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Cleveland City Stars

Notable upsets in the Second Round of the US Open Cup

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UPDATED 5/18/17

2000 – Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 New England Revolution (MLS)

The Mid-Michigan Bucks have always been one of the lower division troublemakers of the US Open Cup, and this match against the New England Revolution at Foxboro Stadium helped build that reputation. Goalkeeper Eric Pogue was the early hero for the Bucks, saving a Shaker Asad penalty kick in the 7th minute to keep the game scoreless. The Bucks stayed with the Revolution for 90 minutes using a high-tempo style of play and eventually sent the sparse crowd of 1,857 Revolution fans home disappointed.

Three minutes into stoppage time, midfielder Chad Schomaker scored the winner on an assist from Boniventure Maruti. The win was the first time an amateur side defeated a Major League Soccer team. The Bucks, however, remain the only amateur club to upset an MLS team without the help of extra time or penalty kicks. Their Cup run would come to an end in the next round, when the Miami Fusion of MLS came to Saginaw, Mich., they needed a penalty kick shootout to eliminate the giant killers after a 3-3 draw in regulation.

2000 – Chicago Sockers (PDL) 0:0 Kansas City Wizards (MLS) (Chicago advances, 7-6 on PKs)

The Mid-Michigan Bucks weren’t the only team slaying MLS giants in the Second Round of the 2000 Open Cup. The Kansas City Wizards were leading Major League Soccer in points at the time of the match, but that didn’t matter to the PDL’s Chicago Sockers, who were the defending champions of the fourth division league. Adam Throop of the Sockers put in a spectacular performance, keeping a clean sheet for 105 minutes despite 23 shots from the Wizards. Both teams slugged though extra time scoreless as well, and the 3,140 on hand at Forest View Park in Chicago eagerly awaited the penalty kick session to decide the game. Throop came though again, saving Uche Okafor’s penalty to give Chicago the win.

The Sockers, like the Bucks, went on to put a scare into their next MLS opponents. In the Third Round, the Sockers took on the Chicago Fire and only a Josh Wolff goal in the 22nd minute seperated the two clubs in a rare Open Cup derby match.

2006- Dallas Roma FC (USASA – Region III) 1:0 Miami FC (USL-1)

Dallas Roma FC pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Modern Era of the US Open Cup (1995-present), defeating the USL First Division’s Miami FC 1-0 in front of their home fans in Dallas. Roma scored the lone goal of the match early in the game, when Miami midfielder Zinho was called for a handball in the penalty area. John Waters stepped to the spot and converted the penalty for the 1-0 lead.

The Roma defense, led by goalkeeper Jessie Llamas, held World Cup winners Romario and Zinho in check all night, only allowing Miami to attack from the side, instead of up the middle. Roma head coach Michael Schell did not start three of his regulars for disciplinary reasons, making the 1-0 lead that much more remarkable. When he eventually brought in the likes of Patrick Shamu and Mark Rowland, Schell said the Miami players began to get frustrated.

“They (Miami) realized these guys were better then the ones they replaced”, Schell said. It was during this time that both Michael Erush and Fabian Sandoval were sent off, leaving Miami with just nine men to finish the game. Schell was also quick to point out that the visitors did not take his team lightly, as they constantly put pressure on Roma’s defense throughout the night.

The win marked the first time a USASA club had beaten a team from the USL First Division. Roma are also only the second USASA team since 1995 to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup. “I don’t think I’m going to go to sleep tonight!” said an ecstatic Schell after a post-match dinner with his team.

Other Second Round upsets

1997 – San Francisco Bay Seals (D3 Pro) 1:0 Seattle Sounders (A-League)
1998 – Orlando Nighthawks (D3 Pro) 2:1 Milwaukee Rampage (A-League)
1998 – Chicago Stingers (D3 Pro) 3:2 Hershey Wildcats (A-League)
1999 – Mid Michigan Bucks (PDL) 2:1 Minnesota Thunder (A-League)
1999 – Carolina Dynamo (D3 Pro) 2:0 Orange County Zodiac (A-League)
2000 – Richmond Kickers (A-League) 3:0 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
2001 – Connecticut Wolves (MLS) 3:2 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
2001 – Charleston Battery (A-League) 4:1 Metrostars (MLS)
2001 – Seattle Sounders Select (PDL) 3:2 Dallas Burn (MLS)
2001 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A-League) 3:0 Colorado Rapids (MLS)
2003 – Bavarian SC (USASA) 1:0 Reading Rage (PSL)
2006 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 2:1 Cincinnati Kings (USL-2)
2006 – Des Moines Menace (PDL) 1:0 Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
2006 – Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 1:0 Richmond Kickers (USL-2)
2008 – Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 2:0 Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
2009 – Ocean City Barons (PDL) 1:0 (AET) Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)
2012 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
2012 – Cal FC (USASA) 4:0 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
2012 – Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 3:1 (AET) Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro)
2013 – Reading United (PDL) 1:0 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Pro)
2013 – Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 1:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro)
2013 – Des Moines Menace (PDL) 1:0 Minnesota United FC (NASL)
2013 – FC Tucson (PDL) 2:2 (4:3 PKs) San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
2014 – Fresno Fuego (PDL) 2:0 Orange County Blues (USL Pro)
2014 – Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 3:1 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL Pro)
2017 – Reading United AC (PDL) 3:2 New York Cosmos (NASL)
2017 – Christos FC (USASA) 1:0 Richmond Kickers (USL)
2017 – Charlotte Eagles (PDL) 3:2 Charlotte Independence (USL)
2017 – Michigan Bucks (PDL) 1:0 Indy Eleven (NASL)
2017 – Chicago FC United (PDL) 3:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)

2009 Second Round recap: Thriller in Carolina, Barons are last amateur survivor

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2009 U.S. Open Cup Second Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 16
Real Maryland Monarchs 0:1 (aet) Ocean City Barons
Wilmington Hammerheads 3:3 Carolina RailHawks
Wilmington advance on PKs, 4-3
Cleveland City Stars 1:2 (aet) Rochester Rhinos
Western Mass Pioneers 0:0 Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg advances on PKs 4-3
Charleston Battery 1:0 Miami FC Blues
Chicago Fire (PDL) 0:4 Minnesota Thunder
El Paso Patriots 0:2 Austin Aztex
Portland Timbers 3:0 Sonoma County Sol
————————————————————————-
Player of the Round: Kenny Bundy (Wilmington)
Things you should know about the Second Round
Notable upsets in the Second Round of the Open Cup

The Ocean City Barons and the Wilmington Hammerheads pulled off the lone upset of the US Open Cup Second Round. The Barons get a penalty kick in the 108th minute and JT Noone breaks a scoreless tie and Ocean City earns a date with DC United at the Maryland Soccerplex in Round 3. The Barons, based on the rest of the results, won the $10,000 prize money as the amateur team that has advanced the farthest in the tournament.

However, even with the drama of a PDL team earning a match with an MLS team, without question, the match of the Second Round was the Wilmington Hammerheads and the Carolina RailHawks. After finishing regulation tied 1-1, both teams scored a pair of goals in extra time, including a Hammerheads goal in stoppage time of the second overtime period to send the match into penalty kicks. Wilmington would win the PK shootout 4-3 and will move on to host the Chicago Fire of MLS.

2009 Second Round: Rhinos avoid another PK shootout with OT winner vs. Cleveland

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Marina Auto Stadium – Rochester, N.Y. | 7 p.m.
Broadcast: USL Live
2
AET
 1
Ryan Heins (Gregor) 82’
Kenney Bertz (Ambersley) 113’
       59’ Ryan Stewart (PK)

Two matches in the US Open Cup this year, and two exciting games for the Rochester Rhinos.

A week after needing penalty kicks to advance past the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Second Division in the First Round, the host Rhinos got the tying goal from Ryan Heins in the 82nd minute and the winner from Kenney Bertz in the 113th to outlast the Cleveland City Stars 2-1 at Marina Auto Stadium.

Just four minutes after entering the match, Heins took a pass from Andrew Gregor on the left side and ripped a shot past City Stars goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap from 20 yards out for his first goal of the season.

Heins’ strike offset a 59th minute penalty kick by Cleveland’s Ryan Stewart, who converted after being taken down by Rochester’s Darren Kenton in the box.

Despite having little of the ball in the final 20 minutes, the City Stars — coming off a stunning 3-0 league win over the Rhinos on Saturday in Cleveland — had a golden opportunity in second half stoppage time. A quick counter attack turned into a 3-on-2, but Ricardo Pierre-Louis shot high and wide.

Late in the first 15 minute period of extra time, Bertz headed in a corner kick by Mike Ambersley for his first goal of the season, and Rochester held on to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup for the eighth consecutive season.

Rhinos keeper Scott Vallow was called upon to make just two saves, though one was a fine, diving stop on a drive by City Stars forward Joshua Boateng in the opening minutes of the second half. In the other net, Hunter Gilstrap made five saves of his own in the losing effort.

Lineups

ROCHESTER: GK Scott Vallow, D John Ball, D Kenny Bertz, D Nathaniel Short, D Darren Kenton (Kwame Sarkodie 73), M Chris Nurse (Ze Roberto 112), M Andrew Gregor, M Mike Ambersley, M Danny Earls (Ryan Heins 78), F Johnny Menyongar, F Mauricio Salles.

CLEVELAND: GK Hunter Gilstrap, D Gordon Kljestan, D Troy Roberts, D Ibrahim Kante (Julian Valentin 71), D Stephane Guillaume, M Warren Kanu, M Pato Aguilera, M Godfrey Tenoff, M Ryan Stewart, F Leo Gibson (Ricardo Pierre-Louis 54), F Joshua Boateng.

Yellow cards: C Kljestan (25), R Vallow (59), C Stewart (66), R Nurse (70), R Salles (77), R Gregor (89), C Aguilera (101), R Heins (101). Att. — 2,788.

2009 First Round recap: Favorites survive first day, Barons pull off upset, Hawks just upset on day 2

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2009 U.S. Open Cup First Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 9
Orange County Blue Star 2:5 Sonoma County Sol
Carolina RailHawks 2:1 Richmond Kickers
Western Mass Pioneers 3:2 (aet) Emigrantes Das Ilhas
Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Charlotte Eagles
Rochester Rhinos 1:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Rochester advance on penalities, 4-2
Cleveland City Stars 3:0 St. Louis Lions
Chicago Fire (PDL) 3:1 Bavarian SC
Harrisburg City Islanders 4:1 Reading Rage
Minnesota Thunder 3:2 402
Charleston Battery 2:0 Atlanta FC
Miami FC Blues 2:1 Lynch’s FC
Austin Aztex 2:0 Mississippi Brilla
El Paso Patriots 2:1 Arizona Sahuaros
Kitsap Pumas 0:3 Portland Timbers
June 10
Real Maryland Monarchs 1:0 Aegean Hawks FC
(Match stopped in 74th minute)
Crystal Palace Baltimore 0:3 Ocean City Barons
——————————————————————
Player of the Round: Byron Carmichael (OCB)
Some things you should know about the First Round
Notable upsets in the First Round of the Open Cup

If seeing the underdogs prevail is your thing, then you went to sleep disappointed last night.

Of the fourteen matches first round US Open Cup matches last night, only one was won by a team from the lower division, and even that wasn’t much of an upset.

The evening began with the lone “upset” of the day, as the NPSL’s Sonoma County Sol, perhaps the hottest team of the 32 set to play in the First Round, defeated the PDL’s Orange County Blue Star 5-2. Shawn Percell scored twice and Trevor Hurst, Eric Lafon, Eric Larson added the others for the Sol. The Sol are 12-0-1 in all matches played in 2009.

The most dramatic game of the night was in Rochester, as the Rhinos needed a stoppage time equalizer and penalties to overcome the USL-2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Trailing 1-0 for much of the game, the Rhinos forced extra time when Tai Atieno knocked in a corner kick in second half stoppage time. Atieno then missed a potential game winning penalty kick with two minutes left in overtime, but Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow came up with two saves in the penalty shootout to see his club through to the Second Round.

Two matches were postponed and were moved to the following day. Ocean City and Crystal Palace Baltimore was put off early in the day when heavy overnight rains left the Barons’ home field, Cary Stadium, flooded. The Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks and Real Maryland Monarchs were forced to set their game back a day when heavy thunderstorms rolled through the Rockville, Md. area.

The next day, the Ocean City Barons became the first PDL team to beat a USL professional squad in the 2009 tournament, winning a 3-0 decision over Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division.

Byron Carmichael opened the scoring in the 7th minute, with an assist from Neal Melchionni. Carmichael struck again in the 33rd minute with an unassisted goal to gibe the Barons a 2-0 halftime lead.

With 12 minutes remaining, JT Noone left no doubt as to who the winners were with a Ryan Richter-assisted goal. The game had been postponed on Tuesday due to a flooded field from heavy overnight storms.

In Rockville, Maryland, the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks were done in by Mother Nature on Wednesday night, as their opening round game versus the Real Maryland Monarchs was halted in the 74th minute after an hour and a half lightning delay, giving the USL-2 club a 1-0 win. The only goa,l of the match game from Ryan Cordeiro in the 14th minute, with an assist from Gary Brooks. Soon after, the Hawks were reduced to 10 men when Michael Goldman was shown a red card.

Hawks manager Jonathan Knight was understandably upset that the game was called. We have been told there was a 10 pm deadline, which is when the stadium lights had to be shut off (presumably by a city ordinance), and the game was official called at 10:18 pm. The game had to be rescheduled for tonight due to severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night.

This is the second year in a row weather has played a part in Real Maryland’s First Round Open Cup game. Last year their gasme against NY Pancyprian Freedoms was moves back three days after severe storms prevented play on the original date. Maryland won the rescheduled game 3-2 in extra time.

Ocean City will host Real Maryland next Tuesday in the Second Round.

2009 First Round: Cleveland City Stars ignore poor league form, shutout St. Louis 3-0

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Middlefield Cheese Stadium – Bedford, Ohio | 7 p.m.
Match Reports: Cleveland, Post-Dispatch
Twitter: @stlouislions

3
FT
 0
Ryan Stewart (Aguilera) 27’
Ricardo Pierre Louis (Stewart) 34’
Steve Gillespie (Stewart) 68’
      

The Cleveland City Stars found a bright spot in what has otherwise been a dark season, knocking off the PDL’s St. Louis Lions 3-0, and advancing to the Second Round of the US Open Cup.

Cleveland opened the scoring after 27 minutes, when Ryan Stewart headed home a Roland Aguilera corner kick. Cleveland increased their advantage seven minutes later, as forward Ricardo Pierre-Louis sent a rocket shot past Lions goalkeeper Brenton Saylor.

The City Stars were given a prime chance to make it 3-0 when Saylor handled the ball outside the penalty area. While Troy Roberts headed the free kick just outside the goal, rookie midfielder Steve Gillespie scored his first goal as a pro just a minute later, with the help of Ryan Stewart’s second assist of the night.

Cleveland will now travel to Marina Auto Stadium to face the Rochester Rhinos in the Second Round on June 16.

LINEUPS

St. Louis: Brenton Saylor; Sam Gelven, Tyler Schaefering, David Mueller, Marc Bowron (Brett Gregory 45); Martin Clayes, Oliver Dyson, Ross Hopkins, Nestor Hernandez (Jona Andrade 84); Jonathan Brown, Stephen Brocks (Brian Harris 74)

Cleveland: Evan Bush; Troy Roberts, Stephane Guillaume, Gordon Kljestan, Ibrahim Kante (Paul Ballard); Pato Aguilera, Ryan Stewart, Warren Kanu (Terrence McAllister 78), Godfrey Tenoff (Steve Gillespie 64); Leo Gibson, Ricardo Pierre-Louis

Shots: STL 10, CLE 13
Fouls: STL 10, CLE 14
Corners: STL 3, CLE 6
Saves: STL 1, CLE 4
Offsides: STL 1, CLE 5

Referees: Mikael Lundqvist, Sorin Stoica, Michael Kinder, Jeffrey Mellen

2008 Third Round: Chicago Fire smoke City Stars, 4-1

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The Chicago Fire scored three times in the first half to cruise to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland City Stars of the USL Second Division.

The four-time champs took only thirteen minutes to jump into the lead, as reserve midfielder Mike Banner beat goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap after slipping on an attempted one-timer shot from a cross by Calen Carr. Just ten minutes later it was Carr who netted a goal of his own, sending a left footed shot into the near corner of the goal. Three minutes later, Chicago tallied for the final time of the half when Chris Rolfe was brought down in the box by Cleveland’s Kiel McClung. Chad Barrett beat Gilstrap with the ensuing spot kick to put Chicago up 3-0.

McClung made amends for the penalty kick by scoring the City Stars’ lone goal on a 20-yard shot fired past Fire goalkeeper Nick Noble. Banner added his second goal of the night in the 73rd minute to all but end Cleveland’s hopes.

Chicago will continue their quest for a record-tying fifth US Open Cup Championship when they visit DC United in the Quarterfinals next Tuesday.

Lineups

Cleveland City Stars — Hunter Gilstrap, Mark Schulte, Jeremy Tolleson, Kiel McClung, Neil Hlavaty (Ryan Stewart 55), Floyd Franks, Dere Potteiger, Godfrey Tenoff, Sallieu Bundu (Ian Leibbrandt 74), Adam Ruud, Luke Williams (Adriano Sella 69),

Substitutes Not Used: Randolph Jerome, Dana McGregor, Ryan Miller, Eric Reed

Chicago Fire — Nick Noble, Austin Washington, Brian Plotkin, Daniel Woolard, Lider Marmol, Mike Banner, Stephen King, Peter Lowry, Chris Rolfe (Tomasz Frankowski 46), Calen Carr (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 85), Chad Barrett (Patrick Nyarko 46),

Substitutes Not Used: Jon Busch, Diego Gutierrez, Justin Mapp, Bakary Soumare

Chicago Fire  Cleveland City Stars
total shots:  12  (Peter Lowry 3)  10  (Adam Ruud 3)
shots on goal:  7  (Mike Banner 2)  7  (Adam Ruud 2)
fouls:  8  (Calen Carr 3)  8  (5 tied with 1)
offsides:  0   3  (3 tied with 1)
corner kicks:  6  (Peter Lowry 3,
 Brian Plotkin 3)  1  (Luke Williams 1)
saves:  6  (Nick Noble 6)  3  (Hunter Gilstrap 3)

Misconduct Summary:
CHI — Lider Marmol (caution; Tackle from Behind) 57
CLE — Ryan Stewart (caution; Reckless Foul) 78

referee: Hidajet Tica
Referee’s Assistants: Anthony Vasoli; Victor Herrera
4th official: Ricardo Salazar
time of game: 1:51
attendance:
weather: Clear -and- 75 degrees

2008 Second Round: Cleveland’s Floyd Franks named Player of the Round

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Floyd Franks scored two goals for the Cleveland City Stars in their 2-0 win against the USL First Division's Minnesota Thunder. Photo: Cleveland City Stars
Floyd Franks scored two goals for the Cleveland City Stars in their 2-0 win against the USL First Division’s Minnesota Thunder. Photo: Cleveland City Stars

Floyd Franks is a bit different than most professional players in the United States. A former Major League Soccer forward, he currently plays for the Cleveland City Stars of USL Second Division. His two extra time tallies against the Minnesota Thunder of USL First Division led Cleveland to a 2-0 victory and a date with the Chicago Fire of MLS in the Third Round on July 1 at Toyota Park.

As a result of that performance, the editorial staff of TheCup.us named Franks the Player of the Second Round for this year’s competition. Floyd sat down with TheCup.us to talk about his career, the Open Cup to date, and his thoughts of facing his former side (Franks was with the Fire in 2006 and 2007).

TheCup.us: You’re originally from Alabama, went to college in Charlotte, and played for the Chicago Fire. How did you end up in Cleveland?

Franks: Cleveland Coach Martin Rennie had seen me play and he called me last off season to see if I was available. I was still under contract with Chicago at the time but after my time was up in Chicago I remembered our conversation and I called Martin back and they welcomed me with open arms.

TheCup.us: Compare playing in MLS with playing in USL-2 and the cities as well. Is there any resentment toward the Fire and/or any extra excitement about facing them on Tuesday?Franks: The level is definitely higher in MLS but there is a lot of individual talent that has been passed over by MLS teams in the USL. The cities are different in the USL and with budgets we don’t get as much chance to stay. We usually drive right back after the game is over.

 

As far as the Fire, there is no resentment at all. I’m happy to be where I’m at. This is the right place for me right now. I’m looking forward to going back to Chicago because I have a lot of friends on the team and I think it will be fun to play against them and a good challenge for our club.

TheCup.us: The team has been on the road in each of the first two rounds playing teams with solid pedigrees in the US Open Cup. How has the team embraced their underdog status in the competition?Franks: We just tried to feed off that with our work ethic in the games. On the road it’s always tough so you know you have to go outwork the home team. Going into these games we are not overwhelmed by our competition at all and that’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful, we have a lot of self belief.

 

TheCup.us: With your past experience not to mention three of Cleveland’s four goals in the competition, you are definitely seen by outsiders as the go-to player for the City Stars.  Is that a role you relish?Franks: It’s always nice to have people feel that they can trust you and I’m happy to have earned my teammates’ trust. For me, my main thing is to go out there and work hard as a part of the team and not really as somebody who takes the onus on himself.

 

TheCup.us: What’s in the future for Floyd Franks?  Are you looking for another opportunity at MLS, hoping to catch on with a USL-1 side….looking at Europe?Franks: I definitely want to keep playing. My goal is to go to Europe, but if an MLS team were to call I would consider playing for New York because of how much I respect Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. I played for him in the past and I believe he’s one of, if not the, best coaches in the league and I would love to play for him again. All in all, I would like to go play in Europe just because it’s always been a dream of mine. If you were going to play soccer anywhere, it would be great to play where the game started.

2008 Second Round: Cleveland’s Floyd Franks scores 2 in OT, leaves Minnesota seeing stars

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The Cleveland City Stars booked a date next Tuesday with the Chicago Fire, thanks to a 2-0 extra-time victory over the Minnesota Thunder.

After the teams played the first 90 minutes to a scoreless draw, Cleveland finally opened the scoring near the end of the first 15-minute extra time period.

Anthony Stovall found Floyd Franks with a pass, and Franks chipped a shot past Minnesota goalkeeper Nic Platter for the 1-0 advantage. Just a few moments later, Stovall was sent off for striking the Thunder’s Ricardo Sanchez in the face. Sanchez spent several minutes on the ground before being helped off the field. After seeking medical attention, Sanchez was back on the pitch for the second half of extra time.

With the clock winding down in extra time, Cleveland got the goal to seal the victory. Ian Liebbrandt was taken down by Platter in the box, and Franks stepped to the spot and put away the penalty kick for the 2-0 win.

Cleveland will travel to Toyota Park to face the four-time Open Cup winners Chicago Fire, Franks’ former team.

2008 First Round recap: Hollywood United historic upset headlines the opening round

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2008 US Open Cup First Round
(Home team listed on right)
June 10
Yakima Reds 1:5 Harrisburg City Islanders
Boston Olympiakos 0:2 Western Mass Pioneers
Fredericksburg Gunners 0:3 Richmond Kickers
Crystal Palace Baltimore 2:1 LA Legends
RWB Adria 1:2 (aet) Rochester Rhinos
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4:0 AAC Eagles
St. Louis Lions 1:4 Minnesota Thunder
Cleveland City Stars 2:1 Michigan Bucks
Bradenton Academics 2:4 Miami FC
Atlanta Silverbacks 2:2 (5:4 PKs) Austin Aztex U23s
Clearwater Galactics 2:5 Charlotte Eagles
Seattle Sounders 1:0 (aet) Arizona Sahuaros
Hollywood United 3:2 Portland Timbers
Brooklyn Knights 0:1 Carolina RailHawks
ASC New Stars 0:3 Charleston Battery
June 13
NY Pancyprian Freedoms 2:3 (aet) Real Maryland
Player of the Round: Pat Healey (CP Baltimore)
Notable upsets in the First Round
Things you should know about the First Round

In the lone upset in this year’s opening round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Hollywood United became only the second USASA club to defeat a USL First Division team in the tournament, knocking off the Portland Timbers with a dramatic, stoppage-time goal from Earl Alexander.

A pair of penalty kicks by Matt Taylor kept Hollywood level with their professional hosts. The Timbers tallied with goals fron Chris Brown (32nd minute), and Arsene Oka (51st minute). A crucial turning point in the match came in the 53rd minute, when Hollywood goalkeeper Javier Barragan saved a penalty kick from the Timbers’ Takayuki Suzuki, keeping the score 2-1 in favor of Portland.

Four other amateur teams nearly joined Hollywood in the Second Round.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the defending USL First Division Champion Seattle Sounders needed 118 minutes to find the winning goal against the USASA’s Arizona Sahuaros. Kenji Treschuk scored the winning goal with just a couple minutes remaining in extra time, before the match would go to penalty kicks.

In Austin, Texas, the Atlanta Silverbacks got a penalty kick goal from David Hayes late in overtime to tie the game back up at 2-2 and sent the game into a tiebreaking shootout against the PDL’s Austin Aztex U23s. However, Atlanta would prevail, with Hayes sending the USL-1 side to the next round with the winning kick.

In Rochester, the Rhinos also needed extra time to knock off Chicago USASA club RWB Adria 2-1. Awadallah Morad tied the game for Adria with just four minutes remaining in regulation, and Hamed Diallo scored the eventual winning goal for Rochester just seven minutes into the extra period.

One match on Tuesday’s schedule was washed out by inclement weather, but the day after New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA Region I) took the Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) to overtime. The Monarchs needed an 85th minute equalizer and a late extra time goal to end the Freedoms’ upset bid.

2008 First Round: City Stars overcome early blunder, knock out Michigan Bucks

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The Cleveland City Stars overcame an early 1-0 deficit to defeat the Michigan Bucks 2-1, and move on to the Second Round. The game was played in the Bucks’ new indoor soccer stadium in Pontiac, Mich. but Cleveland eliminated the home team in the opening round for only the second time in eight tournament appearances.

In the 4th minute of play, a defensive mishap led to a Bucks goal. On a back pass to goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap, the ball took a funny bounce over Gilstrap’s foot, allowing Ty Shiplane to swoop in for the easy score.

Midway through the first half, Cleveland was able to equalize, as Floyd Franks scored off a pass from Neil Hlavaty. A few minutes later, the pair switched roles, as it was Hlavaty benefiting from a Franks cross to head home what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

One might assume that this would mark the first time that a US Open Cup match was ever played indoors. Actually, this was the second indoor match in the tournament’s history. In the Fourth Round of the 2004 Open Cup, the Minnesota Thunder hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Metrodome in front of 5,505 fans. Minnesota won that match 1-0.

With the win, Cleveland has advanced to the Second Round in each of their first two seasons in franchise history. The Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division await them in the next round.

SCORING SUMMARY
4th Minute #7 Shipalane (Unassisted) / Michigan
23rd Minute #23 Floyd Franks (Neil Hlavaty) / Cleveland
34th Minute #5 Neil Hlavaty (Floyd Franks) / Cleveland

                    Shots:     Saves:     Fouls:     Offsides:     Corners:
Cleveland          6            1           13             5                        4
Michigan           8            2           17             3                        5
 
CLEVELAND CITY STARS
#1   Hunter Gilstrap
#4   Jeremy Tolleson
#5   Neil Hlavaty
#8   Godfrey Tenoff
#10  Derek Potteiger
#11  Sallieu Bundu
#13  Mark Schulte
#14  Anthony Stovall
#18 Luke Williams (#25 Ryan Miller – 76th Minute)
#21 Adam Ruud (#7 Ian Leibbrandt – 72nd Minute)
#23  Floyd Franks

Subs not used:  #00 Eric Reed, #9 Adriano Sella, #15 Josh Westermann, #16 Dana McGregor, #24 Randolph Jerome
 
MICHIGAN BUCKS
#25  Steve Clark
#3    Mike Holody
#22   Ian Daniel
#5    Fabien Lewis
#15  Dave Hertel (#9 Mauro Fuzetti – 82nd Minute)
#17  Piotr Nowak (#6 Stefan St. Louis – 86th Minute)
#14  Alex Morisset (#18 Doug DeMartin – 54th Minute)
#13  Zac Scaffidi
#7   Ty Shipalane
#11  Bes Bega (#8 Nate Jafta – 54th Minute)
#10  Kenny Uzoigwe

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