Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Miami United

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Orlando City SC ignore league form, outclass Miami United, 3-0

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USOC OCSC-MIA FINALOrlando City advanced in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in convincing fashion Wednesday night, dominating the stylish and sartorially splendid but outclassed Miami United 3-0 at Ted Hendricks Stadium.

A lively crowd of 2,721 paid to see it, including a sing-song and boisterous chorus of traveling Orlando City supporters.

Miami United had the better chances early, with early round Open Cup-hero David Ochoa troubling Orlando’s central defender pairing of Jon Spector, who was playing his first game after a month in concussion protocol, and Tony Rocha. Miami had two glorious chances in the the12th minute through Ochoa, only to see midfielder Tomas Grannito and Ochoa miss chances from 10 yards.
The game evened out after the early chances, and when David Ochoa picked up an injury around the half-hour mark, Miami United lost the valve that had pressured and pinned Orlando back throughout the early stages.

After a long spell of possession, Orlando finally broke through late in the opening half. Sacha Kljestan won a second ball in the center of the field and played a ball to Josue Colman, who switched the field to fullback RJ Allen. Allen’s cross found a surging Stefano Pinho, who tapped home from five yards to give the Lions the lead.

For Pinho, it was a well-earned goal on a night where his off-ball movement and secondary runs created havoc in the area. The Brazilian had made his star turn a year prior against Orlando City in the Open Cup.

This season, he enjoyed sending the Purple and White through to the next round.

“I have confidence in the Open Cup, but I’m a goalscorer, I always want to score,” Pinho said. “I have to be myself and prove myself every day, whether a league game or a Cup game or a practice, but to help us win in Miami in front of friends and family, it’s a great feeling.”

While Pinho is no stranger to Open Cup success, having earned Player of the Round honors during last year’s competition playing with Miami FC, Orlando City have had difficulties the last two years playing fellow Florida sides in Open Cup competition. The Lions provided the city a moment of bittersweet joy in beating Jacksonville Armada in 2016 after the tragic Pulse shooting but succumbed at home to Fort Lauderdale in the following round and lost a lopsided affair to Miami FC in 2017.

Compounding matters, Orlando also entered the match winless in nearly a month, having lost four consecutive games to league foes Atlanta United, Toronto FC, New York City FC and the Chicago Fire.

But for all the trouble the Lions have had recently and historically at home against NASL sides, they handled a turf field and a hostile road environment in Miami against a tricky NPSL side Wednesday night.

“It was a moment we needed desperately,” Orlando coach Jason Kreis said. “This was a critical result for us and hopefully it builds confidence for the future.”

Kreis also noted the respect he had for Miami United when he watched them on video, insisting that he didn’t take the Open Cup — or his team’s NPSL opponent — lightly.

“I select the team that gives my club the best chance to win the game. There’s no part of me that says the league is more important, not at all,” Kreis said. “We may have league games where we’ll rest certain players to be ready for Open Cup games, because we think we can make a deep run.”

The Lions added to their lead within the first ten minutes of the second half, when a high-pressing Mohamed El-Munir charged forward down the left flank, took a ball away and chipped out of three defenders to Sacha Kljestan. The U.S. international took one cut and played a ball across to a late-running Dillon Powers, who finished clinically to give Orlando a deserved two-goal advantage.

The third would come minutes later, off an unforced error in the back by Elisma Pierre, whose simple clearance pass was intercepted by Sacha Kljestan. The Orlando star quickly turned inside and slotted the ball to PC, who tapped home from seven yards to signal that the rout was on in Miami.

As often happens when a game gets sideways, things turned chippy late, with Orlando taking exception to Miami United putting in hard, physical tackles as they chased possession down three goals. Fortunately, referee Elvis Osmonovic kept proceedings under control, issuing a handful of cards and even ejecting a Miami United coach for a bump on Orlando’s Brazilian fullback PC. Meanwhile, Jason Kreis, fully aware of Orlando’s precarious position as they chase their first MLS Cup playoff berth, used his substitutions wisely, protecting stars like Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Spector with early substitutions as the Lions seized control.

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: Miami United sink Armada to become first NPSL team to reach Round 4

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USOC MUFC-JAX FINALThe Jacksonville Armada FC may have had home-field advantage, but that’s where their fortune ended Wednesday night in their quest to advance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Taking on Miami United FC, the two National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) clubs fought for every possession, but it was Miami who came away with the only goals in the Third Round match.

Miami drew first blood in the 20th minute off a great ball that was fed to Tomas Granitto. The Miami midfielder took a shot from outside the box and banked it in off of the far post. It was one of the more impressive goals of the tournament and it gave United the momentum they needed.

Just six minutes later, Miami United earned a free kick just outside the box on the left wing. Nicolas Gorobsov stepped up to take the shot, curling it past the wall to the far post to double the advantage.

Though the scoreboard showed a 2-0 result for Miami, Jacksonville actually owned a distinct shot advantage, 20-4. However, just six of those shots were put on frame, and all were tidied up by Miami goalkeeper Oscar Peterson.

“We had a thousand chances to score a goal and we didn’t score,” said the clearly disgruntled Armada head coach, Mark Lowry. “We had five, six, seven, eight, nine chances to score and we didn’t. That’s what happened.”

With tonight’s win, Miami United becomes the first team in NPSL history to reach the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup. United are just the second open division pro team to reach Round 4, joining the 2016 Kitsap Pumas, back when they were a member of the Premier Development League.

They now await the results of tomorrow’s Fourth Round draw ahead of MLS’ entry into the competition. The draw is set to take place at 11 AM (ET).

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Miami United eliminates shorthanded Miami FC 2

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Photo: Miami FC 2
Photo: Miami FC 2

Last year, Miami FC’s US Open Cup run was a magical trip to the quarterfinals. This year, it ended before the club even left the Magic City.

Miami United defeated Miami FC 2 by the score of 3-1 on Wednesday night in front of 1,607 fans at Florida International University Soccer Stadium. David Ochoa scored twice for the visitors, with Victor adding a third for Miami United in second-half stoppage time.

Miami FC 2 opened the scoring when Dylan Mares, volleyed home a lovely cross from Cuban international Ariel Martinez.

Mares is no stranger to US Open Cup star turns, having been one of the heroes of the Miami FC senior team’s historic run to the Quarterfinals of the competition a year ago. Much has changed for Miami FC since.

The NASL is in legal limbo, a soccer purgatory with no competitive season as they press forward with antitrust litigation against Major League Soccer and the US Soccer Federation. Without a league to play in, Miami FC chose to drop down to the NPSL, albeit without many of the faces that made the club NASL Spring and Fall season champions in 2017 and one of the most formidable second-division sides in the history of US Soccer. As the club presses forward (without a permanent league home but with the lucrative financial backing of Riccardo Silva), Mares is one eight Miami FC players who played a prominent role in last year’s Open Cup run and stayed to wear the colors when he tells the tale.

The strike from Mares awakened the Orange and Blue and stunned the visitors from Miami United, who had played most the opening fifteen minutes of the game on the front foot, dominating possession and playing a high line, with Miami FC content to sit deep and wait for chances to counter through the torrid pace of Martinez.

USOC MUFC-MFC2 FINALMiami United’s decision to play a high line and press early was surprising, given the side was playing with only five available substitutions and that the side played a game over the weekend and Miami FC did not. The strategy created chances early, but left United very vulnerable on the break, and Miami FC repeatedly looked the more dangerous side after the Mares opener.

Just before halftime, however, Miami United was thrown a lifeline. Miami FC playmaker Kris Tyrpak was issued a straight red for a late, rash challenge, leaving the hosts down a man with more than a half of soccer to play. It was a surprising and foolish play from Tyrpak, a veteran of San Antonio FC of the USL and Ottawa Fury FC before that, and while the predominantly pro-Miami FC booed, it was hard to fault the decision of referee Andres Videlas.

Miami United made the most of the break within five minutes.

A giveaway magnified by a communication breakdown in the middle of the field between Tyler Ruthven, Enzo Rennella and Rhett Bernstein allowed David Ochoa to break through, and the former U-23 Fort Lauderdale Strikers product buried the equalizer past Daniel Vega.

“It’s disappointing, to have individual mistakes and communication give a lead away. We knew at halftime if we stayed compact, played smart and held our clean sheet we would win. It’s frustrating to make simple mistakes. You can’t legislate for mental errors,” Miami FC manager Paul Dalglish said after the match.

The visitors needed only three more minutes to take the lead.

It was David Ochoa who again did the damage, making a menacing run into the channel and latching onto a lovely pass from Tomas Grannito. Ochoa took a touch, cut inside towards goal and calmly slotted past Daniel Vega.

A stunned Miami FC nearly conceded a third two minutes later, when Ochoa again found space in between a discombobulated Miami FC back four and fired a rocket of a shot at Daniel Vega, who bravely saved low.

In the 65th minute, a speedy Ariel Martinez counter gave Miami FC hope, but his cross was a bit too far for the trailing back post run of Mares, whose late lunge saw his left boot find only a chunk of turf, missing the ball by inches.

Still, Miami FC weren’t ready to relinquish their chance to chase last year’s US Open Cup glory quite yet. They pressed forward with wave after wave of attackers, often leaving only two center backs to protect the goal, and consistently probing for an equalizer through Martinez, Mares and influential substitution and Indy Eleven veteran Don Smart.

But for every Miami FC attack, Miami United had a defensive answer.

Darryl Gordon had several critical clearances in the area, and Elusma Pierre did the yeoman’s work containing FC Dallas youth product Coy Craft and Jamie Chavez’s forays through the middle.
In stoppage time, the dam broke, as former Fort Lauderdale Striker Victor won a fifty-fifty ball in the final third, turned past his defender and buried an exclamation point third goal past Daniel Vega.

Victor, who took a job as a coach at a local academy when the Strikers folded, relished the moment and the meaning of a rivalry Cup-set win.

“It’s an amazing thing, to advance in the Cup. I’ve seen the happiness in brings the fans in Fort Lauderdale. I’ve seen what it means to our fans,” Victor said. “We’re a small club, but a proud one, with a winning tradition. To beat Miami FC tonight here and to score a goal, it’s everything.”

One of the special things about the early rounds of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is that you get a rash of rivalry games. A handful of contests, like Wednesday night’s second round tilt between Miami United and Miami FC, even feature teams that share a city fighting to win the affection of their city’s soccer fans, as well as a healthy share of bragging rights.

The Magic City Clasico, as the tilt between Miami United and Miami FC is known locally, had already been contested two times in NPSL play this season, but this meeting, with a trip to the third round of the US Open Cup at stake, meant the most to the players and local fans, who waited out an hour and a half lighting delay and chanted and sang at each other for most of the game’s ninety humid minutes.

In the end, only Miami United’s fans were left singing, the famed “Vamos, Vamos United, Esta Noche” ringing out into the Miami night, with their rival left to dwell on glories past, and wonder what went wrong.

“It’s a crushing disappointment,” Dalglish said. “You prepare so hard and become undone by simple errors. And yet you can’t hang your head and promise to do better next time, because there’s no next time in the Open Cup.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: David Ochoa’s hat trick lifts Miami United in Second Round

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Courtesy usoc_mu_finalMagic City Soccer

It didn’t start exactly how the team imagined, but the end result was sweet nonetheless. Miami United FC overcame an early deficit to storm back and defeat FC Kendall, 5-2. Miami United will advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to face The Miami FC 2.

The man of the match was clearly David Ochoa, who scored three goals, including a world-class free kick from more than 30 yards away that settled in the top-left corner of the net to beat FC Kendall goalkeeper Ronald Garces.

Ochoa amassed the highest goal total, but it was FC Kendall which struck first. After a strong stretch of play by Miami United, Kendall were able to counter and Andres Navas had a shot on goal in the 10th minute, which was deflected away. On the subsequent corner kick, Daniel Gonzalez was able to swing a ball near post that Alessandro Mion redirected past Bryan Martin.

It’s not what Miami United would have asked for, but it was apparently the punch in the face the team needed.

Miami United were able to equalize in the 17th minute, when Mion caught the leg of Tomas Granitto inside the box. Granitto took the penalty kick himself and equalized the match.

Momentum really seemed to shift in the 24th minute, when Nicolas Gorobsov took a ball from Nicolas Micoli just outside the 18-yard box and finished beautifully top-right corner to give Miami United its first lead of the night.

But it was the moment in the 32nd minute that was sublime. Miami United earned a free kick and Ochoa, seemingly determined to find a way to best his teammate Gorobsov, absolutely hit an inch-perfect kick to put Miami United up and above FC Kendall for good.

Ochoa would score twice more, once off a well-played through ball and a precise finish close to goal, and the third off a strange clearance that came straight to his foot while he was on the ground in the box.

In reality, despite the scoreline, Garces may have been Kendall’s man of the match. After the opening goal, Miami United had nearly all of the offensive action, save for a penalty kick earned by Gonzalez and converted by Santiago Schmid in the closing seconds.

The second-round opponent for Miami United will be The Miami FC 2, cross-town rival and conference foe who defeated Red Force FC 4-0 to advance. The two teams have played twice already this year, with both games ending in 1-1 draws. Thanks to the format of the Open Cup, we know that’s not a possibility, and the Magic City Clásico trophy will be handed out along with a ticket to the third round and a possible date with a United Soccer League opponent.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Jacksonville Armada overcome slow start, beat Miami United 2-1

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Jacksonville Armada logoThe Jacksonville Armada FC struck twice late in the first half to erase an early deficit and defeat Miami United FC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup 2-1 Wednesday night.

The first half started slow both teams were trying to figure each other out. Early in the first half Jacksonville tried to get comfortable with the turf. Many plays in the first 45 minutes ended with an Armada player slipping on the turf.

After being unable to capitalize on numerous chances throughout the first half and having an 8-0 edge in corners in the first half, the NASL’s Armada FC scored twice in a seven-minute span after Jacopo Camilli scored off a beautiful pass from Ezequiel Tejera in the 32nd minute for Miami United of the NPSL.

Three minutes after falling behind, Armanda FC leveled on a goal by veteran Aaron Pitchkolan after a Jake Black corner. A controversial penalty was awarded three minutes before halftime following a slide tackle in the box. Miami goalkeeper Carlos Alcantara dived to the right, but Blake finished for what proved to the eventual game-winner.

Miami United countered quickly with a great chance in stoppage time as Tejera booted a ball from beyond the 18-yard box, but the ball bounced off the right bar inches away from an equalizing goal.

Jacksonville goalkeeper Kyle Nasta, who had to wear a baseball cap in the first half due to the intense sunlight on his side of the pitch, made a pair of saves.

In the second half, Miami moved David SantaMaria to the middle of the field. Needing an equalizer, they also played more up-tempo in the second half, but both teams squandered opportunities after halftime.

The match was heated late with three of the nine bookings coming in second-half stoppage time. Miami United had one last chance late, but their possession ended with the offside flag raised.

Jacksonville Armada will move onto the third round of the US Open Cup, and will face Charleston Battery. Charleston beat the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 earlier on Wednesday.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Nacho’s heroics leads Miami United past Boca Raton in Florida battle

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miami-united-fc-logoLongtime NPSL star Nacho scored in the 88th minute, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and helping host Miami United defeat Boca Raton FC 2-1 in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Second Round action last night at Milander Stadium. Miami United will host the North American Soccer League’s Jacksonville Armada next Tuesday evening in the Round 3.

Throughout most of the second half, it appeared that the visitors from Boca Raton would score the winner, as they created multiple chances through forward Gio DiMauro and marauding fullbacks Nickardo Blake and Jason Fitzgerald as the hosts played deep and tried to withstand the pressure. But in the 88th minute, Miami United forced a turnover and launched a brilliant counterattack down the left, with a cross splitting two defenders and finding Nacho, who calmly dispatched the ball into the left corner of the net.

“It was a close contest, a great game,” Nacho said after the game, with a large group of Miami United fans just yards away chanting his name in sing-song fashion. “We were able to win the ball and win a one on one wide, and I hit the shot well. It’s a great feeling to help win this game for my teammates and the fans.”

Early in the game, it appeared Miami United would control proceedings. Mattias Menza scored on a rocket of a volley in the 7th minute to put the hosts ahead, and Boca Raton struggled to deal with Miami’s pressure in the midfield zones. The visitors slowly settled themselves, however, largely due to the effective runs of fullback Nickardo Blake, and nearly leveled the game at just past the half hour, when a long Blake run found forward Gio DiMauro who forced Miami United goalkeeper Carlos Alfaro to make a strong save.

The visitors kept coming, however, and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 57th minute. Boca’s Shadi Harb was fouled on the right of the area, and the ensuing free kick found a charging Stefano Bontempo, who buried a close-range chance for the tie.

Eleven minutes later, Boca Raton appeared to win a penalty on a handball after a lengthy sequence of possession led to a shot from distance, which was deflected twice off Miami United hands. There was no call, however, setting the stage for Nacho’s late game heroics.

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Heviel Cordoves scores, sent off in Charleston Battery’s narrow 1-0 win over Miami United

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Charleston BatteryHeviel Cordoves scored in the first half and the Charleston Battery was able to hold on for the 1-0 win over Miami United in the Second Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium.

Cordoves scored in the 40th minute against the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) side after Memo Rodriguez played a ball from the right side that curved right into Cordoves’ path. He beat the defenders and easily slotted the ball past goalkeeper Eric Perilla for the goal.

The Battery move on to Round 3 where they will host the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Blackbaud Stadium on May 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Charleston, which is in second place in the USL Eastern Conference, dominated the game in the first half, but Miami was able to survive the onslaught with limited damage and did a good job of making it an even contest in the second half.

The Battery could have had multiple goals in the first 45 minutes, as Cordoves nearly scored in the opening minute on a backpass to Perilla that went awry and Dante Marini hit the post in the fifth minute.

It felt like Charleston was destined to score several goals, but ultimately only one was needed. Miami came out much stronger in the second half, so the Battery spent more time on defense and looked to counterattack with long balls over the midfield.

Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser said the longer the game went on, the more confident Miami felt that they had a chance to tie or win the game.

“They made a few mistakes and we didn’t make them pay early, and that’s what you need to do against a team like that. They were able to bleed through their mistakes and got their confidence,” he said.

The Battery had several opportunities to put the game away, but Perilla made five saves on the night, including an amazing stop in the 79th minute. Cordoves, on a breakaway from one of those quick counterattacks down the flanks, found Navion Boyd alone in front of goal and delivered the ball to him. Boyd directed it to goal but somehow Perilla slid over, extended his leg and was able to kick the ball off the line.

Miami finished the game with seven shots, six of which had to be saved by Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper. Ignacio Calcagno had one of the best shots for Miami when he whipped a ball in from outside the box, and he earned his side a corner kick in the first half. But the NPSL team struggled to create chances against the Battery defense.

The second half turned feisty, as Cordoves was sent off for shoving a Miami player in the back. Because it was ruled as violent conduct, Cordoves will be ineligible for the next two Cup games, should the Battery advance that far. In total, there were eight yellow cards handed out.

Charleston central midfielder Sebastian Thuriere said he has never known a US Open Cup game to be easy. He is a player that can attack or defend well, but had to spend a lot of time in his own half as the Battery played down a man for the final seven minutes of regulation.

“Toward the end of the game we realized the pressure was on them to push,” said Thuriere. “They added some extra defenders and the card made it harder on us,”

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