Pucker each scored twice as Morgan ran away with a 9-0 win, a mark that still stands as the highest score by a single team in a single Semifinal game.

3/28/54  Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Scots SC 0-1 Kutis SC
Att-4,000

The Scots SC of Los Angeles became the first team West of St. Louis to appear in a US Open Cup Semifinal, losing to Kutis SC 1-0. 1954 was also the first year teams from California participated in the US Open Cup, and the winner between Los Angeles and San Francisco went on to face the survivor between St. Louis and Chicago in the Semifinals.

6/10/62  St. Louis, Missouri
Kutis SC 5-6 (aet) San Francisco Scots 6-5

Scots – Tom Dawkins n/a’ 118′

The Scots and Kutis combine for 11 goals in the 1962 Western Final, equaling a mark set by Madison Kennels and Sparta A & BA in 1929 for the most combined goals in a single Semifinal game. Tom Dawkins scored twice for the Scots, including the winning goal with a minute left in extra time. The game was tied 3-3 after ninety minutes, and also marked the first time a club from San Francisco would reach the Open Cup Final.

3/6/71  Seattle, Washington
(1st Leg) Heidelberg Brewers (Sea.) 1-0 Yugoslav SC

3/14/71  Rancho la Cienega Stadium – Los Angeles, California
(2nd Leg) Yugoslav SC 2-0 Heidelberg Brewers

Yugoslav – Karlo Mertisek, Rade Savic

In the last two-leg Semifinal in Open Cup play, San Pedro, California’s Yugoslav SC edged out Seattle’s Heidelberg Brewers on a 2-1 aggregate.

5/27/73  Metropolitan Oval – Queens, New York
New York Greek Americans 1-3 Inter-Italia SC

NYGA – Joe Ognajac 31’
Inter – Valentino Stavole 3’, Vito Colonna 40’, Gianpietro Gasparin 41’)

Cleveland’s Inter-Italia SC halted a six-year streak of New York/New Jersey clubs appearing in the US Open Cup Final, thanks to a 3-1 victory over New York Greek Americans. Inter dominated play for the most part, and were lead by Gianpietro Gasparini, a priest by trade, who played a part in all three of Inter’s goals.

Cleveland started off right away, as Gasparini fed a pass to Valentino Stavole, who beat G-A goalkeeper Joe Canal from 15 yards out after just two minutes of play. The Greeks managed to draw the match level after 31 minutes however, as Joe Ognajac put in a header from close range.  Cleveland took the lead for good just before halftime, as Vito Colonna scored in the 40th minute, and Gasparini scored just a minute later. Cleveland kept up the pressure, but missed several chances to further grow the scoreline.

6/3/79  Norton Park – St. Petersburg, Florida
H. Brooks Dodge Chargers 0-3 Brooklyn Dodgers

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based Chargers are the first team from the Southern US to make an appearance in the Semifinals of the US Open Cup. By this time the tournament was split into four regions, and only three teams entered from the southern region.

6/20/87  St. Louis Soccer Park – Fenton, Missouri
Mitre Eagles 5-4(aet) Busch SC  (2-2 FT)

Eagles – John Klein 119’ (2), Eddie Kruger, Peter Klein, Andy Churlin
Busch- Steve Trittschuh 85’

St. Louis’s Busch SC tried the game at 2-2 in the 85th minute on a goal from Steve Tritschuh. The teams traded goals in extra time to make it 4-4, and John Klein sent the Eagles to the final with a 25-yard shot in the 119th minute.

6/25/94
Bavarian Leinekugel w/o McCormick Kickers

The Kickers are forced to forfeit since most of the team held tickets to a World Cup game in Orlando that fell on the same day. The team had purchased the tickets well in advance, and were assured the dates for the Open Cup would not conflict.

9/2/97  Stagg Memorial Stadium – Stockton, California
San Francisco Bay Seals 1-2 DC United

The Cinderella run of the San Francisco Bay Seals comes to an end with their Semifinal loss to DC United. The D3 Pro League Seals had upset two MLS teams (Kansas City and San Jose) on their way to becoming the only team from the third tier of US soccer to reach the Semifinals in the Professional Era (1995-present).

9/1/99  Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-2 Columbus Crew

Rochester – Darren Tilley 68’, Scott Schweitzer 86’, Tom Hardy 90’
Columbus – Robert Warzycha 56’, Brian West 77’

9/1/99  Virginia Beach Sportsplex – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Colorado Rapids 3-0 Charleston Battery

Colorado – Jorge Daly Valdes 55’ 87’, Paul Bravo 82’

For the first time in Pro Era history, two non-MLS teams reach the Semifinals. Rochester’s 3-2 triumph over Columbus paved the way for the only time a lower league club would win the Open Cup title in the Pro Era. While Charleston fell 3-0 to Colorado, their run was catapulted by their famous 4-3 sudden death extra time win over DC United in the Fourth Round. Both games were played in Virginia Beach, Virginia due to the fact that they were scheduled to host the 1998 Open Cup Final, but a hurricane forced a venue change.

8/12/08  Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Battery 1-1 (aet) Seattle Sounders
Charleston advance on penalty kicks, 4-3

Charleston – Randi Patterson 32’
Seattle – Osvaldo Alonso 20’ (og)

For the only time in the Pro Era, a Semifinal match is contested between two lower league teams, ensuring the Final would feature at least one non-MLS team.

7/21/09 Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, Washington
Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 (aet) Houston Dynamo

The Seattle Sounders, in their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, advanced to the Final in dramatic fashion. Houston’s Ade Akinbiyi put the Dynamo up in the 32nd minute, but the home team wasn’t able to equalize until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua sent the game into extra time. With all the momentum and the home crowd behind them at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., Stephen King scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 95th minute on an assist from Sebastien Le Toux and the club would hold on to the 2-1 lead throughout extra time, despite defender Jhon Hurtado being sent off in the 110th minute. The Sounders become the first Seattle-based team to reach the Open Cup Final since the Mitre Eagles did it in 1987.

2011 US Open Cup: Richmond Kickers are ‘The Last Men Standing’

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Heading into the 2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinals the Richmond Kickers are the last men standing as representatives of the lower divisions in the tournament. As the lone underdog in the Elite Eight, the club will need to defeat three top flight Major League Soccer teams in order to become the second lower division team to win the championship since the 1996 launch of MLS.

Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw Photo: Suz Kitsteiner

And for Richmond, that would mark the second title for a team that was the last to win the tournament beforehand, capturing the double in 1995.

The ‘Last Men Standing’ club is a small group comprised now of seven sides that have been the solitary lower division team remaining in the tournament on nine occasions with the Rochester Rhinos and Charleston Battery being the only two to achieve that status twice. All but one lost their very next game. The lone victory by a Last Men Standing team came in the 1999 Open Cup championship when the Rhinos defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Columbus Crew Stadium as the Rhinos were one of two lower division teams in the Semifinals that year along with the Battery.

DC United defeated the last two Last Men Standing clubs, topping the Rhinos in the 2009 Semifinals and the Battery in the 2008 Championship by the same 2-1 scoreline. They also lost, 2-1, in the 1997 Semifinals to the San Francisco Bay Seals, the first club to claim Last Men Standing status.

Richmond’s Quarterfinal opponent Sporting Kansas City knocked out Last Men Standing side Milwaukee Rampage in the 2000 Quarterfinals, 2-0.

Last Men Standing History

2011 – Richmond Kickers – Quarterfinals – TBD
2009 – Rochester Rhinos – Semifinals – Lost 2:1 to DC United
2008 – Charleston Battery – Final – Lost 2:1 to DC United
2005 – Minnesota Thunder – Semifinals – Lost 5:2 to LA Galaxy
2004 – Charleston Battery – Semifinals – Lost 1:0 to Chicago Fire
2002 – Milwaukee Rampage – Quarterfinals – Lost 2:0 to Kansas City Wizards
1999 – Rochester Rhinos – Final – Won 2:0 versus Colorado Rapids
1998 – Nashville Metros – Quarterfinals – Lost 5:1 to Dallas Burn
1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals – Semifinals – Lost 2:1 to DC United

The Last Men Standing – The Team

The Kickers could probably best be described as a club of consistency. They are a team comprised of a high rate of return among its roster every year and are perennial contenders for the league championship.

Richmond has reached the league final six of the last nine campaigns, winning a pair of championships. The club has missed the postseason only once since its second season in 1994. In many markets around the country, that would make the Kickers stars of the community, but in Richmond they play in the regional shadow of DC United, stealing a little bit of the limelight on occasion in the US Open Cup with victories against MLS. But even in the Open Cup that has been a difficult task as DC has reached the semifinals four of the last five years.

Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw, however, disputes being in DC’s shadow. “DC United has limited impact in the Richmond market,” he says. “We have always focused on creating a club structure that will lead the way as the future for US Soccer.  Regardless of how the Kickers are perceived from the outside, we continue to work toward that goal.”

The Third Round victory against Columbus made the Crew the fourth MLS club that the Kickers have upset in the tournament having previously knocked out DC (2004), Colorado (2000) and the LA Galaxy (pre-Beckham 2007). All were at home.

With DC struggling in league play for a fourth consecutive season and missing the tournament for the first time since 2002, the Kickers are poised to step fully into the spotlight of the region should they defeat Kansas City at their newly unveiled LiveStrong Sporting Park to reach the semifinals for the first time since winning the title in 1995.

As for the roster stability, five of the players who started all three Open Cup matches this year are in their third season with the club.

Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale leads the pack in his 12th campaign with a back line consisting of Sascha Gorres (7th season), Henry Kalungi (3rd season), Yomby William (3rd season) and Luke Vercollone (4th season) in front of him.

“It always makes the coaching staff’s job much easier when we work with players who are familiar with the tactics and systems we wish to implement,” said Cowlishaw, adding “We have always focused on signing players who we know can not only excel on the field but also act as positive role models for our youth players and surrounding community.”

Among the other veteran players on the side are strikers Matthew Delicate and David Bulow, who are both in their fifth season with the team. Bulow has played in all three games, starting the first round win against Dayton and the second round victory versus Pittsburgh before coming off the bench in Columbus. Meanwhile, Delicate started the past two games after sitting out the first match.

In addition to being great players in the air, Cowlishaw noted their ability to “lead the line defensively, and most importantly have the ability to score important goals when the team needs them most” as for their importance to the team.

Bulow is coming off of tallying a goal and an assist in their last league outing, a 3-1 victory at home on July 3 against Dayton that gave the club only its second win in its last eight league contests. After opening the season 6-0-1, the team has surprisingly struggled in USL Pro action with a record of 2-4-2, registering just as many wins against their own league foes in the US Open Cup along with their surprising victory in Columbus. They face Charlotte on back-to-back nights in league play Friday and Saturday in advance of their Quarterfinal contest in Kansas City.

And don’t consider for a second that having won numerous league championships has led to the club shifting focus to the tournament as a new challenge. According to Cowlishaw, a member of the team who won the 1995 US Open Cup, priority number one remains qualifying for the USL postseason.

The coach says their “eyes are definitely more focused on securing an USL playoff spot. Unfortunately our Open Cup success along with several injuries to important players and a small squad of players has made the congested schedule difficult to manage.”

“Our mentality is the same as it has been over the previous 20 years.  We have always strived to develop teams that can on their day compete with any professional team in the country.  The squad is not designed to win a regular season championship; however, we have a small squad of players who are confident and excited about upcoming Open Cup and USL matches.”

The Last Men Standing – The Players

Bangura, Shaka:  In only his second season as a professional player, Bangura joined the Kickers after playing for the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2010 and has a goal and assist in the 2011 tournament. He tallied both in his tournament debut, a 4-1 victory against league foe Dayton in the First Round, and has appeared in all three matches thus far. Although he did not see any action in the Puerto Rico’s CONCACAF Champions League campaign a year ago, he made 14 appearances in league play as a rookie.

Bulow, David: The striker is quickly becoming a rising star not only in the current edition of the tournament with five goals, but also for the Professional Era (1995-present), sitting level with Jaime Moreno and Johnny Menyongar with 13 at the top of the goal scoring table. This is the fourth tournament which he has scored in playing for Richmond (2007, 08 & 09) and the sixth overall having also scored for the Cape Cod Crusaders (3 in 2004 & 2 in 2006).

Burke, Michael: Likely only to be seen patrolling the sidelines as an assistant, the longtime midfielder is still on the roster and could be used in the future should an emergency arise. He has been with the club since 2000, scoring his lone Kickers Open Cup goal in 2001. He also tallied once in the 1999 tournament for the Charleston Battery.

Callahan, Michael: He is in his first season with Richmond, but has plenty of US Open Cup experience from six appearances in the last two years of the tournament while playing for the Austin Aztex.

Delicate, Matthew: Tied for eighth on the Professional Era goal scoring list for the tournament with nine goals, Delicate is having his best tournament statistically with three tallies in two appearances after sitting out the First Round match. The striker scored two goals in last year’s Open Cup campaign and also in the 2007 campaign while playing for Rochester, whom he also tallied one for in 2006. A product of the club’s former PDL team (2003-04), he spent two seasons in Richmond before spending three with the Rhinos prior to returning.

Dos Santos, Gerson: In his third season with the club, Dos Santos has played in the tournament the past two years, but has yet to make an appearance in 2011 after suffering an injury June 17 versus Harrisburg. He is slated to return to the squad soon.

1995 US Open Cup champions: Richmond Kickers
After playing the El Paso Patriots to a 1-1 draw, the Richmond Kickers captured the 1995 US Open Cup title by defeating the Patriots on penalty kicks 4-2. Photo: Richmond Kickers

Elcock, Edson: The striker has become a regular for the Kickers in the Open Cup, setting up two goals in three appearances this year and playing in two contests a year ago. He joined the club in 2009 after stints with the Kansas City Wizards and Puerto Rico Islanders, but made his first appearance in the tournament in 2006 with the Virginia Beach Submariners in the PDL, playing in a first round loss to Wilmington.

Foglesong, Robert: In his second season as a professional, the midfielder has played in one Open Cup match this season after making two appearances a year ago.

Gorres, Sascha:  A member of the team since 2005, Gorres has been a staple in the club’s lineup for years. He played in two games last year and has seen action in all three this year. He is one of four players on the squad with two assists in the Open Cup campaign.

Harding, Evan: With the club up 3-1 in the Second Round versus Pittsburgh, Harding came on for only his second appearance overall on the season having only played one minute in the regular season prior to a halftime insertion July 3. The defender has been with the club since 2007.

Heins, Ryan: Heins has had a limited role in the Open Cup campaign with one appearance in his first year with the team despite being a regular in league play. He spent the past three seasons in Rochester, registering his lone Open Cup goal in 2009. He also played in the tournament for Harrisburg in 2008 as well as in three tournaments (2004, 05, 07) while playing for the PDL’s Ocean City Nor’easters (formerly Barons).

Hertel, Dave: In his second season with the club, the midfielder has made two appearances for the Kickers in the last two Open Cup campaigns. He also played in the tournament in 2008 as a member of the Michigan Bucks in the PDL.

Hiroyama, Nozomi: New to the American game, the midfielder has made two appearances in the tournament and scored the opening goal of the club’s 2-1 victory in Columbus in the Third Round.

Kalungi, Henry: In his third season with the club, the defender has increasingly become a part of the team’s Open Cup campaigns. He has played in all three matches this year after making two appearances in 2010 and one in 2009. His tournament debut, ironically came against Richmond in 2008 as a member of the Fredericksburg Gunners in a 3-0 first round loss.

MacKenzie, Ross: Though the midfielder has seen limited action in league play, he has made the most of two appearances in the Open Cup with a pair of assists. In his third year with the team, he previously made an appearance in the 2009 tournament for the Kickers and made his Open Cup debut in 2008, coming off the bench for the Carolina RailHawks.

Nyazamba, Stanley: One of four players on the team with two assists, the midfielder has played in all three games in the tournament this year in his return to the club for the first time since 2008 when he played in two Open Cup matches. He spent 2009 with the Columbus Crew, who he tallied one of the assists against, and made an appearance in the tournament last year while playing for FC Tampa Bay.

Pascale, Ronnie: A member of the team since 2000, Pascale has been the number one netminder for the club since 2002 and has stepped aside on very few occasions in league and Open Cup play. He has played every minute of the 2011 Open Cup campaign, allowing only one goal per game with one coming via the penalty spot.

Vercollone, Luke: A veteran professional that has played with the Kickers since 2008 after two years with Charleston Battery, the defender has played in all three Open Cup games so far this year, marking his sixth consecutive year of playing in the tournament. He scored two goals for the Battery in their 2007 Quarterfinal run.

Wallace, Jamel: Despite limited time in the lineup on the season, Wallace has made two starts in the tournament, including against Columbus in the Third Round. He also played in the Open Cup a year ago with the Kitsap Pumas.

William, Yomby: One of the leaders on the club, the defender has played in all three games of the current Open Cup campaign and made appearances in his previous two seasons with the Kickers. The defender developed his tournament acumen with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2008, coming off the bench in the first leg of their Preliminary Round series of the CONCACAF Champions League in Costa Rica. He would go on to start in five of the six group stage matches as the Islanders advanced to the CCL Quarterfinals. He joined the Islanders on a transfer from Kansas City, where he did not make a first team appearance with the club despite being the 23rd overall pick by the then-named Wizards.

2011 US Open Cup Second Round: Orlando City hands Charleston Battery historic home loss

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Orlando City FC defeated the Charleston Battery 1-0 Tuesday night in the Second Round of the US Open Cup with the lone goal coming from an unexpected player. Defender Rob Valentino scored in the 40th minute, and it was enough to put Orlando City through to the Third Round of the tournament where they will face FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

Although he was facing away from the goal, Valentino went up to attempt a header on a ball Kevin Molino played into the box. At the same time, Battery goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra charged forward in an attempt to grab the ball. However, Valentino put his head to the ball, propelling it over the keeper’s hands and into the back of the net.

The Battery defenders protested the goal, claiming Valentino was offside, but the assistant referee indicated otherwise.

Charleston manager Mike Anhaeuser did not blame Dykstra for the goal, saying his team had plenty of chances to tie the match.

“It wasn’t a bad mistake,” Anhaeuser said. “We had our chances, but we didn’t put them away. That’s the game.”

Surprisingly, it was not Valentino’s first goal of the campaign in which he has seen action in 13 of their 14 regular season contests. He tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against the Charlotte Eagles in their third match of the season, giving the franchise it’s first-ever road victory. He now has game-winners in both Carolinas.

It was a historic win by Orlando City, as they became the first non-MLS team to win at Blackbaud Stadium in US Open Cup play. The Battery have been playing Open Cup games in that stadium since 1999 and rarely lose. They are 18-5-3 (2-1 in PKs) in that stadium all-time in this tournament and will fail to reach the Third Round for the first time since 2005.

For the first ten minutes of the match, Orlando City was controlling the possession. However, Charleston appeared to settle down and started creating scoring chances of its own.

Anhaeuser said the slow start was due to his team not being quite ready for the passing game of Orlando City, a side they have yet to play in the USL Pro regular season.

“Once we settled down we really played well,” Anhaeuser said. “They’re a team that once they’re winning, they’re tough to score on, but we created chances.”

Charleston added fresh legs in the second half, when Dane Kelly came on in the 55th minute to replace Levi Coleman. Kelly came close to equalizing for Charleston as he split two defenders to get a one-on-one with the keeper. However, Miguel Gallardo was able to clear the ball just before Kelly could put a foot on it.

With the temperature hovering around 100 degrees at kickoff, Anhaeuser said players on both teams were getting worn out.

“When its 100 degrees, one mistake can be the game,” Anhaeuser said.

Orlando will travel to Texas next Tuesday, as FC Dallas will host the Third Round matchup at Pizza Hut Park.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Rob Valentino

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