NTX Rayados

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: Who should be the TheCup.us Player of the Round?

May 25, 2018 by J.T. Alwin

Now that the Third Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is finished, it’s time to look back at some of the standout performances of the 12 matches.

From dominant displays to rocket shots to vital moments, there are plenty of great performances to choose from for TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters vote for the award, but if you had a vote, who would you choose?

Reyno Bustamante (Fresno FC, USL)
With Fresno FC locked in a tough extra-time period on the road against Sporting AZ FC (USASA), Bustamante worked some magic to score the game-winner in the 99th minute.

Austin da Luz (North Carolina FC, USL)
The veteran NCFC midfielder da Luz put on quite a performance, scoring the game-winning goal at home in a 4-1 victory against the Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL). He also assisted twice, on the game’s opening goal, as well as NCFC’s first insurance goal.

Allisson Faramillio (FC Golden State Force, PDL)
Going up against USL side Las Vegas Lights at home, Faramillio provided all of the offense Golden State needed. He scored the opener in the 75th minute, breaking a scoreless tie. After Vegas had tied the game a short time later, the Force earned a penalty kick in stoppage time, and Allisson was able to find the net to send his side home 2-1 winners.

Luiz Fernando (Richmond Kickers, USL)
With Richmond hosting fellow USL side Penn FC, Fernando started the game off on fire. He notched his first goal just 11 minutes in, and repeated the feat again in the 22nd minute. The Kickers would end up moving on to the Fourth Round, winning 3-2.

Christian Okeke (NTX Rayados, USASA)
After coughing up a 2-0 home lead within a span of five minutes against FC Wichita of the NPSL, the Rayados were on the ropes when they subbed in Okeke in the 82nd minute. Their faith in the forward was repaid just four minutes later, as he notched the game-winner in a 3-2 victory.

Jorge Rivera (Penn FC, USL)
Playing on the road against fellow USL team Richmond Kickers, Penn FC was on their heels after Luiz Fernando had a hot start (see above). However, Rivera helped dig the visitors out of the hole, getting them on the board at 36th minute, then tying the game with a half hour left. While his team would ultimately lose, Rivera’s effort was nothing short of heroic to prevent a possible blowout and rally his team.

Sean Totsch (Louisville City FC, USL)
King’s Cup rival Saint Louis FC (USL) came to town, in a match that largely came down to defense, and Totsch helped City’s backline limit chances and helped keeper Tim Dobrowolski keep a clean sheet. However, it was on the other end where Totsch was vital, running on the ball and launching an absolute screamer from five yards outside the box into the top left corner of the net, giving the home team a 1-0 win.

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: NTX Rayados edge FC Wichita with another game-winner from super sub Christian Okeke

May 24, 2018 by Adam Uthe

It couldn’t have happened any other way. NTX Rayados second half substitute Christian Okeke scored in the 86th minute and the Dallas-based amateur side advanced past FC Wichita 3-2 to earn their first-ever Fourth Round appearance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

For the third time in as many rounds, Okeke came off the bench and made the difference. He scored the extra-time game winner in Round 1 against Fort Worth Vaqueros and then scored the (eventual) winner (in extra time) in Round 2 against United Soccer League (USL) side OKC Energy.

“It’s great,” a breathless Okeke said of his “super sub” role after the game “(As long as) we keep winning, I’m always happy.”

Asked if the team has ever considered starting Okeke, captain and club co-founder Tito Salas was pretty direct.

“No. Christian is Christian. He knows the plan. It’s been working – why change it?”

The goal was Okeke’s fourth of the 2018 tournament, which puts him in second place behind Miami United’s David Ochoa.

Rayados are joined in Round 3 by two other open division teams, Miami United, a pro team from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and FC Golden State Force an amateur team from the Premier Development League. In the Modern Era (1995-present) of the tournament, only seven open division teams from outside of the PDL and the NPSL have reached the Fourth Round. The draw for the Fourth Round will take place on Thursday, May 24 at 11 a.m. EST when the Rayados will find out which MLS team they will play in Round 4.

The first half unfolded slowly as both teams traded brief spells of possession, searching each other for weaknesses on the back line. NTX controlled the ball more, but failed to create anything dangerous. Then in the sixth minute, a square pass from the right side found no one – from either team – in the center of the field right outside the box. Ramos swooped in from his holding midfield position and fired off a shot that took a deflection off a Wichita defender. The ball went just beyond the fingertips of Wichita goalkeeper Mark Weir. NTX slowly took more control of the game, holding possession and probing Wichita for weaknesses.

Then in the 24th minute, Sergio Lara chased down a long ball over the top that found its way into the box. He clashed with a Wichita defender in what appeared to be a fair challenge, but a penalty was awarded. Lucio Martinez, who scored a perfect free kick in NTX’s Round 1 win over Fort Worth Vaqueros, hit his penalty poorly and Weir was able to get down in time to parry it aside. It would’ve been a wasted opportunity for Rayados, but four minutes later it was Escalera’s turn to get on the end of a long ball over the top. Escalera and Weir came out to meet the ball at the same time on the edge of the box and Escalera needed only one touch to win the duel and poke the ball into the back of the net.

Wichita coach Blake Shumaker felt a change was needed and in the 37th minute, he swapped out left back Luis Vidal Pla in favor of Matthew Clare. The momentum slowly swung back towards Wichita, who created several chances toward the end of the first half, mostly through target forward Franck Tayou, but nothing got past Rayados goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes Sanchez. NTX carried the 2-0 lead into the break.

In contrast with what was a relatively clean first half, the second half got off to a rough start. Rayados forward Sergio Lara went down under a hard challenge and had to be helped up, but would eventually carry on. Then in the 57th minute, Salas picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge in the middle of the field. Three minutes later, Wichita winger Thomas Wells played Jose Landaverde, who scored the stoppage time winner for Wichita in Round 2, through in on goal. Sanchez came out to meet him, but Landaverde held on long enough to get the touch he needed to get the goal. NTX immediately brought on Okeke and Antonio Hernandez, but in the 65th minute Wichita earned a corner kick and midfielder Andres Ochoa rose high enough to get his head on it and push it past Sanchez. Suddenly the game was tied and momentum seemed to shift back to Wichita.

Wichita began to possess the ball more and Rayados looked visibly frustrated; as did their several hundred supporters. Lara and Jose Goncalves Toledo were both booked and it looked like the dream run might end for NTX. Then Okeke dribbled through multiple defenders, into the six-yard box, only to have his effort snuffed out for a corner. Momentum swung back to the home side and in the 86th minute, Victor Pinal picked up a poor clearance from the Wichita defense, carried it to the edge of the penalty area, and found Okeke inside the box, who clinically placed his shot into the upper 90 on the far post.

Tensions boiled over in the aftermath of the goal and a member of the Wichita technical staff was ejected from the bench, as was reserve Kieran Laking. NTX’s Sergio Lara was also sent off, setting up a tense final few minutes of the game. Wichita got one last chance in stoppage time, but Tayou couldn’t convert the chance and Rayados became the 15th open division side ever to reach the fourth round of the tournament.

“It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful feeling. It’s time to enjoy it now.”, Salas said after the game, surrounded by his family and close friends. Like several members of the team, Salas is married with kids and had to rearrange several family events and school events (he works as an assistant principal in the Dallas Independent School District) to get ready for the game, but for him it was worth the extra effort.

“That’s fine. They’re out here with us. It’s a family environment.”

Rayados will have to wait until Thursday’s draw to learn their fate for Round 4, but Okeke is already ready to go.

“I’m excited. With this group of guys, anything can happen. I think we’re all going into it thinking we can win.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Christian Okeke of NTX Rayados named TheCup.us Player of the Round

May 22, 2018 by Adam Uthe

Christian Okeke of NTX Rayados was named TheCup.us Player of the Round after scoring two goals against OKC Energy. Photo: NTX Rayados

NTX Rayados forward Christian Okeke’s second super sub performance in as many weeks earned him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for Round 2 of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Okeke earned, and then converted, the 90th minute penalty that forced extra time and then scored the go-ahead goal in extra time to help his side take down the United Soccer League’s (USL) OKC Energy at Richland College in Dallas, Texas.

The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

It was a very wide open vote within 12 different players receiving consideration. Finishing second in the voting was Emery Welshman of FC Cincinnati who scored a hat trick in an extra time win over Detroit City FC (NPSL). Other top vote getters include Kyle Gurrieri of the Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL), Franck Tayou of FC Wichita (NPSL), and Andrew Weber of Sporting AZ FC (UPSL).

Rayados, an open division qualifier, have qualified for the US Open Cup for seven years running, but the win over OKC was their first-ever again a professional side. Just as Rayados are no strangers to the tournament, Okeke is no stranger to providing a spark off the bench when his team needs it most. He scored the extra time winner in Round 1 against Fort Worth Vaqueros after entering the game as a second half sub. He also came off the bench to score the game-winner in Rayados’ final qualifying match back in November when they came from behind to defeated CD Motagua New Orleans 2-1.

Rayados midfielder and co-founder Tito Salas, who does everything – including coaching – for the team, knew Okeke would get the job done.

NTX Rayados huddle up at their Second Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup against OKC Energy FC. Photo: NTX Rayados

“Just like Round 1, Okeke went in and changed the game completely. No difference in either game, the game plan was the same. We all knew he had to come in and win it for us.”, said Salas.

Okeke, who was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American as a high school junior in 2012, spent the first two years of his college career at Bradley University before returning closer to home in Wichita Falls. There, he joined up with Rayados teammates Alberto Rodriguez (who also scored twice against OKC), Christopher Escalera, and Jose Antonio Hernandez Hurtado at Midwestern State University. As a senior, he scored nine goals in 22 games and was voted a NSCAA Second Team All-American. Like many players on the Rayados roster, he played in college and now finds himself relishing the opportunity to continue playing at a competitive level. He says playing with his former college teammates just makes it all the more special.

“I’m extremely blessed to be playing in this competition with these types of players. It means a lot, especially, to play alongside people who I grew up playing with,” said Okeke.

Okeke and Rayados will look to continue their magical 2018 run in Round 3 when they FC Wichita on Wednesday night back at Richland College.

2018 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados preps for record 7th straight US Open Cup run

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: NTX Rayados use late equalizer, three OT goals to upset OKC Energy

May 21, 2018 by Adam Uthe

Dallas-based amateur club NTX Rayados scored three times in extra-time and took down the visiting Oklahoma City Energy 5-2 in a wild Round 2 affair on Wednesday night at Richland College. Alberto Rodriguez and Christian Okeke each scored twice for Rayados while midfielder Lucio Martinez added the fifth. OKC got a penalty kick from Philip Rasmussen and another goal from Miguel Gonzalez.

After qualifying for the tournament for the seventh year in a row, Rayados have now won back-to-back US Open Cup games for the first time, and Wednesday’s win is also the first time the club has upset a professional team.

OKC looked the better side early on in the first half, earning a corner kick in the third minute that ultimately went wasted. Three minutes later, a free header was struck right back at NTX goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes Sanchez. The Energy earned another corner in the 12th minute, but failed to capitalize. A hard foul right outside the box by NTX gave the visitors an excellent free kick opportunity, but the shot went straight into the wall. As the first half wore on, NTX gained several spells of possession and the momentum swing back in their favor. In the 29th minute, OKC goalkeeper Matt VanOekel misplayed a backpass and nearly coughed up an own goal, but was able to clear. Then the breakthrough for NTX came in the 38th minute when Victor Pinal was played through and beat the offside trap, cutting back inside the box and playing a centered pass to Alberto Rodriguez, who produced a clinical finish. Rayados took the 1-0 lead into the half.

The Energy came out of the break looking like a team possessed. A free kick less than a minute into the second half went just wide of the goal and they kept up the pressure. In the 50th minute, Philip Rasmussen converted a penalty and a minute after that, Rayados midfielder and club co-founder Tito Salas was booked for a nasty challenge.

Lucio Martinez of NTX Rayados attempts to control the ball against the OKC Energy FC in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: NTX Rayados

Nine minutes later, Jose Barril played a perfect centering pass to Miguel Gonzalez in the box and Gonzalez struck it first time to beat Sanchez in goal and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The rest of the second half looked like a stalemate that would see OKC through, but Rayados second half sub Christian Okeke, who scored the winner in extra time in Round 1 against Fort Worth Vaqueros, earned himself a penalty in the 90th minute and converted from the spot to send the game to extra time.

The two side traded chances in the first period of extra time and penalties looked like a real possibility until the 105th minute when Okeke capitalized on an awkward moment of confusion and beat VanOekel to the spot on a 50-50 ball and got just enough of a touch to get it over the goal line.

Three minutes later, Rayados were awarded a second penalty and Lucio Martinez, who scored a fabulous free kick in Round 1, calmly sent the keeper in the wrong direction to put his side up 4-2.

Not to be outdone, Rodriguez created some space for himself in the 118th minute and smashed a rocket of a shot that came off the underside of the crossbar and landed in the goal.

Admittedly, it has not been a great season for OKC Energy. They currently find themselves in last place in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Western Conference standings and coming into the match, they had just one win from nine league games. Rayados, meanwhile, feature a mixed group of old friends and Dallas-raised players who have gone off to play college and who came back home specifically to try and make a run in the Open Cup.

Alberto Rodriguez of NTX Rayados celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the match against OKC Energy in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: NTX Rayados

Salas, a husband and father of two with a full time day job, co-founded the team in 2011 with Alberto Rodriguez after the two had just finished college and were looking to continue playing at a competitive level. He had plenty of perspective to offer afterwards.

“We have family here (in Dallas). We think about it. We visualize. For us, it’s a win-win situation. It’s a win-win. A 2-1 loss would have been a win for us.”

Asked what the difference in the game was, he only needed one word to respond: heart.

Rayados find themselves in Round 3 for the first time since 2014 when they coughed up a 2-0 lead to the then-San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League (NASL). They’ll look to keep the magic going in Round 3 when they return to Richland College for the third time in as many weeks to host FC Wichita.

MORE: 2018 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: NTX Rayados need extra time to get elusive first USOC win

May 14, 2018 by Adam Uthe

Players from NTX Rayados and Fort Worth Vaqueros battle for the ball during their 2018 US Open Cup match. Photo: Mirco Daniel Mbega Ndoumou

Dallas-based NTX Rayados bagged a goal in extra time to get past their visiting neighbors from the west, the Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) and advanced to the Second Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Christian Okeke, who scored the late game-winner that secured Rayados’ qualification back in November, came on as a second half substitute and scored the game winner in the 115th minute. The two sides put on a show in the first half, trading free kick goals before settling in for a stalemate that went the extra 30 minutes.

The home team grabbed momentum right out of the gate when Rayados earned a corner kick in the second minute and were denied by Fort Worth goalkeeper Marko Jovanovic on a point-blank shot inside the six-yard box.

In the fifth minute, Fort Worth defender Roger Da Costa received a yellow card for conceding a hard foul on the edge of the penalty area. The foul would prove to be a costly mistake as NTX midfielder Lucio Martinez curled his free kick effort into the near-post upper 90 to grab the early lead.

The home team kept up the pressure and earned another corner kick in the 17th minute, only to be denied by Jovanovic on the ensuing shot.

Fort Worth earned their first opportunity in the 25th minute, drawing a free kick of their own just outside the box. Bobby Edet stepped up and fired a rocket, untouched, into the back of the net to level the score at 1-1. However, Edet would fail to convert on two separate opportunities in the next three minutes.

In the second minute of first half stoppage time, NTX’s Sergio Lara was through in on goal, rounded Jovanovic, and was brought down in the box, earning himself a penalty. Unfortunately for Lara, the Vaqueros goalkeeper guessed correctly and made the save to preserve the stalemate going into halftime.

If the first half was defined by chances created, the second half was highlighted by missed opportunities. Both sides looked a step slow as the game wore on, but Fort Worth had more opportunities early in the second half as forward Masue Kalle Sone found himself free in on goal twice in five minutes, only to waste both chances with poor shots right at the keeper.

NTX introduced Okeke in the 53rd minute and Alberto Rodriguez in the 62nd minute and both had immediate impacts, helping swing the momentum toward the home side. Okeke hit a shot that struck the wrong side of the woodwork in the 73rd minute and Rodriguez helped his side earn a pair of corner kicks in the final ten minutes; though neither resulted in a chance created.
In the first minute of second half stoppage time, Rodriguez created enough space for himself to shoot from 30 yards out, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar and the game went to extra time still deadlocked at 1-1.

Near the end of stoppage time NTX looked as though they might break through when they earned back to back free kicks, but they failed to convert either one.

The two teams were still deadlocked going into the extra time break and it looked as though they were destined for penalties until a long ball made its way into Fort Worth’s penalty area and Okeke took advantage of an ill-positioned Jovanovic to bury the winner with five minutes left in extra time.

“I saw an opportunity. I just cut it inside. The keeper was a little bit out of the goal, so I just took a touch around him and finished.”, Okeke said after the game.

Okeke also scored the game winner in the 85th minute back in November when Rayados scored twice in the final 10 minutes to advance past CD Motagua New Orleans and secure qualification for the 2018 tournament. Although NTX has qualified each of the last seven years, this was their first win, but not their first time advancing. They advanced in their opening match in 2014 after winning a penalty kick shootout with the Austin Aztex (PDL), but matches that finish in PKs are officially considered a draw.

Both teams’ fans, perhaps sensing an opportunity to form a new local rivalry, brought plenty of energy. About two dozen or so blue and yellow Vaqueros supporters made the hour-long trek from Fort Worth, almost splitting the crowd 50-50. However, Rayados player/coach Tito Salas felt his side’s supporters did enough to help their team get the victory.

“Well, to be honest, the atmosphere . We’re at home. We feel it.”, Salas said afterwards with celebratory music still echoing throughout the field.

Although there is some question as to whether or not Rayados will play a league game this weekend, between now and the second round next week, both Salas and Okeke like their chances to advance far into the tournament, just as they did in 2014.

“You just never know. We have a really good team here.”, said Okeke.
“Collectively, we’ve been on the same page. I mean…the sky’s the limit.”, Salas added.
NTX Rayados will host the United Soccer League’s (USL) OKC Energy in the next round on Wednesday, May 16 at Richland College in Dallas.

2018 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados preps for record 7th straight US Open Cup run

April 25, 2018 by Adam Uthe

NTX Rayados pose for a team photo in 2018. Photo: Tito Salas

Deep in the heart of (Dallas) Texas, you’ll find one of the best kept secrets in American soccer.

NTX Rayados find themselves back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the seventh year in a row, the longest streak of any open division local entry in the Modern Era (1995-present). While they have qualified for the last seven tournaments, they have only participated in six of them. A 2016 disqualification, which was handed down the night before their first round game, is the only interruption of their record streak.

Their success is no secret to fans of the Open Cup, but the details of the team’s approach to the Open Cup may surprise some.

Tito Salas helped found NTX Rayados in 2011 and the following spring in 2012, he and his squad got their first taste of what it’s like for an amateur team to play in the US Open Cup.

“Back in 2012, we learned so much from that experience,” said Salas.

Back then, Salas had recently graduated college and was just looking for a way to continue playing competitively. You might think a former college soccer player would bring that competitive fire with him to his new team and institute mandatory practices to work on tactics and mold the best possible team. After all, the tournament is serious business for amateur teams now that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is increasing prize money and revamping its travel expense policy to help amateur sides get to away games that require expensive, long distance travel arrangements.

NTX Rayados in the US Open Cup
2012 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
2013 Round 1: Loss, 3-0 at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 2: Draw, 4-4 (4-2 PK win) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 3: Loss, 4-2 at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
2015 Round 1: Draw, 0-0 (4-2 PK loss) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
2016 Round 1: Forfeit loss (DQ’d due to not participating in league play)
2017 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at Dutch Lions FC (NPSL)
2018 Round 1: Home vs. Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) – May 9

But Salas, who is married with two kids and works full time as an assistant principal in the Dallas Independent School District, takes a very pragmatic approach to organizing his team ahead of the Open Cup every year.

“We don’t practice,” Salas reveals. “We just can’t. We’re with our families, we have jobs. We’ll be lucky if we can have five players get together. Our practices consist of league games on Sunday.”

For NTX Rayados, they have only managed to play five league games in the spring season of the North Texas Premier Soccer Association due to a variety of weather-related postponements. As of now, they are 4-1-0 and sit in second place. Despite playing fewer league games than he would like, Salas is still optimistic about his team’s preparation for the US Open Cup.

“We still feel good about it,” he said. “These next couple weeks we plan on having a couple mandatory scrimmages.”

Not all of the players on his squad work full-time to support their families, but they still have their own difficulties getting together with the team. Seven players on the roster, all of whom grew up in the area, are currently away from Dallas at college. But they all want to answer the call of the Open Cup for Rayados.

“For things like the Open Cup, they will make the effort to come back and play,” said Salas.

Salas wouldn’t have it any other way either. He doesn’t believe Rayados exist to fight for glory in the Open Cup. His ultimate goal is for players who spend time with the team to go on to college and make a better life for themselves. He’s dedicated to helping them in any way possible.

“This is kind of the norm: you come here, you play here during the summer … but we expect you to move on and play in college. That’s something that I really am proud of,” said Salas. “Whenever you move on, let me know how I can help you.”

It’s the same for Salas year in and year out. He is willing to let his roster turn over every year, even if it’s detrimental to the team; though there’s no evidence that’s actually the case. In fact, if you pressed him, he might tell you that ends up benefiting the team in the long run.

“We take the positives out of everything,” he said. “We lose (players) for good reasons. We’re known, we’re pretty well known.”

Salas does sometimes wonder what his team might be capable of if they had a dedicated practice facility and used it to try and take the team to the next level. But he still maintains everything Rayados do is about more than just winning and advancing in the tournament. His expectations for the tournament are just as pragmatic as his approach to the team’s ultimate purpose.

“I’m satisfied with the guys going out and giving it their best. My expectation is for us to go out there and give everyone a good night of soccer, whether they’re there for us or not.”, he states, without skipping a beat.

All of that said, Salas still has a roster stacked with local, homegrown talent and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the team to make a run in this year’s tournament.

Up front, Salas has a variety of options to help supply the goals. Veteran forward Alberto Rodriguez grew up with Salas and has been with the team since 2011. Salas also expects big things from forward Mohamed Sesay.

“(It’s the) first time he’ll see Open Cup action, but he’s played with us. We’re going to be relying on him a lot as well.”

There’s also midfielder Christian Okeke, who supplied the 85th minute game-winner in the team’s final qualifying match against CD Motagua New Orleans. Even center back Javan Goncalves-Toledo scored a spectacular overhead kick in the team’s qualifying victory over Celtic Cowboys Premier.

NTX Rayados will open their 2018 tournament run on May 9 when they will host a game for the first time. They will face off with first-time entry Fort Worth Vaqueros of the National Premier Soccer League at Richland Community College (Field No. 10) in Dallas.

No amateur team can boast an Open Cup qualification record to match Rayados’ these past seven years, but they are still missing a signature win in the tournament itself. In fact, technically speaking, they are missing a win. Their lone trip to the Second Round occurred in 2014 when they defeated the PDL’s Austin Aztex in a penalty kick shootout after a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Cal FC’s 2012 victory over the Portland Timbers (MLS) is etched into Open Cup history, La Maquina FC took the Los Angeles Galaxy to extra time in 2016 and Baltimore’s Christos FC made national headlines last year for their valiant effort against D.C. United. All three of those teams pulled off their magical Open Cup run in their first trip to the tournament. Sometimes, in the Open Cup, the ball just needs to bounce your way.

Tito Salas’ priorities may lie in accomplishments off the field, but perhaps this is the year his Rayados can get over the hump and bring their story into the national spotlight.

As road teams huddle in bathrooms, warehouses, what are venue standards for US Open Cup qualifying?

November 28, 2017 by Matt Ralph

Players from Motagua of New Orleans gather in a warehouse in Balch Springs, Texas, the site of their 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against NTX Rayados. Photo: Motagua of New Orleans Facebook page

Like all knockout competitions, open division qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is a grind that often has a charming edge to it lost in the later rounds when professional teams enter the fray. But there’s hardly anything romantic about a coach giving his team a halftime talk in a public bathroom or another team finding shelter from the cold in a storage shed only to be kicked out by a groundskeeper.

That’s the situation a couple of amateur teams found themselves in when they went to great lengths to travel and play in unsuitable venues for the final round qualifying two weekends ago.

For Stegman’s SC, the parent club of the NPSL’s Minneapolis City SC, that meant flying to Rochester, New York to play in 30-degree weather at a venue that didn’t have suitable locker rooms. Instead, the team had to huddle in a bathroom during halftime while it was actively in use by the public.

“They definitely weren’t prepared to host us, which was particularly disappointing considering how far we had to travel,” Stegman’s SC player Daniel Warner said.

But hey! We got to wait in the cold while they got ready in a heated room until we demanded access to it to get dressed. #Hospitality pic.twitter.com/p1WmvljGZK

— Minneapolis City SC (@mplscitysc) November 20, 2017

Sarah Schreier had an even more difficult time as a member of the team’s staff, noting that because the facility was locked when they arrived there were no restrooms available.

“I was told I could go into the woods or drive into town,” she said. “I’m a staff member of Stegman’s City, traveling with a skeleton staff, so I couldn’t just leave for 25 minutes just to use the bathroom. After the guys had checked in, and about 15 minutes before kickoff, I took a van ‘into town’ about 15 minutes away so I could finally go to the bathroom. I missed kickoff and our first and only goal.”

Would thank them for their hospitality but… pic.twitter.com/DZnreIFgQv

— Minneapolis City SC (@mplscitysc) November 19, 2017

Motagua of New Orleans traveled more than seven hours to Balch Springs, Texas, where they claim to have had an interesting encounter with a groundskeeper.

“Well, we had to go into a warehouse just to keep warm last night,” a post on the club’s Facebook account reads. “To add insult to injury, the groundskeeper kicked us out stating we could not utilize said space. Not to say this was reason we lost but after traveling long hours, to find out we have no where (sic) to rest, change, prepare for a very important match, is very unacceptable.”

The argument from both teams is that they were better equipped to host the match, but instead had to travel. Stegman’s also traveled to Illinois in the second round and won by forfeit in the first round. Motagua traveled to Missisippi in the first round and to Lafayette, Louisiana for Round 2.

Host sites for the qualifying rounds are determined by “a random draw or coin flip” but there is a process by which teams have to submit up to two potential venues should they be selected to host.

While there are extensive requirements for suitable venues once the “US Open Cup proper” begins, the responsibilities of the home team are limited to providing a safe playing field a minimum of 100 yards by 65 yards, regulation-size goals and corner flags, at least three properly-inflated match balls and making sure the officiating crew is paid at the end of the match. Beyond that, it’s on the host team.

Tito Salas, a player/coach/manager for NTX Rayados, was surprised to hear of the complaints from CD Motagua, a team he has become well-acquainted with in regional competitions and for whom his brother-in-law Reece Wilson plays.

Both Salas and Wilson missed the game that sparked the complaints, which the Rayados won, because they were away on a family vacation but Salas said the two teams played at the same facility in the second round last year and he didn’t hear any complaints. The weather was a factor, however, this year as the wind chill was in the 40s.

“I think locker rooms for me are very much an extra,” Salas said. “I get it, they expect more and they want more and that’s fine but there are a lot of reasons, financial and availability, that we can’t play in a stadium that has all of those things for qualifying.”

Elizabeth Sánchez, a spokeswoman for the US Open Cup, organized by the US Soccer Federation, said the looser venue standards for local qualifying are designed to enable more teams to participate.

“We want as many amateur teams as possible to participate in Open Cup qualifying,” she wrote in an email to TheCup.us. “The venue requirements for this phase of the tournament are meant to allow for this. In all practicality, only an adequate field marked for soccer, goals, nets, corner flags and balls are needed. This is not unlike most amateur-level leagues.”

Rochester River Dogz, which beat Stegman’s SC 2-1 in their game, did not respond to a request for comment.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: NTX Rayados rally late to earn seventh straight Open Cup berth

November 19, 2017 by Adam Uthe

North Texas Rayados pose for a team photo before a 2018 US Open Cup qualifying match against Motagua of New Orleans. Photo: NTX Rayados

The North Texas Rayados scored twice in the final ten minutes to earn a 2-1 comeback victory over CD Motagua New Orleans and clinch a spot in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Midfielder Christian Okeke, making his first-ever appearance in an Open Cup qualifier, scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute. With the win, Rayados have qualified for a Modern Era (1995-present) record seventh consecutive US Open Cup run.

North Texas has qualified for every US Open Cup since 2012, and no open division amateur club has a longer streak. Reading United of the Premier Development League holds the Modern Era record with nine consecutive Open Cup berths, which remains an active record.

The weather at kickoff was unseasonably chilly (for north Texas) with winds well over 20 miles per hour, making it especially difficult to play the ball through the air. Fortunately for both teams, the game plan involved keeping the ball on the ground.

The two sides took turns controlling possession and creating chances. Rayados failed to convert on two shots on goal in the first 15 minutes; one was saved point blank and the other struck the post. New Orleans took advantage of Rayados’ poor finishing and came up with the game’s first goal in the 27th minute. Steven Morris played Carson Gorecki through into the box and Gorecki finished the shot near post to put the visitors up 1-0.

The second half offered more of the same. Both sides continued to get into the final third and create chances but both failed to convert their respective opportunities. In the 67th minute, NTX had a golden opportunity in front of the net but the shot was shanked well over the goal.

It looked as though Rayados would be missing their first Open Cup since 2012, but the team showed their resolve and proved why they have appeared in the US Open Cup opening round schedule every year since 2012.

In the 82nd minute, a low cross was driven into the box where the keeper bobbled it until it deflected off one of his own defenders and then subsequently skipped off a Rayados attacker. Minutes later, Okeke found himself in the box and did his best Michael Jordan impression, shaking off his defender and firing past the keeper for the eventual game winner.

“It was nice. I know we missed a lot of chances in the game but it was nice.”, said Okeke.

Okeke is a testament to the quality of the program NTX Rayados has put together over the past seven years. With four regular players missing due to scheduling conflicts, Okeke stepped in and when his opportunity came, he comfortably converted the shot. While the weather may have scared a lot of fans away, those who were in attendance were treated to a very exciting, evenly-matched game of soccer.

“My heart is still pumping. It was a good game, but it was one of those you don’t want to happen to you.”, said North Texas head coach Tito Salas. He also admitted the weather got to some his players at some point during the game. “It’s hard to play when it’s cold … it’s not the same.”

Despite failing to convert any of their early chances, Rayados ultimately pulled out the win over a team they’ve now beaten twice in as many qualifying campaigns. They’ll be glad to have their full team back in the spring and will be feeling confident about their chances of advancing.

“Oh I think we can go pretty far. We’ll see though,” said Okeke.

2018 US Open Cup qualifying: NTX Rayados last Texas team left after 4-1 win over Celtic Cowboys

October 23, 2017 by Lanny Short

MORE: 2018 US Open Cup Qualifying Results/Schedule

The North Texas Rayados continued their impressive run of form in US Open Cup qualifying tournaments with a 4-1 road win over the Celtic Cowboys Premier.

With a victory in Round 2 of the open division tournament, North Texas takes another step forward. The Rayados have qualified for the last six Open Cups (althought they were disqualified prior to the start of the 2016 competition), is now one win away from a seventh straight.

“The achievements of our team are the results of the combined effort of each individual,” said Rayados head coach Tito Salas. “We had to be patient to get the result as the opponent came in with a strong game plan that we didn’t expect.”

This match was played in Austin, Texas at the Onion Creek Soccer Complex. It was attended by fifty people which was a bit of a surprise given that the USA Formula 1 Race and the University of Texas football team had events going on at about the same time. But it was a good match to watch and everyone in attendance felt like they were getting back in touch with why they love the game so much.

The Austin Celtic Cowboys were the home team and have been dominating the local Premier Soccer League for the last year. There was a lot of hope from the fans that their hometown team would be able to make a positive statement on the match and get the win over the North Texas Rayados.

The Rayados have been around for a bit longer than have the Celtic Cowboys. They have also been in the US Open Cup five of the last six years. So it was expected that they would dominate most of the play at Onion Creek Soccer Park.

They got their first shot on goal in the sixth minute when Christopher Escalera forced a great save from the Celtic Cowboys goalkeeper Samyar Heydarkhani. The Rayados continued to dominate the match and got their first goal in the 33rd minute when Kevin Ellis was able to get the ball past Heydarkhani.

The Rayados got their second goal in the 59th minute when Escalara was able to take advantage of a Celtic Cowboys defensive mistake and poke home the loose ball to make the score 2-0 in their favor.

But to their credit, the Celtic Cowboys refused to quit and managed fight their way to a goal in the 60th minute. Striker Adrian Murphy scored when he fought off the Rayados defense for a cross and got his shot past the goalkeeper. The goal fueled the team and they played much harder and nearly got the required equalizer several times.

But their efforts were canceled out in the 64th minute when Rayados striker Javan Goncalves-Toledo scored a spectacular “over-the-head” kick into the corner of the Celtic Cowboys’ goal. They would put the “exclamation mark” on the match in stoppage time when Escalara would poke home a loose ball to make the final score 4-1 for the Rayados.

After the game, Salas expressed that he was proud of the way his Rayados team played, but acknowledged they still have more work to do to qualify for the US Open Cup.

Celtic Cowboys head coach, Chris Scranton was proud of the effort his team gave, but was disappointed that his offense could only muster a single goal.

“But at least we didn’t give up,” said Scranton.

With the win, the Rayados advance to the final round of the qualifying tournament where they will host Motagua of New Orleans. The date and locations will be announced at a later date, but is expected to be held the weekend of Nov. 18-19.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Newcomers Dutch Lions FC knock off Open Cup regulars NTX Rayados to earn first win

May 14, 2017 by Dan Sousa

The Dutch Lions FC scored two goals in a 64-second span early in the second half and cruised to a 3-1 win Wednesday over the North Texas Rayados in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup first round matchup.

Jose Pablo Covarrubias had a goal and an assist for the Houston-area squad and Jesus Cortes added two assists for the Dutch Lions playing in their first ever US Open Cup contest.

The Dutch Lions, which play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), earned a second round matchup May 17 against USL side San Antonio FC, which had a first round bye. The match is tentatively scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Dutch Lions FC Soccer Facility.

“We are putting our name on the map,” said Dutch Lions forward Covarrubias.

One of just three returning starters Wednesday from last year’s Dutch Lions squad that went 11-2-2 in NPSL play, Covarrubias got the Dutch Lions going in the 54th minute when his low cross from the left flank was flicked home by Lawal Olayimika.

Just seconds after the restart, Cortes forced a turnover in the midfield and found Covarrubias all alone behind the Rayados defense. Covarrubias calmly slotted the ball into the net for the 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.

“The defender was having trouble controlling the ball,” said Cortes, the oldest player on the Dutch Lions roster, turning 28 this year. “I saw him struggling a little bit and took advantage of the opportunity.”

Rayados, making their fifth US Open Cup appearance in six years after missing out last season due to a technical disqualification prior to the first round, sliced the lead in half just a minute later on an own goal by the Dutch Lions defender Remy Broekmans, whose attempt to clear a screaming cross was buried into the net.

Despite that hiccup, it was all Dutch Lions in the second half as Rayados could not mount a sustained attack. Even with the one-goal lead, the Dutch Lions continued pushing forward.
“We took some risks by pushing people forward but in these cup games that is what you have to do,” said Covarrubias.

All the pressure finally paid off in a third goal in the 90th minute as Dutch Lions midfield workhorse Jerry Scholman gathered in a Cortes pass inside the 18 and beat the Rayados keeper with a crisp shot.

Dutch Lions FC manager Marco Pruis was happy with his team’s performance in their first game of the 2017 season, especially since many of the players had not played together before today. It was evident in the first half that the team is a work in progress.

“Today we had three returning starters in the line-up so we can do only better,” said Pruis. “In the first half I rated them a 6 out of 10 but the second half grew towards an 8.”

Both Covarrubias and Cortes said the uneven first half was a result of being so early in the season and the fact that many players had never been on the field together before.

“Some of the guys had never played together before but we got the chemistry going,” said Covarrubias, a Mexico native who went to high school just down the road in The Woodlands and plays at St. Edward’s University in Austin where he led the Hilltopers in goal last season with nine.

“He’s a local kid with an amazing skill level,” said Pruis of the 21-year-old Covarrubias.
There wasn’t much action in the first half but both keepers were called upon for big saves to keep things scoreless.

In the 19th minute, Christopher Escalera nearly put Rayados ahead when he muscled a defender off the ball and fired a shot at Dutch Lions keeper Marc Skytte Olson who made a sprawling save with his legs.

In the 40th minute, the Dutch Lions started putting the pressure on with Felix Verhaar forcing Rayados keeper Eduardo Sanchez to make two fine saves on one series in the box before the ball was cleared away.

Sanchez also shut down another great Dutch Lions scoring chance in the 72nd minute when he save a Scholman shot.

Rayados didn’t have a lot of possession in the second half but the Dallas area club had a chance to tie it up in the 85th minute when Victor Pinal’s free kick from about 28 yards out was slotted onto the foot of Gerardo Salas but he was unable to get off a shot thanks to a quick recovery by the Dutch Lions defense.