Nick Farrell

2010 US Open Cup qualifying: Fernando Gatica carries Detroit United to win over Milwaukee Kickers

May 2, 2010 by Matt Schroeder - Wisconsin Soccer Central

MILWAUKEE (May 1, 2010) — If Fernando Gatica’s debut in the starting lineup is any indication, Detroit United is a serious threat to reach the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Argentinean-born target striker tallied a pair of superb goals on Saturday as Detroit United eliminated the Milwaukee Kickers 2-1 in the USASA Region II quarterfinals at Uihlein Soccer Park.

Gatica’s work on a warm, windy afternoon pushed United within one victory of a berth in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was especially important because Detroit United left Michigan at 11:30 p.m. Friday with only 11 total players. Then, when Sean Nesbitt took ill, he was only able to give a few minutes at a stretch, leaving his team down a man for much of the match.

But the Kickers, who surprised Bavarian SC 3-1 to win the Wisconsin state title and advance to the Region II quarterfinals, could never find a comfort level on their home field.

“We seemed to be a little out of sorts on both ends, offense and defense,” said John Sweeney, the Kickers coach.

After Nate Robinson was foiled by the underside of the crossbar in the 12th minute, he initiated the sequence that led to United’s first goal in the 29th minute. Following a nice run into the right corner, a cross was sent in and then a rebound went high in the air. Gatica measured it and delivered a dynamic scissor kick from just outside the goal box at the far post.

United controlled most of the action for the remainder of the half. In the last couple of minutes, the Kickers generated a pair of good through balls and one opportunity in front of the goal but couldn’t convert.

Playing with the wind largely at their backs in the second half, United used it to score their second goal in the 68th minute. A long punt by the keeper found the burly Gatica at the right of the penalty area. He shook his mark to the ground to gain some space, then beat Nick Farrell for the 2-0 lead.

“It’s hard to foul me,” said the 21-year-old, who played high school soccer in New Jersey and spent some time with the Waza professional indoor team of the PASL. “The goalie came out and saw I had a teammate coming in. He left the near post a little open and that’s where I finished.

The Kickers pulled with in a goal in the 72nd minute. Detroit United was whistled for a handball just outside the penalty area. Kyle Ingold decided on a quick restart as the wall was forming, and his left-footed effort curled around that wall to make it 2-1. They couldn’t generate the equalizer, while at the other end Gatica missed a few golden opportunities for a hat trick against a thinned-out defense.

“This is his first game as a starter, since some of our other starters are not here,” said Detroit United coach George Juncaj, “I guarantee you he will start (in our next game).”

United plays May 15 in the semifinals against an opponent to be determined.

USASA Region II Quarterfinal schedule
(Saturday, May 1 unless noted – All times Eastern)

KC Athletics (KS) 4:4 Des Moines Menace USASA (IA) (KC advances 6-5 in PKs)
Detroit United (MI) 2:1 Milwaukee Kickers (WI)
Fire SC ‘00 (MN) at AAC Eagles (IL) – 4 p.m. Sunday, May 2 (Toyota Park turf field)
St. Paul Twin Stars (MN – NPSL) at 402 Academy (NE) – 4 p.m. Sunday, May 2

USASA Region II semifinals schedule
(All games are Saturday, May 15 – All times Eastern)

Blind draw for the semifinals will be held Saturday, May 1
*Semifinal winners will qualify for the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2010 Qualifying: Ingold, Kickers boot Bavarian SC to win Wisconsin

October 22, 2009 by

Kyle Ingold scored with about 15 minutes remaining to snap a tie, then added an insurance goal by drawing and converting a last-minute penalty kick as the Milwaukee Kickers knocked off Bavarian SC 3-1 in the 2010 Wisconsin Open Cup final on Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

With the win, the Kickers — who had lost to Bavarian SC in the state final each of the past three years — earned the state championship, plus a berth in next spring’s USASA Region II tournament, which also is a qualifier for the US Open Cup.

Nick Walls gave the Kickers (4-1-2 overall) the early lead on an odd play about 5 minutes into the match. A long throw-in sailed into the box and took a big bounce over the Bavarian SC goalkeeper, and the one-time Chicago Fire player beat a defender to the ball and fired home for a quick 1-0 advantage.

The Kickers were forced to use two of their four substitutes for injuries around the 35th minute, with two defenders coming off, and Bavarian SC seized control of the match.

The Bavarians, who have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup six times since 1995 — a record for an amateur team during the tournament’s “professional era” — got the equalizer about 5 minutes before halftime when Dave Treblinski made a good run to the far post and one-touched a volley into the net off a cross.

The teams, who played a 0-0 draw in a Wisconsin Adult Soccer Association Major League opener on Sept. 13, went back and forth with the score 1-1 until Ingold’s first goal. A corner kick was knocked around the box and popped out to Ingold, who half-volleyed in a shot from about 12 yards out to break the tie.

The Bavarians (2-4-1) responded by pushing numbers forward in search of another equalizer — “They put up a fierce attack,” Kickers manager John Sweeney said — but goalkeeper Nick Farrell was up to the task.

Ingold’s late penalty iced the match for the Kickers, who also beat Bavarian SC 2-1 in the 2006 Wisconsin Open Cup semifinals (held in fall 2005), but were eliminated by the Croatian Eagles 5-4 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie in the final.