Rio Grande Valley FC

2023 US Open Cup Round 2: South Georgia Tormenta claims another USL Championship upset, 2-1 vs. Rio Grande Valley

April 6, 2023 by Forrest Wimberly

South Georgia Tormenta FC players celebrate after scoring a goal against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros in the 2023 US Open Cup. Photo: South Georgia Tormenta FC

South Georgia Tormenta used a goal in each half along with a second-half penalty save to advance 2-1 in the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup over the visiting Rio Grande Valley Toros.

The Rio Grande Valley Toros (USL Championship) had entered the match undefeated with a record of 1-0-3 to face the defending USL League One champions, which owned a 1-2-0 record. Throw out the previous results, add an ideal full-moon night for soccer, and sprinkle in some US Open Cup magic and the recipe for tonight’s game was complete.

No better time to score your first for the club! @johnny_futbol8 with a sensational effort off an assist by @mukwelle_akale!#ForThe912 | 1-0 | #USOC223 pic.twitter.com/L4gXfK5Kdr
— South Georgia Tormenta FC (@Tormenta_FC) April 6, 2023

Both squads were managing the extra load of recent games and rotated their squads for tonight’s match. Tormenta seemed to adjust faster and had a strong opening 15 minutes of play pressuring the Toros to open the match. The Toros then found their footing and midfield possession game to control the rest of the first half except for one major breakdown that Tormenta punished for a goal in the 39th minute. A quick switch of the ball by Mukwelle Akale caught the Toros unbalanced in front of the net and John Murphy Jr. made no mistake putting Tormenta up 1-0 heading into the half.

WHAT A SAVE BY @PablOctavioJara! #ForThe912 | 1-0 | #USOC2023 pic.twitter.com/JTo20Yr1cl
— South Georgia Tormenta FC (@Tormenta_FC) April 6, 2023

Rio Grande Valley regrouped at the intermission and opened the second half with more possession and sustained pressure on the Tormenta backline. This pressure forced a penalty in the 69th minute that Tormenta keeper Pablo Jara turned aside with a strong left hand to deny the Toros’ leveling the score. Energized by the Jara save, Tormenta opened the game up and a pair of substitutes caught the Toros over shifted on a Nick Akoto cross from the right flank in the 81st minute when Kingsford Adjei smashed in the second of the night for the Birds.

The final minutes of the match saw Tormenta fend off wave after wave of Toros’ attacks and as the seven minutes of stoppage time were being announced Ricky Ruiz found the net on a low drive to put the Toros on the board. The Toros continued to press the attack but simply ran out of time as Tormenta held on for the 2-1 win.

Tormenta Head Coach Ian Cameron was very pleased with the win and noted how ideas worked on in training were the difference in the match tonight.

“We knew we wanted to cross the ball early because their (Toros) center backs get very man oriented and get sucked into the pockets,” Cameron said. “So if we could play early balls across, that would make a big difference and both goals came from crosses. We’re a team that’s not crossed the ball enough so that was something we worked on this week and we got two goals off of it, so maybe we should do it more often.”

The ???? called game!@KingsfordA scores an insane volley off of an incredible cross into the box by @nicholasakoto!#ForThe912 | 2-1 | #USOC2023 pic.twitter.com/bWqvHd5jgi
— South Georgia Tormenta FC (@Tormenta_FC) April 6, 2023

Goalkeeper Pablo Jara was asked what it is like to save a penalty kick, then laughed and replied, “I don’t know, I’ve never scored a goal but I would say like scoring a goal. For goalkeepers saving a penalty gives you a boost, maybe a reminder of why we choose the position, it’s an amazing feeling.”

John Murphy Jr. scored the first goal and praised his teammates for a solid 90 minutes of work.

“This game lands at the perfect time (in the schedule) because whether it was in the league or Open Cup we were desperate for a win. So as you could see the boys were fighting’, some of them dropped to the ground after the final whistle, it was an excellent effort from all the guys.”

It was the third time that Tormenta have won a game in the US Open Cup, with all three coming against USL Championship opposition. With the win, Tormenta will travel to play Charlotte FC (MLS) in Round 3.

Houston Dynamo request to remove RGVFC from US Open Cup granted; Chattanooga FC, Kitsap Pumas receive byes

March 30, 2016 by Josh Hakala

The United States Soccer Federation announced another change to the format for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. USL expansion side Rio Grande Valley FC (RGVFC) have been removed from this year’s competition at the request of their MLS affiliate, the Houston Dynamo.

As a result, the Kitsap Pumas of the Premier Development League (PDL) and the Chattanooga FC of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) will receive first round byes and will begin play in Round 2, which is scheduled for May 18.

In January, the federation confirmed that all professional teams that are owned by higher division clubs would be excluded from the US Open Cup. However, since the Dynamo do not own RGVFC, the USL side was included in the field of 92 for the 103rd edition of the tournament. The controversy with this decision was rooted in the fact that RGVFC are run by the coaching and front office staff of the Dynamo. So while, the MLS side does not have any financial control over the team, they have control over all other aspects of the club, including the coaches and the players on the field.

This announcement eliminates that controversy. But why was the decision made?

“We just wanted to be seen the same as all the other teams in MLS,” said Houston Dynamo spokesperson Matt Pederson. “We want to be a legimate Dynamo entity.”

Pederson said the request was made shortly after the federation made the Jan. 7 announcement that they would be included. He said the Dynamo should play by the same rules as other MLS clubs that own minor league professional clubs, like the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Sporting Kansas City.

Some have speculated that excluding RGVFC would give the Dynamo more depth as they attempt to win their first-ever US Open Cup title. Houston has reached the Semifinals twice (2006, 2009), but have never played in a Final since they were launched in 2006. Having the ability to call up players from Rio Grande Valley could help as they deal with schedule congestion and injuries. However, only players with MLS contracts are able to suit up for MLS teams in the tournament and Pederson was quick to point out that RGCFC currently only has one player under contract who is on loan from the Dynamo: Christian Lucatero.

RGVFC was scheduled to open the tournament in Round 2, but now there’s a hole to fill. To do that, the federation has awarded the Kitsap Pumas of the PDL and Chattanooga FC a bye into the Second Round. This marks just the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that an amateur team has started the tournament in Round 2 (2003, 2005, 2014).