It was an unseasonably warm evening for mid-March in Phoenix, but 2,274 Rising fans came out to support their club. Phoenix showed their skill as professionals, but amateurs San Ramon FC were not going to be pushovers, and in fact, pushed back a bit in a 4-0 loss in Round 1 of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
San Ramon had a few half-chances in the first 15 minutes, but a great build up by Phoenix led to Hope Avayevu executing the slightest of right-footed touches from an Eziah Ramirez cross to slot home to open the scoring. His first goal in 2026. Phoenix picked up the pace and pressured the visitors hard after that. Marcelo Echevarria stood tall and had nearly all the answers to Phoenix’s questions.
After about 25 minutes San Ramon grew quickly into the game. Especially up the right side through Roberto Gonzalez and Jonathan Montoya-Castro.
Juan Carvajal, who was a thorn in the collective side of the visitor’s defense all evening, exposed a crack in the defense with a blistering shot that hit the rear stanchion in the 41st for a 1-0 lead.
The final five minutes of the half belonged to Phoenix. Carvajal again breached the back line and fired a low fizzing shot that was saved in the 43rd.
A dagger in the heart just seconds from the halftime whistle, Carvajal doubled the hosts lead in the second minute of stoppage time.
From a corner kick, San Ramon’s Victor Romero tried to clear but instead sent his clearance off the post and right back at Carvajal, who cleaned up the rebound from three yards out.
Some of the home faithful were less than thrilled at the (only) two goal lead.
“One slip-up and it’s a game again”, one fan said.
The second half exacerbated that feeling. Four blocked shots and a couple of saves kept the score at 2-nil for the next 45 minutes until the 90th minute when Aleksandar Vucovic headed from the center of the box to the bottom left from an Ihsan Sacko assist from a corner, to finally put this one out of reach.
For good measure – a 4-0 advantage, and a bit of history — Anthony Capetillo Hernandez became the youngest ever goal scorer (16 years, 142 days) for Phoenix Rising with his right footed strike in 90’+4. His first goal in 136 minutes of play for the team.
“Cup games are always different and beautiful,” said Phoenix coach Pa-Modou Kah. “We played a San Ramon team that also played well. You’ve got to give them credit.
“They came here, they had nothing to lose, so they just went and played freely. That’s why the Cup is beautiful.”
The win sends Phoenix to the second round to be held March 31-April 1. Their opponent will be determined after a Round 2 Draw conducted by US Soccer on Friday, March 20. This is the fifth year in a row Phoenx Rising has won their first Open Cup match.
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