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2013 US Open Cup qualifying: RWB Adria, KC Athletics use late goals to qualify out of Region 2

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RWB Adria's Semir Mesanovic strikes the game-winning strike in extra time against FC Indiana. Photo: Chris O'Connor | OnTheFire.com

USASA Region II submitted their two teams into the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with two semifinal matches on Sunday, April 21. RWB Adria are back in the Open Cup for the fourth time in the Modern Pro Era with a 2-1 extra time victory over FC Indiana. The Chicago-based club got a stunning game-winning goal from Semir Mesanovic in the 110th minute to clinch a spot in the tournament for the first time since 2008. The two-time national semifinalists (1978, 1991), will begin play in Round 1 on May 14.

So will the KC Athletics, as their player-manager Kyle Perkins came off the bench to score a 90th minute game-winner to break a scoreless deadlock against Michigan’s Dearborn Stars. The Athletics are back in the Open Cup for the second year in a row, and the third time in the last four years. However, a protest was filed by the Dearborn Stars prior to the match kicking off, so the result is currently under review.

RWB Adria (IL) 2:1 (AET) FC Indiana (IN)
Kroc Center (Chicago, IL)

By Scott Fenwick (OnTheFire.com)

After his first goal on a penalty kick in the 13th minute that put his team up 1-0 on the FC Indiana Lions, RWB Adria midfielder Semir Mesanovic never would have thought his next one would come in the 20th minute – of extra time. But come it did, as a valiant, gritty Lions defense finally broke in the face of a relentless Adria attack that couldn’t finish an astounding number of scoring chances on the afternoon.

With a one-time volley off teammate Vlad Baciu’s hard-fought header,Mesanovic ripped a shot from inside penalty area past Lions goalkeeper Nick Barber, and sent his storied club back to the US Open Cup for the first time since 2008 with a 2-1 victory at the Kroc Center on Chicago’s south side.

Before the match, Lions’ head coach Eric Castro lauded Adria, but hinted his game plan, if executed, would give his squad a fighting chance.

“They have a talented, experienced team,” said Castro. “Our strength is being organized. If we stay organized, we can probably stay with these guys.”

And stay with them they did.

RWB Adria and FC Indiana (red) engaged in a physical battle all afternoon. Photo: Chris O'Connor | OnTheFire.com

Surprisingly, Castro employed an unorthodox, defensive 2-4-4 to limit long balls to Adria’s wings and forwards. For the better part of 110 minutes, the tactic worked. FC Indiana stayed compact, withstood a barrage of shots on goal, and frustrated the veteran Chicago side long enough to give themselves a fighting chance at a win.

In particular, the Lions’ wingbacks, Robert Kiernan and Stuart Mitchell, stood out on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish duo worked hard all afternoon up and down the flanks to disrupt Adria’s attack and keep them honest in defense.

But the Lions generated only one scoring chance as time wound down during the first half. Otherwise, Adria snuffed out their counterattacks without much trouble.

Adria dominated possession during the first 45 minutes and spent most of it parked in the Lions’ half of the pitch. Nonetheless, aside from the penalty kick awarded by referee Marc Lawrence in the 13th minute, the Chicago side couldn’t finish a number of good scoring chances. Adria forwards Vlad Baciu and Taylor Bond were harassed by a spirited Lions’ defense and had no answers for ‘keeper Nick Barber.

Barber would continue his excellent play in the second half, keeping his squad in the match with save after save as Adria’s forwards managed to break through and get behind the Lions defense. His squad, only down a goal, Barber hung tough in the face of countless Adria corners, direct free kicks, and crosses, and inspired the men in front of him to keep working hard.

As time wound down, the match opened up a bit, and the Lions caught a gassed Adria on the counterattack with an 81st minute equalizer from center forward Alex Sangsuwangul, assisted by his counterpart on the right, Kevin Amazio.

Adria continued to press during the last ten minutes of regulation time, but the organized, determined Lions defense again held firm.

Extra time was marked by more of the same. Adria created chance after chance, and the Lions bent, but did not break. As the minutes ticked up, incredulously, it seemed the match was destined to go to penalty kicks. But then the dam broke. Barber had no chance to save Mesanovic’s laser beam winner as Adria qualified for the Open Cup for the fourth time (1996, 2007, 2008, 2013) in the Modern Pro Era.

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Quote Sheet

FC Indiana head coach Eric Castro

On the match and his squad’s effort: “We battled hard. We made a couple mistakes with the goals that happened. You can’t make mistakes experienced teams. Our guys are young. is well-equipped. They’re experienced beyond belief. Not too many people give us chances, but our guys fight. We won’t give up against anybody.”

“It was a team effort today. That’s all I ask for from my guys. Everybody’s working together. There are no individuals on this team.”

RWB Adria manager Ante Loncar

“I didn’t think it would be such a low-scoring game. To their credit, they played good defense. They surprised me a little. Down 1-0, they stuck with the game plan to defend the whole time. I thought they might try to open up a little bit. But to their credit, they got a goal. They put some life back in their side after that, but then we hit a nice goal in overtime. Then they opened up a little, but at that point there were only about ten minutes left. They defended really well. I give them credit for that.”

On advancing to the 100th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: “It feels good, but we’ll have some anxiety until the draw. I think all USASA sides will be matched up against in the first round, which will be helpful.”

“We need to work on our fitness and get our numbers . We’ve got a couple injuries, and other commitments, but we have to work on fitness.”

RWB Adria midfielder Igor Stijepic

On going into extra time: “We didn’t expect it, but I think we played better than them and we tried to score.”

On the match overall: “It’s tough to play with this weather. The competition was good. But we all give 100% for this team. It was good. We won.”

On advancing to the100th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: “We feel great. The guys are excited. We’re looking forward to it.”

RWB Adria midfielder Semir Mesanovic

On his game-winning goal in extra time: “I just got a nice bounce, took a clean shot, and hit it.”

On Adria not putting away scoring chances during regulation: “ not our best game. But we’re glad we’re through to the next round and we’ll see if the next game will prove to be better. We were sloppy today.”

On preparation for the US Open Cup: “Fitness. We’ll try to get some practice in. Today showed a little bit. Hopefully, we can fix that.”

2013 USASA Region II semifinals
RWB Adria (IL) 2:1 (AET) FC Indiana (IN)
Kroc Center – Chicago, IL

Scoring Summary
RWB: Semir Mesanovic (PK) – 13th min.
IND: Alex Sangsuwangul (Kevin Amazio) – 81st min.
RWB: Semir Mesanovic – (Vlad Baciu) – 110th min.

Booking Summary
IND: Kevin Amazio (Y) – 72nd min.
IND: Patrick Kelly (Y) – 118th min.

Lineups

RWB Adria: Igor Dimov (GK), Piotr Kolasinski, Charlie Trout, Aaron Nichols, Johnny Morris, Mladen Bajamic, Admir Ljeljak, Semir Mesanovic, Igor Stijepic, Vlad Baciu, Taylor Bond (Derek Huffman 74th)

FC Indiana:  Nick Barber (GK), Ricardo Ruiz, Patrick Kelly, Stuart Mitchell, Robert Kiernan, Kevin Issac, Phil Gase, Kevin Amazio, Jeff Gorman, Victor Martinez, Alex Sangsuwangul (TJ Oliveres 113th)

Attendance: 50 (Approx.)


KC Athletics (KS) 1:0 Dearborn Stars (MI)
Olathe North (Olathe, KS)

By Anders Aarhus (@sportsviking)

As a player-coach, subbing yourself on is a gutsy move, but Kyle Perkins is glad he did.

The KC Athletics (white) needed a stoppage time goal to get past the visiting Dearborn Stars in the 2013 USASA Region I semifinal. Photo: David Kuhn

Perkins’ 90th minute goal gave his KC Athletics a 1-0 win over the Dearborn Stars, clinching the team a spot in the US Open Cup for the second year in a row and the third time in four years.

“I always plan to come on,” said Perkins. “I just try to make as much of an impact as I can.”

With the score tied 0-0 and extra time and penalties looming, the Athletics forced a turnover thirty yards from goal. Left-winger Peter Kariotis picked up the ball, surged forward into space and played a pass in behind the Dearborn backline to release Perkins in on net. With the keeper rushing out, Perkins kept his composure and hit a simple chip to break the deadlock.

“We got a ball to Pete and I saw the through run, he saw it and slotted it in,” said Perkins. “ keeper was coming out low. I just flipped it over him and scored.”

It was a thrilling culmination to a match that saw plenty of action.

Dearborn came out looking hungry and nearly took the lead after just 10 minutes of play. A corner kick to the back post was headed down by Daniel Vitu and cleared off the line by KC, resulting in another corner. On the ensuing set piece, the Stars hit the bar with a header and had a follow-up shot cleared off the line.

“We had numerous opportunities, especially early on in the game,” said Stars head coach Mo Hijazi. “Vitu just couldn’t find the back of the net. That would have changed the game, I believe. It really would have.”

The Stars finished the game with five shots on goal and nine shots overall, but couldn’t find a way to beat KC ‘keeper Steven Grow, whose best save came on the stroke of halftime. A cross from the right flank found a Dearborn player unmarked in the KC penalty area, but Grow made an acrobatic stop to keep the game scoreless.

At reportedly 62 yards wide, the width of the field at Olathe North High School was an issue as the Dearborn Stars filed a protest prior to the match. Photo: David Kuhn

“It’s a difficult job sometimes,” said Grow. “You don’t get a lot of action but when you do you have to really step up and keep your head in the game. All credit to the team. I made a couple stops, but they kept the ball, kept hounding at them all 90 minutes.”

The Athletics’ best first-half chance came in the 17th minute when forward Michael Ferguson chased down a long goal kick from Grow and managed to get a shot off that was saved by Dearborn ‘keeper Vito Lonigro.

At the break, it was Dearborn holding the advantage in possession and shots thanks to a three-man midfield that overwhelmed KC’s 4-4-2. To start the second half, Perkins changed to a 4-3-3 and the results were immediate as the Athletics controlled the opening 10 minutes of the period.

Despite the good start to the half from KC, Dearborn had another golden opportunity to go ahead in the 51st minute. Former Michigan state standout Cyrus Saydee beat the offside trap and was in alone on goal, but Grow narrowed the angle and did just enough, forcing the forward to screw his shot wide of the post. It was Saydee with another chance in the 65th minute, as he cut inside two KC defenders and shot from the top of the arc only to see his effort parried by Grow.

From there the game really opened up as both teams threw players forward in search of a winner. Perkins subbed on in the 62nd minute and his movement and one-touch passing helped create some good opportunities for the Athletics. In the 80th minute, KC left back John Mackey made a nice overlapping run and was played into the box by Kariotis, but Lonigro saved his point-blank shot.

It was the best chance for either team until Perkins’ dramatic winner.

“I felt like we dominated most of the play,” said Hijazi. “I didn’t count them, but I thought had one shot on goal, maybe two. The field size was a little more conducive to their play.”

The field size was the subject of some controversy before the game when officials determined the width of the pitch to be 62 yards, three yards shorter than the minimum of 65 required for USASA National Cup play.

“I do. I think so,” said Hijazi when asked if he thought the narrow field affected his team. “We’re a technical team. With it being so congested I thought it played to their strengths, more of the tackling aspect of the game.”

Prior to the game, the Dearborn Stars filed a protest based on the field size. Match commissioner Rich Kaminsky said he thought the game might have to be replayed if the Stars’ protest is upheld.

For now, the Athletics head into the Region 2 final against RWB Adria knowing they’ve already secured a place in the Open Cup.

“It’s our goal to get to the Open Cup,” said Perkins. “Three out of four years is not too bad for our first four years as a club. We’re excited and ready to go back out and start training a little harder so when we do come up against the PDL, USL maybe MLS teams if we go far enough, we’ll be in a little better shape than we have been the past two games.”

2013 USASA Region II semifinals
KC Athletics (KS) 1:0 Dearborn Stars (MI)
Olathe North – Olathe, KS

Scoring Summary
KCA: Kyle Perkins – 90th min.

Booking Summary
KCA: Matt Kuhn (Y) – 13th min.
DEA: Hamoody Saad – 30th min.
DEA: Nik Djokic (Y) – 42nd min.
DEA: Unknown (Y) – 54th min.
DEA: Unknown (Y) – 77th min.
KCA: John Mackey (Y) – 85th min.

Game Stats
Dearborn
Shots: 9 | SOG: 5 | Fouls: 8 | Cards: 4 (all yellow)
Kansas City
Shots: 9 | SOG: 3 | Fouls: 8 | Cards: 2 (both yellow)

Attendance: 50 (Approx.)

USASA REGION II OPEN CUP TOURNAMENT

First round (Saturday, April 6)
FC Indiana (IN) 1:3 KC Athletics (KS)
Croatian Eagles (WI) 0:2 RWB Adria (IL)
Cincy Saints (OH-South) 0:5 Dearborn Stars (MI) – RECAP

Semifinals (Sunday, April 21)
FC Indiana (IN) 1:2 (AET) RWB Adria (IL)
Dearborn Stars SC (MI) 0:1 KC Athletics (KS)

Semifinal winners earn berths in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Final (Saturday, June 29)
RWB Adria (IL) vs. KC Athletics (KS)
Overland Park, Kan.
Winner advances to USASA Open Cup, July 19-21 at Star Complex, San Antonio, Texas

Past USASA Region II entries in US Open Cup

2013: KC Athletics (KS), RWB Adria (IL)
2012:  Croatian Eagles (WI), KC Athletics (KS)
2011: AAC Eagles (IL), Iowa Menace (IA)
2010: Detroit United (MI), KC Athletics (KS)
2009: Bavarian SC (WI), 402 (NE)
2008: AAC Eagles (IL), RWB Adria (IL)
2007: Bavarian SC (WI), RWB Adria (IL)
2006: Chicago Lightning SC (IL), Croatian Eagles (WI)
2005: AAC Eagles (IL), Reggae Boyz (IN)
2004: Bavarian SC (WI), SAC Wisla (IL)
2003: Bavarian SC (WI)
2002: AAC Eagles (IL)
2001: Chaldean Arsenal (MI)
2000: Bavarian SC (WI)
1999: Bavarian SC (WI)
1998: SAC Wisla (IL)
1997: Mequon United (WI)
1996: RWB Adria (IL)
1995: AAC Eagles (IL)

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: USASA Region I, II, IV and US Club Soccer in action this weekend (with updates)

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It’s a busy weekend of qualifying for the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, as we head down the home stretch. By Monday morning, the USASA will know five of the six teams that will join Red Force (Florida) and North Texas Rayados in the 2013 US Open Cup. Also, US Club Soccer’s “lights out” semifinal match will be replayed on Sunday to determine who will play the Fresno Fuego Future in a “Win & You’re In” match the following weekend.

Here is a breakdown of this weekend’s games, and as always you can check Twitter (@USOpenCup) for updates, and remember if you’re at any of these games or have any Open Cup-related news/info/comments to make, be sure to use this year’s hashtag #USOC100.

(All Times Eastern)

FRIDAY

USASA Region IV Tournament
DAY 1: Friday, April 19
Ontario Soccer Park – Ontario, CA

PSA Elite 3:0 Doxa Italia
DV8 Defenders 8:2 The Internationalists
Cal FC 12:3 San Francisco City FC

It was a high-scoring opening day of the USASA Region IV tournament, as the trend of barn-burners and blowouts continue. With many teams having been burned by goal difference tiebreakers in the past, a recent tradition of running up the score has been established and ehas continued into 2013. Cal FC dropped a dozen goals on newcomers San Francisco City in their quest to qualify for the second straight year, and attempt to provide an encore to one of last year’s biggest Cinderella stories. 2011 qualifiers DV8 Defenders missed the cut last year and started their campaign to represent the Bay Area once again with a convincing 8-2 win over The Internationalists. While the most competitive match of the day was still a 3-0 shutout with PSA Elite taking out Doxa Italia. Although, with head-to-head likely the first tiebreaker in the group, and PSA Elite competing in the other group, Doxa Italia still has hope of qualifying just like they did in 2011 as long as they win both of their games on Saturday. Clearly, that will be no easy task as they must play Cal FC and DV8 Defenders.

SATURDAY

USASA Region II Semifinals (Win & You’re In)
Saturday, April 20 – 3 p.m.
Kroc Center – Chicago, IL

FC Indiana 1:2 (AET) RWB Adria

RWB Adria, a semifinalist in 1978 and 1991, qualifies for the US Open Cup for the first time since 2008.  

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USASA Region IV Tournament
DAY 2: Saturday, April 20
Ontario Soccer Park – Ontario, CA

Doxa Italia 7:0 San Francisco City FC
Cal FC 4:1 DV8 Defenders
PSA Elite 10:1 The Internationalists

Doxa Italia 2:1 Cal FC
PSA Elite 9:2 DV8 Defenders
San Francisco City FC 4:1 The Internationalists

When the dust settled out west on Saturday evening, two teams punched their ticket to the 2013 US Open Cup. PSA Elite cruised to three straight wins, outscoring its opponents 22-3, en route to a Group B win and their second straight trip to the Open Cup. Fellow Southern California club, Doxa Italia, overcame a 3-0 loss to PSA Elite in the opening game and clinched their second Open Cup berth in three years. Doxa emerged from Group A despite their loss to Group B champion PSA by defeating the two clubs in their group, newcomers San Francisco City (7-0), followed by a winner-take-all game against last year’s Cinderella story Cal FC. Doxa defeated Cal FC 2-1 in the final game as the two clubs finished tied atop the group standings, with Doxa Italia moving on to the championship game by way of the head-to-head tiebreaker. PSA Elite and Doxa Italia have both clinched their spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, they will meet again in the Region IV title game on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. local time) to determine who will represent the region at the USASA National Finals.

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: USASA Region IV Finals (April 19-21)
Ontario Soccer Park – Ontario, CA –
All Times Eastern

Group A PTS W L D GD
Doxa Italia (CA – South) 6 2 1 0 +5
Cal FC (CA – South) 6 2 0 0 +12
San Fran. City (CA – North) 3 1 1 0 -13

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Group B PTS W L D GD
PSA Elite (CA – South) 9 3 0 0 +19
DV8 Defenders (CA – North) 3 1 2 0 -4
Internationalists (CA – South) 0 0 3 0 -18


SUNDAY

USASA Region II Semifinals (Win & You’re In)
 Sunday, April 21 – 1 p.m.
Olathe North – Olathe, KS

Dearborn Stars SC (MI) 0:1 KC Athletics (KS)

KC Athletics player/manager Kyle Perkins scored the lone goal in the 90th minute to send the Kansas-based club to their second straight Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This will be their third Open Cup berth in the last four years.

USASA Region I Quarterfinals
Sunday, April 21 – 3 p.m.
Newtown High School – Newtown, CT

NY Pancyprian Freedoms (ENY) 0:0 Newtown Pride SC (CT)
Newtown Pride advance 7-6 in PK shootout – will play at Mass Premier Soccer on April 28 (Win & You’re In)

The two teams battled to a scoreless draw after 120 minutes, but it was Newtown Pride SC who advanced after winning the penalty kick shootout 7-6. The Connecticut representative are now one win away from a US Open Cup berth and they will travel to the Boston area to play Mass Premier Soccer (MA) on April 28. More details to come. USASA Region I logo

USASA Region I Semifinals (Win & You’re In)
Sunday, April 21 – 6 p.m.
Montville Community Park (130 Changebridge Rd.) – Montville, NJ

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (MDCVA) 1:1 Icon FC (NJ)
Icon FC wins PK shootout, 7-6, to qualify for the 2013 US Open Cup

Icon FC became just the second New Jersey-based USASA team to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) when they won a penalty kick shootout with the Aegean Hawks. 7-6. The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes and for the second time that Sunday afternoon, a Region I match had to be decided at the penalty kick spot. More details to come.

US Club Soccer Semifinals
Sunday, April 21 – 8 p.m.
Valley Christian High School – San Jose, CA

San Ramon FC 0:2 (AET) Los Gatos Storm
Los Gatos Storm will play Fresno Fuego Future in the USCS Final

There are now two teams remaining in the US Club Soccer qualifying tournament after Los Gatos Storm needed extra time to defeat San Ramon FC 2-0 on Sunday night. The original game was cut short in the middle of the second overtime period due to a power outage, but the replay lasted the full 120 minutes as the Storm put themselves one win away from a berth in the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. They will play the Fresno Fuego Future, a club that features the PDL franchise of the same name, at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, CA to decide US Club Soccer’s representative in the 2013 US Open Cup. The winner of that game will begin play in the Play-In Round on May 7 against an NPSL opponent still to be determined. More details to come.

#USOC100

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Three teams, ‘lucky loser’ complete USASA Region II final four

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The semifinals are complete in the USASA’s Region II Open Cup qualifying tournament.

In a rather unusual format, three first round winners will join one of the losing teams in the final four to be played on Saturday, April 20. The two semifinals winners will qualify for the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Illinois representative RWB Adria defeated the only team that had to qualify for Region II this year, the Croatian Eagles from Milwaukee, by a score of 2-0. Elsewhere, the Dearborn Stars won their first-ever Open Cup qualifying match, 5-0 over the Cincy Saints. Down in Kansas, the KC Athletics, who are looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the third time in four years, knocked off FC Indiana by a score of 3-1.

In an effort to achieve a four-team semifinal, the Region II organizers decided to give one of the three losing teams a second chance. They decided that the losing team with the best goal difference would survive and advance to the “Win & You’re In” round. The beneficiary of that lifeline was FC Indiana, who tied with the Eagles with a -2 goal difference, but the first tiebreaker was goals scored, thus sending the Hoosier state’s lone entry to the final four.

After the games were complete, a random draw was conducted and it was determined that the KC Athletics will host the Dearborn Stars and FC Indiana will travel a few hours north to Chicago to face RWB Adria in the “Win & You’re In” round. The games are scheduled to be played on April 20 with kick off times and venues still to be determined.

Dearborn Stars (MI) 5:0 Cincy Saints (OH-South)
International Academy (Dearborn Heights, MI) – Saturday, April 6 – 7 p.m. ET

By Alejandro L. Zúñiga (MLive.com/soccer | @the_zuniga)

With winds blustering and the sun setting, the Dearborn Stars rudely welcomed the Cincy Saints to Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights, Mich. on Saturday, beating them 5-0 and moving themselves one win away from earning a berth in the 100th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Both teams had some difficulty adjusting to the artificial turf field in the early moments of the match, and players misjudged passes and bounces as they struggled to keep the ball long enough to create dangerous attacks. But making the most of their home-field advantage, the Stars managed to break though in the 29th minute thanks to midfielder Nik Djokic.

After receiving and settling a perfect through ball, Djokic found himself all alone in the box against the Saints’ goalkeeper. His team had found itself in that position twice before, but couldn’t capitalize on one-on-one opportunities. Djokic, though, took a touch before blasting a powerful, rising shot past the netminder.

Cincinnati almost put Dearborn into an early hole in the opening minutes of the match. In the sixth minute, Cincinnati forward Marc Hansson made a long run along the left wing, but pulled a left-footed shot just wide. He had another chance just five minutes later, but Stars goalkeeper Vito Lonigro charged out and made a sliding save. Lonigro was protected well by his back line throughout the match, but he was solid when called upon.

“The first half was a little shaky in the beginning,” Lonigro said. “But in the end, I didn’t have to do much.”

The Saints’ chances of qualifying took another blow in the minutes before halftime when Hamoody Saad, the brother of Sporting Kansas City forward Soony Saad, deftly lifted a shot into the net to double Dearborn’s lead.

Damion Blackburn – Cincinnati’s leading scorer – was a non-factor on Saturday night. The former Columbus Crew forward looked out of place patrolling the middle of the field, unable to control possession or push play forward. At the start of the second half, he watched helplessly as the Stars mounted an attack that ended with midfielder Nathan Hicklin’s driving laser past the goalkeeper that gave Dearborn a three-goal advantage.

Blackburn had an opportunity to pull his side back into the game when the Saints were awarded a free kick in the 50th minute, but his looping effort didn’t threaten Lonigro and sailed over the bar.

The Stars’ Miki Djerisilo also had a quiet night, but he tallied a penalty kick goal in the 66th minute to dispel any hopes of a Cincinnati comeback. The Serbia native stutter stepped as he ran up to the ball before cooly burying a 12-yard shot into the bottom corner. The Stars added a final tally by Thiago Harris on a rebound with four minutes remaining in the match.

“I love playing with this team, and I look forward to the games we have to come,” Lonigro said. “We’re looking to make a name for ourselves.”

The semifinal round is scheduled for April 20 and if the Stars are able to defeat the KC Athletics, they will become just the third Michigan team (Detroit United in 2010; Chaldean Arsenal in 2001) from the Michigan Soccer Association to qualify for the tournament in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present).

“We’re going to come out swinging again this year,” he said. “If we didn’t think we could win a couple games we wouldn’t play.

KC Athletics (KS) 3:1 FC Indiana (IN)
Olathe Northwest High School (Olathe, KS) – Saturday, April 6 – 3 p.m. ET

By Anders Aarhus (@sportsviking)

The Kansas City Athletics defeated FC Indiana 3-1 Saturday afternoon to move within one game of qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Strong winds had an effect throughout the game, but the Athletics got first half goals from Brian Williams and Matt Kuhn, while Garrett Webb added a third from the penalty spot midway through the second to secure the victory.

Indiana’s consolation goal proved to be crucial as they advance to the semifinals as the losing team with the most goals scored.

The visitors came into the game content with sitting deep and attempting to hit KC on the counter.

“They did ,” said Athletics player-coach Kyle Perkins. “We had originally thought they just did that at the beginning because they were going against the wind in the first half. But they ended up coming and starting it off defending in their own half.”

“It actually allowed us to do what we wanted to do which is keep the ball, play it from side-to-side and find the best point of attack,” said Perkins.

A 4-3-3 helped the Athletics exploit the wings in the first half and led to both goals. After the break, KC went to a 4-4-2 to hold the ball better against the wind.

“We’re still trying to figure it out exactly, personnel and formation,” said Perkins. “We have so many attacking players. We try to get on the field at the same time.”

In addition to the strong attack, Perkins singled out defender John Markey as a top performer.

“He played really well. I can’t really think of a time where he lost the ball,” Perkins said.

Both teams advance to the April 20 “Win & You’re In” semifinal with the Athletics hosting the Dearborn Stars, and FC Indiana traveling to Chicago to face RWB Adria.

RWB Adria (IL) 2:0 Croatian Eagles (WI)
Kroc Center (Chicago, IL) – Saturday, April 6 – 3 p.m. ET

By Scott Fenwick (OnTheFire.com)

The Windy City certainly lived up to its name on Saturday afternoon. From the start, it was evident that a sustained, strong, and direct wind would significantly impact the run of play in a win or go home grudge match that saw hosts RWB Adria down Milwaukee rivals Croatian Eagles 2-0 on Chicago’s south side in a USASA Region II US Open Cup qualifier.

It was a physical battle between the two rival Croatian clubs, RWB Adria (right) and the Croatian Eagles. Photo: Scott Fenwick | OnTheFire.com

Croatian Eagles had the advantage in first half, powered by a south wind at their backs that significantly hampered Adria’s ability to play balls in the air. But the Chicago side was able to handle the weather and fight against a torrid head wind.

Early on in the 8th minute, after doing well to keep possession in the midfield with high pressure tactics, Adria played the ball on the ground and let loose a surprise counterattacking series that culminated in a scintillating Piotr Kolasinski strike that put Adria up 1-0.

“You’ve got to give credit,” lamented Eagles head coach Alex Toth. “There was a mis-hit, and then the guy hits a perfect shot. You take your hat off to him for hitting a perfect shot.”

Little did the crowd know that Adria’s early goal against the wind would prove the decider.

After bossing the match through 15 minutes, Adria ceded possession – and their defensive third – to the Eagles. The wind at their backs, the Milwaukee side was able to keep sustained pressure on the Adria goal, with wicked action on their corners and crosses that facilitated an astounding series of consecutive corner kicks.

“I don’t even know how many corner kicks we had,” said Toth. “We were really unfortunate not to get on the end of something. We were probably camped in that box for a good six, seven, eight minutes in the first half. It was corner after corner after corner.”

Adria striker Vlad Baicu talked about how his team was unable to do much offensively with his team hunkered down in the box for so long.

“Obviously, it was very hard to play against the wind in the first half,” said BaicuBaicu. “Their height is there. They’re a little bit taller than us, so we tried hard to control the ball in the box.”

And Adria did.

Photo: Scott Fenwick | OnTheFire.com

Under siege, and led by goalkeeper Igor Dimov, Adria absorbed the Eagles’ pressure and escaped into the attacking third around the 37th minute. But the Romanian Baicu, and Croatian midfielder Mladen Bajamic were foiled by the soccer gods.

In succession, both men hit strong headers directly onto the crossbar, and Eagles’ ‘keeper Bryce Boyd breathed a sigh of relief. Twice within seconds, Adria came within a few inches of a two-goal advantage before halftime.

The Eagles failed to capitalize with a fierce wind at their backs in the first half and Adria, after a fine all-around performance, looked to take advantage in the second half.

Now with the wind at their backs, Adria controlled the attack and gave the Eagles a taste of their own medicine, whipping in corners and crosses. The Eagles couldn’t manage to mount a serious counterattack.

In the 61st, Adria’s Bajamic again threatened the Eagles’ goal with a rocket shot. ‘Keeper Bryce Boyd came up big however. Boyd deflected what was sure to be the Chicago side’s second of the afternoon and kept his squad in the hunt.

But the dagger would come.

In the 73rd minute, Adria used the gale at their backs to play a long ball deep down the left flank to streaking forward Vlad Baicu. Baicu, made a direct, diagonal run to the near post. With fine footwork, he took on and beat his defender. Tenacious, Baicu took a rebound off his first shot and sealed Adria’s victory with his second.

“It was a long clearance. I had a lot of space, they were opened up,” said Baicu. “I found the ball, took a shot, the goalie mishandled it, and there you go, 2-0.”

Down, but not out, the Eagles continued to press on against the wind.

In a controversial call, Referee Miguel Panduro pointed to the spot and awarded the Eagles a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Attempting to give his squad a fighting chance, the Eagles’ Andrew Wiedabach stepped up, took his shot, but was foiled by Adria’s Igor Dimov. Once again, the veteran ‘keeper from Macedonia came up big.

At the whistle, an ebullient Adria and dejected Eagles shook hands over the 2-0 result. Unable to catch a break against a well-organized veteran club, the Eagles simply couldn’t finish their chances with the wind at their backs.

“I think our experience prevailed today,” said Adria manager Ante Loncar.“We played a great game. Scoring the goal against the wind, I think, was big.”

On the Eagles, Loncar offered this: “They didn’t have a lot of chances. Their ‘keeper kept them in the game. I think our guys were hungry because they beat us last year.”

Adria Striker Baicu: “ are always a good team, always a good opponent. It was about the same game as last year, but we got the chance to score first. We didn’t give them the chance to score after that.”

Eagles’ head coach Alex Toth: “In the second half, I thought we created some opportunities. They didn’t go forward much in the first half . I thought we went forward pretty well in the second half. It’s just, again, the conditions didn’t favor either team, and they got the one goal and then the second one. The wind aided the second one.”

Toth was still proud of his team despite the losing effort.

“I’m not disappointed in anybody’s performance. But we needed that one play, and no one was able to create it,” said Toth. “My hats off to . They played well. They did what they had to do to win the game. I’m not ashamed of the way we played. We just didn’t finish.”

In retrospect, the missed penalty kick proved costly as the Eagles would have likely finished the game with a minus-1 goal difference, which would have bested FC Indiana losing by two goals to KC Athletics.

Adria will now host FC Indiana on April 20 in a “Win & You’re In” semifinal match.

USASA REGION II OPEN CUP TOURNAMENT

First round (Saturday, April 6)
FC Indiana (IN) 1:3 KC Athletics (KS)
Croatian Eagles (WI) 0:2 RWB Adria (IL)
Cincy Saints (OH-South) 0:5 Dearborn Stars (MI) – RECAP

Semifinals (Saturday, April 20)
FC Indiana (IN) at RWB Adria (IL)
Kroc Center (Chicago, IL) – 3 p.m. ET
Semifinals (Sunday, April 21)
Dearborn Stars SC (MI) at KC Athletics (KS)
Olathe North (Olathe, KS) – 1 p.m. ET

Semifinal winners earn berths in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Final (Saturday, June 29)
Overland Park, Kan.
Semifinal winners
Winner advances to USASA Open Cup, July 19-21 at Star Complex, San Antonio, Texas

Past USASA Region II entries in US Open Cup

2012:  Croatian Eagles (WI), KC Athletics (KS)
2011: AAC Eagles (IL), Iowa Menace (IA)
2010: Detroit United (MI), KC Athletics (KS)
2009: Bavarian SC (WI), 402 (NE)
2008: AAC Eagles (IL), RWB Adria (IL)
2007: Bavarian SC (WI), RWB Adria (IL)
2006: Chicago Lightning SC (IL), Croatian Eagles (WI)
2005: AAC Eagles (IL), Reggae Boyz (IN)
2004: Bavarian SC (WI), SAC Wisla (IL)
2003: Bavarian SC (WI)
2002: AAC Eagles (IL)
2001: Chaldean Arsenal (MI)
2000: Bavarian SC (WI)
1999: Bavarian SC (WI)
1998: SAC Wisla (IL)
1997: Mequon United (WI)
1996: RWB Adria (IL)
1995: AAC Eagles (IL)

2012 US Open Cup Second Round: Orlando City dominates in a 7-0 win over KC Athletics (video)

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Orlando City put on a great show before a great crowd that included two English Premier League coaches as they hosted the KC Athletics in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The reigning USL Pro champions showed no mercy against the USASA entry en route to a 7-0 victory with two goals each from Max Griffin and John Rooney to earn a Third Round meeting on the road versus Sporting Kansas City.

The match started with a goal for Orlando City in the 4th minute when a dangerous cross was knocked in by a KC Athletics defender. Athletics got their first shot off in the 23rd minute but it was well defended by goalkeeper Sean Kelley.

Unfortunately the first half did not get better for Kansas City. Campbell put a ball in the box to Griffin who collected it, turned, and buried into the net in the 25th minute. The first half continued with Orlando City creating many opportunities with good crosses from both sides. It was only a matter of time before crosses from Watson and Campbell were converted by Rooney and Griffin into goals in the 28th and 42nd minutes.

In the second half, Orlando City continued where they left off, pressing the ball forward and creating many opportunities. The Athletics had several opportunities on quick counters, but failed to convert them.

Orlando City scored 3 more goals in the 2nd half. In the 60th minute a curling shot by Jamie Watson went into the upper 90. Rooney scored a goal when he launched a a short corner in the 71st minute. The final goal was scored by Matt Luzunaris when he picked up a keeper deflection in hte 85th minute.

Earlier in the day Orlando City announced friendly matches against Stoke City and Nottingham Forest. Tony Pulis of Stoke City and Steve Cotterill of Nottingham watched the match with Orlando City owner Phil Rawlins. Pulis’s son, Anthony, plays for Orlando City.

Scoring Summary:
KCA – Coady Andrews (own goal) 4
OC – Max Griffin 1 (Charlie Campbell 1) 26
OC – John Rooney 1 (Jamie Watson 1) 28
OC – Max Griffin 2 (Charlie Campbell 2) 42
OC – Jamie Watson 1 (unassisted) 60
OC – John Rooney 2 (unassisted) 71
OC – Matt Luzunaris 1 (unassisted) 86

Lineups:
Orlando City – Sean Kelley, Jerome Mechack, Kieron Bernard (Wes Allen 77), Kyle Davies, Erik Ustruck, Ian Fuller, John Rooney, Charlie Campbell, Jamie Watson (Dennis Chin 75), Max Griffin (Kevin Molino 46), Matt Luzunaris

Substitutes not used: Miguel Gallardo, Anthony Pulis, James O’Connor

KC Athletics – Steven Grow, John Markey, Josh White, Oran Andrews, Coady Andrews, Kevin Shrout, Josh McDaniel, Jesse Baker, Martin Johnston, Garrett Webb, Kyle Perkins

Referees:
Referee – Ted Unkel
Referee’s Assistants – Edison Aragon, Abdel Kuttaineli
4th Official – Matthew Miscannon

Match Facts:
Time of Game – 7:30 pm
Weather – Clear, 90 degrees
Attendance – 946

Meet the USASA: Class of 2012

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Nine teams from the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and one from United States Club Soccer have qualified for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this year.

Will a club imitate Dallas Roma FC’s famous run in 2006? Will our bonus feature, Stanislaus United Turlock Express, make a name for US Club Soccer? These questions are yet to be answered, but we can introduce you to the amateur sides that will be taking the field on Tuesday. Click on the links below to read about the clubs:

Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks (Region I – DC/VA – Sterling, VA)

Greek American Atlas (Region I – East New York – New York, NY)

Jersey Shore Boca (Region I – New Jersey – Toms River, NJ)

Croatian Eagles (Region II – Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI)

KC Athletics (Region II – Kansas – Kansas City, MO)

ASC New Stars (Region III – Texas-South – Houston, TX)

North Texas Rayados (Region III – Texas-North – Dallas, TX)

Cal FC (Region IV – Southern California – Thousand Oaks, CA)

PSA Elite (Region IV – Southern California – Irvine, CA)

BONUS: US Club Soccer

Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer – Turlock, CA)

2012 US Open Cup First Round: KC Athletics travel far and high to beat Real Colorado, 3-1

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Photo: Kellie Sullivan | KellieSullivanPhotography.com

The Kansas City Athletics scored three unanswered goals to overcome an early deficit to defeat the PDL’s Real Colorado Foxes, 3-1, at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. In doing so, the Athletics became the first USASA club in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) from the state of Kansas to win a US Open Cup game.

You couldn’t have picked a better day in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for a US Open Cup match with a game-time temperature of 85 degrees under cloudless skies; and you couldn’t have finished with  a more classic storyline as the undermanned amateurs from Missouri rallied for the win. Kansas City had only 12 eligible players and was six hundred miles from – not to mention 4,000 feet above – home.

At the 15-minute mark, it didn’t look good for the visitors.  Outplayed in every way in the early going, Colorado was one goal up on a pretty finish from defender Michael Lind of a perfect cross from the left corner.

The Foxes had virtually all of the possession, and had peppered KC keeper Steven Grow with seven shots as the first half closed with the Foxes in control of the ball and seemingly the game. It appeared that the home team had a clear edge in skill, speed and sheer numbers.  It seemed a matter of time until they overwhelmed their opponents.  But unfulfilled chances left them with only a one-goal advantage, which they would rue.

If Kansas City was employing the rope-a-dope, they ran it to perfection.   Less than a half-hour into the second half, the game was over.

It started innocuously enough.  In their first sustained foray into the Foxes’ penalty area, goalkeeper Roberto Perez was unable to handle a shot and had to lunge at a KC player-coach Kyle Perkins for the rebound, and got it wrong. Kansas City’s Kevin Shrout converted the penalty without incident in the 52nd.

Ten minutes later, an excellent shot from 12 yards cannoned off the crossbar and into the net.  Marty Johnson took the ball from the right flank and beat the Foxes back line before dropping the ball off to Perkins for the go-ahead goal.

Their sustained attack produced another in a line of dangerous crosses in the 67th minute that deflected in for their final score.  A give-and-go between Peter Karioris and Miguel Rodrigues created an opportunity for Rodrigues to fire a well-paced ball into the area that would be inadvertently redirected into the goal in the 68th minute.

At that point, it became all about running out the clock as the visitors bunkered down and prevented Real Colorado from finding any good opportunities, sending the Athletics on an even longer trip to Orland, Fla. for the Second Round.

2012 Meet The USASA: KC Athletics from Kansas City, KS

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Welcome to our continuing series of Meet the USASA features where we annually profile the clubs representing the United States Adult Soccer Association in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Advancing from the four regional tournaments, these often unknown clubs have great stories to tell and each year, our goal is to allow fans to get to know them as they attempt to become this year’s Cinderella story.

After a one season’s absence, the Kansas City Athletics will once again represent the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Region II at the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

For the last three years, KC has benefitted as the only entry from the state of Kansas, therefore not having to play a state qualifying tournament and getting a bye into the regional tournament. They are the only USASA club from Kansas to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present).

In the 2010 tournament, the Athletics were eliminated in the first round by the NSC Minnesota Stars by a result of 4-2. Player/coach Kyle Perkins believes the game was much closer than the score line indicates, as one goal was scored via penalty kick and another the result of “an unlikely goalkeeper error.”

Since their elimination from the 2010 U.S. Open Cup, the Athletics have been playing in the Kansas Soccer Association League, and against some local colleges in the spring.

In 2011, the club’s qualification hopes were dashed by the Iowa Menace. A combination of overconfidence and only having ten players available doomed Kansas City to a crushing 7-1 defeat. The Athletics struck first, but Iowa seized the lead before halftime and never relented.

In their final qualifying match for the 2012 edition of the Open Cup, Kansas City again were forced to play with only ten men. The club only had the budget to send eleven players to the Bensenville, IL tournament, and at the last moment a player was called to train with the MLS side Sporting Kansas City. It was the luck of the draw for the Athletics because thanks to a blind draw conducted by Region II officials, it was determined that their game against the Cincy Saints would be a “Win & You’re In” match, with the other four entries playing off for the second Open Cup berth. Fortunately for the Athletics, their opponents, the Saints, had only eight players make the journey. KC won the match 10-2, and became the first Region II club to qualify for the tournament.

Regarding the victory, Perkins said, “Even with ten we would have been able to compete against a full eleven and scrap out a win. If we didn’t believe that we wouldn’t have shown up. All we could do was play against the team we drew.”

Kansas City will face the Premier Development League’s Real Colorado Foxes at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Co on Tuesday, May 15. Despite having a history of playing shorthanded, Perkins expects the Athletics to have a full-strength starting eleven and substitutes ready to go on match day. “We are a solid team who loves to play attacking soccer,” said Perkins, “So I am sure there will be some goals this week.

“Our goal every year is to go as far as we can in the Open Cup and win our regional final in June,” Perkins added. “It’s one step at a time for us.”

MORE: Check out the rest of the 2012 Meet the USASA series

2012 US Open Cup qualifying: KC Athletics qualify; AAC Eagles, Croatian Eagles play Sunday in a “Win & You’re In” match

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The Kansas City Athletics, playing with only 10 men the entire match, are the first United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) team to punch their ticket to the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after thrashing the Cincy Saints 10-2 at the Region II tournament in Bensenville, Ill. Luckily for the Athletics, the Saints only showed up with eight players, as KC qualifies for their second Open Cup in the last three years. Their journey in the 99th edition of the tournament will begin in the First Round, which is scheduled to begin May 15. The draw will take place at the end of April.

The second Open Cup berth will be decided on Sunday when the other two Saturday winners, AAC Eagles and the Croatian Eagles, will square off at the same venue at 12 p.m. Central Time. The AAC Eagles cruised to a 7-1 win over Michigan’s lone entry, Ann Arbor FC Elite, while the Croatians from Milwaukee edged the Illinois champion RWB Adria, 2-0.

The Athletics representing Kansas, a state that prior to their first entry into the tournament in 2010, had not had a team in the competition in at least 20 years.

Kansas City arrived at the venue on the west side of Chicago with just 10 players, knowing they had a big challenge in store for them against a team they knew very little about. The Cincy Saints, the first Southern Ohio team to enter Open Cup in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present), are a relatively new club (founded in 2009) that competes both indoor (PASL Premier League) and outdoor in the Midwest Soccer League. The nerves of playing with 10 men were calmed when the Athletics realized the Saints had only traveled with eight players for this “Win & You’re In” match. The match was pre-determined to be the one that would determine the first Open Cup berth from Region II due to a blind draw that took place weeks beforehand.

Nestor Hernandez of the AAC Eagles dribbles through the Ann Arbor FC defense in the first game of the 2012 USASA Region II tournament. Photo: AAC Eagles

It didn’t take long for KC to capitalize on their two-man advantage. Chris Markey scored twice, while Peter Kariotis, Jesse Baker, Martin Johnston and Matt Germain added their own all before halftime. The Saints’ Adam
The day started with Ann Arbor FC drawing first blood with a goal by Brian Conway in the 19th minute to take the lead on the hometown team AAC Eagles. Two minutes later, David Otachel scored the first of his five goals on the day on their way to a 7-1 rout of the Michigan representative. Stan Micic and Armando Tello also tallied for the Eagles, who are attempting to qualify for the Open Cup for the sixth time in the Modern Pro Era. The club is led by first-year coach Marek Radziszewski, who was a former goalkeeper for the Eagles in the early 90s Tenhundfeld tried to make a game of it with two goals within the first five minutes of the second half, but less than a minute after he made the score 6-2, player/manager Kyle Perkins scored a seventh for the Athletics. Johnston added his second in the 67th minute, followed by Steven Grow’s first two minutes later, and the 10th and final goal by Johnston in the 74th minute.

The Croatian Eagles put themselves one win away from returning to the Open Cup for the first time since 2006 with a 2-0 win over RWB Adria with a 19th-minute goal by Ramon Alvarado and a tally by Scott Raymonds in the final minute.

Keeper Ante Cop started the sequence that led to the opener, sending a long ball that Croatians striker Aaron Lauber flicked on to Alvarado on the left side. RWB Adria controlled play throughout the second half as they looked for an equalizer, dominating possession and pushing increasing numbers forward, but couldn’t solve Cop and the Croatians’ backline.

Adria hit the post with about 15 minutes remaining and Cop came up with two nice saves, and the Croatians finally converted on a counter attack in the last minute of the 90, as Raymonds latched onto a ball from 40-year-old Jason Willan and finished from 7 yards out to seal the victory. (Full match report at WisconsinSoccerCentral.com)

AAC Eagles (IL) 7:1 Ann Arbor FC Elite (MI)

Scoring Summary
AAFC: Brian Conway (Jacob Puente) – 19th minute
AAC: David Otachel – 21st minute
AAC: Stan Micic – 32nd minute
AAC: David Otachel – 42nd minute
AAC: David Otachel – 61st minute
AAC: David Otachel – 63rd minute
AAC: David Otachel – 76th minute
AAC: Armando Tello – 84th minute

Croatian Eagles (WI) 2:0 RWB Adria (IL)

Scoring Summary
CRO: Ramon Alvarado – 19th minute
CRO: Scott Raymonds – 90th minute

KC Athletics (KS) 10:2 Cincy Saints (OH)

Scoring Summary
KCA: Peter Kariotis – 13th minute
KCA: Chris Markey – 20th minute
KCA: Jesse Baker – 25th minute
KCA: Martin Johnston – 30th minute
KCA: Chris Markey – 36th minute
KCA: Matt Germain – 40th minute
CIN: Adam Tenhundfeld – 46th minute
CIN: Adam Tenhundfeld – 49th minute
KCA: Kyle Perkins – 50th minute
KCA: Martin Johnston – 67th minute
KCA: Steven Grow – 69th minute
KCA: Martin Johnston – 74th minute

USASA Region II US Open Cup “Win & You’re In”
AAC Eagles vs. Croatian Eagles
Sunday, April 15 – 12:00 p.m. CT

USASA Region II qualifying: Iowa Menace first amateur team to qualify for Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

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Special thanks to Michael Kuhn (@DownTheByline) of the blog “Down The Byline,” David Gubala (@DavidGubala) from Goal.com and Max Ciszek from MichiganSoccerNews.com for live updates during these matches and contributing to this article.

At the end of a dramatic day in Region II of USASA, one man may have been the deciding factor in which team became the first amateur club to advance to the 2011 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It could have been Jakub Piotrowski of the AAC Eagles, but his four-goal effort was not enough to make up for a six-goal victory the Iowa Menace claimed earlier in the day against a Kansas City Athletics side that started and only played with 10 men. With the greatest goal differential of three matches, Iowa Menace move on from Region II of the USASA while AAC Eagles will have to face RWB Adria in a playoff, a match-up of two Chicago clubs, for the second berth from the region.

The fireworks started in Pontiac, Michigan where Detroit United played host to RWB Adria, a late replacement added over the past two weeks, at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas. The visitors jumped into the initial lead after 17 minutes courtesy of Vlad Baciu, but a flurry at the end of the half was an early glimpse of what was to come. Detroit equalized in the 40th minute only to see RWB answer back immediately with a strike one minute later from Elemidin Zukic.

Iowa Menace (vs. KC Athletics) - 2011 Region II quarterfinals
With a 7-1 win over Kansas City (+6 goal difference), the Iowa Menace qualified for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Photo: Sodagraphics.blogspot.com

The second stanza was a tale of two halves in itself.

RWB scored back-to-back goals in the 50th and 53rd minutes to push out to a commanding 4-1 advantage that looked promising for their efforts to secure a quality goal differential in hopes of securing the first berth from Region II. Baciu notched his second of the day, assisted again by Taylor Bond, who added the next strike with help from Nermin Crnkic.

Detroit, however, had other ideas, answering back with goals in the 58th and 68th to cut the lead to one. Tommy Eller then converted a crucial penalty in the 90th minute to send the contest into overtime.

Again, RWB got an early goal five minutes into extra time from Crnkic, assisted by Alex Rickett, to reclaim the advantage. Detroit nearly equalized yet again in the 110th minute only to see the shot ring off the crossbar. As they pushed to keep their chances alive with a draw, Detroit’s hopes were dashed as RWB locked up victory with Zukic finding Alen Ejupovic for a sixth strike in the 119th minute as they held on for a 6-4 decision.

RWB Adria

While Detroit was eating away at RWB Adria’s three-goal advantage, the bad news was being compounded elsewhere as home side KC Athletics only had 10 players for their match versus the Iowa Menace.

Kyle Perkins. the player/manager for the Athletics, explained that there were a number of factors that contributed to the team playing shorthanded. A few of them were out of town, some others were called into work, including a couple who were sent down South to assist with the tornado disaster. Also, after the final roster was submitted, two of the players were signed by pro clubs.

Regardless of the numbers on the field, the Menace did play a strong game at Rockhurst University, controlling the game for the opening 30 minutes. The Menace traveled with 17 players and early on dominated, created good chances, including John Sosa beating the offside trap and chipping the ball just wide of the goal.

The lack of finishing by the Menace came back to bite them in the 31st minute. The Athletics had been working themselves back into the game, having weathered the early attack by the visitors.  Marty Johnston collected the ball on the right side and sent in a cross that was cleared, but not far enough, allowing Johnston another chance. He squared it into the middle where Perkins slid in, knocking the ball into the net to give the Athletics the 1-0 lead.

The Menace almost had the equalizer in the 39th when Sosa was played behind the defense again, but KC goalkeeper Bret Clark got enough on the shot to slow it down so that Josh White could recover it and cleared it from danger.

In the 42nd minute, KC created another good chance through Johnston, but the Menace cleared the ball out for a corner.  The corner came to nothing, but the Menace sprung the counter through Sosa, who played Bryan Perez in behind the KC defense. Perez’s first shot was saved by Clark in goal, but Perez followed and was able to slot home the tying goal in the 43rd minute. The goal started a late flurry for the Menace as KC seemed to tire a bit.

The Iowa club pressed for a second goal and got one just before stoppage time. Perez played a give and go with Sosa and Perez slotted the ball to the far post giving the Menace a lead that they would not surrender.

Things got worse for the Athletics as the Menace continued to push. The visitors earned a corner and with the last touch of the first half, Iowa made it 3-1. Sosa took a corner kick for the Menace and found Brady Blankenship, who had beaten his man and headed the ball easily into the net to give the home team a big halftime lead.

Looking to bolster the advantage in the game and on goal differential for Region II, the visitors brought on at the half Tomas Boltnar, a former two-time Premier Development League MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer of the Des Moines Menace.

It wouldn’t take long for Boltnar to contribute as the halftime sub set up the Menace’s first goal of the half, playing Sosa through, who chipped Clark from the top of the box to give him a goal to add to his two assists in the first half in the 58th minute. Shortly after Sosa’s goal, the Athletics almost got back into the game as Geoff Miles fired in a free kick from the side of the box that almost caught Menace keeper Matt Wade napping. Wade palmed the ball away keeping it 4-1.

That sign of life by KC was quickly erased as the Menace scored a couple minutes later to make it 5-1. Right back Ben Taylor played a cross into the middle for second half substitute Jarrett Hamilton, who just had to tap the ball home in the 63rd minute. About four minutes later, Hamilton got his second of the game as Perez broke down the right again. Perez’s initial cross was nearly cut out by Ben Hicks for the Athletics, but his clearance deflected off of Hamilton and into the net making it 6-1.

Iowa seemed to take their foot off the gas a little bit, and at times got a little to fancy in trying to find a seventh goal, knowing that goal difference was very important. Perez got in behind the defense twice, but both times was too unselfish as he played the ball back, once missing his man and another time playing the ball to an offside Hamilton.

There was no quit in the Athletics as they cried for a penalty in the 70th minute when Sosa appeared to be sandwiched by two Menace defenders, but the referee waived play on. KC was still trying to make a game of it, and in the 85th they almost got a second.  Josh White, normally a defender, was playing up top trying to give a break to Perkins, who for long periods was totally isolated for KC.  White got played in behind the Menace defense and got around Wade in the Menace goal, but Wade had gone down to push White wide and his shot just missed the near post. In the 89th  minute, the Menace got their seventh and final goal, the one that would ultimately qualify them for the US Open Cup. Substitute Austin Otto played a great cross-field ball into the box for Boltzmann, who settled, took a touch and then played the ball back to Sosa, who fired the ball inside the far post to make it 7-1.

With Iowa setting the bar high with a +6 goal difference, the AAC Eagles knew they had to come out firing against FC Indiana if they wanted to assure themselves a spot in the US Open Cup. In a game played at the north practice field of Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., home of the Chicago Fire, the Eagles did just that, having learned of the outcome of the two earlier games and knowing that they had to win by 7 to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2008.

The one-sided affair got started with the Eagles scoring about 10 minutes into the match. Jakub “Kuba” Piotrowski received a centering pass from David Otachel and took care of business inside the box to make it 1-0. About 10 minutes later, Marcin Simson got a little help from mother nature as the wind carried his shot from about 25 yards out, helping him beat the keeper on the play. Five minutes later, Matthew Kochanowski made it 3-0 on a centering pass by Jacek Lechowicz that worked it’s way through traffic to the foot of the goalscorer.

Piotrowski would dribble through traffic in the 40th minute to put the winner of the game beyond doubt with a fourth goal, but the players and coaches knew there was more work that needed to be done. Adding two more goals in the second half to tie, or three more to advance, seemed daunting before the halftime break. But just  a couple minutes into the second half, AAC earned a penalty kick. Naturally, they handed the ball to Piotrowski, but his spot kick was saved. However, neither Piotrowski or the Eagles let the failed attempt keep them down. Two minutes later, Piotrowski completed his hat trick on an assist by Michael Kapusta.

With the score  5-0, Indiana would pull one back in the 60th minute, only to have Piotrowski score his fourth just five minutes later. Lechowicz provided his second assist of the day to set up the goal.

Hope was restored in the 82nd minute when Adrian Skital received a pass from Kochanowski to make it a 7-1 game, matching the score of the KC victory from earlier in the day. With still plenty of time left and the victory in hand, the Eagles pushed for the Open Cup berth-clinching goal. It was a frantic finish by the home side as they fielded as many as six forwards in the final 10 minutes of the match desperate to avoid having to play one more game to decide their Open Cup fate.

However, that scenario was dashed about a minute after the seventh goal was scored when Indiana tallied on a counter attack with the Eagles’ numbers out of alignment. With the score at 7-2 the Eagles continued to fight because equaling the +6 goal difference would at least give them a chance, via coin flip, to earn a spot directly into the tournament without another match, but it was not meant to be. Twice the Eagles put the ball into the back of the net in the final few minutes, but both times they were called offside.

The five-goal victory sets up an intriguing game with the Eagles taking on fellow Chicago club RWB Adria in a “Win & You’re In” match.

“Adria is a very good side,” said AAC Eagles team president Stanley Makowka. “Their players have played together for a long time so they have good chemistry. We’ve played them before and we know it won’t be easy but we expect to get the job done.”

Jakub Piotrowski will likely be a focus of the Adria defense, as the Polish forward has now scored 12 goals in his last four Open Cup qualifying matches dating back to last year. He drew high praise from his club’s president.

“He is a game changer,” said Makowka  after the match. “He is very good technically and fully aware of his surroundings on the field. Of course, I don’t want him leaving us, but I think bigger clubs will notice him as we move on further in the tournament.”

RWB Adria (IL) 6:4 (AET) Detroit United (MI)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas (Pontiac, Mich.) – 2 p.m.

Scoring Summary
RWB: Vlad Baciu (Taylor Bond) – 17th minute
DET: Unidentified – 40th minute
RWB: Elemidin Zukic (Unassisted) – 41st minute
RWB: Vlad Baciu (Taylor Bond) – 50th minute
RWB: Taylor Bond (Nermin Crnkic) – 53rd minute
DET: Unidentified – 58th minute
DET: Unidentified – 68th minute
DET: Tommy Eller (PK) – 90th minute
RWB: Nermin Crnkic (Alex Rickett) – 95th minute
RWB: Alen Ejupovic (Elemidin Zukic) – 119th minute

Iowa Menace (IA) 7:1 Kansas City Athletics (KS)
Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.) – 3 p.m.

Scoring Summary
KCA: Kyle Perkins (Marty Johnston) – 31st minute
IAM: Bryan Perez (Unassisted) – 43rd minute
IAM: Bryan Perez (John Sosa) – 45th minute
IAM: Brady Blankenship (John Sosa) – 45th minute+
IAM: John Sosa (Tomas Boltnar) – 53rd minute
IAM: Jarrett Hamilton (Ben Taylor) – 63rd minute
IAM: Jarrett Hamilton (Unassisted) – 67th minute
IAM: John Sosa (Tomas Boltnar) – 89th minute

Lineups:
KC Athletics: Bret Clark, Ben Hicks, Ryan Barber, Josh White, Mike Robards, Marty Johnston, Stephen Homan, Geoff Miles, Kyle Perkins.
Iowa Menace: Matt Wade, Anthony Colaizzi, Thomas Catania, Diego Marroquin, Ben Taylor (Austin Otto 75), Luis Piffer, Chris Van Leur (Tomas Boltnar 45), Brady Blankenship (Graham Nugent 67), Aaron Douthitt (Jarrett Hamilton 53), Bryan Perez, John Sosa.

Booking Summary:
IAM: Anthony Colaizzi – 40th minute
IAM: Diego Marroquin – 57th minute
IAM: John Sosa – 90th minute

Note:  KC started & played with 10 men

FC Indiana (IN) 2:7 AAC Eagles (IL)
Toyota Park Practice Field (Bridgeview, Ill.) – 3 p.m.

Scoring Summary
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (David Otachel) – 10th minute
AAC: Marcin Simson (Unassisted) – 20th minute
AAC: Matthew Kochanowski (Jacek Lechowicz) – 25th minute
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Unassisted) – 40th minute
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Michael Kapusta) – 49th minute
IND: Unknown goalscorer – 60th minute
AAC: Jakub Piotrowski (Jacek Lechowicz) – 65th minute
AAC: Adrian Skital (Matthew Kochanowski) – 82nd minute
IND: Unknown goalscorer – 83rd minute

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2010 Meet the USASA: Kansas City Athletics

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One of two newcomers from Region II of the USASA, KC Athletics is eager to show its worth when it faces the NSC Minnesota Stars in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The KC Athletics pose for a team photo prior to their US Open Cup qualifying match against the Des Moines Menace USASA in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo: KC Athletics

Founded in 2001 as a merger of Legends Soccer Club and the Kansas City Football Club, KC Athletics won regionals in its first year competing in the Snickers Nationals and ended up finishing third nationally in the competition. The following year, their Under 20 team won the national championship, but then the club went on hiatus with many of the players joining nearby PDL clubs like the Des Moines Menace and the Kansas City Brass. In 2004, the KC Athletics were reborn.

With many of the players from the Under-20 team still with the club, the Athletics entered US Open Cup qualifying for the first time this year. They became the first Kansas-based team to enter the tournament in several years.

Kansas City’s first qualifier was a thriller on the road against the Des Moines Menace USASA side. The Athletics overcame a 3-1 second half deficit, but then fell behind 4-3 late in the game, but battled back to tie it up. Player/coach Kyle Perkins scored three of the team’s four goals, as the match went into a penalty kick shootout. In the ninth round of the tiebreaker, goalkeeper Zach Brennan saved Des Moines’ attempt, and then immediately turned around to score the game-winning spot kick to send the Athletics into the semifinals.

In their final four match against AAC Eagles of Illinois, a “Win & You’re In” match, they played another high-scoring nail biter, this time in front of their home fans. The Kansas City Wizards offered the team a chance to play their Open Cup match against the Chicago-based Eagles at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, immediately following the Wizards Major League Soccer match against the Chicago Fire.

In the pouring rain, some loyal fans, as well as some of the Wizards players, stuck around to watch the Athletics come back to tie the game up twice and then took the lead in the 59th minute on Perkins’ second goal of the match. However, the Eagles would equalize in the 75th minute, and just like their previous game, a scoreless extra time period would send the match into penalty kicks. Just one save needed to be made, as KC advanced 5-3 in the shootout to qualify for their first US Open Cup

According to Perkins, one of the biggest surprises the team had was facing the level of organization that the other sides brought to the competition, something which he feels put them at the start at a bit of a disadvantage, as the amount of training time available for the team has been less than he would like.

They will travel to the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. for their opening round match with the NSC Minnesota Stars on Tuesday. They are dealing with a number of injury and scheduling issues, as any USASA team does, so they will be without key players like former Kansas City Wizard Brian Roberts, and former Kansas City Comet Jason Woods. To replace them, the team has recruited former MLS player Scott Vermillion (Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Rapids, DC United),and local college standouts David Russell and youngster Larry Mason.

Perkins feels that they are better prepared moving forward and hope that their mix of former pros and local soccer talent will provide them with the ability to play up to the level of the 2nd Division Stars. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, he has been able to watch a few of the Stars’ matches and they have a gameplan, but knows that it’s hard to know how the team is going to react to playing against a professional team.

“I don’t know what to expect really ,” said Perkins. “We’ve got a starting 11 that we believe in and I think we’ll be alright.”

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