UPDATE (4/13/12): Zicuiran 28 has withdrawn from the competition, leaving Napoli to represent Southern California in the Final.
US Club Soccer’s qualifying tournament to determine their US Open Cup representative in a play-in game against the NPSL’s Bay Area Ambassadors is taking place in California this month. Four teams will battle to take part in the game, which will be hosted by the Ambassadors on April 28.
The winner of a three-team Northern California qualifying group containing NorCal Premier Soccer League sides Sacramento United Legend, Pacific Los Gatos Storm, and Stanislaus United Turlock Express will play April 22 against Napoli, the Southern California representative from the Central Coast Soccer Association.
The first two games of the NorCal group stage were played March 31 and April 1. Pacific Los Gatos Storm beating Sacramento United Legend in the Saturday game by the score of 4-1, courtesy of a first half brace by PLGS’ Dan Oka, and a second half pair from Enrique “Qeeks” Tovar that put the game away for Pacific Los Gatos. Less than 24 hours later, PLGS appeared understandably sluggish in their second game of the weekend, against a rested Stanislaus United Turlock Express side seeing its first action in the qualifying tournament. Stanislaus United got the 3-1 victory, and sits atop the group heading into this Saturday’s group stage finale with Sacramento United Legend. Stanislaus needs only a draw to advance to the next round and book the April 22 US Club Soccer final which will take place at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif. at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
In only its second year of competition, The Angels Confrontation has quickly established itself as one of the premier amateur leagues in the country. The league has been making an effort to build a fanbase, and last year’s championship game between San Nicholas and 2010 Open Cup qualifier Doxa Italia shows some of the progress that’s been made (SEE VIDEO BELOW).
2012 US Club Soccer Open Cup qualifying tournament
Northern California
March 31: Pacific Los Gatos Storm 4:1 Sacramento United Legend
April 1: Stanislaus United Turlock Express 3:1 Pacific Los Gatos Storm
April 7: Stanislaus United Turlock Express 1:0 Sacramento United Legend
Southern California
April 15: Zicuiran 28 vs. Napoli
*Zicuiran 28 withdrew from the competition, Napoli advances to the Final.
US Club Soccer Final
April 22: Stanislaus United Turlock Express 5:2 Napoli
Chukchansi Park – Fresno, CA – 1:30 p.m. kickoff
NPSL / US Club Soccer Play-In Game (Win & You’re In)
April 28: Stanislaus United Turlock Express at Bay Area Ambassadors
Richmond High School – Richmond, Calif. – 5:30 p.m. PT