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Open Cup qualifying: Only New York, Philly remain after USASA Region I quarterfinals

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After a weekend of quarterfinal action, the USASA’s Region I, which covers the northeastern part of the country, has reached it’s final four. With victories on Sunday, May 1, three New York-based clubs and a Philadelphia team have put themselves one win away from qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Brooklyn Italians defeated Go Soccer FC 1-0 and will face newcomers Fenerbahce USA in the semifinals. Fenerbahce survived a wild match with Danbury United and advance on penalty kicks. Meanwhile, the United German Hungarians defeated Charm City FC 3-1 to set up a match with the historic club, New York Pancyprian Freedoms. The Freedoms needed extra time to eliminate D.C.’s Aegean Hawks, 2-1. The semifinal matches are scheduled to be played on Sunday, May 23, with the winners qualifying for the US Open Cup. Fenerbahce USA is the only club of the four who has never qualified for the tournament, with the other three having either won the tournament (Brooklyn: 1991; New York: 1980, 1982, 1983), or finished as a runner-up (UGH: 1977, 1993; Brooklyn: 1979, 1981, 1990).

RECAPS:

GO SOCCER FC (NJ) 0:1 BROOKLYN ITALIANS (NPSL – NY)
John Dewey High School – Brooklyn, NY

The Brooklyn Italians moved one step closer to qualifying for the US Open Cup with a 1-0 win over New Jersey’s Go Soccer FC. JP Ahoua headed home the lone goal off a free kick in the 55th minute. The free kick was cleared out, but Brooklyn sent it back in where Ahoua nodded it past the keeper.

After the game, Go Soccer’s player/coach Dominic Paolella was proud of the way his team played. “It was a good game, though really tight the entire time,” said Paolella. “Our keeper Faouzi Bendaoud played a hell of a game. He made at least a dozen saves. I thought we did a good job against a very good NPSL team.” He added, “We made it one round further than we did last year, so at least we improved. We’ll be back next year for sure.”

Brooklyn is the NPSL representative in the Region I tournament, having just joined the league this past off-season, after decades in New York’s historic Cosmopolitan League. Brooklyn will travel to play at Fenerbahce USA on May 23 in the next round, however the site and time of the match are yet to be determined.

Go Soccer FC lineup:
GK: Faouzi Bandaoud
RB – Paul Racz
CB – Paul Breen (injured and subbed out 6th min)
CB – Dan Ryan
LB – Chris Tatro
RM – Steve Mellen
LM – Matt Connor
CM – Steve DeMatteo
CM – Dennis Maldonado
CM – Gary Gibbings
ST – Dominic Paolella (injured and subbed out in 60th min.)

sub – Matt Heitmann (6th min.)
sub – Matt Tatro (60th min.)

FENERBAHCE USA (EAST NY) 4:4 DANBURY UNITED (CT)
(Fenerbahce USA advances 4-3 on PKs)
Portuguese Cultural Center – Danbury, Conn.

Keith Detelj of Fenerbahce USA challenges for the ball against Danbury United. Photo: Gus Xikis

After a crazy back and forth match, it would take penalty kicks to separate Fenerbahce USA of Eastern New York and Connecticut’s Danbury United. Fenerbahce, competing in US Open Cup qualifying for the first time, would emerge victorious in the tiebreaker after finishing extra time tied at 4-4.

Fenerbahce USA scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the match, but before the game got out of hand, Danbury answered with two goals of their own before halftime. The two clubs couldn’t break the deadlock in regulation, but in overtime, it was the first half all over again. Fenerbahce scored twice, and it looked like they were going to walk away with the match, but, once again, the Connecticut club retaliated with two goals to tie the game back up in the final minutes of extra time to send the match into a penalty kick shootout.

Jose Batista scored two of the goals for Fenerbahce, with Keith Detelj and Frank Alesci adding one each.

Fenerbahce USA will host fellow New York club, the Brooklyn Italians, in a battle of the old and the new. Brooklyn won the tournament in 1991 and finished runner-up three times, while this is brand new to Fenerbahce, who was founded in 2001.

Fenerbahce USA lineup: GK: EJ Xikis (45th – John Sanfilippo), James Davis, Laurent Manuel, Alejandro Montanez, Diego Martinez, Mohammad Mashriqi, Torres Garcia, Christopher Alesci (75th – Deleon Herbert), Frank Alesci, Jose Batista, Keith Detelj

DULLES SPORTSPLEX AEGEAN HAWKS (DC/VA) 1:2 (AET) NY PANCYPRIAN FREEDOMS (EAST NY)
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY (St. John’s University)

Robby Wright of the Aegean Hawks, pictured above in pre-game warm-ups, scored the lone goal for the Hawks. Photo: Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC

The New York Pancyprian Freedoms are through to the semifinals after being taken the distance by a shorthanded Aegean Hawks club from D.C. The Freedoms won the match 2-1 after extra time, but needed a late equalizer to survive into overtime against a team who had only brought 11 players up to New York.

The previous night, the Hawks had competed in the championship game of “La Super Copa” tournament, which was hosted by DC United of Major League Soccer. They won the game in a penalty kick shootout after a 3-3 draw but lost three key players to injury. Less than 24 hours later, the 11 players remaining drove up to Queens for Sunday’s quarterfinal match.

Predictably, the Hawks played a defensive game throughout, especially after striker Carlos Garcia suffered a hamstrong injury. Garcia played through the injury, but was largely ineffective throughout.

The Hawks held off the New York attack, but it was the visitors who scored the first goal. Watson Prather sent a penetrating ball into John Stephens who flicked a layoff to Robby Wright, who was making a secondary run. Wright dodged a defender at the top of the box, then hit a looping left-footed strike into the top left corner of the goal.

Just when it looked like the Hawks were going to pull off an improbable upset, New York’s Joel Gustafsson saved the Freedoms with a goal in the 86th minute. The match went into extra time and the Hawks would run out of gas. The Freedoms Stelios Andreou would find Julio Cesar DoSantos for the game-winning goal.

For a full report of this match by Dylan Butler of the New York Post, click HERE.

New York will host the United German Hungarians (East PA) in the next round on May 23.

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC lineup: Alex Fatovic (GK – Long Island University), Eddie Thurston (Brown), Devlin Barnes (UMass), Karsten Smith (American University), Alan Golden (William & Mary), Michael Goldman (George Washington University), Watson Vaughan-Prather (Univ. of Wisconsin), Robby Wright (Virginia), Erwin Diaz (U of Maryland), John Stephens (James Madison), Carlos Garcia (William & Mary)

CHARM CITY FC (MD) 1:3 UNITED GERMAN HUNGARIANS (EAST PA)
UGH Field – Oakford, PA

The United German Hungarians are now one step away from qualifying for the US Open Cup for the first time in over a decade after a 3-1 win over Charm City FC. The representative from Maryland got an early goal in the fifth minute and held on to the lead until halftime, but the second half was taken over by the hosts. Jeremy Ortiz tied the game in the 51st minute and David Castellanos gave UGH the lead nine minutes later. Andrew Weyershaeuser would put the game away in the 83rd minute to put the 100-year old club into the semifinals to face the New York Pancyprian Freedoms.

Scoring Summary:
CHA: Unknown goalscorer – 5th
UGH: Jeremy Ortiz – 51st
UGH: David Castellanos – 60th
UGH: Andrew Weyershaeuser – 83rd

UGH lineup: Eric Talbot (GK), Jason Karasow (c), Ryan Tadley, Will Thornton, Jeremy Ortiz, Brian Blesi, Ben Marucci, Tony Rod, Ryan Moseley, Blair Carson, Dave Castellanos | Subs: Andrew Weyershaeuser, Brian Bowers, Jimmy Bradley, Kevin Sherry | Coach: Mike Curley

USASA Region I quarterfinals results
(All games are Sunday, May 2)

Fenerbahce USA (East NY) 4:4 Danbury United (CT) (Fenerbahce USA advance 4-3 on PKs)
Aegean Hawks FC 1:2 (AET) NY Pancyprian Freedoms
Charm City FC 1:3 United German Hungarians
Go Soccer FC 0:1 Brooklyn Italians
Go-Soccer FC vs. Emigrantes Das Ilhas *Emigrantes Das Ilhas disqualified*

USASA Region I semifinals schedule
(All games are Sunday, May 23 – All times Eastern)

Brooklyn Italians at Fenerbahce USA – Park Stadium (Franklin Square, NY) | 5 p.m.
United German Hungarians at NY Pancyprian Freedoms – Belson Stadium (St. John’s University) | 4 p.m.
*Semifinal winners will qualify for the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the results from the weekend:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010 USASA Region I tournament – first round results:

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

Quarterfinal schedule (May 2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quarterfinal schedule (May 2)

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

Bracket

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

Charm City edges Baltimore Bays Chelsea in PKs to join Maryland final four

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It only took four tries to get this match in, but it was worth the wait. Charm City FC moved closer to a Maryland Open Cup title, and a spot in the USASA Region I Finals, by defeating Baltimore Bays Chelsea in Quarterfinal action 6-5 on penalties after a scoreless draw. This game was plentiful not in scoring, but in physicality.

Charm City earned the majority of scoring chances during regulation, some of which occurred as a result of a 71st minute red card received by Chelsea fullback Matt Shell who committed a serious challenge. However, they could not convert their chances and ended regulation time scoreless. Overtime saw more physical play as Lou Karko of Charm City was ejected in the 112th minute, evening the match at 10 players per side. At this point the clubs settled down and held serve until the penalty shootout arrived. Both goalkeepers did their part to ensure their team was in it to the end. Charm City’s Scott Maguire made 12 saves, while Josh Taylor of Baltimore Bays Chelsea stopped 16 shots.

Once in penalty kicks, the scoring finally arrived. Goals flew in back and forth for both sides, with the clubs ending up tied 5-5 after six rounds. In the seventh round, Chad Muesel stepped up for Charm City, calmly placing the ball in the back of the net. Chelsea’s Jarron Brooks looked to send the shootout to an eighth round, but instead sent his shot wide left, ending the match.

Charm City FC advances to play FC Allyance – who defeated the Maryland Kicks 7-0 the previous week – in the Maryland semifinals, which are scheduled to occur on March 14.

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