Red Force FC

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Naples back in Round 2 with 3-0 win over Red Force FC

March 19, 2026 by Damian Prone

Hudson Gay of FC Naples celebrates after scoring a goal for FC Naples against Red Force FC in the First Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Naples

With a dominant 3-0 victory over Red Force FC, FC Naples clinched its spot in the next round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The match, which took place at the Paradise Coast Complex on Wednesday night, marked the opening round of the 111th edition of the single-elimination tournament, the country’s oldest cup competition. FC Naples scored two goals in the first 30 minutes en route to its second win in three matches this season.

“It’s always an honor and a privilege to compete in the Open Cup,” FC Naples head coach Matt Poland said. “I love the tournament. It’s an amazing experience. It’s the ability to play different levels of teams and have players from all different levels showcasing their abilities.”

*Join our Patreon team!
* 2026 USOC Schedule/Results
* 2026 USOC Stat Leaders
* 2026 USOC Qualifying
* 1995 USOC Rewind Series

* Subscribe to our newsletter!
* Follow TheCup.us on X (@USOpenCup)
* Follow TheCup.us on BlueSky
* Follow TheCup.us on Facebook
* Follow TheCup.us on Instagram
* Contact us HERE

FC Naples, competing in the club’s second US Open Cup, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Red Force deployed a 4-3-3. From the opening whistle, FC Naples set the tone with high pressure and quick ball movement, forcing Red Force onto the back foot. The match began with FC Naples taking control of the game and creating several chances.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, when midfielder Marc Torrellas opened the scoring after finishing an assist from Kevin O’Connor.

Just seven minutes later, FC Naples doubled its lead. Right winger Hudson Gay found the back of the net in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Ian Cerro.

“It feels good to score the first goal in my career,” Gay said. “I almost cried. I feel really good.”

Gay added that he plans to keep working hard every day to help the team succeed throughout the season.

Despite trailing early, Red Force found a bright spot in goalkeeper Edgard Perez, who delivered an outstanding performance despite giving up three goals. Perez made multiple key saves throughout the match, including stops in the 35th, 40th, 45th, 60th, and 82nd minutes, preventing the scoreline from becoming more lopsided.

FC Naples continued to create chances, with forward Andres Ferrin coming close to adding to the lead but failing to convert inside the box.

The home side maintained control in the second half, consistently winning possession and limiting Red Force’s attacking opportunities. By the end of the match, FC Naples held 63% possession and outshot Red Force 16-1, underscoring its dominance on both ends of the field. FC Naples managed the game from beginning to end.

The final goal came in stoppage time when forward Taylor Gray closed up the victory in the 92nd minute, finishing off O’Connor’s second assist of the night.

“Three goals in a game is a lot, so I am satisfied with it,” said Poland. “Most important thing is that we win and advance to the next round.”

With the scoreline reflecting a comfortable win, Perez’s five saves were instrumental in keeping the margin at three goals, highlighting one of the few positives for Red Force, a team making its 5th US Open Cup appearance. Red Force will end their tournament run seeking its first Open Cup win since 2014.

For FC Naples, they advance to the Second Round for the second year in a row.

2026 US Open Cup Qualifying: Red Force FC to make 5th trip to USOC after win over City Soccer

November 25, 2025 by Daniel Solana

Red Force FC celebrates after beating City Soccer FC 4-1 in the final round of the 2026 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Red Force FC

On a warm Sunday night at Kendall Soccer Park, with a spot in the US Open Cup on the line, Red Force and City Soccer delivered a fierce, emotional, high-stakes showdown that lived up to every expectation of a “win-and-you’re-in” battle. From the opening whistle it was clear both sides understood exactly what was at stake: survive, advance, and write their names into the most iconic tournament in American soccer.

City Soccer burst out of the gates with energy and ambition, carving out two clear scoring opportunities in the opening minutes that immediately put Red Force on the defensive. The pace was intense, the touches sharp, and Red Force needed a few minutes to settle into the rhythm of the match.

It was City Soccer who struck first, capitalizing on their aggressive start. A dangerous attack down the flank eventually found its way to Auner Escobar, who made no mistake in front of goal to give City Soccer a 1–0 lead. It was a deserved advantage based on the early flow of the game.

*Join our Patreon team!
* 2025 USOC Schedule/Results
* 2025 USOC Stat Leaders
* 2025 Player of Round winners
* 2026 USOC Qualifying
* 1995 USOC Rewind Series

* Subscribe to our newsletter!
* Follow TheCup.us on X (@USOpenCup)
* Follow TheCup.us on BlueSky
* Follow TheCup.us on Facebook
* Follow TheCup.us on Instagram
* Contact us HERE

Red Force, however, are no strangers to pressure. Their response was almost instantaneous. A beautifully constructed attacking sequence ended with Santiago Fajardo launching himself into a full-stretch diving effort, only to be denied by an excellent reaction save from the City Soccer goalkeeper. That moment served as a turning point—Red Force settled in, found their confidence, and began imposing their game.

The match quickly grew chippy, as expected from two clubs fighting for a life-changing opportunity. Hard tackles, heated confrontations, and rising tension became part of the narrative as both teams refused to back down.

Red Force found their breakthrough midway through the first half with one of the most polished plays of the night. A sharp give-and-go sliced open the City Soccer defense before the ball was whipped across to the far post, where Stiven Salinas arrived perfectly to tap it in and level the score at 1–1. It was a brilliantly executed goal—simple, quick, and lethal.

Despite City Soccer controlling large stretches of possession in the first half, it was Red Force who carried the momentum into the halftime break. Their confidence grew with every pass, every duel, every transition. At 1–1, it felt like the match was tipping in their favor.

That feeling proved accurate almost immediately after the restart. Red Force came out flying, creating danger with every attack. They had a goal from Santi Fajardo called back for offside—a decision that brought heated protests—and followed it up with two more chances that sailed just wide of the City Soccer net. The warning signs were bright and blinking.

Then came the explosion.

In the 62nd minute, John John Díaz stepped up from distance and unleashed an absolute missile from outside the box that bent away from the goalkeeper and crashed into the back of the net. Four minutes later, in the 66th, Díaz did it again—another long-range strike, another moment of brilliance, another dagger to City Soccer’s hopes. His quick brace flipped the game on its head and showcased exactly why Red Force remain one of the most respected amateur sides in South Florida.

But the match wasn’t without controversy. In the 72nd minute, Santiago Fajardo—who had been a constant threat all night—was shown a second yellow and then a red card after a heated tackle near midfield. The decision sparked outrage on the Red Force sideline, and tensions reached a boiling point as City Soccer pushed desperately to take advantage of the extra man.

Even with 10 men, Red Force refused to sit back. Their shape tightened, their defensive lines held strong, and City Soccer struggled to generate meaningful danger in the final third. Red Force played with grit, unity, and a deep understanding of game management—hallmarks of their identity.

In the dying moments of stoppage time, with City Soccer throwing numbers forward, Red Force delivered the knockout punch. In 90+4, David Ochoa found himself with a pocket of space just outside the area and ripped a stunning shot that flew past the City Soccer keeper to make it 4–1. It was the exclamation point on a statement performance—one that left no doubt about which club rules the amateur scene in Kendall.

When the final whistle blew, Red Force stood tall, victorious, and deservedly on their way to the U.S. Open Cup. City Soccer fought bravely and showed quality early, but once Red Force found their rhythm, the difference in experience, composure, and firepower became undeniable.

On this Sunday night in Kendall, Red Force didn’t just win a match—they delivered a message.

After the match, Red Force captain Steven Seballos summed up the moment with pride:

“I’m proud of the work this team and coaching staff has put in to get back into the U.S. Open Cup. We had to win some tough games to get to this point, but it feels good to be back in the most historic soccer tournament in the United States.”

And now, they march on to the biggest stage American soccer has to offer.

2025 US Open Cup Qualifying: Luis Peralta’s late OT goal sends Miami United to 4th straight USOC

December 9, 2024 by Daniel Solana

Miami United FC celebrates after a 3-2 extra time win over Red Force FC to qualify for the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami United FC

On a beautiful night in Hialeah, Fla., two of South Florida’s most historic clubs faced off in a “Win & You’re In” game to punch their ticket to the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Miami United FC, were victorious over their rival Red Force in a fierce game that went to extra time. Fueled by a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time of the second extra time period from their Argentine star player, Diego “Cachetes” Morales, “El Equipo del Pueblo” is on its way to the 110th edition of US Soccer’s historic tournament.

With the win, Miami United extends it’s record winning streak in the qualifying tournament to 13 games, and have qualified for the US Open Cup proper for the fourth year in a row and the eighth time in club history (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

The first half saw Red Force struggle to get themselves in the game, while Miami United had a number of opportunities to break the scoreless draw. After a couple of cautions were showed to each team, Morales was able to slot through the opening goal of the match in the 43rd minute with a beautiful touch over the Red Force goalkeeper. Although, Red Force had a tough time cracking through MUFC defense, they were able to escape the half down by only a goal.

The second half was a different story that saw plenty of chances for both sides, most ending in near misses. MUFC had an opportunity to double the lead, but Santi Frean’s shot hit the crossbar. As the minutes began to dwindle, Red Force’s Santiago Fajardo would have a chance to tie the game, as his shot would go just wide of Sebastian D’Angelo’s goal.

In the 80th minute, Red Force’s captain, David Holguin, tied the game from the penalty spot; with a cheeky shot down the middle. With the game knotted at 1-1, the final minutes of the second half had all of the dramatics you’d expect between two teams fighting for a US Open Cup spot. United’s Serrano had the chance to send his team into the Cup, but couldn’t capitalize on a last minute sitter. As a result, the game was off to extra time.

As the temperatures dipped into the 60s in South Florida, both teams went into the overtime period showing signs of wear and tear after a hard fought 90 minutes. Both teams continued to show their grit, churning out opportunity after opportunity. In the 101st minute, MUFC finally broke through the Red Force defense to take the lead 2-1, with Luis Peralta’s right-footed rocket from outside the box.

Red Force nearly responded seconds later when D’Angelo stopped a breakaway attempt from Fajardo.

With the first half of extra time nearing it’s end, Red Force tied the game in dramatic fashion; ex-MUFC player, Diego Ochoa, struck a volley near post to pull Red Force even, at 2-2.

The second overtime started with an excellent play by the home side that resulted in a goal, which overturned by an offside call from the referees first assistant. It was a decision that caused a lot of controversy among the fans and teams in attendance.

While MUFC continued to push forward looking for a game winning goal, Red Force’s looked tired and was content to let the game go to penalties. In the final minutes of the game, MUFC’s Frea had a free kick denied by the woodwork.

But it was the MUFC’s first half hereo Luis Peralta who doubled his scoring total and not only avoided a penalty kick shootout but he ultimately punched his team’s ticket into the US Open Cup with another scorcher from outside the box, in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

After the goal, MUFC’s president and assistant coach were sent off and the shenanigans began. The game was delayed for a number of minutes, as the officials waited for the gentlemen to leave the pitch. Peralta, was also sent off in the final minutes after receiving a second yellow (the first was given to him after taking off his shirt after his first goal). In the end, Miami United’s depth was too much for Red Force to overcome and the side who called Hialeah home took home the hard fought victory.

After the loss, David Holguin, captain and veteran Red Force player, said “I am proud of the team tonight. We did the unthinkable with the great players we have, but unfortunately we were not on the same level physically, as they were.”

Holguin also talked about how he manages to continue to play at a high level into his 40s.

“I have to thank God,” the Red Force captain said. “It’s tough to continue to play against all of the young talent in South Florida, especially those who train on a daily basis. It’s all thanks to God that I can continue to play this beautiful game.”

“It feels great to qualify to the US Open Cup,” Peralta said about his two-goal performance. “It was a great team effort and overall I think we had a great game. I felt like I was playing in the big leagues, like MLS, or the Premier League, I felt great!”

“It was a debt that we had pending, and we had to win at any cost,” said Miami United manager Claudio Frean about his team earning a spot in the Open Cup. “It was an atypical game where we dominated the entire first half, and we ended up complicating ourselves toward the end of the game. But, overall we are extremely happy with the team, our fans and the city.”