PDL

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Seattle Sounders U23s eliminate Kitsap Pumas in all-PDL matchup

May 21, 2016 by Nick Schiffler

It took 90 minutes for the Kitsap Pumas to find their first goal, but once they did, they had safely booked their passage into the third round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Javier Castro smashed in a close-range shot in the final minute of regulation to lead Kitsap to a 1-0 victory over their PDL Northwest Division rivals, Seattle Sounders Under-23s, in Bremerton, Wash. on Wednesday night.

With the victory, the Pumas will travel to face Sacramento Republic of USL on June 1, with the winner of that match getting a chance to face off with a MLS squad. Sacramento easily defeated CD Aguiluchos USA 5-0 in their own Second Round matchup.

The Sounders began Wednesday’s match on the right foot, with David Olsen breaking into open space before firing a shot over the crossbar, but that was the best chance the visiting side would create in the first half. Kitsap began to earn more possession, resulting in a few dangerous looks at goal that kept Sounders goalkeeper Paul Christensen alert and busy.

Eighteen minutes into the first half, Kitsap’s Buba Jammeh smashed a long-range shot that the Sounders keeper was able to stay in front of and keep from the net. Then, in the 37th minute, Kitsap midfielder Jesus Sanchez curled a shot just to the outside of the post.

Kitsap continued to control possession as the second half began, although the Sounders were able to counter with numerous scoring chances of their own. One such opportunity from a free kick beat Kitsap keeper Matt Grosey but safely deflected off the crossbar.

The Pumas poured on the pressure as the second half wound down, hitting the bar once themselves and having a near-goal cleared off the goal line by a Sounders defender. But despite all the chances neither side could find the back of the net.

David Olsen came inches from giving the visitors the lead in the waning moments of the match. With the score somehow still 0-0, Olsen slalomed through the Kitsap defense, getting away a shot that caromed off the underside of the crossbar. But the ball did not go across the line, setting the stage for Kitsap’s Castro to provide a dramatic finish to the contest.

His goal came off a scramble in the goal box. The ball pinballed around the area until it deflected to Castro, lurking at the back post. He spun on his left foot and forced the ball into the net with his right, setting off a jubilant on-field celebration in front of the hometown Kitsap fans. Although there were still three minutes of stoppage time to be played, the wind was out of the Sounders’ sails and the game was effectively over.

Kitsap is in the middle of its sixth trip to the US Open Cup. Their most recent appearance came in 2015 when they crushed FC Tacoma 253 in the first round, 5-2, before getting knocked out 4-2 by Seattle Sounders FC 2.

The Sounders U-23s last entered the US Open Cup in in 2013 where they, too, succumbed in the second round. They defeated amateur side Doxa Italia 5-1 before being eliminated from the tournament by the then USL-PRO Charlotte Eagles.

The Pumas have had a rough start to the 2016 season. They sit at the bottom of the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division with -2 points after three games – the club was docked three points and awarded a forfeit for a violation of league roster rules in their opening match of the season.

There will be plenty of chances for the Sounders to gain revenge in the coming months. The two Northwest Division rivals face each other three more times in the 2016 PDL season, with the next matchup between the two coming in just 10 days.

But it will be Kitsap who moves on in the US Open Cup to face a very good Sacramento team – and maybe even get the chance to move on a little bit further.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Chattanooga FC outlasts Reading United AC in PKs in battle of amateur powers

May 21, 2016 by Ian Foster

A scoreless draw is often left unwatched. This one should not have been, as two storied Fourth Division sides in Chattanooga FC and Reading United AC played a classic Second Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match before 3,641 at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

After 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, Chattanooga prevailed in penalty kicks 4-1 to advance to the Third Round. It was the third time in the last two years that Chattanooga has won a penalty kick shootout in the US Open Cup.

Reading United, playing their third competitive match in eight days, came out strong for the first 15 minutes. However, a few forays into the Chattanooga box produced few bona fide scoring opportunities and the home side, themselves playing just their second competitive match of the season, started to wrest control. In the 16th minute, Chattanooga’s John “Snoopy” Davidson, who plays his college ball at Covenant College, got on the end of a corner, heading a shot just wide.

Just like he had been shutting out the Atlanta Silverbacks in Round 1 a week ago, Steffan Kraus was brilliant in this match, particularly as Chattanooga FC started to turn the tide in the final 20 minutes of the first half. Off a corner kick in the 28th minute, Kraus parried away a wide-angle but close-range Chattanooga shot, with the rebound being shot off the post. Ten minutes later, a through ball sprung Will Roberts in on goal, but Kraus met the challenge. And just before the halftime whistle, Kraus somehow got his body in front of a cross a split second before a waiting Chattanooga player.

Reading did manage to get in a jab in the first half, with a point-blank header forcing a double-save out of Chattanooga keeper Tom Halsall in the 34th minute.

The chances continued into the second half, with Chattanooga continuing to enjoy the lot of them. Off a long throw in the 49th minute, Roberts nudged a header just wide of the Reading post. The continuous pressure and possession continued until it started to let up around the 60th minute. Reading had held against the storm, and looked to create a few chances on their own.

The 64th minute introduction of Zeca Ferraz looked to stopper Reading’s momentum, providing a new, exciting element to the game. Indeed, he nearly stole a goal by himself in the 67th minute, after dispossessing a Reading defender and nearly out-scrapping Kraus. Seven minutes later, Chattanooga got its best chance of the game when a free kick from just outside the box was rocketed past Kraus off the post.

It was Halsall’s turn to spring to action in the 81st minute when Danny Reynolds blundered a clearance, allowing a Reading attacker space in the box. But Halsall quickly closed the angle and the shot rolled to safety. Halsall again answered the call three minutes later in the 84th, before Ferraz put a spectacular and acrobatic effort just over the bar in the 85th. The back-and-forth continued, as a Reading attacker, in the 86th minute curled one that just missed the upper corner.

Alas, the final whistle blew and the desperation to avoid extra time, on both sides, was for naught.

The 30 minutes of extra time were as sleepy as the 90 minutes of regulation were exciting. Few chances emerged either side, with most coming in the form of floating crosses easily snatched by the in-form keepers. Penalties were destined and they came.

Throughout much of the 120 minutes, Chattanooga were the better side. The difference, either through skill or karma, finally bore out in the penalties. Chattanooga’s Kieran Bywater hammered the first penalty perfectly into the corner. Reading’s Nestor Aguilar took a staggered run-up to his first penalty and shanked it, leaving CFC up. Chattanooga could do no wrong, leaving Kraus with no chance as Ferraz and Reynolds coolly converted and Halsall made an awesome stop on Brad Fountain. John Carrier, with the first kick of the fourth round, ended the match with another perfect strike to the top corner.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Charleston Battery advance after The Villages field ineligible player (updated)

May 21, 2016 by Seamus Grady

The Charleston Battery face The Villages SC from the PDL in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Charleston Battery

UPDATE: The US Soccer Federation announced that The Villages SC fielded an ineligible player during their match against the Charleston Battery and the federation has ruled that they have been disqualified and the Charleston Battery will advance to Round 3.

The Villages SC’s inaugural cup run is off to a spectacular start after pulling off a Second Round upset over The Charleston Battery of the USL in penalties.

The Villages’ attack got things started early, with forward Carlos Araujo burying a shot passed Keeper Alex Tambakis in the 24th minute.

Despite the early deficit Charleston seemingly dominated the remainder of the 1st half finding the lion’s share of chances, but The Villages’ keeper Paulo Pita came to play, putting on a monster performance keeping the Battery attack at bay.

The Battery would finally break even in the waning moments of the 2nd half, when MF Dante Marini put a spectacular bending left-footed shot passed Pita and into the bottom left corner of the net to level the score going into halftime.

Charleston continued to control the match through the bulk of the 2nd half, but The Villages managed to take the lead once again in the 66th minute.

Midfielder Danilo Dias would pick up the assist on the goal, putting in a great cross to Araujo who headed in his goal of the night.

With the clock winding down the Battery pushed the attack forward, finding chance after chance and finally breaking through the brick wall that was Paulo Pita in the 81st minute.

Forward Chris Tsonis would score the late equalizer, finding the receiving end of a corner by MF Maikel Chang.

Regulation ended with the score still knotted up at 2-2, taking the match into extra time.
Charleston looked the better side through both halves of extra time with The Villages rarely finding their way out of their defensive 3rd. Pita would prove to be the decisive difference for The Villages keeping out shot after shot by the Battery attack in extra time and coming up big for his club when the match went to penalties.

Pita would go on to save the Battery’s 1st two penalty attempts, with both Ricky Garbanzo and Romario Williams converting the 3rd and 4th, But The Villages would convert on all four attempts ending the Battery’s 2016 Cup campaign.

It’s the third consecutive year the Battery have seen their US Open Cup run end in penalties to a team from the state of Florida. A disappointing early exit for a club known for making deep runs into the later rounds of the tournament.

The Villages SC’s victory advances the club to the 3rd round where they will travel to Everbank Field to take on NASL side Jacksonville Armada.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: OKC Energy survives dramatic PK shootout with Mississippi Brilla

May 20, 2016 by Jay F. Marks

Oklahoma City Energy FC goalkeeper CJ Cochran didn’t have much to do for 120 minutes of his team’s US Open Cup matchup Wednesday with amateur side Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL).

Cochran didn’t fare too well when the game went to a shootout, watching the first nine Brilla penalty kicks settle into his net.
The Georgia native came up big in the end though, saving the home side’s last two spot kicks before burying his own to lead Energy FC to a 10-9 shootout victory after a scoreless game at Traceway Park.

Oklahoma City’s USL side advances to face intra-city foe Rayo OKC in the third round of the US Open Cup. Rayo OKC, a first-year NASL side, will host the first-ever meeting of the two teams on June 1.

Energy FC controlled play in its first match of the 2016 US Open Cup, but scoring chances were hard to come by against Brilla FC’s dogged defense.

Brilla FC advanced to the second round by defeating CD Motagua of New Orleans in first round play on May 11.

On Wednesday, the Oklahoma team dominated possession – and easily snuffed out rare threats from Brilla FC — yet it was unable to put the ball past goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway.

Ledgeway ably marshalled Brilla’s backline to prevent Energy FC’s possession from translating into goals.

Danni Konig, who broke the USL scoring record last year, was a persistent threat on the Premier Development League side’s goal, but poor touches and staunch defending kept him off the scoresheet.

Konig had two prime chances snuffed out by a Brilla defender in the closing minutes of regulation after Luis Martinez settled a cross into the box.

Both teams had chances to break the deadlock in extra time, but neither was sharp enough to convert.

That changed once the game moved to penalty kicks, as the first nine shooters for each team scored.

Brilla’s Ledgeway stepped to the spot and easily converted his team’s seventh penalty kick, after managing to get his fingertips to two Energy FC attempts that still found the back of the net.

In the 10th round of the shootout, Ledgway answered Cochran’s first save with one of his own to keep Brilla FC in the match before Energy FC converted its final kick to secure the win.

Energy FC captain Michael Thomas said the game was a “tough battle” in post-match comments on Twitter. He said the team “should have put plenty (of chances) away today,” but still managed to find a way to win.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Independence ground Eagles in true Charlotte derby

May 19, 2016 by Zach Hall

Charlotte Independence Charlotte Eagles — Photo: Charlotte Eagles

A cool night at Charlotte Christian School was the scene as the sun began to set on the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first-ever official match between the Charlotte Eagles and the Charlotte Independence. A real derby.

Adding to the drama is the fact that when the Eagles dropped to the PDL after more than 20 years as a pro team, the Independence were the club that replaced them in the USL.

The Eagles, playing in the tournament as a PDL team for the first time, entered the night with just two games under their belt, having won twice the week before in Open Cup and regular season play. The Independence, on the other hand, sit third in the USL Eastern Conference having already played nine regular season matches and a full preseason – giving the USL side an apparent fitness advantage and a comfort in tactics that proved to be a difference maker in the club’s 2-0 win.

Having played a congested schedule over the past two weeks, the night ended up being a much-needed opportunity for Independence to rest starters and see younger guys get some key minutes. Young players like Austin Yearwood, Emmanuel Appiah, Alec Bartlett, and Christopher Hellmann all made their first starts for the club in any competition. It would prove to be a fateful night for the young forward Hellmann, who got the game going just before halftime.

Both the scoreboard and the play on the field was deadlocked for over 40 minutes as neither Charlotte team could find the back of the net – though they had their chances. Eagles forward Tresor Mbuyu struck the woodwork around the 22nd minute and the Independence got a few shots off before Hellmann would get on the end of a poor save from William Pyle in the 44th, notching his first professional goal in his first-ever start for the club.

On the other side of halftime in the 50th minute, Caleb Calvert for the Independence would get a shot on goal off, forcing Pyle to make a save. Unfortunately for the PDL side, the ball fell straight to midfielder Jorge Herrera who put the ball away. It was bittersweet for the Columbian veteran, after spending over a decade with the Eagles throughout their professional days, but it was his goal that would put the nail in the Eagles’ Open Cup coffin.

Independence did a good job closing out the game, with young defenders Alec Bartlett and Austin Yearwood paired at center back for the first time performing well and goalkeeper John Berner returning from offseason surgery to keep a clean sheet in his first appearance back.

“First of all, a lot of respect to the Eagles group,” said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries after the game. “I think they’re very talented and play at a high level. For us, it was very important to get guys minutes in a meaningful game, in a game where there’s pressure to have to win, and I thought the guys held up very well. It’s always tricky in the Open Cup because you want to advance and yet, the way our schedule’s been with two away games…I didn’t make a lot of changes in those games so obviously giving games a break was important. More importantly, its good for these guys to in a game and contribute and they all did.”

With the win, the Independence, won’t have the leave the state of North Carolina. They will travel to Cary on June 1 to take on the NASL’s Carolina RailHawks in Round 3. This will be the second year in a row that the two clubs will meet at WakeMed Soccer Park. Last year, the Independence got the best of Carolina, winning 1-0 in the Third Round.

Zach Hall is your friendly neighborhood soccer fan with a blog, based in Charlotte, NC. He can be found spending too much time on Twitter @crowntownsoccer.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Jersey Express take out another New York opponent, beat Clarkstown Eagles 2-1

May 14, 2016 by Craig Tower

The Premier Development League (PDL) got off to a good start against National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) competition early on in the First Round of the 2016 US Open Cup and Jersey Express did their part to contribute with a 2-1 win over Clarkstown SC Eagles.

Jersey Express were led by Romario Pinto Goulart, who earned not one, but two penalty kicks; one in either half. However, Romario did not convert either of the penalties he had earned. That honor went to Juan Correa, who scored twice instead. Almost unfairly, Romario not only didn’t get a chance to finish either penalty, but he was also substituted in the 65th minute.
But Express head coach Julian Richens felt his team’s victory was about more than just earning a couple PKs.

“We created chances throughout the 90 minutes,” said Richens, who also coaches at Saint Peters University. “Three of our back four were playing out of position so credit them for limiting any threat.

That makeshift defense had to work hard to secure the win though, because the Eagles did not go quietly. They managed to get one back in stoppage time, courtesy of Bljedi Bardic, but could not get the equalizer as they became one of six NPSL teams to be eliminated in the first six games of the First Round (Note: The league would later advance in seven of the next eight).

In the Modern Era, there have been 13 New York vs. New Jersey matchups, and with the Express winning, the state of New Jersey has won seven of them.

Jersey Express will once again travel north to New York on Wednesday, May 18 to take on three-time Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms, who erased a 1-0 deficit to defeat the new York Red Bulls U-23 squad, 2-1. Richens likes his team’s chances to carry momentum into the next round and get another win; potentially starting deep run into the tournament.

“It’s very early in the season and we will be better than we were today. The performance levels will only increase, giving us a good chance to win the game.”

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Late OT goals push Sounders U23s past Outbreak SC

May 14, 2016 by Steven Agen

Seattle Sounders U23s celebrate a goal against Outbreak SC. Photo: Denise McCooey

The Seattle Sounders U-23s required extra time to eliminate Outbreak Soccer Club from the First Round of the 2016 US Open Cup on Wednesday night. They won the match 3-1 on the strength of two goals in the final five minutes of extra time to earn themselves a Round 2 date with the PDL’s Kitsap Pumas.

The hosts started brightly, creating the better of the chances up to the half hour mark. Possession was roughly even but the U-23s’ superior size and athleticism gave them an edge in the attacking third. Outbreak goalkeeper Brenden Welch was forced into his first save on only three minutes in, pushing David Olsen’s shot from inside the area into the path of Keith Francisco. He missed the target from a tight angle on the rebound.

Francisco and Olsen would team up again in the 11th minute. This time, Olsen was on the end of a left-sided cross from Francisco, which he hit first time on the volley. Welch again saved, this time getting down to the base of the near right post to claw the shot away.

Outbreak would not waste the heroics of their goalkeeper. LeeRoy Maguraushe played an errant pass backwards in his own third and Oscar Aguero was more or less unbothered as he finished low to the right in a one on one with Sounders goalkeeper Paul Christensen. On 29 minutes, the open division qualifier from the SoCal Premier League had survived the pressure and taken the lead.

They nearly doubled their advantage in the 38th minute , only to be kept out by a fine save from Christensen. An Outbreak corner found goal-scorer Aguero at the back post and he lashed towards goal from about eight yards out. Christensen dove low and to the left and pawed it away for another corner.

Like the visitors before them, the Sounders would not waste the effort of their shot stopper. An outswinging corner from the right in the 41st minute was headed out toward the top of the box. Maguraushe, guilty of the turnover that led to the opening goal, ran onto the looping ball and struck a pure volley that kept rising until it met the roof of the net just inside the left-hand post. The midfielder was 25 yards out and just left of center, and his certain goal-of-the-round both atoned for his mistake and brought the Sounders U-23s level just before the half.

The tempo the match increased dramatically after the break. Play was stretched and both sides created half-chances on breaks and set pieces. On 73 minutes, James Haupt subbed out for Ash Apollon, who’d come to have a huge impact on the tie as it moved into extra time.

It took several more saves from Welch to get there, though. His best second half stop came when he pushed a Francisco effort around the post off a strike from close range. Centerback Laokandi Collyns just missed with his right foot from inside the six as well, and heading into extra time the hosts looked decidedly the fresher of the two teams.

The first 15 minutes of extra time passed without any real chances or serious incident. Ten minutes into the second half of extra time, Ash Apollon initiated the first of three match-deciding plays he would be involved in.

Countering down the right, Apollon slid Olsen through on goal after the forward made a sharp run behind the back line. Olsen touched over the onrushing Welch, and Sounders U-23’s had their first lead.

After the ensuing kickoff, the U-23s immediately fashioned a 3-on-1 breakaway as Outbreak pressed to equalize. It was clear that there was at least one more goal left in the game despite there only being five minutes and stoppage to play.

Three minutes after the go-ahead goal, Apollon won himself with a penalty to seal the match. As he charged in the area with the ball at his feet, he took a shove in the back and won the spot kick.

Welch made his finest save of the night, diving left to push Apollon’s low attempt off the post. At 2-1 in the 118th minute, the visitors still felt they had a prayer of penalties after Apollon failed to put them away.

The second half substitute quickly made up for his wastefulness, stroking home a right footed shot on a one-on-one opportunity after yet another Sounders counter as the clock hit full time. The referee blew the whistle soon after, giving the Sounders a 3-1 victory.

In the end, the athleticism of the hosts made up for the experience and chemistry of the visitors, who tired as the match wore on. The U-23s next play the Kitsap Pumas in the Second Round of the US Open Cup in Bremerton, Wash. on May 18.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Detroit City FC gets revenge, eliminates Michigan Bucks in PK shootout

May 14, 2016 by Brooks Laimbeer

For the first time in the clubs history, Detroit City FC has advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup after defeating the Michigan Bucks in 4-3 in penalty kicks after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer.

“I think we have been legitimized by what we do off the field in the stands and in our community,” DCFC head coach Ben Pirmann said. “We have fallen up short in the Open Cup and we were naive last year and to take it to them this year and get the win is what we needed.”

The Bucks would have the first scoring chance of the match in the fifth minute off a free kick from 25 yards out that would ring off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

The set piece pressure would continue for the Bucks as center back, Lalas Abubukar, would rise above his defender off a corner in the eighth minute and head a ball to the towards the bottom left corner where City goalkeeper, Evan Louro, would make a diving save to keep the game scoreless.

Detroit would have a scoring chance off a set piece in the 12th minute as a ball from 30 yards out would be whipped in to the back post where midfielder, Dave Edwardson, would miss-hit the ball and Bucks goalkeeper, Drew Shepherd, would come off his line to smother the loose ball in the box.

In the 37th minute, Shepherd, would come up big for the Bucks as DCFC would create a turnover and force him off his line where he would make a foot save at the top of the 18 yard box to keep the game scoreless.

The match would head in to a midfield battle as the next best scoring opportunity would come in the 76th minute when City midfielder, Danny Deakin, would hit a shot at the top of the 18 that would just go wide of the far post.

In the latter part of the 80th minute the Bucks would have three corners in a row, but nothing would come of it as Detroit’s defense would pack it into the box and withstand the pressure.

“The Bucks kept the ball quite a bit and made us chase around at times so we got a little tired,” Pirmann said. “We had three chances there where we really stepped on them. Once those didn’t go in and we had a couple of guys go down with injuries I made sure we said defense first.”

The match would need an extra 30 minutes of overtime and the Bucks would keep the Detroit defense on their toes.

Bucks midfielder, Adam Najem, would have a good look in the 96th minute as he would try to chip Louro from 18 yards out, but Louro would track back and dive to push the ball over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.

“Evan is a big boy and has a great presence,” Pirmann said. “The chip that Najem had, I thought game over. He tipped it wide and Evan is a big time goalie.”

The Bucks would maintain the pressure but City would pack it in to make it difficult for a clear shot on goal and after 120 minutes of overtime, the game would move to penalty kicks.

Bucks would go first in penalties and defender, Tom Owens, would strike his shot way over the crossbar.

Detroit would answer as defender, Seb Harris, would hit as a shot right down the middle that Shepherd would get a hand on, but the ball would bounce off the cross bar and in.

Forward, Russell Cicerone, would have his shot saved by Louro and then City forward, Jeff Adkins, would convert his to give Detroit a 2-0 lead.

The Bucks wouldn’t quit though as Najem would convert his to make it 2-1 and then City forward, Tyler Moorman, would make his to put it as 3-1.

With the game on the line Bucks forward, Andre Landell, would convert his penalty and then Shepherd would come up with a huge diving save to his left to keep the penalties at 3-2.

Midfielder, Jordan Snell, would convert his and Deakin would hit his penalty over the goal to tie it up at 3-3.

Midfielder, Brad Dunwell, would have a chance to give his team the lead, but Louro would come up with a huge diving save to his left to keep it tied.

Defender, Bret Nason, would close it out for City as he would slot his penalty into the left side of the goal to give Detroit the 4-3 win in penalties.

“I kind of just went up there and knew the spot that I was going to kick it in and it was honestly just lucky,” Nason said.

Detroit will travel to Louisville on Wednesday May 18th to play Louisville City in the Second Round of the US Open Cup.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: State of Mississippi earns first tournament win as Brilla FC shuts out CD Motagua

May 14, 2016 by Datti Jinkiri

Players from Mississippi Brilla and CD Motagua of New Orleans battle for the ball in their First Round US Open Cup match. Photo: Mississippi Brilla

Mississippi Brilla FC picked up their first ever US Open Cup win by beating CD Motagua of New Orleans 2-0. Goals from Brazilian Eduardo Cruz and Chilean Ignacio Flores provided the difference for the match. It was CD Motagua’s first ever Open Cup appearance and Brilla’s third.

Not only was this the first US Open Cup win for Brilla FC, but according to TheCup.us records, this is the first tournament win for any team from the state of Mississippi in the 103-year history of the tournament.

Cruz opened up the scoring in the 28th minute. The Brilla captain picked up the ball in the middle of the park and unleashed a venomous shot from 25 yards away. The shot deflected off of a Motagua player and went past the keeper Lamoy Graham.

The home team increased their advantage right on the stroke of halftime. Forward Lucas Cordeiro played a well-weighted pass into the path of winger Ignacio Flores, whose run was well-timed. Flores’ shot struck the post and went in to give Brilla the 2-0 lead.

Motagua increased their pressure as the game went on and attempted to get back into the match. Midfielder Leonardo Barros led the team with three shots and looked dangerous on the ball. Brandon Chagnards had two shots, including a powerful free kick that Brilla keeper Brendan Ledgeway did well to handle. Graham had three saves for the New Orleans club as well.

Ledgeway picked up the win for Brilla, making five saves in 90 minutes of action. Cordeiro was an attacking threat throughout the night, leading the team with three shots.

Brilla advances to the second round of the Open Cup for the first time in their history. They will host the Oklahoma City Energy of the USL at the same venue at Traceway Park in Clinton, Miss. on May 18.

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Harpo’s FC kicks off second straight tournament with win in Albuquerque

May 14, 2016 by Robert Wilson

Harpo’s FC (USSSA) rode two first half goals to an away victory at Albuquerque Sol (PDL) in the First Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Casual fans may see it as an upset, but after last year’s run to Round 3, nobody should be surprised by the veteran and in-form group from Boulder, Colo.

Harpo’s opened the game with a 3-5-2 lineup intent on allowing the hosts maintain possession amongst their defenders but cutting down every attempt out of their own half. Eventually defensive miscues and some timely passes by the Harpo’s counterattack gave the visitors the lead and they never looked back.

Harpo’s opened the scoring in the 14th minute when midfielder Chris Salvaggione pounced on Dan Campbell’s long ball that was misplayed by the Albuquerque goalkeeper Andres Seazzu and his backline. Salvaggione and the rest of the Harpo’s full team press continued to pressure the Albuquerque defense corralling the hosts back into their own half. Seventeen minutes later long free kick picked up by Kyle Luetkehans forced the Albuquerque defense into another precarious situation. Luetkehan’s cross in side to penalty area was defected, by a handball not called by the referee, but collected by forward Shane Wheeler whose first touch drove the ball into back of the net for the second goal.

Albuquerque Sol’s playmaker Patrick Pacheco and second half substitute Elliot Prost provided the hosts with a number of second half attacking combinations, few which tested Harpo’s goalkeeper Zac Gibbons. Harpo’s Chris Salvaggione, on the other hand, never took his foot off of the gas, testing Seazzu numerous times in the second half including a disallowed finish from an offside position in the 53rd minute and a long-range effort that required a diving Seazzu fingertip save.

The victory sets up a Centennial State rematch with second year USL side Colorado Springs Switchbacks. The Switchbacks ended Harpo’s three-game Open Cup run before setting off on a three game run themselves in last year’s tournament. The 2015 match turned into a fierce back and forth battle on a cold, rainy evening. This year’s matchup is guaranteed to be equally as heated with both teams confident and eager to push into the later rounds of their second U.S. Open Cups.

Man of the Match: Team effort. Chris Salvaggione’s pace along with Dan Campbell and Kyle Luetkehans’ passing created many of the highlights for Harpo’s however it was defender Joey Matibag that held a very high and very consistent three man backline throughout the match. As the field was compacted the counterattack was pushed higher and higher into the Albuquerque backline eventually forcing the pivotal mistakes.

Moment of the Match: Shane Wheeler’s goal in the 31st minute. At this point Albuquerque was already a goal down, but they were establishing possession and starting to build into dashing attacks led by winger Patrick Pacheco. The offensive foul by Wilkinson and ensuing long free kick by Joey Matibag led to a messy situation that if the missed handball on Kyle Luetkehans’ cross passed without effect perhaps the tide could have turned in the host’s favor. Instead Shane Wheeler blasted the deflected ball into the net and pushed the game out of reach.

LHUSOC highlights Harpo’s 2, ABQ Sol 0 from Patrick Shea on Vimeo.