Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Real Salt Lake

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: New Mexico United adds another MLS upset to resume, 4-2 over Real Salt Lake

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New Mexico United fans cheer on their team during a Fourth Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup against Real Salt Lake. Photo: Jacob Terrell - Somos Mas
New Mexico United fans cheer on their team during a Fourth Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup against Real Salt Lake. Photo: Jacob Terrell – Somos Mas

In a dramatic upset in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, lower-division side New Mexico United defeated Major League Soccer’s Western Conference leader Real Salt Lake 4-2. This result adds another chapter to the tournament’s history of unexpected outcomes and continues United’s history of beating MLS clubs in the tournament. 

Back in 2019, New Mexico eliminated a pair of MLS clubs, both on the road when they knocked off the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas.

While Real Salt Lake boasted some players with experience against New Mexico on their home pitch, United dominated possession early. Their strategy of attacking through the wings and targeting Daniel Bruce in the middle proved effective, forcing RSL into errors.

This pressure paid off in the 19th minute with two quick goals from Zico Bailey. The first originated from a Sergio Rivas pass that Bailey converted from outside the area, sneaking the ball past Gavin Beavers for the 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, Dayonn Harris intercepted a pass out of the back and found Bailey, who capitalized with a shot from nearly the same spot as the first. This time, he got more power behind the shot, and Beavers didn’t have a chance at a save.

Real Salt Lake finally responded before halftime with Fidel Barajas converting a goal from Nelson Palacio and Zavier Gozo. Barajas received the ball on the left wing off Gozo’s header before driving into the area and placing the shot across the face of the goal and into the side netting to cut the lead, 2-1. 

“Their first goal was a mentality moment,” New Mexico coach Eric Quill said. “It starts with a goal kick, and we missed two headers — two chances to win it. They win both of them, they get in behind us and score. That gives the opponent life. But we knew we were going to suffer some today. That’s such a quality team to play. We’re not going to consistently have seven consecutive passes against a quality side like that. We have to be willing to suffer but know how to get out of that stuff.”

Nicky Hernandez restored the two-goal advantage for United just before the halftime break with a long-range strike aided by Daniel Bruce. Much like Bailey, Hernandez favored the shot from distance in the fifth minute of stoppage time, lacing through the ball and drilling it into the back netting to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

The second half saw Real Salt Lake threaten again early on with a 49th-minute goal from Diego Luna, assisted by Anderson Julio. As with the goals in the first half, this one also came from outside the box, continuing the trend of the evening. 

The match became increasingly physical with several yellow cards shown, but neither side received a red card. A controversial moment arose when Real Salt Lake appeared to make a fourth substitution, exceeding the allowed limit.

But New Mexico United held on and secured the victory with a late goal from Jacobo Reyes. After subbing on late in the match, Reyes made his mark in the 85th minute. After Hernandez clanged another long-distance shot off the woodwork, Reyes gathered the rebound and slotted home a right-footed effort that sealed the win for United. 

“I don’t want to say I’m shocked, but I just marveled at the performance of the guys tonight,” said Quill. “How they came out; the goals we scored (were) just really nice goals. The resiliency — when we conceded — to come back and stay on top of the game. We showed a lot of character. That’s a great team that’s going to be near the top of the MLS, with a great coach in Pablo Masteroni. We have a lot of respect for that organization, and where they’re going. But tonight, we made it about us. We just had a moxie to us. It was evident. We got challenged at times, but each time with goals.”

New Mexico United advances to the Round of 16, where the USL Championship side will face NYCFC II the week of May 21-22.

2023 US Open Cup Semifinals: Houston Dynamo need OT to survive RSL, return to Final

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Houston Dynamo celebrate after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake in the Semifinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Vos_Castellanos
Houston Dynamo celebrate after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake in the Semifinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: @FutbolPlusBrews (IG)

The Houston Dynamo beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 in extra time to advance to the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Héctor Herrera, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Luís Caicedo scored in the win. Amine Bassi provided assists for all three of Houston’s goals.

Houston will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in South Florida in the championship game on Sept. 27 at an undetermined site.

This is Houston’s second Open Cup Final. In 2018 the Dynamo captured the club’s first Open Cup title with a 3-0 win at home over the Philadelphia Union.

It was clear from the opening whistle RSL was going to do everything possible to disrupt the fluid possession-orientated attack Houston has become known for under first-year coach, Ben Olsen. RSL’s Jefferson Savarino set the tone of the match early with his second-minute foul on Houston’s captain, Herrera.

The chippy game made it difficult for either team to establish any real rhythm as the first half progressed. Houston’s Griffin Dorsey was shown the first of 10 yellow cards on the night in just the 22nd minute for a bad foul on Braian Ojeda, followed by Herrera in the 38th for a hard foul on RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath. RSL’s Brayan Vera was also shown yellow in resulting scuffle following the foul on the goalkeeper.

With just moments left in added time, Herrera broke the deadlock thanks to a gift from RSL defender Andrew Brody. Brody’s failed clearance fell to the feet of Bassi, who played Herrera a square ball only a few yards from an all-but-open goal five minutes into stoppage time.

Still reeling from the defensive miscue, it looked like things went from bad to worse for RSL when Corey Baird took advantage of yet another ball bungled by the RSL back line eight minutes into stoppage time. After a long look at the replay the goal was called back when it was determined Baird came from an offside position to score.

In the second half, Houston came out seeming to finally have wrangled some semblance of control of the game. Carrasquilla, Baird, and Franco Escobar all had decent chances early on in the second half.

The tide turned somewhat for RSL when captain and Open Cup leading scorer, Damir Kreilach was replaced by Anderson Julio in the 56th minute.

Eight minutes after coming on, Julio outjumped the entire Houston defense to slam-dunk a header from close range to level the score at one.

After nearly half an hour of choppy, chippy play, and the sultry night wearing negatively affecting both team’s execution in front of goal, the game went to extra time.

Again it was a defensive blunder from RSL, turning over the ball dangerously close to their own goal, and again it was the cool head of Bassi, this time finding Carrasquilla in front of the goal. Carrasquilla easily pushed the ball around a desperate defender and slammed the ball past a helpless MacMath to put the hosts back into the lead.

Things went from bad to worse for RSL when Vera lost all semblance of composure after getting tangled up field. Vera swung wildly as the fresh-legged Caicedo glided past him, striking him violently in the face. Vera stood over the felled Caicedo, offering his opinion on the matter before players from both sides intervened. Vera was immediately shown his second yellow card of the match, resulting in his expulsion. During the review process, the yellow card was rescinded and he was given a straight red card for the violent conduct.

But it was Caicedo who had the last laugh, once again taking advantage of the RSL defender’s discomfort with the ball. Sufficiently recovered from the bludgeoning he received from Vera, Caicedo’s tireless pressure paid off when he won possession of the ball close to goal. Caicedo found Bassi inside the penalty area, who played him right back, giving Caicedo a simple finish to the far post for Houston’s third goal on the night mere seconds before the final whistle.

With the win, Houston becomes just the eighth Texas club to reach the Final.

 

2023 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Damir Kreilach of Real Salt Lake voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

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Damir Kreilach of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: RSL
Damir Kreilach of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: RSL

At this time a year ago, Damir Kreilach was recovering from back surgery, a microdiscectomy procedure in his lower back where doctors removed portions of a herniated disc on his spine to relieve pressure.

The procedure, for as successful as it was, cast a shadow over the 33-year-old team captain’s career. At the very least, it ended the season prematurely for the native of Vukovar, Croatia.

Now he’s better than ever.

After scoring just one goal in five appearances a year ago prior to his injury, Kreilach has rejuvenated his game — and his Real Salt Lake squad’s hopes in Major League Soccer — with a team-high four goals and an assist in league play.

His own rejuvenation, though? Well, one could make an argument for some credit going to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Kreilach’s two goals in RSL’s 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy earned the RSL midfielder/forward/utility star TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the Quarterfinals.

Other nominees for Player of the Round included Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, FC Cincinnati’s Alvaro Barreal and Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callendar. The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers of TheCup.us on Patreon (donors that pledge $10 or more).

The former Union Berlin midfielder who signed with Real Salt Lake in 2018 did his scoring on seven shots, including five shots on target.


He also had two goals in sparking Salt Lake’s 6-2 win over Las Vegas Lights FC in the club’s Open Cup opener, a first-ever road win in the early rounds of the Cup competition and first win since 2016.

Now RSL moves on to the US Open Cup Semifinals, where it will face former homegrown striker (and Round of 16 Player of the Round winner) Corey Baird and the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Shell Energy Stadium (11:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports). The winner will advance to the Open Cup final against the winner of FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.

It’s also helped spark his club’s season, turning around a brutal four-game losing skid and just two wins in the first nine weeks of the season into a run of form that includes its current five-match unbeaten run, an MLS-best 5-3-2 road record, and a 10-3-6 record in 19 games across all competitions in the past 75 days.

“I think overall, the confidence is here,” Kreilach said after the team’s 2-2 draw with Minnesota United. “The team found themselves in great shape, and we show this week-by-week — especially in away games, where we are the tough team to play against, as well as the second half against Minnesota. We played our game, with our identity, with who we are, and I think if we had another 2-3 minutes, we’d win that game. But we showed our identity, and that is to never give up. Because of that, I’m proud of this team.” 

2023 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Real Salt Lake hold off late push by LA Galaxy to advance to Semis

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Damir Kreilach of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: RSL
Damir Kreilach of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: RSL

Whatever’s gotten into Rubio Rubin the last few days, Real Salt Lake might want to make it a double.

Four days after scoring a brace in a 2-1 road win over Austin FC in MLS play, Rubin had two assists and Damir Kreilach scored twice to help RSL hold off the LA Galaxy, 3-2, and advance to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 2015.

Jefferson Savarino added a goal for RSL, which will face the Houston Dynamo at a site determined by a hosting priority draw Thursday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS Sports’ Golazo network.

But Wednesday night’s win meant a little bit more to Rubio: not only did it keep RSL alive for a trophy and the club’s first CONCACAF Champions League berth since 2016.

And after dispatching three-straight opponents on the road, Salt Lake finally got to do it at home.

“We’re always playing for something, competing for a trophy,” Rubin said. “The Open Cup is a special tournament. We have two more games, and we want to lift the trophy this year. MLS Cup, as well.”


Rubin, who also won a penalty for RSL, has had a hand in each of the last five goals for Salt Lake.

The Guatemalan international from Beaverton, Oregon, who didn’t score a goal in 830 minutes is now pulling out points in bunches for an RSL club that advanced to the Open Cup semifinals for the first time since 2015.With RSL controlling nearly 2/3 of early possession, Kreilach capitalized with the go-ahead goal off his right foot, picking out the back of the net after Rubin set him up with a pass from Savarino.

“I couldn’t be happier for Rubio,” RSL manager Pablo Masatroeni said. “He’s an unbelievable teammate, an unbelievable player, and now he’s putting goals in the back of the net, which is great for his career.”

Things went from bad to worse for the Galaxy by the 25th minute, when star forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez had to be removed from the pitch with a right knee injury. The former Mexican international did not return, replaced by Dejan Joveljić for the remainder of the match.

The Galaxy are awaiting results of an MRI to determine the extent of the noncontact injury for Chicharito, who did not put any weight on his injured leg as he left the stadium pitch midway through the first half.

Kreilach doubled his account in the final minute of first-half stoppage time, bagging a brace from the penalty spot after Julian Aude was called for a foul against Rubin while attempting a corner kick.

Rubin had his second assist of the night, setting up Savarino for RSL’s third goal of the night in the 51st minute to stretch the home side’s lead to 3-0.

But the Galaxy wasn’t done yet.

Gaston Brugman pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute, and Douglas Costa added a wonder strike less than two minutes later to cut LA’s deficit to one.

But Gavin Beavers made four saves, including one to open seven minutes of stoppage time, to help RSL hang on for the club’s third Open Cup semifinal appearance all-time. The ultimate goal is not only to win the US Open Cup for the first time in club history, but they would also be the first team from Utah to lift the trophy in the tournament’s 108-year history.

“It was, for us, a huge opportunity, playing this Open Cup game at home after three road games,” Kreilach said. “The fans got their final opportunity; they’ve been waiting for a long time. Now we have to keep going, stay humble, and take it game-by-game.”

 

2023 US Open Cup Round of 16: Real Salt Lake capitalizes on Rapids’ mistake to reach Quarterfinals

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Photo: Real Salt Lake
Photo: Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake topped the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, on Wednesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to advance to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals for the first time since 2015. Jefferson Savarino dribbled uncontested from midfield after a sloppy Rapids turnover for the game’s only goal at the half hour mark. This was Savarino’s first Open Cup appearance for RSL in 2023. Wednesday was the second meeting between the two clubs in four days. Last Saturday, in league play, RSL beat the Rapids 3-2. On Wednesday night, both teams fielded a mixture of last weekend’s starters and reserves for tonight’s Open Cup match. It was the first meeting between the two rivals in the US Open Cup proper since their first one back in 2006 (a game Colorado won 1-0 on a Jacob Peterson goal assisted by Clint Mathis) “After our tough start to the campaign we wanted to prioritize the Open Cup,” said RSL head coach, Pablo Mastroeni. “We found that giving some of the guys who weren’t getting a lot of minutes has inspired them to become better teammates and better players. It feels so good to have so many people contribute.” With the win, RSL will host LA Galaxy the week of June 6 or 7. “We drew a tough LA Galaxy team that I’m sure is going to bring a fantastic group to AFF. It will be a great challenge for us,” Mastroeni said. The Rapids nearly gave the game away in the third minute when a poorly weighted back pass from Moise Bombito forced Marko Ilić to scramble to clear the ball away with his feet from inside the six-yard box, just beating Carlos Gomez to the ball. The Rapids best chance of the first half came in the 23rd minute off a prolonged possession when Michael Barrios found Sam Nicholson streaking down the middle of the park. Nicholson smashed the ball from outside of the penalty area. RSL’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Beavers got just enough on the shot to push the ball off the crossbar. Beavers finished with four saves to earn his first clean sheet in his four professional appearances. He started in all three of RSL’s previous 2023 Open Cup matches. “The Open Cup is a big opportunity for young players,” Mastroeni said. “Starting off with Las Vegas gave him a lot of confidence and belief in himself. He’s a young man with a very high ceiling. Goalkeeping is such a nuanced position with positioning, seeing the plays. You can see these plays at a lower level and your positioning isn’t going to kill you. At this level, with the players he is up against, everything has to be spot on. Tonight, he had a fantastic performance.” RSL made the Rapids pay for more sloppy play at the half-hour mark when Anderson Julio forced a Rapids turnover at midfield. Savarino collected the ball and sauntered unchallenged down the field, slotting the ball past Ilić, who was slow to come off his line. It was his first career US Open Cup goal. “The first goal came from a great defensive effort, Mastroeni said. “Ando blocked it in the midfield, created the turnover, and Sava did the rest. We need Sava performing at the top level, with intensity, with the quality that he displayed tonight. His quality speaks for itself.” Moments before the halftime Barrios nearly ceased a half-opportunity, just missing from a tight angle. Five minutes into the second half RSL nearly doubled the lead. Maikel Chang’s header back to the far post off a Savarino cross glanced off the crossbar and back into play. After a flurry of substitutions by both teams in the final 20 minutes the Rapids threw everything forward. With eight minutes to play in regulation Jonathan Lewis earned a free kick just outside the penalty area. The Rapids could not make anything of the opportunity, or any of the half-chances that followed. “At the moment, it feels good to be where we are, but we haven’t won anything yet,” Mastroeni said. “The onus is on us to play together, work hard, and continue to get results.”

2023 US Open Cup Round 4: Real Salt Lake rallies twice to win “wild” 7-goal thriller at Portland Timbers

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Maikel Chang of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the Portland Timbers in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Real Salt Lake
Maikel Chang of Real Salt Lake celebrates after scoring a goal against the Portland Timbers in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Real Salt Lake

You want goals? Maikel Chang and Co. will give you goals — the most of the season, in fact.

Chang scored two goals less than four minutes apart in the second half, and Andrés Gómez and Danny Musovski added a goal and an assist as Real Salt Lake rallied twice to eliminate the Portland Timbers, 4-3, on the road Wednesday night in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.

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Sebastian Blanco, Justin Rasmussen and Jaro Niezgoda each scored for the Timbers, which became the second-straight host to fall to RSL after going winless in its first five Open Cup road attempts before a 3-1 win at USL Championship squad Las Vegas Lights FC two weeks ago.

And after playing to back-to-back scoreless draws in MLS play, Salt Lake’s latest result was anything-but. And just like that — combined with LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders — Cascadia came crashing out U.S. Soccer’s version of the FA Cup.

“I thought it was a fantastic performance. A lot of guys got a great opportunity tonight, and they did a great job,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. “It was a real collective effort, and these kind of Cup games are always crazy. You never know what to anticipate. But I think the guys managed the game the right way, didn’t lose their cool after going down 3-2, and found a winner.

“I’m really pleased with the performance, and big-picture, I’m really pleased with the performances on top of performances. We’re really building as a group.” 

Blanco opened the scoring just five minutes in following a chaotic frenzy on RSL’s back line. But this match was just getting started, with three ties and three lead changes still on deck before goalkeeper Gavin Beavers made four saves and a back line of Delentz Pierre, Justen Glad and Bode Hidalgo and Braian Ojeda as a late sub helped kill off the one-goal win.

Suddenly, a club that sits a point off the MLS Cup playoff line in the Western Conference after close to a third of the season has found new life in the oldest knockout competitions in North American soccer.

“I think it shows that we’ve got a lot of fight in us,” Musovski said. “That game was really wild, with them going up early, then us taking the lead, then them taking the lead. It was a lot of ups and downs, but I think through it all, we were fighting the entire time. We showed that we have a lot of grit, and we want to make a run in this Cup.”

The Argentine took advantage of pressure in the back forced by Noel Caliskan before slotting home a right-footed shot down the center of the box and past Beavers, the 18-year-old goalkeeper making his second start in Open Cup play this year.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Far from it.

“We allowed them to score four goals at home which is not good, and the way we sometimes allow those moments to happen, we need to have a little bit more maturity,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said. “But again, it’s good for some of the players that don’t have that many minutes to be able to come and play, that makes them better, that makes them stronger, that makes them more available to be able to compete and ready to play. In St. Louis, we put in a mature performance, today we put in the effort, the energy, the good plays — but maturity is what was missing. Losing this game at home, allowing four goals after we scored three is no good. We talked about it in the locker room and the guys took the responsibility and now we continue to work.”

Musovski equalized in the 30th minute, taking a pass across the face of goal from Chang via Bryan Oviedo with the slightest touch from Damir Kreilach, finishing it for his second goal in as many matches in the Open Cup to help the visitors turn the tide quickly.

Gómez scored a banger in the 40th minute, lifting RSL to a 2-1 advantage following Bode Hidalgo’s set piece. The Salt Lake side put just three of their seven first-half shots on target, but Beavers made four saves and passed at 91.7% clip to keep RSL ahead.

Justin Rasmussen equalized for the Timbers in the 49th minute, taking a touch from Caliskan near the top of the box before converting a banger from distance for the Timbers’ second goal.

Three minutes later, Niezgoda pushed Portland back in front with a banger from just outside the box. But you didn’t think that was the end of it, did you?

Gómez found Chang in the 55th minute as the Cuban scored the first of two goals less than four minutes apart, and RSL took a 4-3 advantage in the middle of the smoky artificial turf at Providence Park.

“Chang has proven that he’s a fantastic player in this league, and he comes up huge when necessary,” Mastroeni said. “I couldn’t be happier for a player who waits patiently for his time, and then when his time comes, he’s ready to go. That’s what we talk about all the time; you’ve got to be ready to go. And this moment was Chang’s moment.”

The latter goal came as Damir Kreilach found Musovski, who found Chang for the visitors’ second go-ahead goal of the match on a counter attack in the 59th minute of a #DrunkOpenCup match in the Rose City.

“I saw Chang wide open, and I knew I just had to thread it firmly, and then Chang did a great job finishing,” Musovski said.

Portland threw the kitchen sink in search of an equalizer, but Beavers stood strong, including stopping an attempt in the fifth minute of stoppage time to keep the hosts at bay and book passage to the Round of 16 for only the third time in 13 Open Cup appearances (and the first since advancing to the semifinals in 2015).

“I’m really proud of the collective performance,” said Mastroeni, whose group hosts LAFC on Saturday (7:30 p.m. MT, MLS Season Pass). “Guys understand the way we want to play, and commit their lives to doing whatever it takes to win games, being a strong group inside the locker room. All these things are the intangibles that lead you in the right direction.

“The sky’s the limit for this group. But we’ve got to put our heads down. We’ve got a great opponent coming in this weekend, we’ve got to do a great job against them, and then we’ve got to just keep moving forward.”

RSL and the rest of the Round of 16 qualifiers, which include 14 MLS clubs and two from the second-division USL Championship, will find out the draw for the next round Thursday at 12 p.m. MT from U.S. Soccer on the B/R Football YouTube channel.

 

2023 US Open Cup Round 3: Real Salt Lake lights up extra time to win in Las Vegas

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Damir Kreilach and Andres Gomez of Real Salt Lake celebrate after a goal against Las Vegas Lights in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Real Salt Lake
Damir Kreilach and Andres Gomez of Real Salt Lake celebrate after a goal against Las Vegas Lights in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake didn’t pack a full lineup for its inaugural 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match. 

But Damir Kreilach packed his scoring boots.

Kreilach notched a brace, and Henderson native Danny Musovski added his first goal in an RSL uniform as time expired to help Salt Lake to a 3-1 win over Las Vegas Lights FC after extra time Wednesday night at Cashman Field.

“You know, the Cup games are always so fun to play in,” said Kreilach, who was making his first start since March 25 against St. Louis. “Even before the game, I said in the locker room that it was going to be a tricky game — especially when you are playing the teams a league below you. The most important thing is to put the fight in and concentrate, and then the quality will come out.

“You always have to have a little bit of luck in these games, too. They had a lot of chances, and at the end of the day, we did as well … but at the right time, we found a way to get it done.”

Gavin Beavers made six saves for Real Salt Lake to earn his first win as a starter in a Real Salt Lake uniform. But the style of the visitors’ win on the road in Sin City was less about Kreilach (though it certainly was), or even Musovski or Beavers, with respect to those standouts.

The biggest note was the back line, and who played center back — or more effectively, who didn’t.

RSL finished the match without a central defender, after Erik Holt was forced off with a substitution in the final minutes of regulation. From there, Pablo Mastroeni made a tactical adjustment to pair his outside backs of Bode Hidalgo, Bertin Jacquesson, Emeka Eneli and Bryan Oviedo in the most make-shift of back lines.

“I remember playing in this tournament, and every game, you never know what you’re going to get,” RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “Obviously, the dimensions of the field, the way they play on it, and then going down two center backs and ending the game with four outside backs on the field … There was a lot of adapting on the field.
“I think the guys showed a lot of resilience, and some good intensity and good effort. We knew we were going to have to match their intensity; this was a huge game for Las Vegas, and it was a huge game for us, as well.I felt like if we could mask that intensity, then our quality would shine through.” 

And they somehow got it done, snapping a winless skid in the Open Cup that dates back to 2016 with RSL’s first-ever road win in the competition. That includes a loss to USL League One side Northern Colorado at home a year ago, a moment that has haunted RSL in the year since.

But Cup games mean more, and Wednesday’s result will go a long way for Salt Lake, both in the Open Cup and in a return to MLS play Saturday against the Seattle Sounders.

“We saw so many weird results, with other leagues beating MLS teams, and it’s totally normal. From a fan’s perspective, you think MLS teams will win these games easily,” Mastroeni said. “But they are very tricky games, and you have to take them very seriously.

“At the end of the day, we are building our confidence. We have two games, two wins, and we have to keep going with Seattle in front of us.”

Beavers made four saves on six shots faced in the first half, including tipping a ball on the final play of the first half to help the visitors to a scoreless draw at the break.

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Real Salt Lake nearly took the lead in the 12th minute, but Kreilach’s shot was ruled offside for the club that held nearly 58% of possession in the first half. But Las Vegas put four shots on target to RSL’s one before the break.

A flurry of chances in the 68th minute ended with Kreilach’s header being saved in the top left corner, and the captain returning from injury-related recovery had another chance four minutes later that sailed wide.

The visitors held Las Vegas without a shot on goal in the second half until the 81st minute, but no goal came through 90 minutes of regulation.

Playing a jumbled lineup with Jefferson Savarino back home and Andres Gomez staying on the bench until extra time, RSL tried to get a goal from a rejuvenated Kreilach and young players in starting roles like rookies Ilijah Paul and Eneli or substitute Muosovski. Eighteen times, the visitors lofted a shot, but only four of those shots fell on target in regulation.

But on his ninth shot of the night, Kreilach got one to fall, giving RSL a 1-0 advantage on the final touch of the first half of extra time with a header from Jacquesson in the 105th minute.

Moments later, Maikel Chang added the save of the match on a goal-line clearance that kept Lights FC at bay in the early minutes of the second extra-time session. Gomez nearly doubled RSL’s lead in the 110th minute, but Luke Stauffer equalized instead a minute later with his third goal in as many matches for Las Vegas.

You thought it was over? Hardly.

Kreilach scored again in the 115th minute, taking a pass from Gomez (with a superb set up from Emeli) to bang in a right-footed shot from the center of the box to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Mastroeni “definitely thought” about taking Kreilach off, with the ailing captain still recovering from back surgery that caused him to miss most of last season

In hindsight, he’s glad he didn’t. 

“We want to win this game, and Dami in and around the box is the guy who finds the right spots. He’s prolific in front of goal,” Mastroeni said. “You have these ideas going into the game, and then you have to watch the game and feel the momentum of it. Whatever tactical change you’re making, how is a team affected by it? And I felt like when we went to two (strikers), Dami was much more effective on goal. And his experience and leadership was critical to the group.”

Then Musovski, who met with several dozen family and friends before the match to support the UNLV graduate and Henderson, Nevada native, finished off the scoring in the closing seconds after Jacquesson’s initial attempt in the 120th minute was saved and Musovski buried the put-back for the final margin.

2022 US Open Cup Round 3: Hailstorm FC’s only shot on goal a spectacular game-winner in upset of RSL

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Robert Cornwall of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley Potts | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Robert Cornwall of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley Potts | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

Can a first-year third-division team go on the road in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, give up 16 shots and only put one on frame, and concede 61% of possession against an MLS team?

Hail yeah, they can.

Robert Cornwall scored the only goal of the match in the 70th minute, and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC stunned Real Salt Lake 1-0 Wednesday night in front of an announced crowd of 19,301 ticket consumers at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Goalkeeper Thomas Olsen, a former third-round MLS SuperDraft pick by the Colorado Rapids in 2018, made two saves to earn the shutout for Northern Colorado.

The Hailstorm, founded in 2021, did something very few clubs have ever done. Northern Colorado played their first match in club history in the US Open Cup. And what a win it was. The Hailstorm traveled away to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship) and beat them 1-0 in extra time on April 6, courtesy of an extra-time winner from Jerry Desdunes. Now, after a draw and a loss on the road to begin league play, they rebound with a dramatic home win over an MLS side.

“This one is even sweeter,” Northern Colorado coach Éamon Zayed said after the match, comparing the RSL win to the Switchbacks upset in Round 2. “So proud of our players tonight. They brought everything, every ounce of effort, every ounce of fight. They were solid, we talked about it, we had a game plan. We wanted to remain compact and hard to break down.”

The Hailstorm won’t win many style points in the club’s Open Cup debut, either against the Switchbacks or RSL. But in the end, they’ll win the only way that matters.

As far as soccer aesthetics go, Wednesday’s match wasn’t much less of an eyesore than before — but the result is all that matters, or at least it was to the Colorado players who rushed the field after the win and the two assistant coaches in the visiting box who hugged and screamed obscenities at the crowd beneath them for most of the nine minutes of stoppage time.

With the loss, Real Salt Lake’s winless streak in the US Open Cup continues, dating back to a 2016 penalty kick shootout win over the now-defunct Wilmington Hammerheads (penalty kick results are officially listed as a draw). With that result going down as a draw, RSL has gone winless in seven-straight matches in Open Cup play — the longest such streak by an MLS club in the Open Cup’s Modern Era. Its five-match home winless streak is the longest active winless skid in the Modern Era, as well.

RSL out-shot the Hailstorm 16-5, but only placed two shots on goal to Colorado’s one — the destined rip into the top shelf by Cornwall that was all the difference with 20 minutes left in regulation. With several RSL players standing around, a couple drawn out of position, and some appealing to the sideline referee for an offside call, the Hailstorm surrounded Cornwall as he ran to the corner flag, hands at his earns, drinking in the boos of the home crowd that was less than the announced attendance number.

Robert Cornwall of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC dribbles the ball against Real Salt Lake in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley Potts | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Robert Cornwall of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC dribbles the ball against Real Salt Lake in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Ashley Potts | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

“You can do well defensively for 89 minutes, and in that one moment, it can cost you the game,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. “We’ll go back and look at that.

“But the first half just wasn’t good enough — it wasn’t good enough with the ball and in the attacking third. With these teams who are playing for everything, it’s important to get on the board early. They grew into the game, and the guy scored an otherworldly goal.”

The MLS side, which stretched its winless skid to five matches across all competitions with the loss, also had six shots blocked, and couldn’t convert on eight attempts from the corner flags, were caught offside three times, and lost the number of duels in the outfield, 52-44.

Stats can say a lot of things, but the only one that mattered in the end was this: Hailstorm 1, Real Salt Lake 0.

“I think the game is won and lost inside the boxes,” Mastroeni said. “You’ve got to make defensive plays, and you’ve got to make plays on offense.

“The cohesion of the front group wasn’t there in the first half. When Pablo (Ruiz) came in, it changed that. But you’ve got to have quality in that final third if you want to score goals — and tonight we didn’t have that.”

Salt Lake brought back a handful of first-team players from injury — goalkeeper David Ochoa, defender Justen Glad and midfielder Jasper Loffelsend — to pair with a handful of first-team players and even more Real Monarchs and academy players to cobble together a first-choice lineup.

In all, seven RSL players made Open Cup debuts, including Loffelsend, Ochoa, Bode Davis, Bobby Pierre, Pierre Reedy, Chris Garcia and Rubio Rubin as the two sides played to a scoreless first half. Glad came off just after the 60th minute in favor of 17-year-old RSL center back Jaziel Orozco, who was recently called into camp with the United States’ U-20 youth national team beginning Sunday.

RSL out-shot their lower-division Cinderella group, 8-1 before the break, including the only two shots on goal while holding 52% of possession. But the hosts couldn’t break through, and Cornwall gave Northern Colorado the lead in the 70th minute with a banger underneath the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
But the final touch wasn’t there. The tactical adjustment in the final third wasn’t there.

Most importantly, the goal — the essence of the sport, in many ways — wasn’t there.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the goal,” Orozco said. “We created some chances, but couldn’t score. I’m disappointed, but we’ve got to move on.”

After becoming just the 16th team in the Modern Era to start a tournament with back-to-back shutout wins, Northern Colorado advances to the Fourth Round where they will travel to take on fellow USL League One side Union Omaha on May 10.

2019 US Open Cup Round 4: LAFC’s league form carries into USOC with road win over Real Salt Lake

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Los Angeles FC lines up for a team photo before the club's Fourth Round match against Real Salt Lake in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: LAFC
Los Angeles FC lines up for a team photo before the club’s Fourth Round match against Real Salt Lake in the 2019 US Open Cup. Photo: LAFC

For the second year in a row, Real Salt Lake laid host to the league’s top team in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and once again they were eliminated.

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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

In 2018, Sporting Kansas City came into Utah and came away with a 2-0 win. At the time KC were the league’s best. Last night, it was the same script. Major League Soccer’s hottest team, Los Angeles FC, leading the league in nearly every category, came out victorious with a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Carlos Vela continued his scoring ways in the 8th minute, followed by second half goals from Lee Nguyen and a clincher from second half substitute Diomande in stoppage time.

They were able to get icing on the cake in the 93rd minute when Diomande tapped in a rebound off of Rimando’s right post, after newcomer and substitute, Rodolfo Zelaya blasted a bomb from about 35 yards out from a free-kick.

LAFC are the league leaders in every attacking category. They are first in goals, assists, shots, shots on goal, goal differential, goals per game. Carlos Vela seems like the odds-on favorite for MLS MVP and last night in Salt Lake, they continued their dominant attacking performance.

Vela was able to score in the 8th minute when RSL lost possession just at the half line and Eduard Atuesta was able to slot Vela in on the right side. Vela never really had any pressure on him until after he was already inside the 18-yard-box and the ball was already leaving his left foot destined for the right far post side netting.

“Every game Carlos makes a difference,” said LAFC head coach Bob Bradley. “There is not one player or opponent that doesn’t have incredible respect for what he is all about. He is playing at such a high level. He sets a perfect example for all of his teammates every game and it is nice to see. He plays with a really good way about him. He has got personality. He smiles, even when he gets fouled. He is not somebody to let it get in the way of anything. I think all of us have tremendous respect for how Carlos goes about it. We are really lucky that he is our leader. “

After that, the first half was frantic for periods of times where both teams shared possession and chances. Real Salt Lake’s best chance came in the 25th minute when they were able to combine from their outside back Andrew Brody through the midfield Kyle Beckerman, Kreilach and finally spring Baird in behind the LAFC defense. He had Sam Johnson open in the box but ended up crossing the ball right to the first time starting goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega’s hands.

Christian Ramirez should have put LAFC up 2-0 in the 32nd minute when he was slotted on a break away 1-on-1 with Rimando. His chip ended up hitting the crossbar and going out of play. The halftime score would remain 1-0.

“We know that there are places to play, you are going to have to be composed and move the ball quicker, in and around, from the back to the midfield, and there are angles and gaps to play through,” said LAFC’s Lee Nguyen about his halftime assessment. “We weren’t able to find it as much in the first half, but in the second half we did and it was able to give us chances. Kind of like that second goal. From there it was just closing out the game.”

The second half was almost complete dominance by LAFC, but not before RSL launched some attacks in the first opening 10 minutes. Andrew Brody served a cross through the penalty box to find Donny Toia on the far post inside the six-yard box. Donny just had the goalkeeper to beat on this flighted ball but Sisniega made arguably the biggest save of the night in the 61st minute to keep the score 1-0.

Just three minutes later Nguyen was able to add to the LAFC advantage when Latif Blessing’s through pass down the middle of the field that found him just outside of the penalty area. Nguyen took a touch to the top of the D, and put the ball into the back of the net before the defense could close on him.

“Things opened up and I was fortunate to get a good pass from Latif and good vision from Christian Ramirez to be able to leave and I was able to finish it,” said Nguyen, who scored his first US Open Cup goal since 2012 when he was with the New England Revolution. “ gave us a 2-0 lead, and give us a little cushion.”

The visitors would add a third goal in stoppage time when Rodolfo Zelaya, making his LAFC debut, blasted a free kick that beat the keeper, struck the post, and fell to Adama Diomande, who scored an easy rebound goal to give LAFC a 3-0 lead.

With the win, LAFC moves on to the Round of 16 for the second year in a row. Their opponent will be determined when the United States Soccer Federation conducts the draw on Thursday.

“We always talk about how Open Cup is important and we were disappointed to lose last year in penalties in the Semis, and everyone was excited to get started this year,” said Bradley who won his 18th tournament game, which now is tied for fourth among all coaches in the Modern Era (1995-present). “With the schedule in June, it allowed us to play pretty close to our regular lineup but was also good to get some other guys in.

“I am really happy for Pablo Sisniega. He makes a really big save at 1-0. That is really great for his confidence,” Bradley added. “All of his teammates really appreciate him getting the chance and seeing him do well. Good for Lee getting the start, then getting the goal, and then, in the end, Fito comes in and cracks a free kick and leads to the third goal. So a lot of nice things for us.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Sporting KC begins defense of USOC title with 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake

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USOC-KC-RSL-FINALNot many teams come to Utah and grab results. Real Salt Lake holds a home record of 113-27-44 overall at their world-class facility, Rio Tinto Stadium, since opening the facility in October 2008.

Sporting Kansas City last eliminated Real Salt Lake in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play in the semifinals in 2015. Sporting Kansas City again eliminated Real Salt Lake in 2018 with a 2-0 victory Wednesday, with goals coming from Johnny Russell in the 48th minute and Kharlton Belmar in the 74th minute.

Belmar assisted Russell for the first goal, and Russell assisted Belmar for the second goal.

Sporting Kansas City is arguably the hottest team in MLS. It has the third most goals at 28, first place for shots on goal with 89, and currently sits atop the Western Conference of MLS with 28 points out of 14 games. SKC is also the reigning and defending champions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after beating New York Red Bulls last year 2-1.

Both team coaches’ Peter Vermes and Mike Petke had interviews this week with their local media talking about how this game was set during a very busy time for them. Their normal starters have all played a lot of minutes and that some other guys were going to get an opportunity to step in and show everyone what they could do.

“We came in trying to win the game. At the same time this is a very congested part of the schedule, just like it was for Salt Lake,” said SKC’s Matt Besler. “So we knew that we were going to have to make some changes with the game that we had on Sunday and another big game that we have in Portland on Saturday. So we knew that right away. Fortunately we had a few days to prepare for this game and we gave a number of guys their first opportunities tonight and I think all and all it was a good team performance by us.”

Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City both are really known for their academy programs and producing top talent. With both teams needing to rest some guys there was an opportunity for some young guys to get some minutes. Real Salt Lake started Andrew Brody, Jose Hernandez, and Aaron Herrera, all products of their academy program. While Sporting Kansas City started Gianluca Busio and Jaylin Lindsey. I really enjoyed watching Gianluca play. He just turned 16 years old on May 28th. He is barely 16 years old.

Here is what Matt Besler had to say about Busio’s performance: “I thought he grew into the game very well. It says a lot about him, he just turned 16 years old, the way that he played, the way that he was able to battle and play for 90 minutes. I think that he got stronger as the game went on. He was able to find those pockets of space for us, and we were able to break the lines and play into him, and he had the poise to find those pockets and find the ball and make the right decisions. It was a very good game for him.”

Here is what Gianluca Busio had to say about his play and his preparation for this game:

“I first found out maybe a couple of days before in training. I was a little nervous at first but after a couple days of practice I felt a little bit more confident going into the game. I was surrounded by other guys that were getting their first starts so that made it easier that they had some of the same nerves as me, but that just helped me. They were all encouraging, and we also got some veterans in there also. So that helped me a lot, making me get into the game. I thought I prepared pretty well with the team and got into it.” When asked if coach Vermes had given any special instructions prior to the game Busio said: “He just told me to go out there and be confident. He brought me aside and said you deserve it, go out there and be confident and play your game. He knows I can play.”

Both teams exchanged opportunities in the first half, but for the most part both teams were being pretty conservative in the opening half. Jose Hernandez got through on a breakaway in the 18th minute for Real Salt Lake from a pass from Ricardo Lopez-Espin, but Hernandez pulled his shot wide. Gianluca started to really grow into the game around the 34th minute where he started to thread some through balls down the right side. Sporting KC’s best opportunity in the first half was on a counter attack down the right side that found Russell running to the top of the 18 yard box. Russell was able to skip by his first defender with a great little lifted touch past the sliding defender, but RSL goalkeeper Sparrow came up big with the save.

The second half seemed to have a whole different pace to it. Sporting Kansas City was pressing higher up the field and really going at RSL right after kick off. Kharlton Belmar made a diagonal run down the right hand side behind the defense and got the ball near the endline. He was able to cut it back to the onrushing Johnny Russell for the go ahead goal in the 48th minute.

Here is what Russell had to say about his goal and assist: “It was a good team move. Belmar made a good run to get in behind and I knew that was the only ball he had really, was the cut back. It was a great ball from him. I managed to get in front of the defender and tuck one away which is nice, especially after the opportunity in the first half that I should have scored. The second one just opened up. The coaches were telling me to get the ball and turn. It was a great ball from Amor. I could see that it opened up. I saw Belmar’s run and I tried to play it across and he got a touch on it.”

Belmar scored his goal in the 74th minute and Real Salt Lake subbed in another academy product Brooks Lennon and also Alfredo Ortuno Martinez but was never really able to produce anything. Sporting Kansas City went on to win and advances to the 5th round in chase of defending last year’s Open Cup Title.

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