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Las Vegas Legends FC

2022 US Open Cup Round 2, Day 1 Review: MLS Next Pro wins debut, one amateur side survives

April 6, 2022 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Maryland Bobcats 2022 US Open Cup
Toby Sims Pittsburgh Riverhounds Maryland Bobcats 2022 US Open Cup
Toby Sims of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds dribbles against the Maryland Bobcats in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Chris Cowger | Pittsburgh Riverhounds

The first MLS NEXT Pro team to enter the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup scored the league’s first win in the Second Round of the tournament, and USL League Two scored an upset over a nearby USL League One counterpart Tuesday night as 11 teams punched their tickets to the next round of the 107th edition of the US Open Cup. 

Round 2 continues Wednesday with 13 matches, with seven more to be decided Thursday. All of the games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ 

If you appreciate our coverage of the US Open Cup for the last (nearly) two decades, and want to see it grow in the future, consider joining our Patreon team by clicking above.

Several MLS clubs will join the competition in the Third Round, which will hold a draw Friday to determine the matchups. The draw is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. 

Here’s a look at all 11 Second Round matches from Tuesday.

Click here for a preview of all the Round 2 games on Wednesday and Thursday

North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL League Two) 4:2 Charlotte Independence (USL League One)
American Legion Memorial Stadium – Charlotte, NC
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The North Carolina Fusion U23 pulled off the first upset of the second round, knocking off their professional USL League One opponent Charlotte Independence 4-2 in Charlotte.

Charlotte opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Shalom Dutey found the end of a Ayrton Paez free kick just in front of goal near the post, beating Fusion goalkeeper Josh Perryman. Twenty-three minutes later, a shot by Faisal Almabaslat was blocked by Charlotte goalkeeper Keegan Meyer, but Luis Neto was right there to put away the rebound to draw the Fusion level 1-1. It took Charlotte just five minutes to regain the lead, as Ivan Luquetta took the ball to the touch line in the penalty area, then passed back to Paez for the goal.

The Fusion tied things up minutes into the second half when Joao Silva took a shot at the top of the box that deflected off a Charlotte defender. Charlotte was reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute when Tresor Mbuyu was sent off for an altercation with a Fusion player after a hard tackle. With just a few minutes remaining in regulation, Charlotte goalkeeper Meyer fumbled an easy shot by Alexandre Horveno, and Tom Marriott scored on a wide-open goal. The Fusion cemented the upset in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Colton Sessoms easily scored on a 3-on-1 breakaway, the youngster’s fourth goal of the night, to book a spot in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


Maryland Bobcats (NISA) 0:2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Championship)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

On a rainy Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, the USL Championship Riverhounds entertained the visiting Maryland Bobcats of NISA. A pair of goals from Toby Sims on either side of halftime was all the Riverhounds needed to see off the Bobcats 2-0 and advance to the third round. Simms’ first goal came in the 38th minute from the center of the penalty area off a Luis Argudo assist. Almost 10 minutes into the second half, Simms tallied from the left side of the penalty area on a Mohamed Sesay assist. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


St. Louis CITY 2 (MLS NEXT Pro) 2:0 Indy Eleven (USL Championship)
Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium (IUPUI) – Indianapolis, IN
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

St. Louis City 2 notched the first-ever Open Cup win for a MLS NEXT Pro team with a 2-0 victory over Indy Eleven of the USL Championship.

St. Louis drew first blood when Joshua Yaro sent an attempted clearance back into the box, where Era Armstrong collected the ball and beat Indy goalkeeper Tim Trilk. The reserve club of the future St. Louis MLS club doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Armstrong passed to substitute Celio Martins, who then fed Wan Kuzain at the top of the box for the goal. From then on. Indy only managed a couple of chances on goal and the St. Louis reserves made their way to the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


Michigan Stars FC (NISA) 0:3 Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

In a battle of former NISA rivals, the USL Championship Detroit City FC smoked the Michigan Stars 3-0 in Detroit.

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Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “Champions” shirt, honoring the five clubs from the pre-Modern Era (1914-1994) to win four or more US Open Cup titles. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Just as the first half looked to end scoreless, Detroit stuck twice on corner kicks. In the 45th minute, Connor Ruiz put away a Maximilliano Rodriguez corner kick. In the second minute of stoppage time, Rodriguez served up another corner, and this time Matthew Lewis headed the ball home for a 2-0 lead. For the rest of stoppage time, the air was filled with smoke from jubilant City supporters.

 

After a pair of crosses Detroit extended their lead to 3-0 in the 63rd minute. After Michigan headed away an initial cross, Michael Bryant sent the ball back into the box, where Connor Ruiz headed the ball to the feet of Matthew Lewis for his second goal of the game. From that point, Detroit easily saw out the remaining time to book their first ever appearance in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


The Villages SC (USL League Two) 0:6 Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Villages SC of USL League Two were no match for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship, with the hosts steamrolling to a 6-0 win. Lucky Mkosana quickly put the Rowdies ahead 2-0 with two goals early in the first half. Jordan Scarlett pushed the lead to 3-0 on a header from a Jake Areman free kick. In the 53rd minute Mkosana appeared to have completed his hat-trick, connecting on a cross from Jake Areman, however the goal was later credited to Kyle Greig.

The goals continued to flow in as Jake LaCava (63rd minute) and Laurence Wyke (73rd minute) finished the rout of their amateur opponents, and confirmed a spot in the third round for the Rowdies. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) 1:2 Union Omaha (USL League One)
Morrison Stadium (Creighton Univ.) – Omaha, NE
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Menace opened the scoring in the 15th minute when a shot from Gabriel Rodriguez struck the crossbar and was swatted away by Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu. Corey Hertzog then slammed home the loose ball. Five minutes later, Union found the equalizer when John Scearce headed home a corner from Joseph Brito.

Union Omaha kept control most of the second half, and with nine minutes remaining, Omaha gained the lead on a Menace mistake when Alefu Bertini accidentally headed a lobbed pass from Conor Doyle past his own goaleeper. Omaha withstood a desperate Menace search for an equalizer to win their debut Open Cup match and advance to the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 1:2 FC Tulsa (USL Championship)
ONEOK Field – Tulsa, OK
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The USL Championship’s FC Tulsa came out on top in the Tulsa derby, defeating the NPSL’s Tulsa Athletic, 2-1.

FC Tulsa wasted no time grabbing the lead, as Jorge Corrales sent a cross into the box that Brian Brown managed to put away while being pulled down by a Tulsa Athletics defender. FC Tulsa scored again in the 19th minute, this time on a Ronald Rodriguez header off a corner kick from Joaquin Rivas. Tulsa Athletic had a few promising free kicks in the rest of the half but the score remained 2-0 at the break.

Despite being outshot by a wide margin, Tulsa Athletic managed to cut the lead in half with thirteen minutes remaining. Halftime substitute Billy Nzojyibwami’s goal from the right side of the penalty area gave the amateurs a glimmer of hope. But FC Tulsa kept the visitors at bay in the final minutes to book their place in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


D’Feeters Kicks (USCS / The Roja League) 1:3 San Antonio FC (USL Championship)
Lynchburg City Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

For 45 minutes, the amateur D’Feeters Kicks had hope of an upset over the professional San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. However, in four quick minutes that dream was interrupted.

San Antonio scored three goals in four minutes of the second half to separate themselves from their amateur guests en route to a 3-1 win. In the 53rd minute, Henrik Sakshaug scored from the top of the penalty area after a free kick pinballed between players from both teams. Just a minute later, a shot by Justin Dhillon deflected off a D’Feeters defender, allowing Connor Maloney to easily beat goalkeeper Anthony Rodriguez for San Antonio’s second goal. Three minutes later, Sakshaug struck again from the center of the penalty area, assisted by Shannon Gomez, and suddenly San Antonio were comfortably ahead 3-0.

D’Feeters regained a slight glimmer of hope when San Antonio goalkeeper Matt Cardone was unable to handle a long shot from the left side, allowing Sebastian Mendez to easily tap home the goal. With seven minutes remaining, D’Feeters were reduced to 10 men when Juan Ramirez was shown his walking papers after a hard foul. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL) 0:5 New Mexico United (USL Championship)
Univ. of New Mexico Soccer Complex – Albuquerque, NM
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The NPSL’s Las Vegas Legends saw their luck run out in the second round as New Mexico United of the USL Championship rolled to an easy 5-0 victory.

The hosts set the tone in the seventh minute when Chris Wehan converted a penalty after Sergio Rivas was fouled by the Legends’ Hector Casillas. Jerome Kiesewetter scored the first of his two goals from close range in the 17th minute, and Randy Ovouka placed his shot in the bottom left corner of the goal five minutes from halftime for a 3-0 lead at the break.

Carl Sainte made it 4-0 from a shot outside the penalty area shortly after halftime. Eduardo Guzman was sent off in the 82nd minute, leaving Las Vegas with 10 men. New Mexico was awarded another penalty with four minutes remaining after another foul by Hector Casillas in the box. Kiesewetter stepped to take the penalty and New Mexico cruised to a berth in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


El Paso Locomotive (USL Championship) 1:4 Central Valley Fuego (USL League One)
Lamonica Stadium (Clovis H.S.) – Clovis, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Villyan Bijev scored a brace, and USL League One side Central Valley Fuego stunned El Paso Locomotive of the USL Championships, 4-1 at Lamonica Stadium in Clovis, California.

Nathan Smith and Christian Chaney also scored for the Fuego, which needed less than five minutes to score and never looked back.

Bijev opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, chipping the goalkeeper from the left side of the box to put Central Valley up 1-0 mere moments into the game. The goals kept coming, too, through Smith’s golazo in the 15th minute and a second from Bijev in the 44th minute en route to a 3-0 halftime advantage. Chaney added a goal in the 62nd minute for the Fuego.

Eric Calvillo scored in the 90th minute for El Paso, which turned out to be the first Open Cup goal in Locomotive history for the 2019 debutants. El Paso was playing its second of three games in eight days after a four-match winless skid to open USL Championship play, and had traveled up the California coast following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the San Diego Loyal in league play.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


LA Force FC (NISA) 2:5 Orange County SC (USL Championship)
Orange County Great Park (Championship Stadium) – Irvine, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Former Real Salt Lake homegrown signing Milan Iloski had a goal and an assist as Orange County SC of the USL Championship rolled by the NISA’s LA Force, 5-2 at Championship Stadium in Irvine, California.

Daniel Pedersen, Sean Okoli, Mikko Kuningas and Kobi Henry each added a goal for Orange County, which converted five of its six shots on target into goals and out-shot the Force 22-15.

Samuel Goni scored a brace for LA Force FC, including a 37th-minute strike that pulled the Open Cup debutants within 3-1 at halftime. But Iloski dished a pinpoint backheel pass to Kuningas to restore Orange County’s three-goal lead, and Henry’s goal in the 69th minute helped seal the win for good.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Central Valley Fuego, Charlotte Independence, D'Feeters Kicks, Des Moines Menance, Detroit City FC, El Paso Locomotive, FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, LA Force FC, Las Vegas Legends FC, Maryland Bobcats, Michigan Stars, New Mexico United, North Carolina Fusion U-23s, Orange County SC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, San Antonio FC, St. Louis City 2, Tampa Bay Rowdies, The Villages SC, Tulsa Athletic, Union Omaha

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: New Mexico United dominates Las Vegas to earn first home win

April 6, 2022 by Seth Biddulph

New Mexico United vs Las Vegas Legends 2022 US Open Cup
New Mexico United vs Las Vegas Legends 2022 US Open Cup
New Mexico United moves the ball up the field against the Las Vegas Legends in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Seth Biddulph

New Mexico United knows all about playing against Goliath in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Tonight, though, they were Goliath when they hosted the Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) in United’s first-ever home Open Cup match. And it showed on the pitch from the second the opening whistle blew.

If you appreciate our coverage of the US Open Cup for the last (nearly) two decades, and want to see it grow in the future, consider joining our Patreon team by clicking above.

With a 5-0 win over Las Vegas, New Mexico United picks up the club’s first win over an amateur team and the first win in front of their home fans.

“You just try to take it like every game, it doesn’t matter who you play,” said United midfielder Will Seymore. “The objective is to win. When you underestimate a team that you don’t really know anything about, you can get giant killed like that. I think we just had to approach it like the professionals we are, like every other game and hold our standards.”

The hosts set the tone of the night early, showing a willingness to take what the Legends were willing to give them. While the visitors played narrow at the back, United looked to play through the wingbacks, Raddy Ovouka and Daniel Bruce. By utilizing the wide areas, it allowed other members of United to make runs through the back line, and in the 7th minute, Sergio Rivas was played in behind and drew out Legends keeper Hector Casillas, who conceded an early penalty.

Chris Wehan would get the nod and coolly slotted home the attempt, going to the bottom left corner.

From there, the floodgates opened. In the 17th, Jerome Kiesewetter, who opened his club account, doubled the lead after cleaning up the rebound after a header from Rivas went off the crossbar.

Ovouka would increase the lead to three goals in the 40th, finishing from just outside the six-yard box.

Even the halftime break couldn’t slow down United’s momentum, as moments into the second half, Carl Sainte extended the lead once again. After a Rivas cross was cleared away from the face of the goal, the ball fell to the young Haitian midfielder. Sainte stepped into his shot from 21 yards out and laced it into the left corner of the net.

An already bad night for Las Vegas got even worse when Eduardo Guzman saw yellow for the second time in the 82nd minute and was sent off. Down to 10 men and scrambling to prevent any further damage, Casillas conceded a second penalty in the 86th. Kiesewetter was given the opportunity to stand over the spot and converted once again to give United their fifth goal of the evening.

FT@NewMexicoUTD 5
Las Vegas Legends 0

Season high 5 goals for the Black and Yellow

They’re off to the 3rd round of the US Open Cup

Highlights on @KOB4 @USLChampionship @opencup @TheCurseNM pic.twitter.com/FqPALza8jA

— Brandon Ortega (@Brandega) April 6, 2022


Scoring Summary
7’ – New Mexico United – Chris Wehan (Pen)
17′ – New Mexico United – Jerome Kiesewetter
40′ – New Mexico United – Raddy Ovouka (Chris Wehan)
47′ – New Mexico United – Carl Sainte
86′ – New Mexico United – Jerome Kiesewetter

Lineups
New Mexico United: Ford Parker (GK), Will Seymore, Alexis Souahy (Austin Yearwood 45′), Rashid Tetteh (Sam Hamilton 79′), Carl Sainte, Mike Azira, Chris Wehan (Tabort-Etaka Preston 52′), Raddy Ovouka, Daniel Bruce, Sergio Rivas (Justin Portillo 79′), Jerome Kiesewetter
Manager: Zach Prince

Las Vegas Legends: Hector Casillas (GK), Eduardo Guzman, Abdel Kuwa, Jameel Neptune, Maliek Howell (Daniel Osuji 63′), Jesus Gonzalez (Julio Vargas 56′), Elad Cohen (Mohamed Kuwa 46′), Roberto Soto, Samuel Aina (Esequiel Coronel 46′), Brandon Vargas (Yuval Cohen 56′), Daniel Rangel
Manager: Jose Rivera

Yellow Cards
Daniel Rangel, Las Vegas 57′
Abdel Kuwa, Las Vegas 64′
Eduardo Guzman, Las Vegas 73′
Jerome Kiesewetter, New Mexico 78′
Hector Casillas, Las Vegas 86′

Red Cards
Eduardo Guzman, Las Vegas 82′ (second yellow)
Attendance: 2,128

 

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Las Vegas Legends FC, New Mexico United

2022 US Open Cup Round 1: Las Vegas Legends hold off Park City to earn first win

March 24, 2022 by Thomas Viola

Las Vegas Legends Park City Red Wolves 2022 US Open Cup
Las Vegas Legends Park City Red Wolves 2022 US Open Cup
Yuval Cohen of the Las Vegas Legends (left) and Park City Red Wolves battle for the ball during a First Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Lesly Rodriguez – LBShots

On a brisk spring night in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Legends earned their first ever US Open Cup victory with a 3-2 win over the Park City Red Wolves at Peter Johann Field.

If you appreciate our coverage of the US Open Cup for the last (nearly) two decades, and want to see it grow in the future, consider joining our Patreon team by clicking above.

Buoyed by two first half goals, the Legends held off a late Red Wolves comeback attempt to secure their place in the next round of the US Open Cup, where they will face New Mexico United of the USL Championship on April 5.

The Legends wasted no time drawing first blood in the match, with a goal from team captain Samuel Aina just under ten minutes into the game. A second goal from Brandon Vargas in the 33rd minute helped cap off a half in which the Legends dominated both on the field and on the scoreboard, and saw them head into the locker room with a 2-0 lead at the break.

“In the beginning of the game, we controlled very well,” said Legends head coach Jose Rivera after the game. “Towards the end of the match, we started to get tired.”

That late game took its toll on the Legends squad, nearly costing them the match.

A 68th minute goal from Roberto Soto, who took advantage of a lapse in the Red Wolves defense to make an impressive solo run, gave the Legends a three goal advantage, and proved to be the goal that would decide the game.

Rivera opted to use four of his five substitutions simultaneously midway through the second half, and an injury to defender Daniel Osuji just minutes later left the team without the ability to replace tired legs, and allowed for the Red Wolves to make a late comeback.

After dominating the first 75 minutes of the match, the Legends began to tire and the Red Wolves attack found life in the form of an 84th goal for Brandon Fuchs, on what was Park City’s first real scoring chance from play (they had threatened on a pair of corner kicks earlier in the game, but struggled to break down the Legends defense from the run of play).

Halfway through stoppage time, substitute Kevin Jara-Collante was able to navigate a shot through a crowded Legends box to cut the deficit to just one goal, and giving the Red Wolves hope of a late comeback.

Las Vegas Legends fans smoke 2022 US Open Cup
Fans set off smoke bombs during the Las Vegas Legends’ match against Park City Red Wolves in the First Round in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Lesly Rodriguez – LBShots

However, it was not to be as the Legends held on to close out the game and go home as 3-2 winners.

“It was great playing at UNLV, in Vegas, and to beat this team here shows that we are a big Vegas team, and I think that we are the strongest team in Vegas – I’m proud to say it,” said 18-year-old midfielder Elad Cohen, who came onto the game as one of the subs in the 61st minute for the Legends.
Cohen’s father, Meir, is the owner of the Legends and was equally thrilled at the team’s victory Wednesday night.

The Park City Red Wolves return to Utah to prepare for the upcoming NPSL season, while the Legends get ready to head to New Mexico to take on New Mexico United.

“I believe we are ready to compete,” said Rivera about next round’s matchup. “We will prepare with a lot of excitement … with a lot of concentration. The boys are ready, you can find a lot of quality in our team, and it is something that we are very proud of … the boys can do it.”

Coach Rivera’s squad will have a little over a month to prepare before their May 4 fixture in the next round in New Mexico.

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Las Vegas Legends FC, Park City Red Wolves SC

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