Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Houston Dynamo

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Who should be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round?

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thecup-us-social-logoThere were several exceptional individual performances in the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This should make for a challenge when the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters cast their votes for TheCup.us Player of the Round.

While the votes are being tallied up, check out the list of nominees below (in alphabetical order) and tell us who YOU think deserves to win on Facebook or Twitter:

MORE: 2018 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners (so far)

Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union, MLS): Bedoya scored the lone goal of the game in the 4th minute and played a great overall game in a 1-0 home win over Orlando City SC (MLS)

Aleksandar Katia (Chicago Fire, MLS): Katai assisted on the opening goal and scored the second in Chicago’s 4-0 home win over Louisville City FC.

Mauro Manotas (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Manotas scored what would prove to be the game-winning (third) goal in the 69th minute and put the game away with the final goal in the 88th minute in a 4-2 home win over Sporting Kansas City (MLS).

Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union, MLS): McKenzie was the star of the Philadelphia defense in a 1-0 home win over Orlando City SC (MLS). The Union defender snuffed out numerous attacks from Orlando, holding them to just 10 total shots with only four of them ending up on net. McKenzie also headed the shot that forced a save from the goalkeeper that led directly to Bedoya’s goal in the 4th minute.

Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo, MLS): Quioto’s free kick from 22 yards out in the 35th minute tied the match at 1-1 for the Houston Dynamo against Sporting Kansas City (MLS). Quioto then put the Dynamo ahead in the 66th minute when he chested down a long pass and hit a one-timer to put Houston up 2-1. Houston won the game at home, 4-2.

Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC, MLS): Vela scored the second goal of the game and delivered the ball that led to Portland’s own goal in LAFC’s 3-2 home win over the Portland Timbers (MLS).

 

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Manotas, Quioto each score two as Houston Dynamo knock off defending champs Sporting KC

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Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo celebrates after scoring a goal against Sporting Kansas City in the 2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo celebrates after scoring a goal against Sporting Kansas City in the 2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo knocked off defending Lamar Hunt US Open Cup champions Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals with two goals each from Romell Quioto and Mauro Manotas in a 4-2 win before 6,431 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“A good win for us versus a good rival and tough opponent,” said Houston manager Wilmer Cabrera after the Dynamo advanced to the Semifinals for the first time since 2009, are now two wins away from the club’s first ever Open Cup championship.

Road weary Sporting Kansas City was staked to a very early lead with Johnny Russell scoring in the second minute but Houston controlled most of the match, outshooting SKC 24-12 in the contest including a 11-5 shots on goal advantage.

Sporting Kansas City keeper Tim Melia made seven saves in the match but he watched helplessly as Quioto struck for a beautiful free kick goal in the 35th minute. Quioto, who hadn’t scored since May 20 in MLS action and had three goals on the season, put the Dynamo ahead for good in the 66th minute.

Houston kept the pressure on with Manotas scoring in the 69th and 88th minutes. Manotas is Houston’s all-time Open Cup leading scorer with seven goals now in eight appearances.

Sporting Kansas City, looking tired in the final 30, tacked on a goal in stoppage time with substitute Yohan Croizet scoring in stoppage time.

Houston’s win prevents Sporting Kansas City from winning a record-tying fifth Open Cup. Sporting has claimed the Open Cup title in three of the previous six seasons.

Wednesday’s match, played in muggy conditions with a kick off “feels like temperature” in the triple digits, was the fourth straight season the two Major League Soccer Western Conference rivals had met in the competition with the clubs splitting those meetings now 2-2.

Both teams opted to play strong line-ups despite having just played in MLS action over the weekend.

Romell Quioto of the Houston Dynamo celebrates after scoring a goal against Sporting KC in the 2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Romell Quioto of the Houston Dynamo celebrates after scoring a goal against Sporting KC in the 2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Sporting Kansas City shocked the Dynamo with a goal in the second minute as Gerso Fernandes tackled the ball away deep on SKC’s end after a Houston corner kick and found Russell running free up the right side.

Russell had the edge on the Dynamo back line and raced into the Houston 18 all alone, forcing Dynamo keeper Chris Seitz to come off the goal line. Seitz tried to cut down the angle, but Russell calmly slotted the ball just to the left of Seitz for the quick lead. It would be Sporting Kansas City’s only shot on goal in the first half.

Houston was knocking on the door to tie most of the first half with Oscar Boniek Garcia hitting the crossbar on a header in the 10th minute. Five minutes later, Manotas fired for the far post but Melia made a nice save, pushing the shot wide.

By the 30th minute hydration break the Dynamo already had 10 shots — two more than they had in all 90 minutes of a listless 0-0 tie Saturday in Colorado.

Houston finally got the equalizer in the 35th minute after a Sporting Kansas City foul just outside of the 18, at the top of the penalty arc. Quioto stepped up and fired a right-footed rocket over a six-man wall. Melia hardly made a move as the ball rifled the netting in the upper lefthand corner.

Quioto’s teammate, defender Adolfo Machado, saw some divine inspiration in his free kick goal, teasing Quioto after the game: “In the name of Jesus, galazo! Golazo, I say!”

By the 60-minute mark it was clear that Sporting Kansas was running out of gas as there was a lot of stabbing at the ball and Houston kept constant pressure on Melia.

“You’re not going to win a game when have certain players that just give up or don’t put the effort in like they have to. That’s the result you get,” Kansas City manager Peter Vermes told the Kansas City Star after the loss.

Manotas looked like he would get the go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute when he picked the pocket off a Sporting Kansas City defender and came in 1-on-1 against Melia. Manotas’ shot just nicked off of Melia and went wide right for a corner kick.

On that ensuing corner kick, Houston had two great shots but SKC defender Seth Sinovic blocked a Manotas shot off the line and Quioto’s rebound attempt was stopped by a Melia reflex save.

Houston finally broke through for the lead in the 66th minute as Quioto chested down a long pass from Darwin Ceren and then beat Melia with a quick one-time shot.

Three minutes later it appeared that Melia had kept the Houston advantage when he made yet another save on a Manotas right-footed shot but Manotas tracked down his own rebound towards the edge of the penalty area and, with his back to the goal, swiveled around and hit the ball with his left foot through traffic. The shot, which was heading for the far post, took a slight deflection off a SKC defender but had enough steam to make it over the goal line.

Houston had some nifty defensive work of their own in the 77th minute when centerback Alejandro Fuenmayor saved the ball off the goal line and moments later he had a sliding block off another shot.

The Dynamo could have finished with half a dozen goals as Melia was pressed to make back-to-back nearly point-blank saves in the 83rd minute.

Manotas got his second goal on a header in the 88th minute off a cross from Memo Rodriguez.

Sporting KC added the final tally in stoppage as Russell fed Croizet on the right side, who then beat Seitz with just about 60 seconds left in the contest.

The loss continues a tough patch for Sporting Kansas City which has now gone 0-4-1 in all competitions in July with their last win coming on June 23 at home, 3-2 over the Houston Dynamo.

 

2018 US Open Cup Round 5: Houston Dynamo hold off Minnesota United after late PK miss (video)

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Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo runs down a ball against Minnesota United in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo
Mauro Manotas of the Houston Dynamo runs down a ball against Minnesota United in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Houston Dynamo

Houston Dynamo opponents don’t just find wins hard to come by at BBVA Compass Stadium, but goals are even a tall task in Texas.

Minnesota United FC became the Dynamo’s third straight shutout victim in all competitions as Houston made Mauro Manotas’ 47th minute glancing header stand up in a 1-0 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Fifth Round victory Monday night before 1,930 fans.

“I think we got the result we wanted,” said Houston goalkeeper Chris Seitz, who had five saves in the shutout and survived a furious Minnesota comeback in the closing 30 minutes, including a penalty kick attempt in the 87th minute that smacked off the right post.

Houston, which has not lost at home since March, will host defending US Open Cup champion Sporting Kansas City in the Quarterfinals on July 18. It will be the fourth straight year that Sporting KC and the Dynamo have squared off in the Open Cup with Kansas City having won two of the last three, including last year’s 2-0 win at BBVA Compass Stadium in the Round of 16.

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” said Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath. “I thought it was a little bit too late. I learned a valuable lesson today about this group, both individually and collectively, that will certainly help us moving forward. We’ve got to the stage now where we have to start to make some difficult and hard decisions on people and that is what we will do. I think tonight will turn out to be a really good night in the long term.”

The Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City will meet in the US Open Cup for the fourth year in a row.
The Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City will meet in the US Open Cup for the fourth year in a row.

With Monday night’s contest coming in the middle of the MLS two-week World Cup break, neither squad put in their normal starting 11, which might have partly accounted for a lackluster first half that saw one shot on goal for the two teams combined.

“We were a little bit erratic with the ball when passing with our movements. You can consider that normal because some of the guys haven’t been able to play consistently, but they worked hard,” said Houston head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “In the second half, I think we improved. We came out much better – more energetic, sharper.”

It took the Dynamo just 90 seconds into the second half to break the deadlock as defender Adam Lundqvist, acquired by Houston on April 26 from IF Elfsborg in Sweden, sent in a curling left-footed corner kick to the near post, where Manotas perfectly timed a run and let the ball glance off his head and by Minnesota keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

It added to Manotas’ club-best five career goals in US Open Cup play and it was Lundkvist’s first points since joining the Dynamo.

“I saw the excitement of the crowd and also saw Manotas come in just perfect, and it was a great call … just shows the type of goal scorer he is,” said Lundqvist. “He had perfect control with his head, and yeah, it felt amazing to see it going in.”

By the 56th minute, Houston had out-shot Minnesota, 12-5, in the contest and it appeared that the Loons offense was still waiting at baggage claim, but Minnesota peppered Seitz and Co. in the final 30 minutes with eight shots including four on target.

“I think we kind of stopped trying to play the ball, trying to play a little bit more possession, and they took the ball and they took the risk,” said Cabrera. “They were sending some guys up front and they created some options.”

Minnesota, which didn’t score in their first US Open Cup match this season, a win at Cincinnati FC in penalty kicks after a scoreless game, appeared poised to finally find the back of the net when Loon midfielder Miguel Ibarra was toppled in the air on a cross whipped in by Alexi Gomez. There wasn’t a lot of contact on the play but center referee Guido Gonzalez, Jr., pointed to the penalty spot.

“I think it’s one of those plays where they whipped a good, dangerous ball in to the back post … I don’t know if he was touched. I didn’t see that because I was following the ball, but the referee thought he saw something there and they called it,” said Seitz.

Darwin Quintero stepped up to the penalty spot for Minnesota and smacked the ball off the right post.

“These are the games you can win the championship with,” said Lundqvist. “I mean on a bad day, if you can still get to the next round … it’s huge. Also, cliché, but a little luck on our side.”

Cabrera tried to pad Houston’s slim advantage in the second half with the substation of three starters – Honduran forwards Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto as well as playmaker midfielder Tomas Martinez – but the Dynamo had to defend through four minutes of stoppage time to secure the win.

The Houston coach was pleased that he was able to get 90 minutes of playing time for center back Philippe Senderos, who is returning from injury, and got a good luck at Kevin Garcia at right back. Lundqvist, who has been playing out of position at right back since joining the Dynamo, was able to play in his more natural left back spot Monday as Houston captain DaMarcus Beasley had the night off.

Beasley was a mainstay with the US Men’s National Team and Monday’s goal scorer, 22-year-old Manotas, is working toward his goal of someday representing his country of Colombia at the World Cup.

“That is why I work every day. I wake up dreaming that I’m with the national team of Colombia,” said Manotas.

The Dynamo out-shot Minnesota, 14-13, in the win and The Dynamo picked up 19 fouls on the evening while the Loons were whistled just six times.

The Dynamo advance to the Quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years and the sixth time in club history. Houston is still seeking the club’s first trip to the US Open Cup Final with their best finish coming in a pair of Semifinal runs in 2006 and 2009.

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo take over in 2nd half, eliminate amateurs from NTX Rayados

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Players from the Houston Dynamo (orange) and NTX Rayados battle for the ball in their Fourth Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos | Prost Amerika
Players from the Houston Dynamo (orange) and NTX Rayados battle for the ball in their Fourth Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Jose Castellanos | Prost Amerika

How do you prepare for a team you’ve never seen play?

“It’s complicated because you don’t know what to expect,” said Houston Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera after a 5-0 win against NTX Rayados, an amateur team from the Dallas area, in the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Cabrera added that even though the team had some video of Rayados, “we didn’t want to show them (the Dynamo players) because it’s really blurry, at grass level.”

“We didn’t want to feel comfortable,” he said. “We told them, if they are here it’s because they won each of their games. They deserve to be here.”

NTX showed they more than belonged as the two teams struggled through a sluggish first half in the 90-plus degree Houston heat. Rayados also had a couple of opportunities on the counter attack. In the 23rd minute, forward Mohamed Sesay received a got on the end of a long pass but his shot was stopped by Dynamo goalkeeper Chris Seitz.

Arturo Alvarez’s header over the bar as the first half came to an end was the best chance for the home side.

Houston got its breakthrough in the 55th minute when defender Alejandro Fuenmayor whipped a cross into the box. Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez converted on his second attempt to give Houston a 1-0 lead.

The Dynamo doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Luis Gil put recent signing Aldo Quintanilla through on goal. The former RGVFC Toro made no mistake to put Houston up 2-0.
Moments later, the Open Cup dream for NTX was all but dashed when a turnover led to defender Jose Luis Burciaga taking Rodriguez down in the box. Burciaga received his marching orders as he was given his second yellow of the match.

The 22-year-old former Dynamo Academy product converted from the penalty spot for his brace to put Houston on top 3-0. Rodriguez said the penalty “was always mine, but Arturo (Alvarez) asked if I wanted and he gives me that confidence that I’m gonna step up and take the opportunity and score.”

Arturo Alvarez added two assists late, one to Matias Zaldivar (another RGVFC product) in the 88th minute and one to Quintanilla in the second half of stoppage time.

NTX may have suffered a lopsided defeat but you wouldn’t tell by looking at their faces as they walked off the BBVA Compass Stadium Field. This was a team of teachers and friends who went toe-to-toe with a MLS team, a memory they’ll never forget.

With the win over NTX, the the first competitive match against an amateur team in Dynamo history, Houston advances in the Cup and sets up a likely date with in-state rivals FC Dallas, who beat San Antonio 1-0 Wednesday night.

While not yet official, Cabrera and Dynamo players were already discussing the anticipated match up after the win.

2017 US Open Cup Round 5: Sporting KC avenges last year’s loss to Houston Dynamo (video)

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Gerso Fernandes of Sporting KC put the game away with a goal in second half stoppage time in a 2-0 Round of 16 win over Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC
Gerso Fernandes of Sporting KC put the game away with a goal in second half stoppage time in a 2-0 Round of 16 win over Houston Dynamo. Photo: Sporting KC

Scoring chances were hard to come by, but Sporting Kansas City’s Ike Opara scored off a second-half corner kick to provide all of the scoring his side needed in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup Round of 16 on a muggy early evening Wednesday in south Texas.

Kansas City added a second goal in stoppage time to knock Houston out of the Cup for the second time in three years. Sporting also avenged last year’s 3-1 loss to Houston in the same stage of the competition.

Kansas City, a three-time Open Cup champion, will host defending champion FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals on July 11.

Sporting fielded the more experienced side, with many of its regular starters, while Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera opted to start two players from USL affiliate Rio Grande Valley FC. A third came off the bench in the second half after Kansas City took the lead.

The young Dynamo side held its own, as both teams struggled to create chances.

The heat likely was a factor. The game kicked off at 5:30 p.m. local time, when the temperature was 88 degrees, because of a previously scheduled NWSL game.

Houston’s Alex managed two dangerous shots from distance after about 15 minutes of play, but both sailed high over Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia’s net.

The Dynamo missed out on another chance in the 19th minute when winger Andrew Wenger played a teasing ball across the 6-yard box, but none of his teammates could direct it toward goal. Kansas City’s best first-half chance came in the 38th minute when midfielder Jimmy Medranda powered a shot on goal after forward Cameron Porter failed to connect on an acrobatic attempt. Medranda’s attempt was blocked and Porter was unable to put the rebound on frame. Melia kept the game scoreless in the 48th minute after a turnover from a poor pass created a quick 3-on-1 break for Houston. He denied Dynamo forward Vincente Sanchez’s shot at taking the lead.

Kansas City broke through in the 61st minute when Opara headed home the ball off a corner kick. The ball was played long, allowing defender Kevin Ellis to head the ball back toward Opara. For Opara, it was his second Open Cup goal in as many games.

The Dynamo appeared to draw a penalty kick about two minutes later when Memo Rodriguez went down after a challenge by Kansas City defender Saad Abdul-Salaam, but the Houston attacker instead was shown a yellow card for diving.

Kansas City managed to hold the Dynamo at bay for the remainder of the match, springing Latif Blessing for a late counterattack.

Blessing carried the ball down the left side, then cut inside past a defender and passed to a streaking Gerso in the box. Gerso calmly slotted the ball past Willis to secure the win for Sporting KC.

It was Gerso’s team-leading eighth goal of the season and second in the Open Cup.

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo uses reserves to beat North Carolina FC in OT

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Houston Dynamo logoIn nearly every aspect of the Dynamo’s road match at North Carolina FC, the two sides were even. But every game in the US Open Cup needs a winner, and Jose “Memo” Rodriguez controlled a rebound in the 109th minute and slotted a shot just out of the reach of NCFC’s keeper to give Houston a 3-2 win Wednesday night in Cary, North Carolina.

Though Houston was the better team on paper, the club withheld many of their stars in preparation for a league match on Saturday. This created a very even playing field between the two teams. North Carolina FC got out to an early lead when Steven Miller found himself wide open just outside the box. He finished it with a drive to the top corner to give NCFC a 1-0 lead.

That lead was short lived, though. In the 25th minute, Vicante Sanchez delivered a beautiful cross to Andrew Wenger, who finished the easy goal to tie the game. Coming out of the break, Houston looked determined to apply more pressure and create more chances. Manager Wilmer Cabrera later said his strategy paid off.

“Despite having seven players from our affiliated USL team, we needed to come over here and pressure the ball, and it was good,” Cabrera said.

The second half ended up a mirror image of the first, with Houston scoring first in the 62nd minute. Dylan Remick stole a pass deep in NCFC’s territory and found the bottom corner for a 2-1 lead. Just seven minutes later, Lance Laing found the equalizer off a set piece.

With just two minutes left in regulation, play was suspended due to lightning in the area. After taking a break for nearly 90 minutes, the players retuned to the field. After several good chances in extra time, Rodriguez finally broke though to put his team through to the next round.

Houston advances to the Fifth Round (Round of 16) in the Central region, and will face either Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, or Sporting KC as determined by U.S. Soccer’s draw Thursday morning.

2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Fabian Castillo’s stoppage time winner stuns Houston Dynamo, sends FC Dallas to Semifinals

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FC Dallas logo

After catching eyes with his assist in the Round of 16 against the Colorado Rapids, Fabian Castillo had another excellent US Open Cup outing Wednesday as he beat Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis in the 91st minute to help FC Dallas advance to the semifinals of the nation’s oldest soccer tournament.

The goal was Castillo’s first of the 2016 edition of the tournament, helping Dallas build its edge to 3-1-0 against its Texas rivals in the Open Cup. It also was Dallas’ first win over Houston in three games this year.

The first half was a chippy affair, with few clear scoring chances.

The heat, an incredibly humid 91 degrees at kickoff, didn’t stop both teams from creating chances, but it may have prevented them from finishing said chances.

Dallas may have been tired from playing its fifth competitive game in 17 days, while Houston has had a dismal season, highlighted by Owen Coyle’s resignation to return to England with Blackburn Rovers.

Both teams seemed to take the game seriously, trotting out strong, but their finishing left a lot to be desired.

Dallas almost got on the scoreboard before halftime, when Michael Barrios got into the Dynamo penalty box off a Houston turnover only to be taken down without drawing a whistle.

The no-call from the referee was probably the right choice, but Houston wasn’t out of the woods yet.

A minute later, Maximiliano Urruti got on the end of a pass into the box from Mauro Diaz, but his near post shot was turned away for a corner that proved to be fruitless, leaving the teams scoreless after 45 minutes.

Minutes into the second half, Houston’s Mauro Manotas found himself unmarked in the box only to be denied by FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz.

Two minutes later, Dallas forward Michael Barrios got into the box onside at the other end, but hit his shot right at Willis.

The teams continued to exchange chances, only to see each go wanting.

The heat may have even gotten to Dynamo forward Andrew Wenger, who openly requested a sub in the 68th minute despite not looking the least bit hobbled.

Moments later, Houston’s Giles Barnes was fouled on the edge of the box, earning a free kick that was ultimately wasted.

The deadlock held until the 91st minute, before the number of added minutes had even been announced, when Castillo got into the box, bolted toward the near post and hit his shot with so much power it managed to skim off of Willis and into the net.

Cristian Maidana had one last chance for Houston but his free kick missed high and wide as time expired.

FC Dallas advance to the Semifinals for the ninth time in club history, which is tied for third-most in tournament history behind the Chicago Fire (12) and Kutis SC (11).

Dallas will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Semifinals. The date, time and venue will be announced on Thursday, July 21 at 11 a.m. ET.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: HOUSTON DYNAMO VS. FC DALLAS

2016 US Open Cup Round 5: Houston Dynamo get revenge, eliminate defending champion Sporting KC, 3-1

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The Houston Dynamo celebrate a goal against Sporting KC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Nigel Brooks | Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo celebrate a goal against Sporting KC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Nigel Brooks | Houston Dynamo

Mauro Manotas netted a brace and the Houston Dynamo downed defending Open Cup champions Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at home Wednesday night to advance to the Quarterfinals of the tournament for the second straight year.

Manotas got on the end of Abdoulie Mansally’s cross in the 7th minute. Alex doubled the lead in the second half when he headed home a cross from Andrew Wenger. Former Dynamo captain Brad Davis pulled one back for Sporting six minutes later just after coming on as a sub. Mantis put the game away by finishing off a through ball from Boniek Garcia with less than 10 minutes left.

Kansas City dominated possession, but Houston outshot Kansas City 17-13 and had a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.

The two teams met last year in the Quarterfinals when Sporting overcame an early one-goal deficit to beat the Dynamo 3-1 en route to their third Open Cup title.

The Dynamo will face in-state rivals FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals on June 20 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Houston won the first meeting 5-0 and the teams played to a 1-1 draw during the MLS regular season.

Houston left back Mansally crossed the ball from the left side and picked out the 20-year-old Colombian. It was the first assist for Mansally in a Houston uniform after he was acquired from Real Salt Lake in February.

Cristian Maidana nearly doubled the Houston lead soon after the opening goal, but his chipped shot sailed wide to the right. Kevin Ellis had the best chance of the half for Sporting just before the break, but his shot to the upper corner was pushed away by Houston keeper Joe Willis.

Wenger kept the ball alive with a header back across the net ten minutes after halftime and Alex was at the right place at the right time to head it home and double the lead.

Davis, the Dynamo all-time leader in games, starts, minutes and assists after nine years, came on for Kansas City in the 58th minute and immediately made an impact. Diego Rubio’s attempted cross was blocked but the ball fell right in front of the Houston goal where Davis tapped it in.

Sporting continued to press for an equalizer but Houston finally broke through in the 84th minutes. Garcia and Leon Miranda played a little give-and-go at the top of the box and Garcia slipped a perfectly weighted ball right on the foot of Manotas, who calmly slotted it away to complete his brace.

The two goals by Manotas are the third and fourth of his Open Cup career. He scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win against the Colorado Rapids in the fifth round last year and opened up the scoring in this year’s tournament in Houston’s 4-0 against San Antonio FC on June 15.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2016 US Open Cup Round 4: Houston Dynamo dominate San Antonio FC, 4-0

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Houston DynamoIn a match between two Texas clubs, the Houston Dynamo began their run in the 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 4-0 win over San Antonio FC.

The brand new USL club held its own for the first 45 minutes in its first ever match against an MLS opponent, playing very well against their new in-state rival. However, Houston opened up the scoring in the 39th minute after San Antonio defender Milton Palacios slipped at the top of the box, giving room for Houston’s Manotas space to slip the ball in past goalkeeper Josh Ford.

It looked as though the visitors would go into halftime only down one, but Alex gave the home team a 2-0 lead in first half stoppage time after a deflected cross landed neatly for him. DaMarcus Beasley was credited with the assisted, his first in the tournament since 2003. According to TheCup.us records, this marks the biggest gap — 13 years — in between Open Cup assists in the Modern Era

The second half was a different story. Houston dominated possession as San Antonio couldn’t get the ball out of their own half for the majority of the half. Two quick goals in the 60th and the 66th minutes by Raul Rodriguez and Leonel Miranda respectively, sealed the Cup victory for the MLS side.

Houston will await the Fifth Round draw tomorrow where they will find out their next opponent and what bracket they will be in as the pool of teams left continues to shrink.

Houston Dynamo vs. San Antonio FC
U.S. Open Cup – Fourth Round
June 15, 2016—BBVA Compass Stadium—Houston, Texas
Attendance: 5,807

Scoring Summary:
HOU: Mauro Manotas 1 (unassisted) 39
HOU: Alex Lima 1 (David Rocha 1, DaMarcus Beasley 1) 45+
HOU: Raul Rodriguez 1 (David Rocha 2) 60
HOU: Leonel Miranda 1 (Alex Lima 1) 66

Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Sheanon Williams, David Horst (Raul Rodriguez 46), Agus, DaMarcus Beasley © (TJ Casner 71); Boniek García (Cristian Maidana 62), Alex Lima, David Rocha, Zach Steinberger, Leonel Miranda; Mauro Manotas
Unused Substitutes: Calle Brown, Will Bruin, Abdoulie Mansally, Collen Warner

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (three players tied with 2) SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Cristian Maidana 2) FOULS: 5 (Alex Lima and Sheanon Williams tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (Boniek Garcia 2) CORNER KICKS: 3 (three players tied with 1); SAVES: 2

San Antonio FC: Josh Ford; Milton Palacios (Biko Bradnock-Brennan 74), Stephen McCarthy, Sam McBride, Greg Cochrane; Michael Reed, Rafael Castillo, Carlos Alvarez, Danny Garcia (Victor Araujo 61); Shawn Chin (Jacques Francois 45), Jason Johnson
Unused Substitutes: Matt Cardone, Miguel Salazar, Sebastien Thuriere, Fejiro Okiomah

TOTAL SHOTS: 4 (Jason Johnson 3) SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Jason Johnson and Milton Palacios tied with 1) FOULS: 8 (Jacques Francois and Michael Reed tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (three players tied with 1) CORNER KICKS: 2 (Carlos Alvarez and Rafael Castillo tied with 1); SAVES: 3

Misconduct Summary:
None.

Referee: Leszek Stalmach
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Weed, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Kyle Phillips

FULL MATCH REPLAY: SAN ANTONIO FC AT HOUSTON DYNAMO

Houston Dynamo request to remove RGVFC from US Open Cup granted; Chattanooga FC, Kitsap Pumas receive byes

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Rio_Grande_Valley_FC_logoThe United States Soccer Federation announced another change to the format for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. USL expansion side Rio Grande Valley FC (RGVFC) have been removed from this year’s competition at the request of their MLS affiliate, the Houston Dynamo.

As a result, the Kitsap Pumas of the Premier Development League (PDL) and the Chattanooga FC of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) will receive first round byes and will begin play in Round 2, which is scheduled for May 18.

In January, the federation confirmed that all professional teams that are owned by higher division clubs would be excluded from the US Open Cup. However, since the Dynamo do not own RGVFC, the USL side was included in the field of 92 for the 103rd edition of the tournament. The controversy with this decision was rooted in the fact that RGVFC are run by the coaching and front office staff of the Dynamo. So while, the MLS side does not have any financial control over the team, they have control over all other aspects of the club, including the coaches and the players on the field.

Houston DynamoThis announcement eliminates that controversy. But why was the decision made?

“We just wanted to be seen the same as all the other teams in MLS,” said Houston Dynamo spokesperson Matt Pederson. “We want to be a legimate Dynamo entity.”

Pederson said the request was made shortly after the federation made the Jan. 7 announcement that they would be included. He said the Dynamo should play by the same rules as other MLS clubs that own minor league professional clubs, like the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Sporting Kansas City.

Some have speculated that excluding RGVFC would give the Dynamo more depth as they attempt to win their first-ever US Open Cup title. Houston has reached the Semifinals twice (2006, 2009), but have never played in a Final since they were launched in 2006. Having the ability to call up players from Rio Grande Valley could help as they deal with schedule congestion and injuries. However, only players with MLS contracts are able to suit up for MLS teams in the tournament and Pederson was quick to point out that RGCFC currently only has one player under contract who is on loan from the Dynamo: Christian Lucatero.

RGVFC was scheduled to open the tournament in Round 2, but now there’s a hole to fill. To do that, the federation has awarded the Kitsap Pumas of the PDL and Chattanooga FC a bye into the Second Round. This marks just the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that an amateur team has started the tournament in Round 2 (2003, 2005, 2014).

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