Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Saint Louis FC

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Saint Louis FC capitalize on Michigan Bucks mistakes, hold on for 2-1 win

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Saint Louis FC logoSaint Louis FC scored a pair of early goals and held off a charge from the giant-killing Michigan Bucks to earn a 2-1 road victory in the Third Round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

With the win, Saint Louis earns a home game against four-time US Open Cup champion Chicago Fire (MLS) in Round 4.

Both goals came off the foot of Sebastian Dalgaard on defensive miscues in the 13th and 16th minute. Coming out of the halftime break, it took 27 seconds for the Bucks to pull one back with a spectacular volley by University of Michigan star Francis Atuahene. The Saint Louis defense held strong to earn the club’s second straight road win to put themselves on the same field as an MLS team for the second time in three years.

In the opening 10 minutes, the Bucks, who upset their Modern Era record 10th pro teams last round against Indy Eleven (NPSL), did not look like an amateur team against their professional opposition. They held their own and created a few shots toward goal but neither threatened goalkeeper Devala Gorrick.

The Bucks have been known for their defense after back-to-back 1-0 shutouts in the opening two rounds, but it was two mistakes at the backline that led to a pair of Saint Louis goals.

In the 13th minute, Saint Louis collected the ball at midfield and with two quick passes the ball was in the back of the net. Mats Bjurman received the ball, turned and played a crisp pass into the path of Sebastian Dalgaard who entered the right side of the penalty area with plenty of space to shoot. He cut back inside to free himself up and fired a shot past Bucks goalkeeper Drew Shepherd.

Three minutes later, a Bucks defender attempted to head the ball from the top of the ‘D’ back to Shepherd who had come off his line. Unfortunately for the home team, the header didn’t have enough force on it and Dalgaard broke in and beat the defender and Shepherd to the ball and put the ball into the empty net. Saint Louis took control of the game as they peppered Shepherd’s goal with shots. Defender Ryan Howe’s attempt from distance in the 20th minute forced a diving save from Shepherd. Six minutes later, Denis Ahmetovic stole the ball from a Bucks defender and forced another tough save. But the defending PDL champions weren’t finished. In the 28th minute, Midfielder Tom Owens ripped a 25-yard shot that nearly beat the keeper but Gorrick made an acrobatic save to his right to preserve the clean sheet. Both teams created chances in the final 15 minutes of the half but the best chance came from Saint Louis in the 44th minute. A long ball was played up to Jose Angulo which drew attention from the Bucks backline. Shepherd came off his line to try to punch it away, but he failed as the bodies came together in the air. Angulo managed to recover the ball and find enough space to target the empty net, but in his best save of the night, Shepherd pulled off a kick save at the top of the box to keep the score at 2-0 heading into the break. At halftime, the Bucks honored their long-time trainer Tom Ford who was recently diagnosed with ALS (Donate to his GoFundMe page here). After the ceremony, the second half began with an early candidate for Goal of the Tournament. Shepherd punted the ball forward and after the ball took an artificial turf-aided bounce, it fell to Atuahene who turned and volleyed the ball out of the air past Gorrick to cut the lead in half 27 seconds into the second half. It was the second goal of the tournament for Atuahene, who scored the lone goal in the Bucks’ 1-0 win over Indy Eleven in Round 2.

The assist by Shepherd was just the 10th goalkeeper assist of the Modern Era (1995-present), and the second by a Bucks netminder. The last to do it was the first to do it. In the Second Round of the 2001 US Open Cup, current Oakland University men’s soccer head coach Eric Pogue, who coincidentally was in attendance to honor Tom Ford, assisted on Paul Snape’s goal in a 7-1 loss to the New England Revolution.

Two minutes later, Saint Louis responded by playing a dangerous ball into the box, but the Bucks defense cleared the ball off the line.

In the 67th minute, the Bucks poured on the pressure looking for an equalizer. A free kick was sent into the penalty area on the right side to defender Daniel Mukuna who pushed up into the attack. Mukuna found space to fire a shot that was punched away by Gorrick.

A minute later, a searching through ball was sent down the right wing and Atuahene surprised the Saint Louis goalkeeper by using his blazing speed to beat him to the ball. With Gorrick off his line, he held his ground and cut off the angle as much as he could and made the save. On the ensuing corner kick, Atuahene got his head to the cross but it harmlessly fell into the goalkeeper’s chest.

Michigan continued to press to the very end. The best chance in the final minutes was in the 88th minute when a free kick was taken near midfield. Second half sub Austin Ricci left his feet to attempt a diving header at the far post and it was just out of reach.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Saint Louis FC’s rally spoils FC Wichita’s chance at rare upset

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Saint Louis FC logoSaint Louis FC punched its ticket to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after dispatching 10-man FC Wichita (NPSL), 4-3 after extra time, at the Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Kansas.

“The kids worked really hard for the team,” said St. Louis coach Preki. “They made it difficult for us. Anyone who comes here under these circumstances would have it hard.”

After seemingly handing his team defeat with a missed penalty kick at the beginning of second half stoppage time, Jose Angulo ultimately proved the visitors’ savior when he bagged his second goal of the game to make it 3-3 in the sixth minute of added time.

“Obviously, we came into a difficult place to play,” said Preki. “We were in a fight. We had so many chances in the first half, the second half and should have had some more goals.”

FC Wichita, representing the National Premier Soccer League, was seeking to become the second NPSL team in history to upset a professional team (Chattanooga FC remains the only team to do it). No NPSL team reached the Third Round, leaving the amateur league with a 1-40-3 (1-2 PKs) record against pro opposition. FC Wichita becomes just the seventh club to take a pro team to extra time.0-6-1 (0-1 PKs)

FC Wichita couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match. After receiving a square pass on a two-on-one break, Gordon Gurson was cut down in the box by St. Louis goalkeeper Devala Gorrick, receiving a yellow card in the process. Wichita captain Leo Sosa calmly stepped up to the spot, smashing the kick home in the top left corner to give Wichita a quick 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

The visitors thought they had found the answer in the 21st minute, but Mark Weir proved equal to Milan Petrosevic’s low effort. The ensuing corner led to nothing.

However, St. Louis found better luck on their second corner of the match, which was earned after Matt Sheldon’s cross was cut out by the Wichita defense in the six-yard box. Petrosevic whipped in the corner and A.J. Cochran pounced on the ball to level the score in the 33rd minute.

Despite a few attacking forays by Wichita in the final moments of the opening stanza, the score would remain 1-1 in what proved to be a physical midfield battle.

An explosive second half made up for the drudgery in the first half. Pouncing on a rebound from Leonardo Catarina, Gurson reclaimed the goal advantage for Wichita in the 62nd minute. St. Louis again fought back, with Angulo levelling the match off a corner served in by Denis Ahmetovic in the 71st minute. Wichita’s Deri Corfe then unleashed a cannon from 25 yards out that bested Gorrick in the 81st minute for the apparent match-winner.

With St. Louis pressing forward in the dying minutes, Colton Haskin drew a straight red to preserve the victory when he swatted a slow-rolling St. Louis shot off the goal line. That set up the dramatic conclusion to the second half of play. Angulo quickly went from scapegoat to hero in the span of five minutes, missing the PK before heading home a cross, and regulation time ended level at 3-3.

Facing 30 more minutes and a enjoying a man advantage, it didn’t take for St. Louis to capitalize in the first extra time period. A cross sent in by Ryan Howe found Tyler David, who put it past Weir for St. Louis’ first lead of the match in the 96th minute. Wichita saw several good chances parried away as extra time marched on, but it wouldn’t be enough as the NPSL side bowed out to the professionals from St. Louis.

As a result of the win, St. Louis will head to Pontiac, Mich. to face the Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League on May 31 at 7:30 p.m. EDT in the U.S. Open Cup Third Round. The winner will play the Chicago Fire (MLS) in Round 4.

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Minnesota United avenge last year’s loss, defeat Saint Louis FC 2-0

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Minnesota United and Saint Louis FC square off in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Henry Hauck | HHFooty.com
Minnesota United and Saint Louis FC square off in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Henry Hauck | HHFooty.com

The Third Round of US Open Cup play came to Saint Louis for the second year in a row in a repeat matchup between Saint Louis FC and Minnesota United FC. The two sides played their style of soccer for two thirds of the match without scoring, but it was Minnesota United that made the least mistakes down the stretch and scored a pair of late goals to avenge last year’s loss with a 2-0 win.

The first half came and went with a few dangerous looks from each team, but in different ways. Minnesota, who was upset in last year’s matchup in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw, kept the ball on the ground while Saint Louis typically sent the ball through the air.

The physical contest got a little more heated in the second half as both teams attempted to gain an edge. This brought a sleuth of fouls drawing many a “boo” from the home crowd.

However, said fouls cannot be directly blamed for the goal that came in the 68th minute. Fullback Parker Maher was dispossessed by Kevin Venegas in the midfield with a timely defensive press. Christian Ramirez found Venegas, who immediately bolted for the goal, where he was able to put in a calm and collected goal past the charging goalkeeper, Mark Pais.

Saint Louis coach, Dale Schilly, continued to bring on impact subs to try and make up the difference. He officially went all-in on the attack when striker Vince Cicciarrelli came in for fullback Richard Dixon in the 78th minute. Saint Louis dominated the game from this point on with many corners after well-thwarted attempts on goal. Unfortunately for them, it was the attack that was St. Louis’ undoing.

Minnesota’s new signing, Jack Blake, was able to capitalize on a counterattack, which was very effective as St. Louis was very dedicated to the attack at this point. Danny Cruz made a great run down the wing to the goal line and sent the ball across on the ground to the aforementioned Blake who was on a late run. And that’s how the previous year’s upset was redeemed.

Minnesota United FC gets a chance at an upset of their own when they face Sporting Kansas City at home on June 15. United will attempt to do something they have only done once before: defeat a pro team. The only professional team they have beaten, as well as the only time the club has won multiple games in a single US Open Cup, was in 2012 when they won their second game of the tournament on the road against Real Salt Lake.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Saint Louis FC hold off well-traveled AFC Cleveland, 2-0

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st-louis-fc-logoThe Second Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup brought well-traveled first round winner, AFC Cleveland, to Saint Louis, Missouri. There they met their end of their first trip to the Open Cup, falling 2-0 to the USL’s Saint Louis FC.

Cleveland had to defeat fellow National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) side, GPS Maine, in Maine, to get there, and they outscored them 1-0. The long trip paid off. However, they had their home opener three days later and then had to travel down to St. Louis four days after that. It was quite the trek.

AFC Cleveland President, Terry Lawriw, said ahead of the match, “The US Open Cup is very special to us as this is our first year qualifying.”

AFC Cleveland is in their fifth year of existence, but despite making the playoffs three of those years, this was their first trip to the competition (they qualified in 2013 but declined the invite due to player availability). Being a USL side, Saint Louis FC automatically qualified for the second year in a row after ousting the Des Moines Menace (PDL) and Minnesota United FC (NASL) last year before falling to eventual champion Sporting Kansas City, 1-0.

The second round action this year opened up with many long balls being sent down to the final third by St. Louis, especially down the right side. Many crosses were made from there, but were either cleared out or shot off target. Goalkeeper Anthony Flowers distinguished himself in many of these thwarted attacks. AFC Cleveland was able to counter these long balls several times. A few dangerous runs were made with Antonio Manfut and Vinny Bell looking the most dangerous.

The first truly distinguishing play came in the 8th minute. Jamiel Hardware took a shot on goal that was deflected by a handball in the box by AFC Cleveland. James Musa lined up the penalty shot for St. Louis and it was saved by Flowers. Saint Louis was able to redeem themselves in the 21st minute when Kentaro Takada sent a thru ball into the box to assist Jamiel Hardware’s chip over the goalkeeper.

It was around this time that Cleveland decided to start bunkering up a little bit more and St. Louis was able to retain much of the possession for the rest of the game. St. Louis took many chances, but none of their shots reached pay dirt until the 76th minute. Jordan Roberts received a pass on a fast run from Seth Rudolph, both impact subs, where he was able to juke the defender on the left side with some fancy moves and send a perfectly angled shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. That concluded the scoring for the night.

St. Louis head coach Dale Schilly said the he was able to give some reserve players some valuable playing time against an amateur opponent.

“Some of them are wanting to prove that they deserve more time and more opportunity,” said Schilly. “It’s important that they take advantage of the opportunities when given them … and tonight was one of those opportunities.”

Saint Louis will have to use their depth more in the coming weeks as they look to continue their run in USL play and US Open Cup play. They look to repeat last year’s Third Round penalty kick win against Minnesota United FC June 14 while AFC Cleveland looks for a second invite to the Open Cup with a good start in NPSL competition. They are already 2-0 this season.

2015 US Open Cup Round 4: Sporting KC wins I-70 battle with Saint Louis FC thanks to Graham Zusi winner (video)

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Graham Zusi celebrates his go-ahead goal for Sporting KC against Saint Louis FC. Photo: Gary Rohman | Sporting KC
Graham Zusi celebrates his go-ahead goal for Sporting KC against Saint Louis FC. Photo: Gary Rohman | Sporting KC

UPDATE: The Round of 16 draw was conducted by the US Soccer Federation and it was determined that Sporting Kansas City will host FC Dallas in the next round.

The Interstate 70 rivalry was one for the books.

On a record night, a noisy home crowd pushed Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City to a 1-0 win over United Soccer League side Saint Louis FC.

Graham Zusi was the difference, as he and his United States Men’s National Team teammate Benny Feilhaber combined often in the attacking half. Any touch from either player was met with a loud roar from the Sporting Park crowd.

Those supporters were rewarded in the 70th minute.

Feilhaber took a pass from defender Saad Abdul-Salaam and found a streaking Zusi from the right wing. Zusi nodded in the lofted cross under Saint Louis goalkeeper Mark Pais’ right glove.

“We didn’t go away from our game plan,” Zusi said. “We were very patient. Saad recognized he didn’t have the numbers, so he pulled the back to Benny.

“It allowed more of us to get in the box and a better chance for one of us to get on the end of it.”

The game featured the hosts in attack-mode for all 90 minutes. Sporting, the 2004 and 2012 Open Cup champion, nearly opened the scoring in the first half, but Saint Louis’ Mike Ambersley made two goal-line saves to deny the hosts.

Zusi got on the end of cross from Amadou Dia in the penalty area, but Ambersley bested the USMNT veteran. The midfielder trekked back to the goal line to deny Zusi’s header with his foot, and then a rocket from Dom Dwyer smacked Ambersley’s knee.

“Bottom line: You’ve just got to win and move on in these types of situations,” Feilhaber said. “You knew it was going to happen.

“Obviously, they put a lot of guys behind the ball, it makes it tough.”

The announced crowd of 19,298 fans, mostly decked out in Sporting blue, was loud from start to finish. The attendance set a new fourth round-record for the Open Cup in the modern era.

The previous record of 15,981 fans was set by the same MLS side in 2013, when Sporting played its USL affiliate, Orlando City SC.

“It was our crowd,” Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes. “I think I heard something over in the corner a few times, but there were a few people over there.”

In the recent weeks, both teams had talked about a rivalry between the squads, which are located a mere three hours’ drive from each other. This was the first game between the two clubs, and some of the MLS players are interested in keeping the series going.

“If Saint Louis does eventually come to the league, it’ll be good for both organizations,” Feilhaber said. “I’ve never thought of Chicago as our rival. I think we have better rivals in the west.”

Sporting marches on in the 2015 Open Cup. Its opponent is still up in the air, as the draw for the fifth round will take place on June 18. Game has a set date for June 30 or July 1, at a venue yet to be determined.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: SAINT LOUIS FC AT SPORTING KC

2015 US Open Cup Round 3: Saint Louis FC stops Minnesota United in PKs to earn date with Sporting KC (video)

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st-louis-fc-logoThe magic of the U.S. Open Cup – anything is possible.

Despite a short turnaround from a league game on Sunday and going 120 minutes exactly one week ago, United Soccer League side St. Louis FC held on to advance in penalty kicks, 3-1 over Minnesota United FC after tying 1-1 through regulation and overtime.

The home team, in its inaugural season, now gets a shot at Major Soccer League side Sporting Kansas City in a battle of neighboring states.

The North American Soccer League’s Minnesota United, a recent winner of an MLS-bid, took the lead in the second half. Working the right wing, Ramirez smashed a curling effort off the far post. JC Banks finished off the rebound into the open net to give the visitors the lead.

Brian Gaul, who was sent off in the 118th minute after a clash with Brent Kallman, made his mark on the game in the 80th minute. His penalty kick — set up by a clattering slide tackle from Tyler Polak — hit the right side netting to equalize.

“I think tonight was our best performance of the season in terms of keeping the other team away from the goal and disrupting their rhythm,” St. Louis FC coach Dale Schilly said.

The shootout was held on the end nearest the home support group. Minnesota, shooting first, had Daniel Mendes’s penalty saved by St. Louis FC goalkeeper Mark Pais, followed by Ibson putting his effort over the bar.

“I just calmed myself and tried to remove all the distractions,” Pais said. “I waited until the very last second, and when I saw him open up his hips. It was in my range, and I could push it past the post.”

Miguel Ibarra put his effort in the back of the net, and his partner-in-crime Ramirez finished off the dismal shootout with his effort off the post. Ramirez’s shot sprayed out in the opposite direction, and Pais was mobbed instantly by teammates and fans in the corner.

St. Louis’ Brandon Barklage, Patrick Doody and Oskar Gasecki each put their shots in the bottom right corner to take a 3-1 lead before Ramirez’s attempt.

Gaul will miss his side’s game on June 16, when St. Louis FC crosses state lines to take on Sporting Kansas City in Kansas City, Kan.

Sporting Park has hosted the two teams St. Louis FC beat to earn the trip to the MLS stadium. The Des Moines Menace, which St. Louis beat in extra time last Wednesday, and Minnesota United, both fell to Sporting Kansas City by 2-0 scorelines in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

St. Louis FC ends a five-game home stint with its game Saturday at Louisville City FC, getting back into action before the Open Cup fourth round match. Minneosta will try to rebound with a win over league-leading New York Cosmos back in the NASL.

REPLAY: Minnesota United at Saint Louis FC

2015 US Open Cup Round 2: Saint Louis FC wins tournament debut in overtime, 2-1 over Des Moines Menace

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st-louis-fc-logoThe US Open Cup has come back to Saint Louis.

Needing extra time, USL side Saint Louis FC finished off the defending Premier Development League regular-season champion Des Moines Menace, 2-1, to set up a Third Round date with North American Soccer League power, Minnesota United FC.

Saint Louis capitalized on a man advantage in the first half of extra time, when Jermie Lynch cleaned up a mishandled collection from Paul Blanchette. A cross from Parker Maher caromed off the crossbar and back into play. Before Blanchette could collect, Lynch nodded home the loose ball. Chaos ensued on the celebration, with the Saint Louis squad being mobbed by the home support group, the St. Louigans.

Des Moines, despite being down a man and a goal, equalized through a Chris Hellmann penalty kick in the 87th minute. Goalkeeper Mark Pais guessed incorrectly, diving to the shooter’s right. Vincent Cicciarelli drew the penalty kick after working the touch line and being tackled in front of the net.

The home side got on the board midway through the second half. Brian Gaul poked home a breakaway ball from Maher in the 68th minute. His chip over Blanchette bounced once and rolled the rest of the way home.

Immediately after the opening goal, Saint Louis had nearly doubled the lead with another breakaway attempt. Gaul received a long ball behind the back line, only to be bucked back by Blanchette’s left hand.

“I think we just need to take this for what it is,” Gaul said. “It was a tough game, but we got the win.”

This was the first Open Cup game played by a St. Louis team since 2010. The First Round game, as it was, featured the Menace and AC St. Louis of the short-lived USSF Division 2. One of tonight’s subs, Mike Ambersley, was the lone goalscorer in the 2010 game. The team folded after the 2010 season.

Des Moines was running out of the gates, spurring eight shots and forcing Menace alum Mark Pais into two saves. The halftime break allowed Saint Louis to get a foothold, and the pro side came out swinging.

“I wasn’t surprised with how well they came out,” Gaul said. “They’re a PDL side, a bunch of college kids. There’s some future pros in there.”

A year ago, Des Moines bowed out in the Third Round to Minnesota United FC. A late goal from Cristian Ramirez propelled the North American Soccer League team. The Loons, 3-3-0 in the Open Cup, were ousted in the Fourth Round to Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City.

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