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Oakland Roots SC

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Tacoma Defiance last MLS NEXT Pro left after OT thriller with Oakland Roots

April 16, 2025 by Andrew Repp

Osaze De Rosario of Tacoma Defiance celebrates after scoring a goal against Oakland Roots SC in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Seattle Sounders FC Communications
Osaze De Rosario of Tacoma Defiance celebrates after scoring a goal against Oakland Roots SC in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Seattle Sounders FC Communications
Osaze De Rosario of Tacoma Defiance celebrates after scoring a goal against Oakland Roots SC in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Seattle Sounders FC Communications

Osaze De Rosario scored a goal off an assist from Jackson Khoury in the second half of extra time as the Tacoma Defiance of MLS Next Pro defeated Oakland Roots SC of the USL Championship, 2-1, in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup on Tuesday night at Starfire Stadium.  

It was a match that took 120 minutes to decide a winner and was a game filled with momentum swings, fouls, and yellow cards.

It was a perfect evening for soccer in the Pacific Northwest, with partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 60 degrees at kickoff as the sun set over the pitch. Both teams took time to settle into the game, as the first 20 minutes didn’t see either side dominate. Neither team could get much possession, and a slew of fouls in midfield from both teams took away any rhythm the game was searching for. 

Tacoma had an early chance in the third minute when De Rosario laced a shot from the middle of the box that took a deflection, wrong-footing Oakland’s goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel. Luckily for Spiegel, the ball bounced off the right post and back out, where Oakland was able to clear away the danger.

Oakland had its own half chance in the eighth minute on a cross to the top of the box, but forward Emmanuel Johnson was unable to get the shot on target, sending the ball well over the goal and onto the train tracks beyond the pitch.

The match’s first goal came in the 28th minute after Tacoma won a free kick on the left side of its attacking half, about five yards outside the corner of the 18-yard box. Defiance midfielder Peter Kingston stepped up to take the shot and sent a right-footed laser over the two-man wall and to the near post, where it found the back of the net past Spiegel. Kingston, who featured on the USL League Two team Ballard FC in recent years, was mobbed by his teammates and did a little shimmy near midfield to celebrate.

Tacoma head coach Hervé Diese didn’t seem surprised by the strike, despite it being Kingston’s first goal of the season. 

“Peter Kingston is a quality player and a better human being. We know he can do those things, and that’s why we give him the responsibility in those moments,” Diese said.

Kingston had a second well-taken free kick seven minutes later, this time from dead center, but Spiegel was up to the task and made a diving, acrobatic save to keep his team in the game. The rest of the first half played out much like the start, with fouls preventing much flow from forming. As the teams headed into the locker rooms, three Tacoma players had already received yellow cards.

After Oakland made two substitutions in the 57th minute, the game started to tilt in its favor, as it had much more possession and limited Tacoma’s chances. Tacoma was unable to string together much offensively, and Oakland began to exert more and more pressure on the Defiance’s goal. Defiance goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, already a US Open Cup legend for Seattle Sounders FC, was forced into a scrambling save in the 66th minute after his attempted clearance was blocked toward another Oakland player.

Oakland scored the equalizer in the 75th minute after a ball in the box was kicked off the arm of Defiance defender Kaito Yamada. Referee Dion Coxe awarded the penalty kick, and Oakland’s Neveal Hackshaw stepped to the spot. He put a left-footed shot past Thomas and into the left side of the net to tie the match at 1-1.

The rest of the second half continued to be chippy, with both teams accruing yellow cards. Oakland put in a flurry of corner kicks during stoppage time but were unable to seriously test Thomas, leaving the match in a stalemate at the end of regular time.

The first half of extra time was more of the same. Neither team had a stellar chance but there were willing runners and decent attempts, as neither team seemed to want to go to penalty kicks. Tacoma found the game-winner in the 108th minute when Khoury dispossessed Hackshaw deep in the Oakland half and passed to De Rosario, who took one touch before getting off a shot that deflected off an Oakland defender and past Spiegel into the right side of the net.

From there Oakland threw men forward and took a variety of shots from outside the box, but none significantly troubled Thomas. Tacoma went down to ten men in the 117th minute when Cody Baker earned his second yellow card, but Oakland were unable to make the advantage pay.

Diese explained that Tacoma was well prepared for the challenge that this match offered.

“The whole week leading up to this game, we knew that it was going to be a scrappy one because we analyzed ; we knew that individually, when things are not working out for them, they just make it scrappy… did well,” he said. “They were very, very mature today and they didn’t back down from anything.”

With the win, the Defiance move on to the Round of 32, where it will face an MLS team in a match scheduled for May 6 or 7. As the only MLS Next Pro team remaining in the field, Tacoma looks to keep its dreams alive as the stage grows ever bigger.

 

Filed Under: 2025 US Open Cup, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Central Tagged With: 2025 US Open Cup, Oakland Roots SC, Tacoma Defiance

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: San Jose debutants lead Earthquakes to narrow win over Oakland Roots

May 8, 2024 by Favian Renkel

19-year-old Emi Ochoa made his professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes against the Oakland Roots in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes
19-year-old Emi Ochoa made his professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes against the Oakland Roots in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes
19-year-old Emi Ochoa made his professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes against the Oakland Roots in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes were on a mission as they faced off against local rivals in the US Open Cup, aiming to break a troubling pattern of elimination. With past defeats haunting them, notably against Monterey Bay FC in 2023 and the Sacramento Republic in 2022, the Quakes sought to rewrite their recent narrative that they can not get past USL teams in the US Open Cup.

San Jose took the first step toward bouncing back from those recent disappointing losses with a narrow 1-0 win over the Oakland Roots of the USL Championship on Tuesday night.

Tensions ran high between the two clubs, each vying for the title of the Bay Area’s true representative. At PayPal Park, fans made their sentiments known by donning “#SellTheTeam” merchandise, a pointed commentary on the shared ownership between the Earthquakes and the Oakland A’s, both helmed by John Fisher. With the Oakland A’s relocating to Las Vegas, the stakes were higher than ever. For the city of Oakland, victory over Fisher’s Earthquakes would signify more than just progress in the US Open Cup; it would symbolize a triumph over a figure widely disliked in the community and mark the first win in their head-to-head encounters.

Oh my, Bouda ???? @SJEarthquakes #USOC2024 // @OpenCup pic.twitter.com/YkldPzpSQQ

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 8, 2024

Head coach Luchi Gonzalez hinted at lineup changes after their last game versus LAFC, and true to his word, rotations were made, including the introduction of their high-profile 7 million dollar Designated Player, Hernan Lopez. A younger side was put out there as there are many talent young players on this team.

For example, Emi Ochoa, the Mexican American goalkeeper, made his first start for the Quakes at just 19 years old. Emi was not the only Quake to get his first start; new Designated Player Hernan Lopez was right there with him, looking to make the Quakes fan base infatuated with his play already.

However, the match didn’t unfold seamlessly for the Quakes. Despite the presence of Hernan Lopez in the lineup, the team appeared disjointed, struggling to find their rhythm. It became evident that familiarity with Lopez’s style was still a work in progress.

Yes @Ousseni_bouda!#USOC2024 | #Quakes74 pic.twitter.com/u4fkK2lrmS

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 8, 2024

At halftime, a strategic substitution saw Ousseni Bouda replace Lopez, much to the surprise of some fans. This would prove to be the crucial change that Luchi Gonzalez needed in his side. Emi Ochoa pulled off a crucial save to maintain the deadlock at 0-0, as this match could have spiraled if the 19-year-old didn’t come up big. Their constant pressure in the second half paid off when they breached the Roots’ defense in the 73rd minute, for a great scoring opportunity, only to be called off due to offside.

However, just three minutes later, Ousseni Bouda seized the opportunity, slotting home a goal in the 76th minute to break the deadlock at PayPal Park. The visiting crowd, previously boisterous, fell silent as their Open Cup hopes dwindled. The goal was assisted by Niko Tsakiris, the 18-year-old notched his first assist for the senior team and also demonstrated the ability to perform on the big stage at such a young age. The Roots’ woes compounded in the 82nd minute when Johnny Lopez received a red card for elbowing Ousseni Bouda, the goalscorer, in the face. The match then descended into a stalemate as the Quakes bunkered down to protect their lead, ultimately getting the victory.

Honoring the ‘92, ‘93, ‘94 @opencup winners! #USOC2024 | #Quakes74 pic.twitter.com/oKB60Hn6KM

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 8, 2024

With the Quakes having progressed to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup, their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face the Sacramento Republic. The upcoming matches are scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, through Wednesday, May 22.

Following the game, Ousseni Bouda addressed the media, expressing his desire for a larger role within the team. This was a perfect opportunity for Ousseni and he took it. If Bouda can string a couple of good performances in the US Open Cup, it will force Luchi Gonzalez hand into giving him more playing time. This tournament holds significant importance for young players like Ousseni Bouda, Emi Ochoa, and Hernan Lopez, each at different stages of their careers, all striving to leave their mark on the team.

Not only does this tournament serves as a platform for MLS players to showcase their talents to their coaching staff, but it also lets players from lower leagues showcase their emerging talents and prove themselves capable to the world. It’s all part of the beauty of the US Open Cup.

Filed Under: 2024 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Central Tagged With: 2024 US Open Cup, Oakland Roots SC, San Jose Earthquakes

2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Oakland Roots rally to end El Farolito’s cup run in extra time

April 17, 2024 by Abram Heredia

Ali Elmasnaouy (right) of the Oakland Roots SC celebrates after scoring a goal in the 98th minute in a 2-1 win over El Farolito in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Oakland Roots SC
Ali Elmasnaouy (right) of the Oakland Roots SC celebrates after scoring a goal in the 98th minute in a 2-1 win over El Farolito in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Oakland Roots SC
Ali Elmasnaouy (right) of the Oakland Roots SC celebrates after scoring a goal in the 98th minute in a 2-1 win over El Farolito in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Oakland Roots SC

Prior to kickoff, one may have thought that this fixture seemed lopsided with El Farolito being an amateur team in the 4th division of US Soccer. Though Oakland Roots, the favorites from the USL Championship, were finally able to come away victorious 2-1, the game remained an extremely competitive affair right up until the final whistle in extra time.

It was a rematch from the Second Round of last year’s US Open Cup which the Roots’ won 3-1 at the same venue at CSUEB Pioneer Stadium in Hayward, Calif.

El Farolito shocked everyone by finding the back of the net first via a header by the reigning TheCup.us Player of the Round, Dembor Benson. A mishit volley off of a cross, bounced around in the box and perfectly found itself on the head of Benson who directed the ball into the top left corner, outside of the keeper’s reach putting the San Francisco team 1-0 up in the 12th minute.

Home Grown. ????

The 18-year-old from Oakland, Ali Elmasnaouy, scores the winner in his professional debut.#OaklandFirstAlways pic.twitter.com/u44LnoDtWP

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) April 17, 2024

Roots refused to take the goal laying down and spent the rest of the half knocking on El Farolito’s door. The siege continued until the 46th minute just before the halftime whistle. An expertly placed cross from the right side by 19 year old, Ilya Alekseev found Guillermo Diaz who had ghosted into space with a late run toward the back post. Diaz headed the ball powerfully into the back of the net to draw the game level before the break. 

The remainder of normal time was a very cagey affair with seven yellow cards as well as one red card awarded to El Farolito player Edgard Kreye before the 90 minute whistle. Though many cards were given, there would be no more goals until extra time. 

In the first half of extra time the Oakland Roots took their opportunity to stick their nose in front and complete the comeback. In the 97th minute, a curling ball from deep, skipped off of Trayvone Reed and bounced directly into the path of Ali Elmasnaouy who skillfully flicked the ball past the keeper, finding the back of the net. 

.@md23__ got us on the board late in the first half to level the score at 1-1 heading into the break of the 3rd round of the @opencup.

Round of 32 draw coming up tomorrow.#KnowYourRoots pic.twitter.com/xKbfGuodCm

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) April 17, 2024

In the 110th (105+5) minute, El Farolito managed to get one last chance before the end of the first period of extra time with Benson finding space in behind the defense following a mistake from Neveal Hackshaw. The defender misread the header and allowed the ball fly over him and land at the feet of Benson, prompting the keeper to rush off his line which queued Benson to attempt to chip him. The chip beat the keeper but ended up being slightly wide, denying El Farolito their golden chance to claw their way back level.

Less than a minute after the start of the second period of extra time Roots player Trayvone Reed received a second yellow card for a foul on El Farolito’s Jhoann Yabur. Suddenly, Roots find themselves having to defend a lead with another half of extra time left and one less player to defend with.

Through a great display of defensive focus and rigidity, Oakland Roots were able to keep El Farolito at bay despite having only 29% possession in the second period of extra time. 

Free burritos at the Oakland Roots vs El Farolito 3rd round US Open Cup match! @opencup @oaklandrootssc @elfarolito_npsl #burritos #elfarolito #knowyourroots #oakvelf #usoc2024 pic.twitter.com/5s1kpOTxLz

— Adrián Monroy (@adrian_monroy13) April 17, 2024

El Farolito continued fighting until the bitter end but ultimately it was the favorites who came out on top in what was only their second occasion playing extra time in club history. 

Oakland head coach Noah Delgado elected to play multiple youngsters in this match with five teenagers seeing the field, one of which getting the assist for the equalizer and another scoring the winning goal.

“A special night for those boys, we knew El Farolito is a good team … so we knew it would be a difficult game …” said Delgado. “Playing younger players, developing players, developing local … it’s great to see them getting to contribute and playing in a cup game which is a little more testing than what they are used to.”

Filed Under: 2024 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Central Tagged With: 2024 US Open Cup, El Farolito, Oakland Roots SC

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Sacramento Republic wins “gritty” battle with NorCal rival Oakland Roots

April 30, 2023 by William Hodges

Nick Ross of the Sacramento Republic celebrates a goal with his teammates against Oakland Roots in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC
Nick Ross of the Sacramento Republic celebrates a goal with his teammates against Oakland Roots in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC
Nick Ross of the Sacramento Republic celebrates a goal with his teammates against Oakland Roots in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

On Wednesday night, Sacramento Republic FC played host to Northern California USL Championship rival Oakland Roots in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Republic FC opened the scoring in the 49th minute after forward Russell Cicerone laid it off just outside the 18-yard box to midfielder Nick Ross who stepped into space without any resistance and smashed it home to give the home side a 1-0 advantage. The lone goal is all Republic FC would need to advance and punch their ticket to the Round of 32. 

“I thought it was a gritty performance from the guys,” said Republic FC’s Mark Briggs, who now has the Modern Era’s second-highest advance percentage as a manager (0.833). “When you face a local rival like Oakland and what they bring to the game, it’s always gritty and it’s always a battle. I think you saw that throughout the game. It wasn’t really free flowing. There’s a lot of stoppages, a lot of fouls. So we had to handle that and adapt. But we’re in the draw tomorrow, and that’s all that matters when playing a cup competition.”

Goal for @SacRepublicFC by Nick Ross in the 49th minute! pic.twitter.com/Ubg3hGvnfX

— Danny McClain (@McClain916) April 27, 2023

Collectively, the two sides only combined for three shots on goal. Oakland Roots had their only chance in the 28th minute after a poor Republic giveaway at midfield. However, goalkeeper Carlos Saldana made an incredible foot save denying Roots captain Joseph Nane the goal. 

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

 

The Republic’s only other chance came in the 39th minute, when defender Jack Gurr’s free kick found Luis Felipe, but his shot hit the crossbar. 

In the end, it doesn’t matter how you advance in the Open Cup tournament, you just need to advance. Like Briggs said, all that matters is that they’re moving on. And for a player like Nick Ross — who’s battled through injuries the past few years to get his first goal — was special.

“Aldair had a great run which set me up perfectly for the space,” he said. “I took a chance and it hit. I didn’t think it counted because no one celebrated with me at first. I think everyone was in shock that I scored. 

“It was nice for me, I had my wife and my son here, they’ve been waiting for a goal for two years. It’s nice for them to be here. I’m delighted, and just happy that we won the game.”

With the win, the Republic add to their impressive Open Cup resume. The victory was the club’s 20th in 28 games, and they’ve done most of their damage in front of their home fans. Sacramento is 18-1-1 (1-0 PKs) at home and Wednesday’s win improves their home unbeaten streak to 14 games, which is the second-longest streak in the Modern Era (1995-present). They haven’t lost a home game in the US Open Cup since they were upset by the Kitsap Pumas in the Third Round in the 2016 tournament. 

Filed Under: 2023 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Central Tagged With: 2023 US Open Cup, Oakland Roots SC, Sacramento Republic

2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Oakland Roots hot start delivers first USOC win, 3-1 vs. El Farolito

April 5, 2023 by Michael Koenig

After scoring a goal, Wolfgang Prentice (19) of the Oakland Root is hugged by teammate (66) of the Oakland Roots as Jhonatan Perez (23) of El Farolito walks away during a US Open Cup 2nd round game at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. on Apr. 5, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman / SoccerBayArea)
After scoring a goal, Wolfgang Prentice (19) of the Oakland Root is hugged by teammate (66) of the Oakland Roots as Jhonatan Perez (23) of El Farolito walks away during a US Open Cup 2nd round game at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. on Apr. 5, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman / SoccerBayArea)
After scoring a goal, Wolfgang Prentice (19) of the Oakland Root is hugged by teammate (66) of the Oakland Roots as Jhonatan Perez (23) of El Farolito walks away during a US Open Cup 2nd round game at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. on Apr. 5, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman / SoccerBayArea)

The Oakland Roots vaulted to an early three-goal lead and hung on to earn a 3-1 victory over El Farolito in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday night.

“I think we made the game a lot more difficult than it should have been,” Roots head coach Noah Delgado said after the match. “But I thought the end goal was accomplished, the guys won the first ever US Open Cup in Roots history.”

Oakland’s lineup included three experienced internationals who were making their first start for the Roots: Kevin Wright (Sierra Leone), Neveal Hackshaw (Trinidad & Tobago), and Bryan Tamacas (El Salvador). It also included three young players who had seen limited playing time with the club: Drew Murray, Ryan Her, and Wolfgang Prentice.

El Farolito, who won the 1993 US Open Cup under the name CD Mexico, was missing their captain, Herlbert Soto. He was red carded in their First Round Open Cup match against International San Francisco.

Twelve Minute Lapse Ends El Farolito’s Open Cup Dreams

The visitors made a promising start to the match. Their first chance came in the 7th minute, when Ricardo Delgado’s free kick from 25 yards out was on target, but Oakland goalkeeper Taylor Bailey made an acrobatic save to keep the ball out.

Two minutes later, Delgado went down in the box, but the referee decided that Oakland’s Trayvon Reid had taken away the ball cleanly.

But then things fell apart for El Farolito.

In the 11th minute, Oakland’s Johnny Rodriguez was taken down to the left of the penalty area. Ryan Her took the free kick and an El Farolito defender headed it into his own goal. But the referee hadn’t blown his whistle, so the kick was taken again. Her’s second attempt curved toward the near post, and Rodriguez headed it in.

Oakland added another in the 15th minute, when Ethan Kohler grabbed an outlet pass from El Farolito goalkeeper Johan Lizarralde and dished the ball to Prentice, who cut back toward the middle and blasted a shot that Lizarralde couldn’t reach.

The third goal came in the 24th minute, when Trayvon Reid took on a pair of defenders and dished it to Rodriguez as he made his run into the penalty area. Rodriguez’s cross was perfectly timed as Prentice made his run to the back post for his second goal of the game.

After the initial shock, El Farolito scrambled to get back into the game. Their first chance came in the 30th minute, when a backpass to Bailey took a funny hop on a patch of turf in front of goal. Cesar Benitez intercepted the ball, but Bailey made the save on his shot attempt from close range.

The visitors received a lifeline in the 45th minute, when Bailey’s clearance was intercepted by Benitez, who dished the ball off to Delgado, who was taken down by Bailey. Delgado converted the subsequent penalty kick.

In case you missed all three of our goals in the first half.

12′ – Johnny Rodriguez
19′, 24′ – Wolfgang Prentice#KnowYourRoots pic.twitter.com/j41Q6WbVII

— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) April 5, 2023

El Farolito Dominates the Second Half, But No Goals

As the match went on, tempers flared. In the 65th minute, there was a scuffle between Hackshaw and Jude Higuera and then a yellow card to El Farolito’s Jonatan Mosquera one minute later.

El Farolito kept the ball in Oakland’s end of the field for much of the second half, but clear chances were rare. In the 70th minute, Higuera’s one-timer required Bailey to make a diving save to deflect the ball over the endline for a corner.

Disaster struck for El Farolito in the 83rd minute after Jehimy Arias received his second yellow card for kicking the ball away in frustration.

But El Farolito had one more chance to pull back a goal, when a long ball from Daniel Buitrago found Jhon “Saya” Quinones, who headed the ball off the crossbar. Hackshaw was able to clear the rebound off the goal line.

And Oakland’s Prentice had one final chance for the hat trick in the third minute of stoppage time, but his shot was deflected wide by Lizarralde.

After the game, Coach Delgado was asked whether his team had suffered a second half letdown.

“I think a big part of that is fitness,” he said. “We did as much as we can to give fitness in the preseason games. But during the season, it’s hard to replicate game minutes. So I think some guys got a bit tired but we were able to push them through.

“And El Farolito, they have a lot of veteran players that are savvy. These guys played in Europe, these guys played on national teams, these guys are former pros. So you’ve gotta respect El Farolito for what they bring.”

Delgado was asked his squad had been motivated by any bitterness last about last year’s Open Cup draw, when the Roots had to travel 2,600 miles to Greenville, South Carolina to play a road match in the second round.

“Yeah, a little bit,” he said. “I think everyone has that at the back of their mind. We didn’t bring that up, but you know I can think about traveling across the country where we could have played a local game or had a home game. There are a lot of teams there but is what it is, this team will deal with adversity.”

He said the team was excited to be moving on in the tournament.

“I think it’s something that’s super special that you’re able to play games against opponents you don’t necessarily play in higher and lower divisions,” he said. So, you know, one step at a time, of course, but having one off kind of playoff games can really bring out an intensity that’s not there In the regular season.”

Filed Under: 2023 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup, US Open Cup Central Tagged With: 2023 US Open Cup, El Farolito, Oakland Roots SC

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Greenville Triumph defense shines in shutout of well-traveled Oakland Roots

April 8, 2022 by Chris Ashley

Greenville Triumph Oakland Roots 2022 US Open Cup

Greenville Triumph Oakland Roots 2022 US Open Cup
Greenville Triumph players celebrate after scoring a goal against Oakland Roots in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Chandler Jarrell @chandlerjarrell

If you look at the statistics, it makes zero sense that the Greenville Triumph defeated the Oakland Roots in yet another USL League One over USL Championship “cupset” on Thursday night. But the Triumph, now in their fourth season, always seem to find a way to win matches like this, especially at home.

If you appreciate our coverage of the US Open Cup for the last (nearly) two decades, and want to see it grow in the future, consider joining our Patreon team by clicking above.

Greenville defeated a pro team in their opening round game at home for the second tournament in a row, defeating Oakland, 2-0.

It was a tough draw for the Roots’ first US Open Cup game. The team traveled over 2,600 miles, cross-country, to face the three-time League One finalists and put up quite the test for John Harkes’s boys. Oakland dominated possession, managing to have the ball for 71% of the match. They outnumbered the Triumph with 602 total passes to Greenville’s 248. They took 17 total shots, nine of those on target. But unfortunately for the team from The Town, none of those shots found the back of the net.

The key for Greenville was the thing that has been the bedrock for this team from day one of their existence: defense. With 12 interceptions, two blocks, 27 clearances, and an incredible nine saves, the back line did their job in limiting the quality of shots from Oakland. And when the Roots were able to get a good shot off, Triumph goalkeeper Paul Christensen, who put in a man of the match performance, was able to make some incredible saves to keep the clean sheet.

The first goal for Greenville came in the 29th minute when midfielder Lucas Coutinho was able to chip a ball over the back line onto the foot of striker Jake Keegan. Oakland’s keeper, Taylor Bailey, came out to meet Keegan, but Jake’s quick thinking led to a cheeky chip over the top of Bailey.

The insurance goal would not come until the dying seconds, with most of the Roots team pushed up field. Forward Don Smart was able to get in position thanks to a two to one advantage to set up the final strike.

After Friday’s draw, Greenville learned that they will host a Major League Soccer team for the first time. MLS expansion side Charlotte FC will travel to Greenville for Round 3. The date, time and venue are still to be determined.


Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Greenville Triumph, Oakland Roots SC

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U.S. Open Cup History

Jim Gregory, president of Charleston Battery supporters group The Regiment (right), presents the Coffee Pot Cup to Sachin Shah after D.C. United's 2-0 win in the 2004 Carolina Challenge Cup. Photo: Mike Buytas

How a US Open Cup classic, locker room vandalism inspired fans to create Coffee Pot Cup

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