MLS

2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Chicago Fire end Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ Cinderella run, make history in process

July 22, 2016 by Jon Sicotte

Chicago Fire celebrate a goal against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the 2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Chicago Fire

The Fire continue to find a flicker of hope when it comes to US Open Cup runs.

Although not able to find a spot in its league playoffs since 2012 and sits last in the table in its division, the MLS’ Fire defeated the NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-0 in the Cup
Quarterfinals to advance to its fourth consecutive Semifinals berth and 12th overall, setting the all-time US Open Cup record.

The four-time Cup champions will meet its MLS Eastern Conference counterparts the New England Revolution in the Semifinals on Aug. 9.

The Strikers were looking to make history as the first NASL team ever to make the Semifinals.

“In the first 15 minutes we tried to close the space, but we conceded two early goals and that put us in a terrible situation,” said coach and GM Caio Zanardi in a report by the team. “But it was a great moment for us to be in the quarterfinal beating D.C. United and Orlando City. Playing Chicago was special for us. This was a great moment for us to play here in Chicago.”

Accam helped double the lead when he set up Michael de Leeuw in the 35th minute and Khaly Thiam all but sealed the game for the Fire when his goal in the 51st minute made it 3-0.

Gale Agbossoumonde did not make life easier for the Strikers, the last non-MLS team left in the Open Cup field, when he got himself sent off in the 70th minute. Agbossoumonde had previously played every minute of the Strikers NASL and Open Cup campaigns.

Accam was brought down on inside the 18-yard box by Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and the Ghanaian forward converted his attempt from the penalty spot. A bad start got worse for the Strikers minutes later as Nana Attakora was forced off after a collision.

It was Accam again in the 35th minute. After winning a ball at midfield, Accam made his way through the Striker’s midfield and around Restrepo in the penalty area and his attempt was cleaned up by de Leeuw. It was de Leeuw’s first goal in the tournament and his second in four matches since joining the Fire.

Fort Lauderdale came out more aggressively in the second half but conceded a third goal shortly after the restart. Accam played a short corner to Brandon Vincent as he found Nick LaBrocca. LaBrocca’s headed attempt was stopped by Restrepo, but the rebound fell to the feet of
Thiam who was able make it a 3-0 tilt in the 51st.

With the win, the Fire advance to the Semifinals for the fourth year in a row. They become the first club in the 103-year history of the tournament to reach four straight Open Cup Semis twice (2003-06, 2013-16). Only six other clubs have ever reached the Semis four straight years: Ukrainian Nationals (1959-66), Seattle Sounders (2007-12), Stix, Baer & Fuller (1932-37), Bethlehem Steel (1915-1919, LA Galaxy (2000-03), Philadelphia Nationals (1949-52).

FULL MATCH REPLAY: Chicago Fire vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Late goals by Sebastian Lletget send LA Galaxy past Seattle Sounders, 4-2

July 21, 2016 by Dennis Pope

The LA Galaxy celebrate a goal against the Seattle Sounders in the 2016 Quarterfinals. Photo: LA Galaxy

Sebastian Lletget is becoming a late-game legend in this edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Lletget tallied twice in the final five minutes as the Los Angeles Galaxy came from behind to defeat the Seattle Sounders, 4-2, in a quarterfinal round game at the Track and Field stadium at StubHub Center.

“Sebastian hasn’t had a regular shift in a while, so it’s good for him. He did a good job,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said.

Lletget started but did not score until the 85th minute and 88th minute, respectively, for the Galaxy, which won its first game vs. Sounders (MLS) in Open Cup play. With the win L.A. advances the semifinals for the first time since 2006.

“Now on to the semis, and it’s the first time we’ve done that. It’s the first time I can win something and I’m really excited,” Lletget said.

Suspect passing in the Galaxy defense led to the game’s first goal.

Daniel Steres put Leonardo in bad spot with a hospital back pass which Leonardo failed to clear, passing the ball almost directly to an on-rushing Michael Farfan, who played two touches before chipping past Clement Diop.

“They made a mistake in the back and I capitalized on it,” Farfan said. “It was a nice way to start but we can’t finish games like that.”

Galaxy produced a pair of scoring chances before Baggio Husidic put a ball into the box with pace in the 17th minute, finding Alan Gordon at the back post for one-touch finish.

“It was great! Right spot at the right time, buried it,” Gordon said. “We needed it.”

Herculez Gomez produced an improbable goal in the 59th minute to give Sounders a 2-1 lead, beating Diop near post.

“It’s not really a positive,” Gomez said about his eighth career Open Cup goal. “It was all or nothing. There are no moral victories.”

Arena waited to make changes until after the 70th minute, but brought in Giovani Dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes hoping for an immediate impact.

Dos Santos came on for Gordon and did not take long to make his presence felt, getting the Galaxy even at 2-2 in the 77th minute with a goal off a turnover in the back from the Sounders.

“I thought once we had the lead, 2-1, it was just a matter of getting through the rest of the game,” Schmid said. “We gave up a goal — a soft goal — and from there the flood gates opened.”

L.A., which lost to Seattle in the Open Cup quarterfinals in 2010 and ’11, asserted its will in the final 10 minutes, peppering the Sounders goal until finally taking a lead in the 85th minute on Lletget’s third goal of the tournament.

“(Dos Santos and Zardes) brought energy, and they’re just clever,” Lletget said.

It’s back line in shambles, Lletget added his fourth goal of the tournament three minutes later to seal the win, L.A.’s 31st all-time in Open Cup play.

Lletget had two late goals in Galaxy’s 5-1 win over Santa Ana (Calif.) La Maquina (UPSL) in a 4th Round game.

“Crazy, really crazy,” Lletget said. “Till the whistle blows.”

Galaxy has entered the Open Cup every year since 1999, and have a 31-15-0 all-time record.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY VS. SEATTLE SOUNDERS

LLETGET’S GOALS

2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Brad Knighton stands tall for New England Revolution in PK win over Philadelphia Union

July 21, 2016 by Michael Berton

The New England Revolution celebrate after their PK shootout win over the Philadelphia Union. Photo: David Silverman | New England Revolution

Penalty kick shootouts generally turn into a battle of the goalkeepers. After 120 minutes of dazzling saves, Brad Knighton of the New England Revolution came out the winner, leading his team to a 4-2 penalty kick victory over the Philadelphia Union.

After making four saves en route to a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes, Knighton turned it on during penalty kicks. He stopped two of the Union’s four attempts, while his Revolution teammates only missed one.

The victory sends the Revolution to the US Open Cup semifinals for the first time since 2008 as they will play the Chicago Fire. The Union were looking to play in their third straight Open Cup final and fourth semifinal in five years.

New England and Philadelphia were meeting for the second-ever time in Open Cup play. The first matchup also came at the quarterfinal stage, with the Union winning 2-0 in 2014. That game was played in Philadelphia’s home stadium; this one was played at Harvard University.

Playing US Open Cup games away from their home at Gillette Stadium is nothing new for the Revs. Midweek Open Cup crowds are tough to justify the cost of opening the nearly 70,000-seat NFL stadium, so the team often finds locations in and around New England to host their cup matches. This was the club’s third trip to Harvard.

Harvard’s turf field seemed to give both teams some trouble, with the first good chance not coming until a powerful shot from the Revolution’s Kei Kamara in the 27th minute, saved well by Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.

However, Blake could not do anything about the goal the Revs scored in the 44th minute. Diego Fagundez quickly took a free kick, and an unorganized Union defense left Je-Vaughn Watson wide open to easily slot the ball past Blake to give the Revolution the 1-0 lead.

Knighton and Blake stood strong and blocked away plenty of good chances in the second half. But just when it seemed as if New England had the game sewn up, the Union equalized at the stroke of 90 minutes.

Ray Gaddis made a run down the right side and passed it into the box to Sebastian Le Toux. The Open Cup’s modern era leading goalscorer, Le Toux set up Fabian Herbers for his first Open Cup goal to tie the game.

In the 104th minute, the crossbar helped Knighton out by stopping Ilsinho’s shot. A minute later, Blake made a spectacular double save that kept the game level. Not to be outdone, Knighton stopped a Herbers shot in the 110th minute that seemed destined for the net. At the end of extra time, the game was tied at one. Knighton had four saves and Blake had seven.

Knighton was stellar in penalty kicks, saving the first shot he faced against Le Toux and the third shot against CJ Sapong. Blake had no answers, and Watson bagged the final goal to keep the Revolution alive for its first Open Cup title since 2007.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION VS. PHILADELPHIA UNION

2016 US Open Cup Quarterfinals review: Late goals galore as former champions advance to final four

July 20, 2016 by Ian Foster

The New England Revolution celebrate after a goal against the Philadelphia Union. Photo: David Silverman | New England Revolution

Late drama defined Quarterfinal Night at the US Open Cup. The four games saw four goals scored in the 85th minute or later, including two winners and one dramatic equalizer that eventually forced penalties.

The final lower-division team took its bow, leaving four MLS teams to contest the Semifinals. The four clubs remaining have combined to appear in 32 Open Cup Semifinals and 15 Finals, winning 8 Open Cups between them.

Here is a brief recap of each Quarterfinal match with links to the full match report (Check back as more will be added). We start in Chicago, the only place where there was decidedly no late drama:

Reigning TheCup.us Player of the Round David Accam again led the way, earning and converting a penalty in the 4th minute for his fourth goal of the tournament and dishing out what would prove to be the game-winner. Accam helped double the lead when he set up Michael de Leeuw in the 35th minute and Khaly Thiam all but sealed the game for the Fire when his goal in the 51st minute made it 3-0. Gale Agbossoumonde did not make life easier for the Strikers, the last non-MLS team left in the Open Cup field, when he got himself sent off in the 70th minute.

Though the Fire have not made the MLS Playoffs since 2012, they’ve been prodigious in the Open Cup. With the win, they secured their fourth consecutive Semifinals berth and their 12th overall, setting the all-time US Open Cup record. FULL MATCH REPORT »

The Union’s bid to host their third consecutive US Open Cup Final came to an end at the hands of Brad Knighton, Je-Vaughn Watson, and the New England Revolution. Watson scored the opener in the 44th minute to the delight of the Harvard crowd, and through most of the second half it looked like that would be the winner. But Fabian Herbers had other ideas, receiving a pass from Sebastain Le Toux for the 90th-minute equalizer.

MLS All-Star Andre Blake was brilliant in regulation and even more brilliant in extra time, stopping seven shots. But he could not match his counterpart Knighton in the shootout, who stopped Le Toux and CJ Sapong’s efforts before Watson powered home the semifinal-clinching penalty. It will be New England’s fourth overall appearance in the final four, and their first since 2008. FULL MATCH REPORT »

The MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders left it late, but in the end, FC Dallas were the only road team to advance out of the Quarterfinals on Wednesday night after Castillo’s stoppage time winner over in-state rivals Houston Dynamo. After a cagey first half, Houston looked the better team for much of the second half behind the ambition of Mauro Manotas. Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz did well to keep Manotas off the board in the 48th minute. Manotas went on to beat Seitz in the 60th minute, but could not beat the woodwork.

Castillo then showed why transfer rumors constantly swirl around Frisco, firing home a wide-angle shot to sink the Houston faithful. With the win, FC Dallas will make their ninth Semifinal appearance, this one against fellow Western Conference powerhouse LA Galaxy. FULL MATCH REPORT »

Both teams started “B+” squads for this quarterfinal matchup in Carson, Calif. But it was a trio of regulars that brought the game back for the Galaxy and ultimately buried the Sounders. Giovani dos Santos, who made his Open Cup debut when he subbed on at the 74th minute, scored an equalizer for the home side just three minutes later. Sebastian Lletget, who did start the game, pulled LA ahead in the 85th minute and put the game away in the 88th after a wonderful combination with Gyasi Zardes.

Michael Farfan put the Sounders in front in the 4th minute, but LA’s Alan Gordon was quick to respond to make it 1-1 in the 18th. Herculez Gomez scored a particularly fashionable goal in the 58th minute when he volleyed it home from a wide angle. But it was all for naught in the end. The Galaxy move on to their seventh Open Cup semifinal and their first since 2006. FULL MATCH REPORT »

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

July 20, 2016 by Adam Uthe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FULL MATCH REPLAY: HOUSTON DYNAMO VS. FC DALLAS

2016 US Open Cup Round 5: Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ dramatic $15,000 upset of Orlando City makes history

June 30, 2016 by Neil Blackmon

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers celebrate their upset win over Orlando City SC in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Jon van Woerden

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League (NASL) upset Major League Soccer (MLS) host Orlando City SC 2-1 last night on a goal from Victor “PC” Giro in stoppage time of extra time.

A crowd of 3,162 braved an Orlando metropolitan area surrounded by ominous storm clouds to witness the Strikers defeat a MLS team (in regulation or extra time) for the first time in club history. It also snapped the Fort Lauderdale’s Modern Era record winless streak (penalty kick victories are officially considered draws) at seven games and it marked the first time that the Strikers have won a road game in the tournament.

It was a game that had a little of everything: end-to-end free-flowing attacking soccer, blistering counterattacks, great goalkeeping, lovely goals and physical, chippy play that saw 38 fouls whistled and six yellow cards and two reds issued between the two sides.

Throughout the opening half hour, Fort Lauderdale found a good measure of success working the flanks, whether through the young Brazilian PC or wing forward Geison Moura, drifting wide on the right to provide width while the fullback, Gabriel, sat deeper to slow the Orlando City counterattack. The continual probing helped the visitors create the better chances, and it wasn’t surprising that they struck first, in the 12th minute.

Geison Moura played a brilliant chip to Jose Angulo that beat the offside trap, and Angulo did the rest, slotting it home past Earl Edwards Jr. to give the visitors an early lead and send their vocal supporters group, Flight 19, into raptures.

Orlando responded quickly, however.

Orlando City SC vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2016 US Open Cup — Photo: Jon van Woerden

Kevin Molino won the ball with a tackle and made a magical run past four Fort Lauderdale defenders to level the game at 1-1. Molino was easily Orlando’s best player in the opening half, as he was involved in nearly every quality Lions sequence and was the only player for the MLS side who appeared cut from a different cloth than anyone in the Fort Lauderdale eleven.

But the Strikers weren’t finished in the opening half, earning a corner down the right channel in the 40th minute that saw Maicon Santos place a beautiful header toward the top right of the net, only to see an outstretched Edwards Jr. get just enough of the ball to deflect it off the woodwork. Angulo’s follow-up of the ricochet went directly into Edwards’ belly. Still, no one could question the resolve or effort put forth by the visitors in the opening half, as the NASL side very much looked like it belonged on the field with an in—state MLS counterpart.

Brek Shea indicated after the game he expected Fort Lauderdale to play with emotion and resolve.

“Any time a team from a lower division gets a chance to play a MLS team, it is their biggest game of the year,” Shea said. “Credit them. They won.”

Shea’s manager was less diplomatic. Asked if Fort Lauderdale did anything better than Orlando on the evening, Adrian Heath bluntly answered “No. Next question.”

Perhaps his frustration came because Orlando had plenty of chances to change the ultimate outcome, pouring on pressure in the second half.

Minutes after the second half began, Orlando City midfielder Harrison Heath dispossessed Julius James in the Fort Lauderdale area and immediately fired a shot that glanced off the far post.

Moments later, Antonio Nocerino beat his man down the right flank and forced Diego Restrepo into an acrobatic right-handed save that kept proceedings level. Orlando, pressuring higher up the field than in the first session, continued to generate chances, closing down the space and forcing Fort Lauderdale into turnovers. The Lions won multiple corner and free kicks and forced Restrepo into a series of saves and acrobatic punch clearances.

Orlando City SC Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2016 US Open Cup — Photo: Jon van Woerden

But for all the quality final balls, Orlando’s finishing failed them. Shea sailed a sitter over in the 63rd minute after a lovely flicked lay off from Tony Rocha. Hadji Barry saw multiple quality runs end with shots that were just over or off frame. Seb Hines missed the goal completely from four yards in stoppage time. And after entering the game late in the second half, Cyle Larin had a handful of chances go begging.

Adrian Heath lamented the missed opportunities after the game.

“We did well to generate chances with our pressure,” Heath said. “We had enough chances to win the game comfortably. We haven’t done that. When you leave a game 1-1, anything can happen.”

In the 70th minute, anything did, as both sides went down to ten men following a hard foul on Fort Lauderdale’s Geison Moura. As the teams exchanged words, it appeared Brek Shea took an elbow to the face, prompting Kevin Molino to retaliate by striking the Strikers PC in the face.

In the end, Molino and Fort Lauderdale’s Maicon Santos were shown red cards, resulting in ten on ten soccer.

After Orlando’s late flurry to close regulation time, extra time was end to end. The hosts had the first quality chance, winning a free kick at the top of the eighteen only to see Shea’s left footed chip sail hopelessly high and wide of Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Restrepo.

Restrepo, who was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round once already and missed out on back-to-back awards by a single vote, was massive all evening for the Strikers. The former U.S. youth international was controlling his area all night, punching away and catching crosses and marshaling his defense. But without question, his finest save came late in the first extra time session when he stoned Harrison Heath’s brilliant, swerving effort at the far post. The save drew respectful applause from the soccer-savvy Orlando crowd, and assured the game went to the second session of extra time level at one.

For a moment it looked as if Restrepo, already an Open Cup hero for helping Fort Lauderdale win consecutive penalty shootouts to reach the Round of 16, would be called on for penalties yet again Wednesday night. But PC’s goal, a lightning quick counterattack off a quick and controversial restart, assured a winner without spot kicks. The speedy Fort Lauderdale fullback took the restart the length of the field, cut inside toward the eighteen, made two quick, lateral cuts and sent a clinical, low, screaming shot past Edwards Jr. to give Fort Lauderdale the lead, and ultimately, the victory and a spot in the US Open Cup quarterfinal.

It was a goal of tremendous quality, but not one that surprised Strikers captain Jean Marc Alexandre.

“PC is a tremendous player,” Alexandre said following the match. “He’s quick and dangerous on the break. He’s a guy who turned down several MLS sides to stay in Fort Lauderdale with the Strikers, and he showed he has the quality to compete at any level.”

For the Strikers, the next level will be the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in club history. The win helped Fort Lauderdale become not just the last remaining NASL side in this year’s competition, but only the fourth NASL side to reach the quarterfinal round.

As the last remaining NASL team, they are awarded the $15,000 Division 2 prize money from the US Soccer Federation.

For Strikers manager Caio Zanardi, it was about respect.

“We have quality players. Many of our players have played at the highest levels,” Zanardi said. “Gabriel played for long stretches at the top level in Brazil. Jean Marc Alexandre just played at the Copa America. PC was a prized Corinthians player, who captained their youth teams and played for Brazil youth teams that won trophies. We knew we could compete.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 5: Late goals help New England Revolution spoil New York Cosmos’ cup run

June 30, 2016 by Luis Hernandez

For the third time in as many years, the New York Cosmos were bounced out of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in the Round of 16, this time falling to the New England Revolution, 3-2. Late goals would, once again, be the culprit in denying them passage into the Quarterfinals for the first time.

The Revolution, who last won the tournament in 2007, have rebounded from a one-and-done loss to the Charlotte Independence (USL) last year with back-to-back wins over NASL opponents to earn the club its third trip to the Quarterfinals in the last four years.

The Revs entered the match with a competitive lineup, bringing back primary goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, Jose Gonçalves and Andrew Farrell on the back line and competitive options in the mid and up top. Key pieces were also available to them on the bench including Lee Nguyen and Kei Kamara.

The Cosmos, to no one’s surprise, committed their full first team to the competition. Roversio received his second competitive start of the season, pairing alongside Carlos Mendes.

The Cosmos had the bulk of possession and chances early on with New England keeping them off the board. An Arango volley in the 15th minute would go high and wide but the midfielder created a dangerous chance in the 27th when he set up an unopposed run by Jairo Arrieta into the box and his shot was denied by Shuttleworth.

The Revolution encountered a setback as starting forward Juan Agudelo suffered an injury and was subbed off in the 32nd minute for Zach Herivaux, the Open Cup hero for their previous round.

New York finally broke through in the 38th minute when Arrieta received a pass in the six, then dropped the ball back to an incoming Ruben Bover who, wide-open, had the time to pick where to slide his shot.

The lead was short-lived as the Revolution struck back just five minutes later. Ruben Bover lost the ball at midfield to Diego Fagundez who sent a pass to Teal Bunbury, who entered the box and created some space against Ayoze before pushing right and firing a rocket over Jimmy Maurer and into the roof of the net.

An error by Jimmy Maurer nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 55th minute. Clearing a ball from his area, it was delivered to the foot of Bunbury who wound up and fired towards the right side of the net. Maurer, still on his six, managed to dash back and get a one-handed parry on the ball.

The Cosmos’ answer to that threat came about a minute later as Arrieta on the left side of the Revolution’s area, sent a ball to Arango at the top center. The Venezuelan chipped a ball to Sebastian Guenzatti who put a touch on the ball before cutting back to strike a low shot past Shuttleworth.

New England responded to their deficit with their second substitution of the night, bringing on offensive threat Kei Kamara for Scott Caldwell in the 61st. Within minutes, Kamara nearly assisted on a goal with his pass to Steve Neumann resulting in a ball just wide of the net.

Shuttleworth kept the visitors in it when Jairo Arrieta broke away from his defenders to chest down a ball and then volley it on net. The goalkeeper was up to the task, knocking it out of bounds and keeping them at a one-goal deficit in the 65th.

The Cosmos opted for a defensive sub in the 74th, bringing on Adam Moffat for Ruben Bover. It would not matter a minute later as Maurer’s goal kick was intercepted and headed by Neumann to Kamara who made a run into the box from the right side. His attempt to cross drew Maurer off his line, but the ball bounced off Roversio’s head and back to Kamara who volleyed it into a now-vacant goal for his first goal this season.

More substitutions followed. The Revolution pushed the attack by bringing on Lee Nguyen for Fagundez in the 77th. The Cosmos also made a pair of subs, bringing on Lucky Mkosana for Yohandry Orozco and Jimmy Ockford for Roversio.

New England put it away in the 83rd when Herivaux brought down Adam Moffat with a tackle, allowing Kamara to pick up the ball and make a run down the middle. With Ayoze in an advanced position, Kamara slid the ball right to Bunbury who went one-on-one with Maurer, hitting it over the keeper for the game-winner.

The Cosmos were presented with a series of opportunities, but were unable to find an equalizer.

“I thought our guys played an excellent match,” shared Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese. “I think we had the most of the game, created chances. I think we should have been a little more clinical to finish some of these chances. And in the end, when you play at this level, you make the kind of mistakes that we made, you get penalized. And I think that’s what happened at the end of the game. Two of our mistakes, they’re a good team, they put it away and then we found ourselves losing a game we should have won.”

New England’s players had nothing but good things to say about their lower division opponents afterwards.

“The Cosmos are a great team. It was a great matchup…in the US Open Cup it’s always going to be a battle, always going to be a test of character and we came out here and got the job done.” said Teal Bunbury after the game.

“It’s tough, these games aren’t always easy. Playing against a lower side is always tough.” Kamara added while wearing a Cosmos shirt he received in a post-game swap with his former Columbus Crew teammate Danny Szetela.

The loss eliminates the Cosmos from the 2016 Open Cup and brings their record in the US Open Cup to 5-1-3. The Revolution advance and will host the Philadelphia Union in the quarterfinals next month.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

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

June 30, 2016 by Zach Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2016 US Open Cup Round 5: FC Dallas needs OT to edge Colorado Rapids, earn 15th trip to Quarterfinals

June 30, 2016 by Adam Uthe

In a battle of the teams with the two best records in Major League Soccer, FC Dallas came out on top thanks to a 96th minute goal from offseason acquisition Maximiliano Urruti. The game went to extra time after the teams traded goals in regulation; one in the first half from Colorado’s Dominique Badji and one the second half from Dallas’ Mauro Diaz.

With the win, FC Dallas advances to the Quarterfinals for the 15th time in club history. Only one club in the 103-year history of the tournament has more appearances in the Quarterfinals (Kutis SC from St. Louis with 17 from 1953-1986.)

The game was a bit lackluster given the league records of both teams and Colorado only brought four outfield substitutes with them to go with a backup goalkeeper. They were also missing midfield stalwart Jermaine Jones, who did not travel upon returning from international duty with the US Men’s National Team at the Copa America. Urruti didn’t even come off the bench for Dallas until the 77th minute.

There were goals to be had right from the start. Dallas got things going in the eighth minute when Diaz played striker Tesho Akindele through into the box, only for Akindele’s shot on goal to be denied by Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath.

Not too long afterwards, Colorado homegrown product Dillon Serna was fouled hard by Dallas defender Agustin Jara, who earned a yellow card for the play in question. Colorado fullback Jared Watts had words with Jara and got a little too heated in defense of his teammate and earned a yellow card himself. Serna was forced exit and was replaced by Hairston in the 21st minute, several minutes after the initial foul.

The Rapids had a pair of chances shortly thereafter, including a Marco Pappa free kick that ended up being hit right at Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. Dallas responded in the 30th minute with a chance of their own as defender Atiba Harris, a former Rapids player, found himself inside the box on the right side with options. Instead, he skied a shot over the crossbar.

Colorado had a couple more half chances before the 38th minute when Hairston got free down the right hand side and played a low cross far post to Badji for the goal. Dallas threatened just once again before halftime when Mauro Diaz had a free kick opportunity, but it failed to find a red shirt in the box.

The second half got off to a rough start Badji was shaken up after a foul right out of the break, but stayed in the game.

Dallas didn’t wait long to bring on super sub Michael Barrios in the 52nd minute and he made his presence felt two minutes later when he played Fabian Castillo into the box, only for MacMath to get to it first.

Pappa and Badji tried to mimic the play at their end of the field, only for Gonzalez to the ball first as well. The second half continued with both teams trading similar half chances until the 64th minute. Fabian Castillo made an excellent play on the counter to keep the ball in play in front of his team’s bench and beat two Colorado defenders at the same time. The Colombian winger streaked in alone and played a crisp centering pass to Diaz for the easy finish. It was the kind of individual effort that has kept Castillo’s name in various transfer rumors as the international transfer window prepares to open this Friday.

Colorado went for the win in the 83rd minute, bringing on Designated Player Kevin Doyle, who got his head on a cross in the box but saw his effort skim wide of the goal. The deadlock remained and the game went to extra time.

Doyle missed near post on another chance in the 93rd minute after extra time got underway and would rue the chance he missed. Three minutes later Urruti got into the box and took his chance near post from what seemed like an impossible angle. The ball seemed to take an awkward deflection off the near post that left MacMath stranded as the ball skipped past him into the net.

Colorado emptied its bench and brought on Conor Doyle at the extra time break, but Dallas kept the pressure up throughout the final 15 minutes and came away with the win.

The loss by Colorado means the Rapids have now gone 13 straight US Open Cups without winning multiple games; a Modern Era record. Dallas will take the trip down I-45 to Houston to battle in-state rivals Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals next month.

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2016 US Open Cup Round 5: Los Angeles Galaxy edge Portland Timbers to reach Quarterfinals

June 30, 2016 by Kristen Gehrke

It seemed like the ideal situation.

For years, the Portland Timbers have played the majority of their Open Cup matches on the road in hostile environments (see: last year’s win against Seattle at Starfire) but finally, the cards had fallen their favor: first one, then a second home match.

But their opponent in that second match, the LA Galaxy, proved to be too much for the Timbers to handle.

“It’s disappointing to be out of the competition,” Portland head coach Caleb Porter said after Portland’s 1-0 loss to the Galaxy Wednesday night at Providence Park. “I think what makes it even more disappointing is losing the home game. Obviously this year, we had a couple games at home and if we would have won this one, we would have been back at home.”

“I thought we lost the game in the first ten minutes,” Porter continued. “I thought the last 80 minutes, we were the better team.”

The lone goal of the game came in that first ten minutes when a fifth minute pass from Emmanuel Boateng found Raul Mendiola 15 yards out. Mendiola put the ball into the bottom corner past Portland keeper Wade Hamilton and that was that.

Where the Timbers struggled to find their defensive footing (the team’s MLS lineup is captained by veteran centerback Liam Ridgewell, who was not included on its Open Cup roster), LAG’s defenders allowed no space for Portland to move offensively.

“It’s a game of moments,” Porter said. “Too much back-foot defending, you need to be more aggressive. I do think a part of that was not having Ridgy in there. He’s the guy that leads the line. You sort it out over the next 80 minutes and it wasn’t sorted out.”

“We played very well,” Galaxy manager Bruce Arena said. “We have a very good team, we just haven’t had it together this year for long periods of time…It was a game we thought we could win and I was real pleased we could come here and walk away with the win.”

“I was surprised so many people came out,” Arena said. “The field’s much better this year with the new surface. It’s never easy, but if you have to play on an artificial field, this is the one to play on. The combination of a great environment and the fact that you can play a little bit on this field as opposed to some of the others is good. All the credit always to the Portland supporters. They do a magnificent job for their team. You know, one day, we’d like to see the whole league look like Portland in terms of their base of support.”

FULL MATCH REPLAY