Next Level Soccer

A longtime participant in Open Cup qualifying, Azteca FC traveled south to face one of the qualifying newcomers, Next Level Soccer.

This was Next Level Soccer’s second attempt at qualifying – with no previous appearances in the tournament. At the start of the match, the hosts were 9-1-0, 28pts (1st) in the UPSL Premier Division – Arizona Conference.

Azteca FC made their eighth attempt at qualifying (2017-2018, 2020-2025) – having made it to the tournament four previous times (2017, 2018, 2022, 2024).

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Azteca finished the Colorado Premier League Fall season with a record of 5-1-2, 16pts (4th). In the playoff tournament, they defeated Harpos FC in the final to take their sixth consecutive title.

On a cool and very rainy evening in Gilbert, AZ, Next Level Soccer (NLS) hosted Azteca FC from Denver, CO. This was the first ever meeting between the teams. A high energy contest ended 3-3 after extra time, with Azteca winning the penalty shootout 4-3. About 100 boisterous home fans supplied plenty of noise.

The game started very fast with Next Level making the first push on goal in just the second minute. NLS Edgar Olivas opened the scoring for the visitors in the 7th minute, cleaning up a loose ball from a corner kick. The half would continue at a rapid pace throughout. Both teams were on the front foot for short spells.

Ex-MLS player, Don Tchiao, would level the score in the 41st minute. In a goal mouth scramble. Next Level’s leading scorer, Danny Baca put the home side in front, 2-1, in the 45th minute.

Don Tchilao would prove to be a pest on the wings all evening.

Azteca’s Head Coach Andy De La Rosa said (about Tchilao), “Yes, he was , he’s a really good player, but our own mistakes really cost us in their first two goals.” On the game in general, “Other than that, I think we played a really good game and at the end we were better in the PKs.”

Next Level would not hold the lead for long. Luis Reyes found himself in a position to deal with a rebound in front of goal, and did, putting Azteca on level terms in the 53rd minute. No more goals would be scored in regulation despite shots flying at both ends.

In extra time, two more goals were scored. Azteca’s Eduardo Hermosillo scored in the 105+1 minute to send the visitors to the front. In the second half of extra time, just when it looked like Azteca would cross the line, Next Level’s Ricardo Arguello would find an equalizer in the 119th minute, sending the game to a shootout.

Of note, three of the six goals were scored within a minute of the end of a period (45’, 105’+1, 119’), creating plenty of drama.

The PKs were not without some drama. NLS’s first attempt from Don Tchilao, was drilled solidly into the foot of the post and away.

NLS’s fourth kicker, Marco Perez, had his shot blocked, but not saved, and the ball’s spin caused it to cross the line for their second goal. Had Gerardo Aguilar saved it, that would have been the end of the shootout as Azteca were up 3-1 at that point.

Instead, Azteca’s fourth shooter, Luis Reyes, appeared to slip as he set his plant foot and shot the ball well over the crossbar, allowing NLS their fifth attempt. The final round of kicks were both converted, Azteca’s by their talisman, Jovany Herrera.

With the result, Azteca has now qualified for the tournament proper for the fifth time in their history.

Penalty Kick Shootout Summary

NLS    Don Tchilao – MISSED
AZT    Jose Bencomo – GOAL
NLS    Ricardo Oliveria – GOAL
AZT    Cesar Meza – GOAL
NLS    David Koko – SAVED
AZT    Luis Mendoza – GOAL
NLS    Marco Perez – GOAL
AZT    Luis Reyes – MISSED
NLS    Robert Baca – GOAL
AZT    Jovany Herrera – GOAL