Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

FC America CFL Spurs

2026 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Naples blanks FC America CFL Spurs to earn first date with MLS

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Julian Cisneros (right) of FC Naples celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against FC America CFL Spurs in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Naples
Julian Cisneros (right) of FC Naples celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against FC America CFL Spurs in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Naples

FC Naples secured a dominant 3-0 victory over FC America Tuesday night at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, clinching a spot in the Round of 32 for the second straight year in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

FC Naples took control almost immediately, earning a penalty in just the second minute of the match. Forward Andres Ferrin stepped up to the spot and calmly converted the kick in the third minute, giving the home side an early 1-0 lead.

The turning point came just before halftime. In the 44th minute, FC America forward Pedro Espindola received a red card, forcing the visitors to play the rest of the match with 10 players. The dismissal shifted the momentum heavily in favor of FC Naples heading into the second half.

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“We are excited that we won, and the opportunity to get to face an MLS side,” FC Naples head coach Matt Poland said. “Anytime you get to face MLS sides, it’s incredible. It means you have done things right.”

FC Naples will move on to play an MLS team in the next round and has good chances of hosting the game.

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FC Naples lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, while FC America used a 4-2-3-1 setup. The early goal set the tone for a competitive first half in which both teams battled for possession. While FC Naples pushed forward looking to extend the lead, FC America tried to respond with quick counterattacks.

The numerical advantage allowed FC Naples to control the tempo after halftime, dominating possession and creating several scoring chances from the beginning to the end.

Their pressure paid off in the 60th minute. Left back Julian Cisneros combined with right back Max Glasser in a quick attacking sequence that broke through the FC America defense. Glasser delivered the assist, and Cisneros finished the play to double FC Naples’ lead to 2-0.

FC Naples continued to push forward throughout the half, testing FC America goalkeeper Joao Kastrup multiple times. In the 69th minute, Kastrup made a strong save to deny forward Taylor Gray. The goalkeeper followed that effort with two more key stops in the 74th and 78th minutes, preventing the scoreline from growing even larger.

Despite those saves, FC Naples’ showed its dominance. The team held 69% of ball possession and outshot FC America 31-3, including 14 shots on target.

Defensively, FC Naples remained solid throughout the match. Goalkeeper and team captain Edward Delgado recorded his second clean sheet of the tournament.

“I am very happy for the individual achievement,” Delgado said. “I have been very fortunate to be on a team that is just very defensive heavy and a mindset of being winners and having clean sheets.”

FC Naples added the final touch in stoppage time when forward Dominick Bachstein closed up the victory in the 92nd minute.

“It’s a great opportunity for our players to get to showcase themselves against the top division in the US,” Poland said.

The draw is scheduled for Thursday morning at 9 a.m., when the team will know its next opponent.

2026 US Open Cup Qualifying: FC America CFL Spurs get revenge on Harbor City, return to USOC

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FC America CFL Spurs celebrate after defeating Harbor City FC 5-4 in a PK shootout (after a 1-1 draw) in the final round of the 2026 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Thomas Dupree
FC America CFL Spurs celebrate after defeating Harbor City FC 5-4 in a PK shootout (after a 1-1 draw) in the final round of the 2026 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Thomas Dupree

FC America CFL Spurs advanced into the US Open Cup, qualifying Saturday after defeating Harbor City FC in a penalty shootout, edging the hosts 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout after finishing in a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 tense, physical minutes. The game was marked by heavy challenges, shifting momentum and an electric atmosphere.

In penalties, Harbor City’s only miss — a crossbar strike from second shooter, Osaro Osayamon — proved decisive. FC America converted all four of its attempts to clinch the victory and avenge last year’s qualifying loss to the same opponent.

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““The boys have worked really hard this year,” America head coach Luiz Dantas said. “We are undefeated so far in the UPSL, but this was the moment we all wanted badly. 

“They conducted themselves in a very serious and professional manner in training every day, and it feels great for that to pay off by getting past the hurdle we stumbled on last year. The whole team really wanted this win and I’m full of joy and pride that we made it happen.”

A 4:30 kickoff time for a soccer match in central Florida can be dicey. However, the weather was as close to perfect as you can expect as Harbor City supporters made themselves known through waving flags and raised voices, while the America supporter’s section boasted a vuvuzela could be heard far and wide.

From the starting whistle that familiarity made itself known in the form of crunching tackles and the slapping sound of two bodies meeting at full speed.

Officiating through the first half was especially the embodiment of “letting them play,” and the first 25 minutes were a frenetic up and down game; with the battle in the midfield being the center of action. 

Harbor City did not wait long for the opening goal as a perfectly placed long ball from Forrest Ferget bounced from outside the 18-yard box to catch the FC America goalkeeper Hector Berrio Velandia in no-man’s land. 

The indecision was all that Andrew Bennett needed to crash the box, win the 50/50 ball and bury it in the back of the net to make it 1-0. It was a play in keeping with the rest of the game that produced a loud slap that could be heard across the grounds as the two players collided.

The next 20 minutes was a midfield grudge match, with whole bodies being used to throw blows. In that maelstrom Akeem Flemmings used a direct boot to the gut to light a fire in his belly, driving the ball forward from his center back position into the Harbor City half. 

With a pass to a teammate, he immediately crashed the box to find himself in perfect position to head the ball into the top left corner to even the match at 1-1 before the half.

The second half was a back and forth stalemate with both teams creating chances and both teams putting in a solid half of defensive work to keep things level, as the clock approached the full 90, fatigue made its influence known in the form of strong tackles from the first half turning reckless. The yellow card made its appearance towards both clubs as and the full allotment of subs were used. Meeting that full 90 all even at one goal apiece they marched into extra time with corners and set pieces coming to dominance. Each side had good scoring opportunities; however, none were completed as each side limped into penalties instead.

 

2025 US Open Cup Qualifying: Harbor City get revenge, win PK shootout to earn first USOC berth

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Harbor City FC celebrates after defeating FC America CFL Spurs 5-4 in a PK shootout (after a 0-0 draw) to qualify for the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Harbor City FC
Harbor City FC celebrates after defeating FC America CFL Spurs 5-4 in a PK shootout (after a 0-0 draw) to qualify for the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Harbor City FC

In a tense “Win and You’re In” matchup against United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) rivals FC America CFL Spurs, Harbor City FC punched their ticket to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after an intense battle that ended in penalty kicks. 

After 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, Harbor City would qualify for the 110th edition of the US Open Cup with a 5-4 win in the shootout with goalkeeper Bryce Notardonato making the decisive save.

For HCFC, it was a revenge result as both teams made their Open Cup qualifying debut last year and the Spurs eliminated City 1-0 on a Melvrik Fernandes goal in the 76th minute. 

“This is one of the things that we’ve been working on,” said Douglas Bonney, head coach of HCFC. “We won our league, and finished second in Florida. This has been a goal of ours since we’ve started the club, to qualify for the US Open Cup because we’re trying to build the club, and work our way up, so this is huge for us as a club.”

#USOC2025 Qualifying ("Win & You're In"): FINAL! Harbor FC advance to their first Open Cup 5-4 on PKs after extra time after a 0-0 draw.

— US Open Cup News (@thecup.us) 2024-12-08T03:06:35.691Z

The first half was marked with defensive discipline from both sides, with not many chances for either team. The Spurs had the best opportunity of the half when a shot by Pedro Espinola rattled the crossbar on what seemed like a guaranteed goal. HCFC’s Gene Lewis received a yellow card after a gritty first half which set the tone for the remainder of the game.

The second half was full of chances for both sides, most ending in near misses. HCFC earned multiple indirect free kicks but failed to capitalize, sending their shots high or wide. The Spurs also struggled to capitalize, despite some promising opportunities.

In the dying moments of the second half, the Spurs had two golden chances back to back, only to be denied by HCFC netminder Notardonato. In the last minute, Victor Blanco of the Spurs found himself in a 1-v-1 with the former Marshall University goalkeeper, who made another clutch save to keep the match scoreless in regulation and sent the game into extra time. 

Overtime brought more drama, leading to a pair of heated 15-minute halves. Both teams had good chances but neither could find a breakthrough, sending the game into penalties.

In the shootout, HCFC held their nerve to win the game 5-4 in penalties, with Jordan Snell, Perrie Nascimento, Mario Licor, Samuel Leighton and Micah Smoak all converting their own goals successfully. The Spurs matched stride for stride until their fifth shooter failed to deliver under pressure, with HCFC’s Notardonato saving the attempt to send his club into the Open Cup.

“We’re just extremely proud of the grit that the team showed to fight for 120 minutes and all the way through penalties,” HCFC co-owners Jordan Snell andn Trey Collins said in a joint statement. “Qualifying for the Open Cup was our biggest goal for the year, so to achieve that is something that gives us a ton of joy. We’re excited for the energy that the community has brought to support us and we can’t wait to debut in the tournament proper in 2025.”

Snell, who played his college ball at Coker University (NCAA Div. 2) in South Carolina, is one of the few players on the roster with Open Cup experience. He spent three summer seasons (2015-17) with the Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) of USL League Two. In 2017, he assisted on Francis Atuahene’s game-winning goal as the Bucks upset Indy Eleven (NASL, Div. 2 pro) 1-0. Snell is hoping to help lead his amateur team to an upset of a pro team.

“I think the boys just need to enjoy the moment,” said Snell. “This is something that not a lot of people get to experience and we worked hard to earn our qualification. We need to trust that if we continue to put in the work as a collective unit, we can continue to have success against even the best teams.”

 

 

2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Early diving header by Nick Akoto gives Tormenta win over FC America CFL Spurs

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South Georgia Tormenta pose for a team photo prior to their First Round match against FC America CFL Spurs in the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Tormenta FC
South Georgia Tormenta pose for a team photo prior to their First Round match against FC America CFL Spurs in the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Tormenta FC

The South Georgia Tormenta FC slipped past the visiting FC America CFL Spurs 1-0 to gain a Round 2 berth in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday night in Statesboro, Ga. It marked the third straight tournament where Tormenta FC has won their opening round game.  

The USL League One Tormenta saw a very evenly played 90 minutes of Cup soccer from the visiting amateur side from Florida, who were up for the match and keen for its Cup debut.

The lone goal of the evening was off the head of Tormenta winger Nick Akota in the fifth minute as he neatly tucked the driven Ajmeer Spengler cross into the low-near post just out of reach of the sprawling Spurs’ keeper.  This would prove to be enough to see Tormenta into the next round.

Tormenta Head Coach Ian Cameron praised both individual and team performances on the evening.

“I though Niall Watson came in and did a really nice job tonight,” Cameron said. “He made a lot of runs off the backline either to get in or make space for his teammates.”

For the others it was about management according to Cameron with the quick turnaround from USL League One action on Saturday to the US Open Cup match on Tuesday. 

“From Saturday the movement of the frontline had to get better and a willingness to mix up the game between playing it and being more direct,” Cameron said. “We probably flipped the wrong way and went too direct at times but that’s with no training and that’s just off video. That’s improvement from Saturday but we have more things to work on.”

The early minutes of the match that were all Tormenta seemed to flip to the Spurs as they became more aggressive and direct over the next 15 minutes of play.  Several waves of Spurs’ attacks had Tormenta pinned deep in their defensive third as the hosts absorbed the pressure and weathered the storm.

Tormenta goalkeeper Drew Romig made a spectacular diving save in the 15th minute as centerbacks Jake Dengler and Preston Kilwien settled down the back line and was able to answer every Spurs question to keep the hosts in the advantage.

In the 20th minute, Tormenta took the air out of the game and began to circulated the ball around their half to regain the momentum and control of the match. A ball off the post and several other scrambles inside the box including what looked like a handball on Spurs saw Tormenta go into the halftime break winning 1-0.

The second half saw mostly Tormenta possession translating into pressure on the Spurs defense but with neither team able to outduel their opponents in front of goal to find the critical final touch.  Late in the match, Spurs made a few final attacks throwing everything forward but just couldn’t break down the concentrated Tormenta defensive block to level the match.

Tormenta travels to Richmond for league play this weekend and then looks forward to the US Open Cup match in two weeks.

“If we are lining up on a field, if we’re in a parking lot, I don’t care. If we’re playing another team, we’re going to try and win the game,” Cameron said.

 

2024 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round: FC America CFL Spurs beat 3rd UPSL team to qualify for first time

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Photo: FC America CFL Spurs

FULL MATCH VIDEO (YouTube)

FC America CFL Spurs of the United States Soccer League (formerly known as the National Soccer League) knocked off a third straight UPSL club to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time. On Sunday night, they defeated one of the top teams in the league, Leg-AZ World FC, 4-1 to clinch a spot in the 109th edition of the tournament.

The Orlando area-based club originally registered as “CFL GOSA Spurs” but later changed their team name to “FC America CFL Spurs” prior to their opening game. They reached the “Win & You’re In” round after back-to-back clean sheet victories. The Spurs crushed their opening round opponents, with an 8-0 win over Florida-Central Division bottom-feeders Deportivo Lake Mary. Then a narrow 1-0 win over Harbor City, a team in third place in the same division. Leg-AZ World FC (Leg-AZ stands for Life Education Growth – Association of Friends) entered Saturday’s game in first place with a 7-1-1 league record.

“We are very proud to have qualified for the US Open Cup on our first try,” said FC America head coach Akeem Flemmings. “We are looking forward to working hard to keep it going.”

FC America hosted the game at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Fla., just outside of Orlando. The home team wasted no time opening the scoring. Thirty seconds into the game, pressure by FCA created a turnover on the right wing. Then the ball was played on the ground to William Eyang at the top of the box. With two defenders on him, he received the ball and make a quick move to split the defenders and beat the keeper with a low driving shot.

In the 37th minute, Leg-AZ was putting pressure on the FCA goal and earned a throw-in deep in the home team’s defensive third. The throw came in to the penalty area and was headed clear and fell to an FCA player. He immediately played the ball up the field to the feet of Eyang who did a kick-and-run past the last defender near midfield and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper from 60 yards away. He dribbled all the way to the penalty area and beat the helpless netminder to make it 2-0.

Eyang, a former pro who was the UPSL’s golden boot winner in the 2021 Spring Season when he played for the Florida Tropics, has scored four goals in this year’s qualifying tournament for FC America.

Two minutes later, Leg-AZ struck back with a cross from the right wing that found an unmarked Phanor Shelby right in front of goal, who headed it past the goalkeeper to cut the lead in half.

In the 66th minute, the Spurs would extend their lead when Jayson Udom received a pass on the right side of the penalty area and fired a low shot to the far post, just out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

The match would remain 3-1 until stoppage time when a shot was blocked in the penalty area by a defender and the ball lofted into the air. Melvrik Fernandes was at the right place at the right time as he brought the ball down and beat the keeper. It was the second goal in as many games as Fernandes scored the lone goal in the win over Harbor City in Round 3.

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