Chula Vista FC

2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In: Chula Vista FC back in USOC after 3rd straight PK win

November 25, 2019 by Mathias Medel

Graphic by Harrison Huntley | @hhuntley17

Chula Vista FC defeated LA Monsters 5-4 in penalty kicks after 110 minutes of game time to earn an official spot in the 2020 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It is now the third consecutive round that Chula Vista emerges victorious in a shootout.

As a result, Chula Vista FC becomes the first team since the current Open Division Local qualifying tournament was launched in 2015 to qualify for the US Open Cup with three consecutive penalty kick shootout wins. It also marks the third time the club has qualified for the tournament (2015, 2017), which is scheduled to kick off next Spring.

Chula Vista FC celebrate after winning a PK shootout against LA Monsters FC that clinches a spot in the 2020 US Open Cup. Photo: Steve Wood | Chula Vista FC

CVFC, hosting their third straight qualifier at Terra Nova Park in Chula Vista, Calif. (San Diego area), went into the half with a one-goal lead on a 34th minute free kick from Abraham Rodriguez who curled his shot over the wall, and into the back of the net.

After each team’s goalkeeper made a big save in the opening minutes of the second half, Chula Vista nearly doubled their lead in the 54th minute when Andy Salguero hit the crossbar on a shot from outside the penalty area. Two minutes later, the Monsters equalized off of a 1-v-1 opportunity which was successfully finished by forward Edward Robles Delgado.

After the equalizer, the Monsters took control, forcing Chula Vista goalkeeper Cristian Garcia to make another impressive save in the 66th minute. About five minutes later, Salguero, was tripped up in the penalty area and earned a PK. Salguero, who plays his college ball at El Camino College (Torrence, Calif.), converted from the spot to give the Monsters the lead.

With time quickly expiring, Chula Vista’s Mario Rubio was able to tie the game for the home side with about nine minutes left in the game.

The score remained tied as the match headed to extra time, however, due to an unusual decision, the two teams would not play the full 30 minutes (Two 15-minute periods). The head referee declared that the extra time periods would be shortened to 10 minutes each due to lack of sunlight in the area.

With about three minutes remaining in the abbreviated second period of overtime, Chula Vista’s Luis Espinoza-Vasquez received a golden opportunity to give the home team the lead. After CVFC was awarded a penalty kick, Espinoza-Vasquez rang his 12-yard kick off the right post to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

In the penalty kick shootout, Chula Vista converted their first five attempts, leaving it up to the Monsters’ Salvador Alvarez to push the tiebreaker into a sixth round. While Chula Vista’s goalkeeper Cristian Garcia was unable to replicate the four penalty saves he had in the second round, he bested Alvarez, ultimately giving Chula Vista the victory on the day.

“With the same ferocity we have had for these past other games, we have to keep riding the wave and enter upcoming games with our heads held high,” CVFC assistant coach Humberto Rico said. “That’s key for us, and this was going to get us further in the competition.”

Chula Vista will now have a chance to add to their Open Cup resume. In their first appearance in the tournament in 2015, they defeated PDL (now USL League Two) power FC Tucson on the road, before a dominant 3-0 win over USL (Div. 2 pro) side Arizona United SC, a club now known as Phoenix Rising FC. They added another win over the Albion SC Pros (NPSL) in their 2017 opener, before falling to the UPSL’s Los Angeles Wolves FC.

With the win, Chula Vista FC, who compete in the SoCal Premier League, is the lone representative from US Club Soccer. They are the first US Club Soccer team to qualify for the US Open Cup since 2016 (San Francisco City FC).

#USOC2020 ESSENTIALS

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2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 1 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Round 2 Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Win & You’re In Weekend Game-By-Game Review
2020 US Open Cup Qualifying Goalscoring Leaders

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2019 US Open Cup Qualifying: California United II advance with shutout of Chula Vista FC

October 24, 2018 by Omar Avalos

California United II pose for a team photo prior to their 2019 US Open Cup qualifying match against Chula Vista FC. Photo: California United FC

California United FC II, locally dubbed “Cal United” or Cal United II, defeated Chula Vista FC, 2-0, on Oct. 21 in the second qualifying round for the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

It was a rematch, of sorts, of the 2017 US Open Cup Second Round match, pitting the Los Angeles Wolves against Chula Vista. Paolo Cardozo had the game’s only goal in that 2017 match, and he opened the scoreline in this qualifier in the 32nd minute for Cal United.

Sunday’s Chula Vista FC team was a shadow of the team that qualified to the Open Cup in 2017, or knocked off a pro team (Arizona United) in 2015. They started the game by, uncharacteristically, opting to play long, aerial vertical lobs in what appeared like attempts to surprise and beat the Cal United defensive line. Each attempt resulted in United taking possession and gradually erasing Chula Vista from the match. CVFC struggled to string together passes, again opting for quickness and making crucial mistakes with the few chances they had in the opponent’s box.

Cal United’s Gustavo Villalobos broke away from defenders in the 72nd minute, after a scrappy play in the midfield that resulted in the assisted pass, charging the net and blasting a left-footed shot to put things at 2-0. Minutes later, CUFC II was awarded a penalty kick that Paolo Cardozo sent sailing over the cross bar, on a left-footed shot.

CUFC II cut down Chula Vista’s chances at generating offense, at times having to resort to deliberate fouls resulting in yellow cards, particularly in the 58th and 59th minutes. The first card, to Bryan De la Fuente, was given for clipping a CVFC player, with no ball in play, prompting observers to scream for a red card. On the second foul, a CVFC player beat the last defender on a lobbed pass, prompting the defender to drop his body on the attacker’s leg to stop the play and narrowly escaped getting sent off.

With the win, Cal United FC II will continue their quest to qualify for the US Open Cup for the first time. Their next step will be when they travel to Calabasas, Calif. to take on Cal FC in the third round of the qualifying tournament on Nov. 18.

72’ I GOAL for CUFCII!

California United FC II goal scored by Gustavo Villalobos, unassisted!!!

Watch it Here > https://t.co/zNIRR56w0G @OpenCup @USOpenCup #USOC2019

CUFCIIvCVFC I 2-0#homeofthedream

— California United (@CalUtdFC) October 22, 2018

32’ I GOAL for CUFCII!

California United FC II goal scored by Paolo Cardozo, unassisted!!!

Watch it Here > https://t.co/MVB0jZ0Wxk @OpenCup @USOpenCup #USOC2019

CUFCIIvCVFC I 1-0#homeofthedream

— California United (@CalUtdFC) October 22, 2018

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: La Maquina continues qualifying dominance, clinches third straight Open Cup berth

November 22, 2017 by James Stroud

It was a beautiful Sunday in Chula Vista, just outside San Diego, as the home side Chula Vista FC prepared to host La Maquina – a juggernaut in their own right from up the road in Los Angeles. The beauty of the day would soon prove to be prophetic for La Maquina, but agonizingly taunting for Chula Vista FC, as the former rolled through the latter with ease in the final 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying match, 4-1.

As the game kicked off, the crowd had trickled in and although there was only a small set of bleachers above a hill on the sideline, the atmosphere was lively for the Chula Vista faithful who expect a lot from their club that has qualified for the US Open Cup in two of the last three years.

Both clubs are known for their attacking flair and possession style of play, but it was clear from the beginning that La Maquina had manufactured the true threat, utilizing a high-pressure forward line that paid all the dividends.

Chula Vista wasted valuable energy chasing the game early as La Maquina owned much of the ball and it took less than 20 minutes for La Maquina to find their first goal. A misunderstanding between goalkeeper Sammy Quinones and defender Manuel Carrillo left Quinones out of position at the top of the box. As the pressure increased around Carrillo, he lost possession to former Chivas de Guadalajara forward Edwin Borboa who took full advantage and curved a shot from the corner of the box around the goalkeeper with his right foot. Borboa, who tied for the tournament lead with five goals in 2016 has been involved in a goal in nearly every qualifying and tournament game La Maquina has played in the last three years.

With that goal by Borboa, La Maquina never looked back.

In the 31st minute, La Maquina scored what would prove to be the winner by exploiting another defensive mistake by the CV back line, courtesy of Rosendo Castro.

Trailing 2-0 at the halftime, Chula Vista knew they were in trouble. After speaking with some players, it was clear that a drastic change would have to take place in the players’ mindsets to get back on track. As the second half began, it looked, for a moment, that they had accepted the mission as they opened the half at a full sprint, but La Maquina responded with cool heads and took advantage of the end to end confusion with an insurance goal, this time from the wing as a beautiful cross dropped right onto the head of Braulio Godinez.

All but out of reach for Chula Vista, the pushed on, finding a bit more breathing room as La Maquina fell back to close out the game. As they probed for a sniff of the goal, forward Alberto Diaz found himself on the receiving end of a slick give and go with one man to beat inside the box. As he took his touch, the defender brought him down with a hip check, and Chula Vista was awarded a lifeline. In the 59th minute, Francisco Ramirez slotted it home and wasted no time digging it out of the net, as Chula Vista suddenly seemed energized.

For the next ten minutes, Chula Vista streamed forward launching attacks straight down the middle of the pitch aiming to exploit a comfortable La Maquina back line. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be enough, as La Maquina took advantage of a quick break in the 72nd minute. As the ball was worked into the goal box, it was clear that Chula Vista had no fight left in them as Rosendo Castro walked his brace over the line. La Maquina continued to control the game and was awarded foul after foul around Chula Vista’s goal box for the remainder of the match, and just like they did in 2015, they eliminated Chula Vista in a Win & You’re In match.

La Maquina will attempt to outdo themselves in 2018’s US Open Cup that will feature no shortage of potential Cinerella stories. Chula Vista FC will not be granted any such opportunity, and with their elimination there will be zero San Diego representatives from amateur teams in next years competition, a massive disappointment to all in America’s Finest City.

For La Maquina, they continue their dominance over the qualifying tournament over the last three years. They have won all six of their qualifying matches and have outscored their opponents 22-3 and have never scored less than three goals in a game.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: One mistake in extra time sends LA Wolves past Chula Vista FC

May 23, 2017 by Omar Avalos

Soccer observers truly keen on LA Wolves and Chula Vista FC expected an even match by two clubs with similar possession-based style. This one had the makings of a chess match, a coach’s game, one in which the first team to make a mistake would pay dearly. It took 115 minutes for that mistake to occur in the form of a penalty kick awarded to the Wolves that striker Paolo Cardozo slammed into the upper right corner with a left-footed shot, enough to lift LA Wolves over Chula Vista 1-0. The win sets up a third round match with USL side Orange County SC, once again at Azusa Pacific University.

The match was a deadlock all throughout, with the Wolves creating some chances, but with greater difficulty and certainly less comfort than their first round match versus San Diego Zest. The few clear chances that they did create ended poorly, complicating the game for them.

And complicated it most certainly was for LA Wolves who had 5 yellow cards on the night, 2 of them in the first half, and 2 more by the 65th minute. This was a testament to CVFC’s individual skill on possession, with their players able to create their own space and get forward, needing to be cut down by fouls. CVFC had two yellow cards on the night and a pardoned card very late in the match on a tackle from behind on striker Chuck Pitts that very easily could’ve been a yellow, if not a red card.

After the match, Wolves head coach Eric Wynalda said, “We’re lucky to get through. We are. We need to say that. We had some injuries prior to the game so we had to shuffle things around in our midfield, and clearly it affected us. You have to really say that there was a lot of great technical ability on the other side of the ball tonight. The only good news is that we didn’t get scored on. Our keeper kept us in the game and we could’ve done better with our chances, but the truth is, all in all it was a very good game.”

When asked if this was the type of match he expected, Wynalda said, “We knew that this was a very good team and they made some additions from the last time we played them. This is what this tournament is about. There’s a lot of passion and a lot of heart.”

Goalscorer Paolo Cardozo said, “It was a very good, very intense match and we came out to fight to the end. Thank God we got the win.” On Chula Vista FC he added, “They’re a very good, very ambitious and difficult rival.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Chula Vista holds on late against Albion SC to win battle of San Diego

May 16, 2017 by Marisa Cali

Chula Vista FC celebrates the club's 3-2 win over Albion SC Pros in the First Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Marisa Cali — Chula Vista FC celebrates the club’s 3-2 win over Albion SC Pros in the First Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Chula Vista FC

It was an unseasonably cool night for San Diegans, but, there was plenty of action on the field at Mission Bay High School. Albion Pros SC hosted Chula Vista FC in the First Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and it was the visitors who prevailed, 3-2.

It was a wild final 16 minutes as all five goals were scored during that span with Chula Vista earning a date on the road with the LA Wolves FC in Round 2.

Albion would play most of the match with 10 men as defender Luke Staats received a straight red card in the 18th minute. Speed and size got the best of Chula Vista’s front line despite them having the man advantage. Despite that advantage, the match went into halftime scoreless.

In the 75th minute, Alberto Diaz would break the deadlock. Diaz curved the ball into the back of the net just of reach of Albion’s goalkeeper Jean Antoine.

“We knew we had to be patient and the goal would come after they went down to 10 men.” said Diaz.

The visiting fans would soon be silenced as Albion’s David Luquen was awarded a penalty kick after a hard tackle from Gilberto Perez-Lopez. Luquen would kick the ball wide and off the left cross bar, keeping the score at 1-0 in favor of Chula Vista.

Not less than 30 seconds later, Albion would cross the ball back into the danger zone and the ball would skid off Perez-Lopez’s shoulder. It earned him his second yellow card and an ejection from the game.

With both teams playing with 10 men, Albion would even the score at 1-1 in the 80th minute when Luan Oliviera would bury the ball into the net past a diving Miguel David.

The pressure was on. Both sides were fiery and looking for an opening to score in the final 10 minutes. Chula Vista would earn a corner kick in the 89th minute. Diaz would launch it to the center of the box and Alejandro Lopez Rodriguez would head it right at Albion’s goalkeeper. Antoine couldn’t push it out of harm’s way and the ball landed right in front of Jaime Verdin who put the ball in the back of the net.

Electric. Exhilarating. The score was 2-1. The visitor’s side, including the packed bleachers, with fans donning all black knew this was a crushing blow to the home club.

“It feels good to represent San Diego in this tournament. Last year we got a little too confident, but, we’re happy to back.”

The final whistle would blow but not before each side would score a goal of their own in three minutes of stoppage time to leave the game at 3-2. The club from the South Bay San Diego advanced.

Chula Vista coach Hector Diaz was proud of his team’s opening round performance.

“We have a good group of experienced players, also they are young, they just keep on going and don’t stop believing.”

2017 Meet the Underdogs: Young Chula Vista FC hopes to add another US Open Cup upset to its resume

May 2, 2017 by Ed Rue

Chula Vista FC celebrates in the locker room after their 3-0 upset of Arizona United in the Second Round of the 2015 US Open Cup. Photo: Chula Vista FC

How do you improve upon a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debut like that of Chula Vista FC’s?

Chula Vista shut out a pro team (Arizona United SC of the USL) in its very first entry in the tournament in 2015 and enter this year as one of the youngest teams in this year’s competition. The roster is comprised mostly of players under the age of 23, but the team won’t be without its veterans though. There are 12 players returning from last year’s unsuccessful qualifying attempt, and 11 from its debut in 2015.

The team may be young, but its not without its stars. Alberto Diaz, who was a nominee for TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament in 2015, is back along with US Under-20 National Team midfielder Jose Luis Altamirano and Rodrigo Fuentes as part of the midfield.

Two years after a surprising debut in the Open Cup, Chula Vista FC look to improve an already impressive record. For this edition of the tournament Coach Hector Diaz said “the team is solid and we have set a high goal for ourselves, but nevertheless realistic.”

In 2015, the SoCal club made its first foray into one of the oldest club competitions in the world and would go on to provide some early upsets. The First Round match provided a major upset when Chula Vista went on to defeat PDL side FC Tucson after extra time. Chula Vista put on an impressive display as it dispatched Arizona United SC of the USL 3-0 in the Second Round.

The budding Cinderella story came to a close after a 7-3 loss to USL side Sacramento Republic FC.

The 2016 edition of the Open Cup had its ups and downs for Chula Vista, with a 5-2 win over NPSL side Temecula FC. This put Chula Vista up against UPSL side La Maquina FC, which resulted in a 4-0 defeat, leaving them one game short of qualifying.

Previous forays in the Open Cup have also been good learning experiences for the squad.

“When you’re a new team, you go and play without any expectations because a bar has yet to be set,” Diaz said. He went on to explain that the team cannot overlook anyone this year and thinks that this year’s team is the right mix to make another deep run.

This year’s campaign has gotten off to a terrific start with a 5-1 first qualifying round victory over UPSL side Frontera United. The match saw two goals each from Francisco Ramirez and Diaz, with a fifth coming from Angel Pinal. CVFC moved on to face FC Hasental of the UPSL. Diaz added another brace in a 4-1 second qualifying round victory over the NPSL side. The game also saw goals from Rodrigo Fuentes and Jaime Verdin.

Chula Vista will now look ahead to their First Round proper opponents Albion SC Pros of San Diego on May 10 and hope to make another memorable run.

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Former Chivas player helps La Maquina eliminate 2015 darlings Chula Vista FC, 4-0 (video)

November 22, 2015 by Josh Hakala

La Maquina lines up for player introductions before their 2016 US Open Cup qualifying match with Chula Vista FC. Photo: La Maquina

La Maquina wouldn’t mind having the kind of success Chula Vista FC had in last season’s US Open Cup.

But first, La Maquina had to beat Chula Vista FC.

Mission accomplished.

La Maquina put in a machine-line performance in a 4-0 win over Chula Vista FC to earn a berth in the final round of the open division qualifying tournament, which takes place next April.

One of the best teams in the strong Los Angeles-based United Premier Soccer League, which sent nine teams to the tournament this year – including LA Wolves FC, Del Rey City and Cal FC. The 2015 US Open Cup Division 4 $15,000 prize winner PSA Elite also competes in the league. La Maquina is attempting to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time.

While it might have been hampered by the absence of four starters and hindered by not having practiced together in several months, it didn’t show in the effort.

La Maquina took a 1-0 halftime lead after former Concordia University (Calif.) standout Edgar Orozco tallied the first of his three assists, delivering a cross to former C.D. Guadalajera and Pachuca player Edwin Borboa, who beat a pair of defenders and fired the ball into the back of the net.

After halftime, La Maquina poured it on with a second goal around the 60th minute. Alejandro Velasquez delivered a ball to former Laredo Heat (PDL) player Rodolfo Godinez who made it 2-0.

“The second goal really brought (Chula Vista FC) down,” said La Maquina assistant coach Edson Martinez. “It was a good game and Chula Vista is really good, but our team has been playing together for five to seven years and they know how to play.”

After the second goal, La Maquina had Chula Vista on their heels and they took advantage of it. Five minutes later, Orozco and Borboa linked up on another cross. Borboa, who scored in their first round win over Strikers FC South Coast, has been on a tear this season, scoring 37 goals in 16 UPSL matches.

In the 75th minute, Orozco helped put the game away as he assisted on a goal by Jose Castro, who played alongside his identical twin brother Rosendo.

Martinez says if the team can keep up its cohesion and family-like chemistry, they can replicate Chula Vista, which garnered attention in last year’s tournament after upsetting the USL’s Arizona United 3-0. But due to the having several members of the team who are soccer coaches at youth academies or at college programs, that could prove to be difficult.

“Honestly, I’m pretty sure we can be the next (US Open Cup) Cinderella story,” said Martinez, who also acts as the team’s general manager. “We’ve played against universities and beat them, we’ve played against all the (local) teams who have qualified for the Open Cup and we’ve beaten them. We’ve won games against teams from Mexico, but we’ve never been on the map because we’ve never entered the US Open Cup.”

Martinez is hoping the team can qualify and put their names on the American soccer map, like Cal FC, Chula Vista FC and PSA Elite before them.

The players on their roster have a lot of college, professional and international experience. They have former US youth internationals like Carlos Borja (Chivas USA), David Arviuz (Orange County Blues, Chivas USA) and Oscar Reyes (UCLA, US Beach Soccer National Team) in addition to Barboa and others.

In two weeks, La Maquina have another big game as they will take on San Nicolas in the UPSL Quarterfinals.

2015 US Open Cup Round 3: Preki not happy despite Sacramento Republic’s 7-3 win over Chula Vista FC (video)

May 29, 2015 by Evan Ream

Only in Preki’s world can you score a club-record seven goals in a match and still be upset about the performance of your team.

But that was exactly the scene at Bonney Field as the Sacramento Republic FC coach bashed his team’s effort in a five-minute post game rant despite a 7-3 Third Round US Open Cup win over USASA side Chula Vista FC.

“Some moments it was good, some moments it was not good enough fore me. We scored seven goals, but to give up three goals, that’s incredibly disappointing for me,” he said. “Some of the guys aren’t working hard enough for the team and guess what’s going to happen? They’re not going to be here. I don’t really care who the names are, who they are, they don’t work hard for the team, they aren’t going to be here. Simple as that.

“The game should have been finished in the first half, four, five to zero, four, five to one, or whatever with the penalty. But I said, keep it going, things will open up, and they did. They did,” he added. “Now, this is the second time in Open Cup play this has happened to us. In the , same thing. We took a 4-1 lead and then we almost threw the game away because of silliness, because of us being casual, because now we think we’ve arrived. That’s not the way we want to do things here.”

Playing against the dangerous Chula Vista, who flattened fellow USL side Arizona United SC 3-0 in the Second Round, the Republic could not have gotten off to a better start, scoring via a rocket header from Octavio Guzman in just the 9th minute of the match off of a free kick from Max Alvarez.

Five minutes before halftime, the visitors leveled the score after a controversial foul in the box allowed Francisco Ramirez to coolly slot home a penalty.

Republic striker Adnan Gabeljic, who would end up with a hat trick, took just three minutes to respond, blasting home a 20-yard shot in the 43rd minute.

The crowd of 10,018 must have thought that it would be smooth sailing from there on out when Tommy Stewart scored his competition-leading fourth goal of the tournament seven minutes into the second half, and though Gabeljic and Zev Taublieb quickly tallied two more, the Republic were not out of the woods yet.

Just 35 seconds after taking a 5-1 lead, the Republic gave up a goal when Alberto Diaz found a streaking Joey Estrada, who chipped the ball home.

Diaz set up Mario Rubio’s 81st minute strike to pull within two goals, but the Republic pulled the lead back to four with Rodrigo Lopez’s first goal of the competition was followed by the completion of Gabeljic’s hat trick.

Chula Vista goalkeeper Sebastian Ortiz, who made several spectacular saves in the upset against Arizona, again had a good game, registering eight saves, including a save on a penalty against Lopez in the second half.

The Republic move on to play MLS affiliate San Jose Earthquakes in the Fourth Round at Avaya Stadium.

There are currently zero San Jose players on loan in Sacramento, and there haven’t been any all year.

Sacramento are now 4-0 all time in Open Cup play at home, with 19 goals scored and just six allowed.

Evan Ream covers Sacramento Republic FC for the Davis Enterprise. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanReam

HIGHLIGHTS: Chula Vista at Sacremento Republic

FULL MATCH REPLAY: Chula Vista at Sacremento Republic

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Alberto Diaz of Chula Vista FC sparks big upset, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round

May 26, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Alberto Diaz scored two goals and assisted on another in Chula Vista FC's 3-0 upset win over Arizona United. Photo: Jose M. Romero — Alberto Diaz scored two goals and assisted on another in Chula Vista FC’s 3-0 upset win over Arizona United. Photo: Jose M. Romero

There were two players who scored hat tricks in the Second Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, but the majority of voters were more impressed by a youngster carrying his team to the biggest upset of the round. Alberto Diaz of Chula Vista FC of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) scored a pair of goals and set up a third as the amateur club from Southern California traveled to Scottsdale, Ariz. and stunned the USL’s Arizona United, 3-0. For his efforts, Diaz has been voted as TheCup.us Player of the Round.

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

Diaz beat out Tommy Stewart of Sacramento Republic and Tomasz Zahorski of the Charlotte Independence, who both registered hat tricks in their respective games for the award. Michael Salazar, who was the key player in PSA Elite’s upset of the Orange County Blues (USL) also received strong consideration and finished tied for third with Zahorski in the final voting. This is only the eighth time that a player from a USASA team has won since the award began in 2006.

Entering the 102nd edition of the tournament, the USASA had only eliminated 12 professional teams in 81 games since 1996. This year, we had two in the same round as PSA Elite knocked off the the Orange County Blues (USL) and Chula Vista shut out Arizona United.

MORE: Meet the Underdogs: First-timers Chula Vista FC enter US Open Cup to build ‘a club for life’

What’s even more rare is a USASA team earning a clean sheet, and even more rare than that is a road shutout, something that has only happened one other time (Cal FC defeated Wilmington Hammerheads 4-0 in 2012). Diaz, the younger brother of Chula Vista head coach Hector Diaz, was the catalyst for the victory.

Chula Vista FC celebrates in the locker room after their 3-0 upset of Arizona United in the Second Round of the US Open Cup. Photo: Chula Vista FC

“It was awesome,” reflected Diaz. “Every single player on our team had a great game. We started a bit shaky for about the first 30 minutes, but we shook off the rust and got going.”

The San Diego-born midfielder who has played for the US Under-15 national team, opened the scoring in the 37th minute when he dribbled past Arizona defender Daniel Antunez and into the clear, remaining onside as he got the ball around goalkeeper Carl Woszcynski and found the open net.

In the 48th minute, Diaz took a free kick that found the head of Angel Pinal to make it a 2-0 game. He put the game away in the 72nd minute by taking a a couple touches before unleashing a shot that beat Wosczynski with ease. The Arizona goalkeeper appeared to not see the shot, as he didn’t move.

“Of course we thought we could win, but we were a bit nervous going into this game because we had a pretty bad first game and our physical condition wasn’t the best,” said Diaz. “But we had another week of training and preparation leading up to Arizona United so we were optimistic. The 3-0 (scoreline) did surprise me because we struggled mightily the week before and it was hotter in Phoenix.”

With the win, Chula Vista earns another challenging road game against a professional team, the Sacramento Republic.

“I know we have enough talent to knock off another pro team,” said Diaz. “We are focused on Sacramento Republic and I’m sure they will be more than ready, especially with the amazing crowds they pull.”

It’s more than a 500-mile trip from Chula Vista to the state’s capital city and the team launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of the trip. Much to Alberto’s surprise, there has been a strong response so far with more than $2,000 raised as of Tuesday. May 26.

“(The campaign) only adds fuel to our fire,” said Diaz. “Knowing all these people are rooting for us. We are more than grateful for all the support that has been shown our way and we will repay those by playing our heart out this Wednesday.”

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Chula Vista FC’s amateur youth movement stuns USL’s Arizona United, 3-0

May 21, 2015 by Jose M. Romero

Chula Vista FC fans made the trip to Scottsdale, Ariz. to cheer on their team. Photo: Jose M. Romero

Chula Vista FC is 2-for-Arizona and 2-0 in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, to the surprise of almost everyone but those close to the team. And now the players can dream big.

Without a single player in the starting 11 older than 22, the USASA side from south of San Diego advanced to the Third Round of the annual American soccer club championship with a convincing 3-0 win over Arizona United SC of the USL Wednesday night at Scottsdale Stadium.

Baby-faced midfielder Alberto Diaz’s goal in the 37th minute and teammate Angel Pinal’s goal off a free kick from Diaz were plenty for the upstart squad of young players. Diaz added the team’s third goal in the 72nd minute, taking two touches before unleashing a shot that beat Carl Wosczynski with ease.

Woszcynski appeared to not see the shot, as he didn’t move. His Chula Vista counterpart in goal for the first 59 minutes, Sebastian Ortiz, did plenty of moving and stopping.

Ortiz came up huge for his team with several tremendous saves to preserve the clean sheet, though he left late in the first half with a groin injury and was replaced by Miguel David in the second half.

“It’s working as a team,” Alberto Diaz said. “We got a chance and I put it away.”

Alberto Diaz of Chula Vista FC. Photo: Jose M. Romero

Chula Vista FC earned a trip to Northern California to take on another USL side, Sacramento Republic FC, in the US Open Cup Third Round on May 27. It should go there riding a wave of confidence after Wednesday’s win.

“Sebastian did a good job, I can’t say it enough,” Chula Vista head coach Hector Diaz said.
“Awesome little player,” he said of Alberto Diaz, his younger brother. “Our team is small, it’s more skilled. He was on the U-15 national team, and he’s the reason why I’m here. He was the Cal-South player of the year in 2010 and he was overlooked because of his height. But obviously he’s a dynamic player and I love him.”

Diaz got past Arizona defender Daniel Antunez and into the clear, remaining onside as he got the ball around goalkeeper Carl Woszcynski and flushed the ball into the net to give his team a 1-0 lead.

That was after Ortiz made crucial saves on shots by forward Brad Stisser in the 12th and 19th minutes. Another stop, on a Cameron Vickers shot in the 28th minute, kept the match scoreless.
Ortiz had five saves in the first half.

“Nothing to lose, everything to win,” Hector Diaz said. “Live today and we’ll worry about tomorrow.”

Chula Vista could have hunkered down to start the second half and tried to protect the lead, but it went on the attack. In the 48th minute, Diaz took a free kick that landed on the head of Pinal, the hero of his team’s stoppage time win over PDL side FC Tucson on May 13.

Pinal scored as Arizona United’s defense appeared lost, and by the 69th minute, Arizona United had used all three of its substitutes as it tried to push for extra time.

AZ United coach Michael Dellorusso credited Chula Vista, saying his team didn’t overlook it.

“They deserved to win today,” Dellorusso said. “Our guys didn’t show up tonight. They didn’t play with pride, they didn’t play for the organization. It’s extremely embarrassing, our performance tonight.”

Arizona United, which was playing its second of three matches in eight days, lost forward Dennis Chin to injury in the second half after Chin came on as a sub.

A group of a couple dozen Chula Vista FC fans who made the trip were boisterous for much of the night, chanting “Portero! Portero!” when Ortiz and David made saves and “Beto! Beto!” when Diaz was subbed out in the 84th minute. They saved the traditional Mexican tune “Cielito Lindo” for the final minutes of the match, knowing their team had the match in hand.

For Arizona United, at least the lackluster performance didn’t cost the crowd of 1,408 full price. Tickets were half-price for the match.

Now the question is whether starry-eyed Chula Vista can afford a trip to Sacramento next week. The club has a GoFundMe page set up, hoping to collect donations to get players to the California capital.

“We have this dream to go all the way and play an MLS team,” Alberto Diaz said, “and see where we can go from there. “