For the second year in a row, Club Atletico Virginia (CAV) will represent the Metro DC / Virginia State Soccer Association in the Region I US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Last year, they snapped the Aegean Hawks’ run of four straight DC/VA Open Cup titles, and with the Hawks competing in Maryland qualifying this year, Atletico Virginia needed only to defeat Englewood Jack FC to move on to the regional finals. CAV would take care of Englewood, 7-2.
In a game played at Catholic University in Washington D.C. on March 13, it started out with Englewood Jack getting on the scoresheet first. A free kick near midfield was floated into the penalty area, flicked to the back post and an Englewood player finished it to put them up 1-0.
Atletico put on the pressure and found an equalizer in the form of a penalty kick, awarded due to an Englewood handball just inside the area. John Carson of CAV would convert to make it 1-1, and minutes later would give his club the lead on a ball played across the top of the box, which he redirected into the back of the net.
After the halftime break, CAV took control with a pair of goals from Victor Krasij and a bending shot off the inside of the back post from Ryan Rich to give the defending champs a 5-1 lead. Englewood would pull one back on a scramble in front of the goal, but Atletico would add two more to put the game away with John Carson completing his hat trick and Bryant Meckley scoring the seventh and final goal.
Atletico Virginia was founded in 2003, and this will be their second appearance in the Region I Open Cup qualifying tournament in club history. They will take on the champion from New Jersey (Either Go Soccer FC or FC Fort United) in the opening round of the competition. The winner of that match will play the winner of Phoenix SC (Eastern PA) and the Maryland champion for the right to advance to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Last year, CAV lost in the first round of the Region I tournament to the United German Hungarians (Eastern PA) in a penalty kick shootout (4-1) after finishing extra time tied 2-2.
Club Atletico Virginia lineup: Matt Scheer (GK), Dave Leon, Matt Davis, Phil Purdy, Javier Castro (Ben Mortimer – 60th), Matt Miller (Bryant Meckley – 65th), Victor Krasij, John Carson, Fabio Andrade (Nico Ojeda – 45th), Andrew Richardson (Alger Fredericks 70th), Ryan Rich
Scoring Summary (Note: Assists unknown)
ENG: Unknown goalscorer
CAV: John Carson (PK)
CAV: John Carson
CAV: Victor Krasij
CAV: Victor Krasij
CAV: Ryan Rich
ENG: Unknown goalscorer
CAV: John Carson
CAV: Bryant Meckley