Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Houston Dynamo

2023 US Open Cup Round 4: Shorthanded Houston Dynamo gives “complete effort” to edge Sporting KC

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Thor Ulfarsson and Sebastian Ferreira of the Houston Dynamo celebrate after Ulfarsson's goal against Sporting KC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Thor Ulfarsson and Sebastian Ferreira of the Houston Dynamo celebrate after Ulfarsson’s goal against Sporting KC in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo in the Round of 32 looking to continue the magic at home for the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match struck first against Sporting Kansas City and never looked back.

Houston Dynamo We Want The Cup shirt US Open Cup
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The Dynamo playing much like 2018 when they found magic in a bottle and won their first US Open Cup title, Houston moved on to the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win despite playing a man down for 55 minutes.

Thor Uhlfarrson, the Icelander looking to claim more playing time in the regular season, put Houston on top in the 12th minute of play with a left footed banger from 25 yards out. Kansas City had made the initial clearance off a quick counter but the ball landed right at the feet of Houston’s second year forward. A quick switch to the left foot and Uhlfarrson put it inside the near post past a diving John Puhlskamp.

The goal came just moments after SKC forward Stephen Afrifa missed from the doorstep. Sporting had other opportunities to level the match but could not find the equalizer against Dynamo keeper Andrew Tarbell who was peppered with 17 shots. Conversely, the shorthanded Dynamo only managed two shots and the only one that was on target was the one that went in.

In the 55th minute, Khiry Shelton knocked one off the post for Sporting. It was the second time in the match that the frame saved Houston. Chris Rindov’s header went off the crossbar in the opening half.

Neither side played a majority their top players yet Houston was able to secure their seventh clean sheet of the season across all competitions including six at home where they remain unbeaten in 2023 and have not been scored on. Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen was happy about the effort.

“Overall, super pleased with the result and we are moving on in the tournament. More so than that, it is just amazing what you can do when everybody is selfless and gives a complete effort,” described Olsen. “It’s a lot of guys that have not gotten a lot of minutes, not only up until this point, but also collectively. So the rhythms are off. I put them in a new structure from the get-go, that we worked on for a few days, and that wasn’t ever going to be perfect. So, at the end of all this kind of craziness, and in the game, somehow, we got through it.”

This matchup between Houston and Kansas City is becoming an Open Cup tradition in recent years. This was the sixth meeting between the two MLS sides, and those games have taken place in the last seven tournaments. With Wednesday’s win, the Dynamo have evened up the Open Cup series with the four-time Open Cup champions at 3-3. Only three sets of rivals in the Modern Era of the tournament had played more often than these two teams. (Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers FC top the list with eight meetings)

They now await the draw for the Round of 16 that takes place tomorrow at 1:00pm CT on the B/R Football YouTube Channel.

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Teenager Brooklyn Raines gives Houston Dynamo win over Tampa Bay Rowdies

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Brooklyn Raines of the Houston Dynamo attempts a shot against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Brooklyn Raines of the Houston Dynamo attempts a shot against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo earned a narrow shutout win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on the road, despite the home team’s best efforts to pull off an “cupset”. A first half goal by Houston’s 18-year-old homegrown signing Brooklyn Raines just before halftime was the difference as the Rowdies’ valiant effort in St. Petersburg, Fla. fell short. Despite being a lower-division squad, the Rowdies pushed their first-tier opponents Houston Dynamo right to the end — literally — with the last kick of the game being a shot blocked out to touch as Houston advanced in a 1-0 Third Round US Open Cup victory.

The Rowdies will desperately want those chances back, but the Dynamo left St. Petersburg, Fla. with a win in their opening game of the tournament for the ninth year in a row. 


From the first minute, each team seemed up for the occasion. The pressure was high and the club from Texas got the better of the early passages. Two set pieces to the far post found their man and the ball back into the middle was dangerous on both plays. However, the second-division Rowdies fought their way back and began to settle into a rhythm of their own. With cross field switches to men in space, Tampa Bay tried to break down the wings where they could whip a ball in or even shoot from far. Nothing would get close enough, though.

As the halftime whistle neared and the score remained level, Corey Baird found himself in space on the wing for Houston multiple times. The Dynamo tried to find him quickly, but could not do so before the 43rd minute. However, the break was on. The zone vacated by Tampa Bay’s 17-year-old left wingback became a trap after looking so open beforehand. Baird was closed down by left center back Aaron Guillen, only to find the streaking Brooklyn Raines open at the top of the box. A late tracking run from Johnson was not enough to put Raines off his shot, and the Orange went in 1-0 at the break.

The second half presented an entirely different game from the first. Houston took off their goalscorer at halftime as well as their most famous player, Mexican central midfielder Hector Herrera. In their place came on players whose job would be to slow the game down, maintain control, and keep the Rowdies at bay. Further substitutions over the rest of the half did not allow the Dynamo to do that, however, and Tampa Bay came storming back.

Needing a goal to stay alive, the Rowdies made several attacking changes and hoped the fresh legs would lead to more opportunities. After hitting the post in the first half, Tampa Bay threw wave after wave at their Major League counterparts and did everything they could to find an equalizer. Conner Antley and second-half subs Dayonn Harris and Ryan Spaulding all had cross after cross repelled or blocked wide, while usual second-stringer Andrew Tarbell proved his worth in net for the Dynamo.

Good buildup went to waste in the end, as no player in Green and Gold could put it in the back of the net. After the game, manager Neill Collins — still serving a suspension following a contentious Open Cup match in 2022 versus Orlando City — said his Rowdies team could look upon their effort with pride even if they never got what they needed. He said they finally played the typical Rowdies way after what has been a very slow start to the USL season.

On the other side of things, Houston will take heart from their ability to weather a beating and come out on the other side. They bent and were bent, but they never broke. In their gray jerseys, the Dynamo drew like clouds over Tampa Bay, and spoiled a party for the locals. This experience will serve their young goalscorer well as they try to build as a team on this win for the Fourth Round to come.

2022 US Open Cup Round 5: Johnny Russell’s brace, leadership pushes Sporting KC past Houston Dynamo

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Johnny Russell of Sporting KC celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Sporting KC
Johnny Russell of Sporting KC celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo in the Fifth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Sporting KC

When you are the captain of a club, you are the heartbeat, you represent everything that happens to that club whether it is on or off the pitch. When Sporting Kansas City needed him, the captain responded. Thanks to Johnny Russell’s brace, Sporting Kansas City defeated Houston Dynamo 2-1 in the 2022 US Open Cup Round of 16.

It has become one of the most common, and most competitive matchups of the Open Cup’s Modern Era with these two teams squaring off in five of the last six tournaments.  With Wednesday’s win, Sporting has claimed three victories in those five meetings. In the two previous victories over the Dynamo in the Open Cup (2015, 2017), Kansas City would go on to lift the trophy.

The win earns KC a third straight home game in the competition in the Quarterfinals where they will host Union Omaha (USL League One) the week of June 21-22. (Date/Time TBA)

Houston opened the scoring in the 41st minute as Corey Baird received a through ball in-between Sporting’s center backs. The pass came from 2019 TheCup.us Player of the Tournament Darwin Quintero who found Baird nicely. Baird calmly slotted the shot around Sporting’s goalkeeper John Pulskamp. 

Houston led 1-0 at the halftime break as Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes brought on Khiry Shelton and Roger Espinoza into the lineup. The impact of these subs seemed to work instantly as the team began to gel more.

The tying goal came shorty after the halftime break as Dynamo tried to clear the ball away from a Logan Ndenbe cross. But, it went as far as Russell was only five yards outside of the box. 

Russell used an incredible soft touch to bring the ball out of the air. Four Dynamo defenders surrounded the Scottish international. He broke loose and fired a shot low and hard towards the goal which bounced out of the reach of Dynamo keeper Michael Nelson. 

“I think we created chances in the first half. There was just a couple of little tactical things that we had worked on that we weren’t doing on the field,” Russell said. “I think we stepped higher as a team. When we’ve got the energy and the guys that can press the way that we can, we won a lot of balls up the field and that equates to chances and we took them.”

In the 72nd minute, Sporting were on the attack, once again. Daniel Salloi received the ball outside of the box on the right wing and drove towards the byline. He got around Houston’s Daniel Steres who put out a leg and brought Salloi to the ground. The referee blew his whistle and the penalty was called. 

Johnny Russell of Sporting KC talks to his teammates in the huddle before the club's 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against the Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC
Johnny Russell of Sporting KC talks to his teammates in the huddle before the club’s 2022 US Open Cup Fifth Round match against the Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC

Stepping to the spot, the captain. Russell placed the ball to the ground and delivered a gorgeous penalty that flew into the right portion of the goal. Nelson guessed correctly, but Russell’s shot was too powerful. 

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

“It’s what the captain is supposed to do. At the end of the day, that’s why he’s the captain and I don’t mean that comically. He’s the captain. He’s the leader,” Vermes said. “That’s why the guys respect him. He brings it to the game, week in and week out, and that’s why the team follows him.”

The two goals for Russell was the difference on the night as Kansas City continued to control the game, until the Dynamo tried to equalize. The best chance for Houston came in the 80 minute when Fafa Picault received the ball on the left wing and sprinted towards Pulskamp. Picault fired a low shot which Pulskamp stood strong denying the Colombian.

Full time whistle blared and Kansas City finished as the victors in the Round of 16, earning the club a 12th quarterfinal appearance, which ranks fifth-most in the history of the tournament. 

Union Omaha awaits for Sporting Kansas City. The third division club knocked off Minnesota United 2-1, which has caught Vermes’ attention. 

US Open Cup Quarterfinal
appearances (1913-present)
1. Kutis SC – 17
2. FC Dallas – 16
3. Chicago Fire – 14
4. LA Galaxy – 13
5. Greek American AC (Calif.) – 12
5. Ukrainian Nationals – 12
5. SPORTING KC – 12

“They got this far for a reason, obviously. They’re playing well. We have to get ourselves prepared, at least for this weekend,” Vermes said. “When that game comes around, believe me, we will do everything that we have to try to put our best group out there and we will fight with everything we have because we know that’s going to be an incredibly difficult game.” 

Kansas City and Union Omaha have a history as the club from Nebraska coached by Jay Mims played Sporting II in a preseason friendly this year. Vermes shared their relationship bluntly. 

“I know him, but it’s not like we hang out every night,” Vermes said with a smile. 

Mims will bring his Union Omaha side to Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. 

2022 US Open Cup Round 4: Carlos Ferreira’s late goal helps Houston Dynamo beat upset-minded San Antonio FC

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Players from the Houston Dynamo celebrate after scoring a goal against San Antonio FC in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Players from the Houston Dynamo celebrate after scoring a goal against San Antonio FC in the Fourth Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo

With Texas bragging rights on the line, the Houston Dynamo scored late and held off a late charge by San Antonio FC to secure a berth in the Round of 16 of the 2022 US Open Cup with a 1-0 win.

A sparse crowd witnessed the match partly due to a late midweek start and the simple fact that Houston has dropped three consecutive matches.

San Antonio FC and Houston spent most of the match picking their counters. Were it not for a point-blank save by Dynamo keeper Michael Nelson in the 40th minute, SAFC would have enjoyed the halftime lead. The shot by Nicky Hernandez was the only one on target off 12 combined shots by both sides in the opening 45.

The second half was more of the same until the teams came out of the hydration break for the final 15 minutes of regulation. In the 81st minute, Brooklyn Raines — the youngest player on the pitch at 17 years old — won a corner for Houston. The ensuing kick came to Sam Junqua who delivered a perfect service to Sebastian Ferreria. The Dynamo’s leading scorer across all competitions gave Houston the win on his final touch of the match in the 82nd minute.

The win was not without its nervous moments in the second half following Ferreria’s goal. In the second minute of stoppage, a dangerous San Antonio corner came across the goal mouth where SAFC were sure Griffin Dorsey handled it off the line. Play was allowed to continue and Houston came away with the win.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit <a href=
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Dynamo head coach Paolo Nagamura said before the match “We as a team, we’re going to make sure that we get back to our ways, how we were a couple of weeks ago. Especially in the beginning of the season when we were a disciplined, cohesive team playing together, balanced defensively and offensively team.”

Following the match, Nagamura who won three Open Cups himself was pleased with his team’s performancespeaking nearly the same words. “I think we were well balanced.  It was a very, very good team performance. Defensively, offensively, we are well balanced. I mentioned the word urgency in the second half, we played with purpose and it gave us more opportunities to play on their half and create more chances. So, I think it was a well-balanced team performance.”

“Great win, first half we were a little slow, second half I think we were much better. Well deserved win. Really pleased with how we played the last five minutes,” he said. “Very very good team performance. I think we were well balanced.”

The Dynamo return to MLS action on Saturday May 14, 2022 against Nashville SC at PNC Stadium in Houston. Kick-off is set for 5:30pm CDT.

2019 US Open Cup Round of 16: Houston (Dynamo) has a problem in 2nd half, Minnesota United rallies to stun defending champs

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Darwin Quintero of Minnesota celebrates one of his goals with teammate Ethan Finlay in a Round of 16 match against the Houston Dynamo in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos Vos_Castellanos on Twitter and Instagram
Darwin Quintero of Minnesota celebrates one of his goals with teammate Ethan Finlay in a Round of 16 match against the Houston Dynamo in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos Vos_Castellanos on Twitter and Instagram

Darwin Quintero’s second half brace ignited a stunning come-from-behind 3-2 win, propelling the visiting Minnesota United FC to its first-ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarterfinal round. Minnesota’s three goals in 23 minutes erased a 2-0 deficit and eliminated the defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo in front of their home fans.

Houston began the match strong but seemed to wither as the game went on. Goals by Ronaldo Pena (9’) and Tomas Martinez (37’) staked Houston to a 2-0 halftime lead who seemed to be in control of the match much like last week in their Third Round game against Austin Bold FC (USL Championship).

Despite falling behind, the Loons were not about to go down without a fight.

“The guys just persevered, we’ve grown a lot since last year,” described MUNFC forward Mason Toye who had the game-winner. “I think last year we don’t come back from that game. But over the course of this year we’ve done a great job of learning how to get results out of games and we’ve had a tough go at it every time we’ve come down to Houston. We were like, ‘It’s going to change tonight’, and we’ve proved that. It’s a really big opportunity for us to possibly get a championship. It’s definitely a winnable tournament.”

Houston goalkeeper Michael Nelson, in his professional debut, put on a performance worthy of the top keepers in the game, providing four spectacular saves in a span of nine minutes that had preserved Houston’s two-goal lead. In the 66th minute, an unmarked Darwin Quintero tapped home a pass from Angelo Rodriguez to cut the Houston lead in half.

The Minnesota forward completed the brace sixteen minutes later, firing a laser from distance pulling the match level at two in the 82nd minute. For Quintero, it was his fourth US Open Cup goal, which puts him into a tie for the tournament lead with Charles Boateng (Richmond Kickers) and Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United FC). His six career tournament goals puts him firmly on top of the club’s all-time scoring list. No one else has more than one in the club’s brief three-year history.

Players from Minnesota United celebrate one of the club's goals in a Round of 16 match against the Houston Dynamo in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos Vos_Castellanos on Twitter and Instagram
Players from Minnesota United celebrate one of the club’s goals in a Round of 16 match against the Houston Dynamo in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos Vos_Castellanos on Twitter and Instagram

Much like last week’s effort against Austin Bold FC, Houston played most of the second half in the defensive third rather than pushing the tempo, allowing Minnesota to gain confidence and momentum. The Loons’ third goal of the second half came in the 89th minute. Toye, a second half substitute, touched home the game-winner. Ethan Finlay beat a tired Houston rookie defender Sam Junqua into the box, drawing the keeper and the remaining defense toward him before sliding the ball to Toye who notched his first professional goal.

All three Minnesota forwards accounted for the Loons second half outburst.

Prior to the loss, Houston had advanced in six straight games in Open Cup play dating back to last season. Houston had been seeking to become the first back-to-back winner since the Seattle Sounders did it in 2010 and 2011.

With the win, Minnesota reaches the Quarterfinals for the first time in club history, dating back to its Division 2 pro days in the North American Soccer League. They are the first Minnesota team to reach the Round of Eight since the Minnesota Thunder (USL First Division, Div. 2 pro) made their magical run to the Semifinals in 2005.

Minnesota will host the winner of Wednesday night’s FC Dallas-New Mexico United match in July.

2019 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo hold off Austin Bold rally, advance to Round of 16

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DaMarcus Beasley of the Houston Dynamo plays the ball against the Austin Bold FC in the Fourth Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos || Twitter, IG: Vos_Castellanos
DaMarcus Beasley of the Houston Dynamo plays the ball against the Austin Bold FC in the Fourth Round of the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos || Twitter, IG: Vos_Castellanos

The defending US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo started off their title defense with a nail-biting 3-2 win over Austin Bold FC on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Houston opened with a dominating first 45 with goals by Tomas Martinez, Ronaldo Pena and Matias Vera, but had to hold on after Austin answered with two second half goals.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Martinez opened the scoring with his first career US Open Cup goal in the 14th minute of play. After forward Marlon Hairston’s attempt was blocked, the deflection fell to the feet of Martinez and he put away the opening tally. It was his third goal of the season across all competition in 2019.

Seventeen minutes later, Martinez would assist on Ronaldo Pena’s first goal of the season coming in his first start following a preseason injury. Houston’s No. 10 pulled the keeper Diego Restrepo and the Austin defense to the near post before slipping the ball to Pena who delivered, doubling the Houston lead.

Houston seemed in complete control when an unmarked Matias Vera blasted home a ball off a perfectly timed heel pass from Pena. The forward bulled his way past the remaining Austin defense and slotted home the marker giving Houston a three goal lead heading into the halftime locker room.

Austin Bold worked its way back into the match pulling to within a goal as the teams neared the hour mark. Former Chivas great Xavier Baez scored off a free kick in the 48th minute and forward Isaac Promise scored in the 58th minute but it was too little too late as Austin Bold FC could not find the equalizer.

“I don’t know if you saw the same game we saw but it was two different teams,” Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera lamented following the match. “I’m disappointed and also I offer my apologies to the fans that made the effort to come over here and watch that second half from our team. We just played 45 minutes.”

The win moved Houston into the Round of 16 for the sixth straight year. US Soccer will conduct a draw at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday, June 14 to determine the opponents for games to be played on June 18th and 19th.

2018 US Open Cup: Mauro Manotas of Houston Dynamo voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

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Graphic by Dallas Kreil

You can call Houston Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas a lot of things.

You can call him hard working.

You can call him tenacious.

You can call him humble.

What you can’t call the young Colombian – no matter how much he has taken American soccer fans by surprise with his 2018 superlative MLS and Open Cup campaign – is an overnight sensation.

Manotas has been in Houston since 2015, fighting to make it onto the bench, and then finally forcing his way into the starting lineup this season.

Mauro Manotas of the Housotn Dynamo celebrates one of his two goals against the Philadelphia Union in the 2018 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Mauro Manotas of the Housotn Dynamo celebrates one of his two goals against the Philadelphia Union in the 2018 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Houston Dynamo

“I have been with this club for the last three years and I haven’t been able to be starting forward. By now, thank God, I have become a starting player,” said Manotas in an interview with the Dynamo in July translated from Spanish. “Now, I want to be a top goal scorer and on the team level, I want us to win the MLS Cup and the US Open Cup.”

Manotas will have to wait for that MLS Cup dream as the Dynamo were eliminated from the playoffs this season but he can check “top goalscorer” and “winning US Open Cup” off his to-do list.

Manotas spent the summer surging into the top 5 on the MLS scoring charts and almost single-handedly salvaging the Dynamo’s season by propelling the club to its first US Open Cup title with a Modern Era (1995-present) tying record six goals in four games, including two goals in the US Open Cup Final, a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union.

For his record-breaking run, Manotas has been named the TheCup.us Player of the Tournament in a vote of the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Manotas ran away with the award, distancing himself from second place Alejandro Bedoya of the Philadelphia Union and third place Diego Rossi of Los Angeles FC.

“Like I’ve always said, when you pray with faith, God rewards you,” explained the ever humble Manotas after the US Open Cup trophy was hoisted at BBVA Compass Stadium back on Sept. 26. “Today, I give thanks to God. The team was spectacular. Thanks to God we were able to win.”

The 23-year-old striker put his mark on the title game early, scoring off a header in the fourth minute, tying the mark for the fastest goal in a championship game in the Modern Era. He followed up with a goal in the 26th minute, on an individual effort that will sure to be shown on the home scoreboard highlight reel for years to come.

The Open Cup celebration was the culmination of an incredible year for the wiry 6-footer who in a rainstorm still weighs under 160 pounds.

In the 2018 US Open Cup he:

The achievements for Manotas aren’t just limited to the Open Cup competition as he has rewritten the Dynamo record books in his first full season as a starter:

  • He has 22 goals in all competitions this year, lapping Will Bruin’s previous club record of 16 with two matches left to play.
  • He has scored 16 MLS regular-season goals, eclipsing the club record of 14 set last year by Cubo Torres, whose departure thrusted Manotas into the spotlight.
  • At age 23 he is already the Houston franchise’s No. 5 all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 94 games (61 starts).

You will be disappointed if you expect Manotas to now rest on his laurels.

“I have fought a lot to be the starting forward for this team,” said Manotas. “My mentality is to keep working hard, leave everything on the field, give my all for the team, to sweat for this team like I always do. People always value the fact that I don’t give up, that I am always running, fighting for the ball and scoring goals.”

Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo heads in the first goal of the 2018 US Open Cup Final from his knees in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo heads in the first goal of the 2018 US Open Cup Final from his knees in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Manotas has been helped by a close connection with Colombian coach Wilmer Cabrera, who Manotas calls “El Profe” or teacher.

2018’s amazing run may not have happened if the front office hadn’t stepped in and lend a helping hand to Manotas when he arrived in Southern Texas in 2015.

The young kid from Sabanalarga, Colombia was given a place to live but he lasted just two weeks on his own away from the support of his family and culture.

“When I arrived in Houston … I lived by myself for two weeks but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live alone,” recalled Manotas. “I reached out to (Houston GM) Matt (Jordan) to find me a host family. And thank God he found them.”

That host family, bilingual Chavez family, became Manotas’ family away from home.

“He called my wife madre, mother. He’d call me Senor Ed,” said Ed Chavez, who works matchday security at BBVA outside of the Dynamo locker room. “Definitely an addition to the family – a son.”

Ed and Ingrid Chavez already had two teens and Manotas became their older surrogate sibling … the relationship so strong that Manotas stayed with the family through 2015 and then 2016 and then 2017 … finally, moving into his own apartment this summer.

“They helped me get adapted to the country, to the language, the culture, the food, everything,” said Manotas right before the big move. “I had a great time with the Chavez family but now it’s time for me to grow in that area of my life. I feel I’ve got a better grasp of the language now and I wanted to go out and be on my own.”

Manotas may be heading out on his own but will still be looking out for others first, it’s an attitude that was ingrained from his modest means upbringing in Colombia.

“My family is very humble, always thinking of others first,” Manotas said. “My dad always tells me that the team is first, second, third and fourth, and if there’s a fifth, then that’s for me.”

Thanks to that attitude the Houston Dynamo are 2018 US Open Cup champions and headed to the Concacaf Champions League next year. It will be another chance for Manotasto shine in the spotlight.

Past winners of TheCup.us Player of the Tournament 
2017: Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
2016: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas)
2015: Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting Kansas City)
2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders FC)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders, USL)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

Who should be voted 2018 US Open Cup’s TheCup.us Player of the Tournament?

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TheCup.us Player of the Tournament nominees for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (from left to right): Cory Burke of Philadelphia Union, Diego Rossi of LAFC, Mauro Manotas of Houston Dynamo and Alejandro Bedoya of Philadelphia Union.
TheCup.us Player of the Tournament nominees for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (from left to right): Cory Burke of Philadelphia Union, Diego Rossi of LAFC, Mauro Manotas of Houston Dynamo and Alejandro Bedoya of Philadelphia Union.

The 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is complete with the Houston Dynamo lifting the trophy for the first time in club history.

With that, it’s time to hand out the annual TheCup.us Player of the Tournament award.  Every year since 2006, TheCup.us has honored the player who put together the most impressive, and the most valuable individual performance of the competition.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters but if YOU had a vote, which player do you think would win?

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):

ALEJANDRO BEDOYA (PHILADELPHIA UNION – MLS)
While he did not play in the Union’s opening game vs. Richmond, Bedoya played every minute and was involved in all but one of Philadelphia’s goals to help them reach the US Open Cup Final for the third time in club history. The U.S. international assisted on both goals in a 2-1 home win over the New York Red Bulls in the Round of 16, scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 home win over Orlando City in the Quarterfinals and assisted on the first two goals in the Union’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire in the Semifinals. He played the full 90 minutes in the championship game but Philly lost 3-0 on the road against the Houston Dynamo. In the end, his four assists was tied for the tournament lead.

Round 4: DNP in a 5-0 home win vs. Richmond (USL)
Round 5: Started, played 90 mins., had 2 assists in a 2-1 home win vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins., scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 home win vs. Orlando City SC (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 90 mins., had 2 assists in a 3-0 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS)
Final: Started, played 90 mins. in a 3-0 road loss at Houston Dynamo (MLS)

CORY BURKE (PHILADELPHIA UNION – MLS)
Burke started every game for the Union during their US Open Cup run, helping the Philadelphia Union reach the championship game for the third time. Burke was only needed for the first half in a 5-0 home win over the Richmond Kickers (USL), but in that time, the Union scored four goals and he assisted on one of them. In the Round of 16, Burke scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win over the New York Red Bulls (MLS), and he played 63 minutes in the Union’s 1-0 win over Orlando City. In the Semifinals, Burke scored the first two goals of the game in a 3-0 home win over the Chicago Fire (MLS) to send Philly to the Final. He played 68 minutes in the losing effort in the title game, a 3-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo (MLS).

Round 4: Started, played 45 mins, 1 assist in 5-0 home win vs. Richmond (USL)
Round 5: Started, played 90 mins., scored game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 63 mins. in a 1-0 home win vs. Orlando City SC (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 90 mins., scored 2 goals in a 3-0 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS)
Final: Started, played 68 mins. in a 3-0 road loss at Houston Dynamo (MLS)

MAURO MANOTAS (HOUSTON DYNAMO – MLS)
After not playing the opening game against NTX Rayados (USASA), Manotas went on a four-game goalscoring streak and led the Houston Dynamo to the club’s first US Open Cup title. He scored the game-winning goal in the Round of 16 win over Minnesota United, and scored a pair of goals (including the game-winner) in a 4-2 home win over the defending champions Sporting Kansas City. Manotas scored a goal in the club’s 3-3 draw (PK win) against Los Angeles FC in the Semifinals. Manotas was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Final when he scored two first half goals in the 3-0 win over the Philadephia Union. The Colombian led the tournament in goals with six, which ties the Modern Era (1995-present) record for a single tournament and he became the fifth Modern Era player to score a goal in four consecutive Cup matches.

Round 4: DNP in a 5-0 home win vs. NTX Rayados (USASA)
Round 5: Started, played 60 mins., scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 home win vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins., scored two goals (incl. the game-winner) in a 4-2 home win vs. Sporting KC (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 84 mins., scored 1 goal in a 3-3 home draw (7-6 PK win) vs. LAFC (MLS)
Final: Started, played 90 mins., scored 2 goals (incl. game-winner) in a 3-0 home win vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS)

DIEGO ROSSI (LOS ANGELES FC – MLS)
Los Angeles FC may not have won the US Open Cup, but Diego Rossi’s performance nearly put them into the Final in the club’s inaugural season. After a scoreless first half, Rossi was subbed in after halftime and scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in a 2-0 home win over Fresno FC (USL). In the Round of 16, he sparked a second half comeback in a 3-2 home win over the Sacramento Republic (USL). Rossi scored the tying goal in the 67th minute and then assisted on Latif Blessing’s game-winner in the 89th minute. In the Quarterfinals, he started and played 90 minutes in a 3-2 home win over the Portland Timbers (MLS). Next, he won TheCup.us Player of the Round honors by scoring the first Modern Era hat trick in the Semifinals. Down 3-1 to the Houston Dynamo on the road, he scored a 78th minute goal and then an equalizer deep into second half stoppage time. The match went to penalty kicks and while Rossi converted his attempt, Houston would win the shootout 7-6.

Round 4: Came off bench, played 45 mins., scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 home win vs. Fresno FC (USL)
Round 5: Started, played 90 mins., scored a goal and had the game-winning assist in a 3-2 home win vs. Sacramento Republic (USL)
Quarterfinals: Started, played 90 mins. in a 3-2 home win vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)
Semifinals: Started, played 120 mins., scored a hat trick (goal in PK shootout) in a 3-3 draw, 7-6 PK loss at home vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS)

Past winners of TheCup.us Player of the Tournament 
2017: Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
2016: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas)
2015: Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting Kansas City)
2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders FC)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders, USL)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

2018 US Open Cup Final: Houston Dynamo’s Mauro Manotas voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

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Mauro Manotas of the Housotn Dynamo celebrates one of his two goals against the Philadelphia Union in the 2018 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Mauro Manotas of the Housotn Dynamo celebrates one of his two goals against the Philadelphia Union in the 2018 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Houston Dynamo

With his parents watching among an announced crowd of 16,060 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on Wednesday night, Mauro Manotas put on a show. With a brace before the half hour mark, Manotas singlehandedly wrote Houston Dynamo history leading the club to a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union in the 2018 US Open Cup Final.

For his efforts, the Colombian has been voted 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.

When Manotas left Colombia in 2015 as a Special Discovery signing, few believed that he would progress this far this fast. In less then a year, he had been upgraded to Young Designated Player status.

Manotas is no stranger to big moments having helped lead the Colombian Under-20 team to a silver medal at the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship. Earlier in 2014, he scored the crucial goal that kept his home club Uniautonoma in the Colombian Categoria Primera A League. In just his sixth MLS start, he scored a hat trick against the Portland Timbers.

Fast forward three years to September 26, 2018. It was the kind of night a striker dreams about. Playing in the championship game with everything on the line and knowing if you do your job, your teams stands a chance to win. That was what Manotas faced on that night.

“When you play a final you don’t need to motivate much,” said Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “Too much talking is not good. You need to be disciplined and understand that everyone is nervous, everyone is high on adrenaline. We had to be disciplined, organized and play to our strengths. When we had the chances we had to be sure to put those away and it couldn’t work out any better for us.”

The 23-year-old striker needed little time in getting Houston on the board. Fellow forward Alberth Elis chased a ball down near the endline and delivered a perfect service to the crouching Manotas who headed it home. The fourth minute goal was tied for the fastest goal in a championship game in the Modern Era.

His tenth came in the 26th minute of play. Controlling the ball just outside the box, Manotas received a ball from the right wing from Elis and got a step on Union defender Jack Elliott before unleashing a low blast that caromed off the near post into the back of the net. For Manotas, it was his 20th goal of the season across all competitions.

“Like I’ve always said, when you pray with faith, God rewards you,” explained the ever humble Manotas about his performance. “Today, I give thanks to God. The team was spectacular. Thanks to God we were able to win.”

With the two goals, Manotas tied the Modern Era single-tournament record for goals with six and finished as the competition’s top goalscorer.

With his performance this year, Manotas is breaking and tying US Open Cup records left and right. Manotas scored his first career Dynamo goal on a game-winning header in a 2015 US Open Cup win over the Colorado Rapids. Once you add his game-winning goal in the 2018 Final, that gives him five career game-winning goals in the tournament, which ties a Modern Era record.

With six more goals, Manotas added to his record as the Dynamo’s all-time leading goalscorer in US Open Cup play. His ten goals are six more than the next closest player on the list). What’s more incredible is that he has scored those 10 goals in just nine tournament games, giving him one of the best scoring rates in the Modern Era. Those goals in the championship game also extended his streak of four consecutive Cup matches with a goal, which ties a Modern Era record.

In just a few years, Manotas has risen up the goalscoring chart of MLS players in the Modern Era. Only two players on MLS teams have scored more goals than Manotas (Kenny Cooper and Jaime Moreno).

And one final statistic that Manotas and his team appreciates: Houston has never lost an Open Cup game when Manotas scores a goal.

2018 US Open Cup Final: Houston Dynamo break Union to win first USOC title

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The Houston Dynamo celebrate the 2018 US Open Cup championship. Photo: Jose Castellanos | Twitter: @Vos_Castellanos, IG: @FutbolAndBrews
The Houston Dynamo celebrate the 2018 US Open Cup championship. Photo: Jose Castellanos | Twitter: @Vos_Castellanos, IG: @FutbolAndBrews

From Alejandro Moreno’s first-ever Houston Dynamo US Open Cup goal to Mauro Manotas’ brace in the 2018 Final, the Houston Dynamo’s quest for a US Open Cup championship has ended.

Moreno’s goal came in the 29th minute on August 2, 2006 against the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo. Twelve years, one month and 24 days later, the Dynamo hoisted the 2018 US Open Cup championship. The 3-0 win capped a summer that had seen Houston struggle in MLS play and flourish in Open Cup play.

Manotas has made a career of scoring goals in the US Open Cup. In less than four seasons since signing in 2015, the young Columbian is the most prolific goalscorer in Dynamo history, adding two more on Wednesday night to bring his career total to 10 goals in nine tournament games. His two goals also earned him the 2018 US Open Cup goalscoring title, as he tied the single-tournament record for the Modern Era (1995-present) with six goals.

“When you play a final you don’t need to motivate much,” said Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera.  “Too much talking is not good. You need to be disciplined and understand that everyone is nervous, everyone is high on adrenaline. We had to be disciplined, organized and play to our strengths. When we had the chances we had to be sure to put those away and it couldn’t work out any better for us.”

With the win, the Dynamo become the first South Texas team in tournament’s 105-year history to lift the trophy.

It didn’t take long for the streamers to start flying at the 2018 Final in Houston, Texas. On a counter, Alberth Elis’ service into the box found a crouching Manotas who headed it home. The 23-year-old’s goal in the fourth minute of play was all the Dynamo needed to claim their first ever Cup championship. It was tied with D.C. United’s Luciano Emilio for the fastest goal of the Modern Era. Emilio’s goal was scored in the 2008 Final in a 2-1 win over the Charleston Battery (USL).

Philadelphia pressured the Houston defense for much of the night. Willis faced 19 shots overall in recording a clean sheet and moving to 12-3 all-time in Open Cup play. Willis won his second career US Open Cup title after he led D.C. United to four straight wins before starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid took over in the 2013 championship game where they defeated Real Salt Lake, 1-0.

Manotas completed the brace in the 25th minute. After receiving a pass from the right wing from Elis, Manotas dribbled to his left across the top of the box before rifling home a low shot off the near post.  The two goals gave Manotas 20 goals in all competitions, a single-season record for the Dynamo. The Colombian also became just the fourth player in the Modern Era to score multiple goals in a Final, and is just the fifth to score multiple goals in a championship game in a career.

“I can say that he’s a fantastic professional,” exuded Cabrera after the game. “He’s a fantastic top scorer, and we’re lucky to have him. Because every day he’s growing in all aspects, not only as a player but as a person, he’s more mature and he’s only 22, 23-years-old.And with him, he’s been professional on-and-off the field, so it’s impressive– and being that young. So it’s very good and we’re happy for him.”

A two-goal advantage, especially in the US Open Cup is not insurmountable, but a second half own goal by the Union seemed to dash any hopes of a comeback. In the 65th minute,  Romell Quioto received the ball on the left side of the box with plenty of space for a shot. He fired it toward the far post and Andre Blake dove to his left to make the save but the rebound deflected to the foot of Auston Trusty who appeared to try to clear the ball out for a corner kick. Instead, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Trusty’s look of devastation after the own goal — just the fifth own goal scored in a championship game in tournament history —  summed up Philadelphia’s night as the Union would finish runner-up for the third time in the last five years. They are the first Modern Era club to lose three championship games, and they become just the fifth team in Open Cup history to finish runner-up three times.

Houston defender DaMarcus Beasley won his third career US Open Cup title (Chicago Fire 2000, 2003), and with the win, he breaks the Modern Era record for biggest gap in between Cup titles with 15 years. (Previous record: Jaime Moreno of D.C. United with 12 years from 1996-2008). Backup goalkeeper Chris Seitz won his second title in three years after helping rival FC Dallas lift the trophy in 2016. Dylan Remick did not play but he wins a second career US Open Cup title (2014 – Seattle Sounders FC). Andrew Wenger, who played in both US Open Cup Finals for the Union in 2014 and 2015, including missing the final penalty kick in the 2015 Final, played all 90 minutes and wins his first US Open Cup title.

With the win, the Dynamo win $300,000 in prize money (the Union received $100,000), and a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.

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