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Spokane Velocity FC

2026 US Open Cup Round 2: Colorado Springs Switchbacks control game, but need PKs to oust Spokane

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Apr 1, 2026; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC defender Talen Maples (24) celebrates his goal with forward Levonte Johnson (11) and midfielder Adrien Perez (10) against Spokane Velocity FC at Weidner Field. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

If you had told the Colorado Springs Switchbacks that it would take 120 minutes and penalty kicks to get past the Spokane Velocity, they might have suggested it was an April Fool’s joke. However, that’s what the USL Championship squad needed — a 4-2 win on PKs after a 1-1 draw against the USL League One side — to secure a ticket to the Round of 32 in the US Open Cup.

The night started ominously as dark clouds erupted in freezing rain 30 minutes before kickoff. While the skies cleared up at kickoff, the temperature stayed at a chilly 48 degrees, keeping the hundreds of Switchbacks fans stay bundled up for the remainder of the game.

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For Spokane, their temperature continued running cold, coming off a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of USL League One’s Charlotte Independence in league play. The USL Championship’s Switchbacks came in after losing to rival New Mexico United after surrendering the winning goal in injury time, falling 3-2. 

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Both teams hoped to warm things up in their first-ever meeting.
For most of the evening, the field was tilted in the Switchbacks favor, dominating 70% of the possession. Despite the dominance, it would take until the 45th minute for the home team to break through with a Talen Maples left-footed goal for a 1-0 lead. The Switchbacks smothering defense kept the Velocity out of their penalty box altogether in the first half, not allowing them an offensive touch.

For much of the second half the story remained the same. Spokane didn’t notch a shot on goal until forcing Switchbacks keeper Christian Herrera into a save in the 60th minute. However, their strategy of staying compact defensively frustrated the Switchbacks all night.

Things looked secure for the Switchbacks to advance until the 87th minute when Spokane received a free kick off of a Colorado Springs handball. Velocity midfielder Joe Gallardo placed the free kick perfectly to Andrew Booth, who headed it past an outstretched Herrera for the equalizer at 1-1. 

Despite a hurried remaining four minutes of injury time, neither team scored, and the game advanced into extra time.

Colorado Springs pressed the attack in a frenzy to begin the extra time, garnering 11 of their 28 shots on goal in the final 30 minutes. Despite the shots, none of them challenged Spokane keeper Sean Lewis with zero shot on frame. As the Velocity’s legs became heavier between the minutes played and the altitude, they appeared content to take the game to penalty kicks.

The Switchbacks chose to play to the goal in front of their supporters section, and the hundreds that remained after two hours of rain and cold rushed to join the Trailheads as the noise in Weidner Field went from near deafening to silence as Colorado Springs, Khori Bennett lined up for the opening shot. 

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC goalkeeper Christian Herrera makes a save in the PK shootout vs. Spokane Velocity in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC goalkeeper Christian Herrera makes a save in the PK shootout vs. Spokane Velocity in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Switchbacks FC

They erupted as he buried it into the back of the to start the session. Up next came Spokane’s Anuar Jose Pelaez, who attempted to slide it to his bottom left, only to be saved by Herrera. Adrien Perez scored next for the Switchbacks, and Herrera again made a save, this time against Simon Fitch. Maples failed to convert on his kick, bouncing it off the woodwork. Mark Hernandez gave the visitors hope, converting his kick, as the home side’s Yosuke Hanya likewise converted his shot. 

Former Switchback Andre Lewis gave his current squad hope by converting his shot, setting the scene for the Switchbacks to win with a successful penalty kick. Then, 21-year-old Sadam Masereka stepped up and buried his chance, sending the Championship side on to the next round, and the visitors home empty handed.

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: Joe Gallardo’s late PK sends Spokane Velocity past Ventura County Fusion

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Graphic by Frank Lanham

Spokane Velocity ground out a 2-1 victory over Ventura County Fusion in their U.S. Open Cup First Round affair on Wednesday night.

Playing at home in Ventura, the Fusion, an amateur side from USL League Two who qualified through the direct spots from league play, challenged their professional visitors deep into the second half before Spokane secured the win with a late penalty.

The Velocity found themselves travelling in the First Round for a 3rd consecutive year due to the unusual situation of their home stadium hosting MLS side Seattle Sounders’ CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg matchup. It was the Fusion’s 9th, and 2nd consecutive, Open Cup appearance, while Spokane were making their 3rd appearance. 

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Spokane controlled the game from the start, but it was Ventura County who had the first big chance of the game in the 15th minute as Ryan Guerra, a Fusion academy product making his first-team debut, made a phenomenal run in behind the Velocity defense before sending the ball just wide. 

Gagi Margvelashvili nearly headed the Velocity into the lead off a corner in the19th minute before his teammate Anuar Peláez Paba headed home his second career Open Cup goal just a minute later to open the scoring in the 20th minute. The Fusion defense were caught ball watching as the Velocity’s Shavon John-Brown headed former United States men’s national soccer team player and Open Cup goal-scorer Luis Gil’s cross back across goal to Peláez, who put the ball in the back of the net to give the away side the lead. Peláez’s goal was the culmination of a beautiful buildup series that began with John-Brown near midfield. 

Despite going down a goal, Ventura County continued to apply strong pressure throughout the rest of the first half and nearly got a goal back in the 26th as a Jorge Lopez free kick curled just outside the far post of the Spokane goal. Nonetheless, Peláez’s goal remained the difference at the halftime whistle.

The Fusion brought on Abubakar Fofanah at the start of the second half as they searched for an equaliser, and their strong pressure was rewarded with a point to the spot with just twelve minutes to go as Moses Mensah brought down Jackson D’Alessandro. The penalty call was not without controversy as the replay appeared to show that Mensah’s foul took place over a yard outside the penalty box, but regardless Fofanah, who played his college ball at nearby UC-Santa Barbara, stepped up and sent Velocity goalkeeper Sean Lewis the wrong way to level at 1-1.

Spokane were awarded a penalty of their own in the waning moments of regulation after Fusion goalkeeper Nicholas McCune got caught out on an in-swinging set piece and brought down Velocity defender Camron Miller. Joe Gallardo Jr. cleanly rolled his penalty into the bottom right corner to give Spokane the lead for a second time in the 89th minute.

Jorge Lopez had a golden opportunity to pull Ventura County level for a second time in stoppage time but his shot narrowly missed the mark.

Despite not registering a shot from open play through the entirety of the second half, Spokane did just enough to survive and clinch their place in the Second Round for a third consecutive year.

For Ventura County Fusion, the loss made some unfortunate history as their US Open Cup home winless streak reached six games, which breaks the Modern Era (1995-present) record. Their last home victory (PK wins officially count as draws) came in the First Round of the 2014 US Open Cup.

2025 US Open Cup Round 2: Tacoma Defiance holds off Spokane Velocity in OT to reach Round 3

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Edson Carli of the Tacoma Defiance dribbles the ball against the Spokane Velocity in the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Sandra Agbotse - Sounders FC Communications
Edson Carli of the Tacoma Defiance dribbles the ball against the Spokane Velocity in the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Sandra Agbotse – Sounders FC Communications

The Tacoma Defiance continued their march in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-1 extra time win over the Spokane Velocity in the Second Round on Wednesday night.

Kang Joon-Mo opened the scoring for Tacoma in front of their home fans at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. in the 3rd minute to give the MLS NEXT Pro side the early lead. Former MLS standout Luis Gil would tie the game in the 78th minute for visitors from USL League One. The game would remain tied into extra time when an own goal from Spokane would deliver the game-winner for Tacoma and send them into the Third Round for the first time since their inaugural Cup run in 2015.

Making the drive to Tukwila, Spokane would have their hands full against a fortified Tacoma Defiance squad. Spokane would have hoped to make tonight look more like their 4-0 victory against Greenville Triumph over the weekend. Luis Gil and Anuar Pelaez of Spokane both collected a brace in the March 29 league match, and earn starting spots to lead the charge in disrupting a Defiance cup run.

Tacoma Defiance approached the Velocity draw with only the Open Cup to focus on following their 3-1 dismantling of Washington Athletic Club in the opening round two weeks prior. The Defiance wouldn’t be without action in the interim, setting up a friendly with local UPSL juggernauts, Bellevue Athletic FC; sailing 5 goals past the semi-pro side in a 5-2 victory at Longacres Sports Complex. A precise, high-tempo structure runs deep through the Sounders’ organization playing philosophy; fans at Starfire Sports Complex were treated to just that on a brisk PNW evening.

Starfire Sports Complex has a special place in the hearts of soccer fans across the region. It has long hosted Open Cup matches for Tacoma Defiance’s parent club, Seattle Sounders FC. Sprawling fields surround the main stand, ahead of kickoff as fans filter in they were treated to a serenation of Over 60 men’s league matches, youth trainings, and the ever-active indoor league all in one. Wednesday’s game was the 30th US Open Cup match hosted at Starfire in the Modern Era (1995-present). Only three venues in the country have hosted more Open Cup games during that span.

Tacoma took the win on the coin flip and the ball got rolling at 7:04 p.m. local time. Spokane put on the pressure right away. Attempting to keep the ball moving and probe Tacoma’s midfield inside the first two minutes. A foul in the 2nd minute was conceded by Spokane off of an errant touch at midfield giving Tacoma possession in their attacking half for first time in the match. No time was wasted by the home side; they worked the ball back to Jacob Castro in goal who split a pass into the middle. Precise short passing allowed Tacoma to cut through the Spokane press allowing Travian Sousa to charge down the left wing. Sebastian Gomez pulled the Spokane full back into a half space with a parallel run into the box, receiving the through ball, cutting the ball back to Osouze De Rosario from the left-side end line where it was redirected on the first touch to Joonmo Kang waiting patiently on the far post to rifle Tacoma ahead in just a few ticks past two minutes. 1-0 Tacoma.

Tacoma’s energy was undeniable; taking advantage of a perceived weak point down Spokane’s right flank for the next 20 minutes. However, Tacoma was showing vulerabilities in the back. Tacoma goalkeeper Jacob Castro received a ball at the top of the D from his right side as Spokane’s Anuar Pelaez closed him down on his first touch. Castro only managed a short pass out but the pressure misplaced it onto Spokane’s Mark Hernandez Peneda’s left foot. His one-time chipped effort, to Spokane’s dismay, was entirely mis-hit and bounced out for a goal kick.

It would take another 10 minutes for Spokane to get a free kick opportunity just outside of the penalty area. Spokane’s Nil Vinyals whipped the attempt low to the right corner of the goal but Castro’s quick feet help him push the attempt onto his defenders’ head. On the popped up ball, Castro settled his feet to punch wide right but it fell to Spokane’s Bryce Meredith’s feet. Poking the ball back into the 6 yard box, Tacoma finally cleared the scramble to hold their advantage.

The efforts of Spokane to absorb pressure carried them to halftime without further incidents. Tacoma’s Cody Baker and Peter Kingston undoubtedly controlled the midfield and disrupted Spokane’s counter-attack phase after phase. Kingston going a step further to draw Spokane’s Bryce Meredith into a crunching tackle in the 40th minute; and a second consecutive Open Cup match to be booked inside the first half.

Second half action got underway after the break. With level heads, both teams seemed determined to play low-risk football. Tacoma opted to keep working the ball on the ground and methodically spreading the pitch to their advantage. In moments of possession for Spokane, they found success advancing the phase of play when Tacoma’s midfield was caught strong-side. Efforts toward goal were not nearly as successful however. 

The visiting side only needed a flash to bring the match level. While Tacoma had done brilliantly for 78 minutes keeping the tempo and momentum in their hands, Spokane’s patience paid dividends. Spokane’s Javier Martin Gil gathered the ball through build-up play at the right touchline just inside his own half. Tacoma’s Edson Carli was spotted sitting high thru the midfield by Javier; exposing the seam between Tacoma’s center back and Travian Sousa for Spokane’s Nil Vinyals to take advantage. Sousa was forced to step high and wide to man-mark Spokane’s Shavon John-Brown, albeit a late step. Chalking his heels on the right-side touchline, Javier found John-Brown’s feet who then slipped Vinyals down the line for a cross against a spread Tacoma back four. Instictually, Spokane’s Luis Gil darted across the front of the goal to put a deft-toe onto Vinyals’ cross and leveled the match at 1-1.

Spokane goalkeeper Ryan Bilichuk ended the night with no officially designated saves, but that shouldn’t reflect too much on the defensive fortune of Velocity. To close out regulation, Tacoma drove numbers forward and kept a high tempo in Spokane’s half to force a favorable result. In the 83rd minute, Carli hit a curled effort from the right side of the penalty area. It dipped into the crossbar, down onto the far post and back to the center of the 6 yard box; ultimately being headed wide. At the 90-minute mark, Tacoma’s Yu Tsukanome was left free 5 yards out on an ensuing cross from the left. The ball found his head but once again rung the crossbar and cleared out wide. 

Extra time began with an ominous change in weather. The whistle to restart was a sign for the heavens to open up. The pace of the game picked right back up where it left off with Tacoma on the front foot. Four minutes into extra time, Tacoma’s Sebastian Gomez separated from his mark to get on the end of a cross from the right side. Crossbar. Woodwork saved Spokane for the third time in 10 minutes of play. Tacoma’s pace and unrelenting pressure stoked Spokane into complacency; absorbing pressure and clearing balls deep for moments to catch their breath. 

Nine minutes into extra time, to the joy of the home crowd, Defiance Magic. Sebastian Gomez fenangeled his way into the penalty box from the left side. Staying composed, he played a firm ball on the ground across the box to the feet of Edson Carli. Carli beat his center back to the end line, creating space and firing a shot at Spokane GK Ryan Bilichuk. Carli’s shot is too square to be on target, but the outstreched leg of Bilichuk deflected the ball onto the knee of Spokane’s Marcelo Lage to roll over the line. 2-1 advantage Tacoma.

First half of extra time closed out, after the short intermission the game kicked off. Spokane had to throw numbers forward to have a chance to send the match to penalties. Tacoma dropped all 10 players behind the ball defending in a 6-3-1 and 5-5 to handle the pressure. Tacoma’s back line dealt with all the efforts until the 121st minute. Spokane won a throw near the left side corner and got it to the feet of Colin Fernandez. Fernandez hits a hopeful cross that got popped up in the air in the center of the penalty area. Anuar Pelaez, who scored the winner against Ballard FC in the dying minutes of Spokane’s Round 1 match, threw himself in the air at the dropping ball and connected with a bicycle kick. Fatefully, history wasn’t to repeat tonight – the kick lacked the power needed to trouble Jacob Castro in net. Castro collected the ball safely.

After the game, Tacoma goalkeeper Jacob Castro reflected on the victory and looked ahead to the next round.

“ot gonna, lie it was a bit scary in there… pushed our line back… sat and let them attack us. I would have liked to see us get a bit higher and… keep the ball,” said Castro about the challenge of keeping together, compact, and moving as a unit in the last phase of the game. “We like to keep the ball, we like to control the game.”

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: Spokane Velocity scores in final seconds of OT to edge Ballard FC

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Players from Spokane Velocity and Ballard FC (red) battle for the ball in a First Round match in the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Spokane Velocity FC
Players from Spokane Velocity and Ballard FC (red) battle for the ball in a First Round match in the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Spokane Velocity FC

Spokane Velocity made the trek across the Evergreen State Wednesday night for their second straight opening matchup against The Bridges of Ballard FC. These two sides have become familiar foes in the last two renditions of the Open Cup.

In the 2024 Open Cup First Round, Ballard FC found themselves in a deadlock through 97 minutes before Andre Lewis of Spokane dealt the final blow. Spokane took the result in stride, sneaking through to the USL League 1 playoffs only to lose out in the league Final vs Union Omaha 3-0 in their debut season; paired with an Open Cup exit in the Third Round against Las Vegas Lights in a 2-1 loss.

Ballard FC brought a roster bolstered with some of the best amateur players the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Former Seattle Sounders legend and Ballard Coach James Riley would face yet another test getting his squad up to speed in their toughest match of the season against the fully professional in-state foes.

Ballard would not be out of their depth in the slightest. Big-game pedigree runs in the Ballard veins coming off of a USL League 2 National Title in 2023, and 2024 Northwest Division Champions in their first two seasons. With excitement in the air for a 2024 Open Cup Round 1 rematch, late addition Kelyn Rowe, former Seattle Sounder and USMNT player, joined the ranks of Ballard’s midfield to bring the experience and stability of an experienced professional to hopefully turn the tide.

You couldn’t have asked for a better night of classic PNW soccer. Wind and rain would never stop the Ballard Faithful packing Interbay Stadium. The sellout crowd was mixed with Spokane’s traveling possie who hoped to see success following a weekend match and with eight new signings taking part in the game. 

The match kicked off at 7:36pm. Ballard approached the game with physicality and work rate at the forefront of their tactics. 

In the 11th minute the newfound rivalry showed its colors. Charlie Kosakoff stuck right in with a crunching tackle on Spokane Captain Colin Fernandez. Kelsey Harms under center as the night’s match official had her hands full moments later, in the 14th minute, she found herself managing a shove-scuffle with Spokane providing an equally bold sliding challenge that couldn’t feel any more retaliatory to Kosakoff’s antics just a few minutes prior.

It took 20 minutes until attacking football could shine through. Spokane had Ballard pinned in their defensive third, working the ball around from right to left before service was whipped into a busy penalty area. Unfortunately for Spokane, Ballard blocked several attempts ultimately clearing the box with a shoulder-ed deflection. Ballard goalkeeper Charles Lanphier easily scooped the deflected ball and found the counter down their right side indicating that until they could relieve the forward pressure of Spokane, this would be their main success to disrupt Spokane’s high position.

Spokane kept pressure on in the 24th Minute. Bryce Meredith got the positioning edge over Ballard captain Joseph Dale on the left flank. Reaching to stop the advance, Dale caught Meredith on a sliding challenge. Spokane kept possession so advantage was played, but it wouldn’t be long before the official returned to Dale to take his name down awarding a rightfully earned yellow card.

Ballard’s disruptive and aggressive challenges began to take a toll on Spokane. Spokane’s reliance on direct action played into Ballard’s hands. Previously victimized Bryce Meredith didn’t forgive the force shown against him minutes prior; and in the 28th minute chopped down Andre Philibbosian in a late tackle from behind after losing the ball at his feet.

The first half saw both sides level at 0-0. Aside from Spokane’s intermittent advances and Ballard’s hopeful counter-attacking runs, it remained a fairly uneventful first 45. 

The second half kicked off at 8:41pm, Ballard having the chance to close the match out attacking toward their standing supporters on the East–end of the stadium.

It was relatively quiet in the first quarter of an hour in the second half; however with the score in a deadlock and both teams antsy to find the net, the field began to open up giving the Ballard faithful all the more reason to will their club into an advantage. 

Ballard saw their countering pay off in the 65th minute. Davis Mungomba cut off a Spokane probing pass through the midfield. With Spokane caught spread out, he found Philibbosian on the counter with a ball, completely taking Spokane out of the defensive phase. Alex Mejia took a run across Spokane’s right back, settling the ball on his left foot at the top of the box and with a quick-snap strike forcing Spokane goalkeeper Ryan Bilichuk into a decisive save down to his left.

Spokane was woken right back up. Bilichuk’s save injected the confidence and momentum they needed to get back on the front foot. Wave after wave of testing crosses and advancements down the wing ensued from then on.

Even through the Spokane pressure, Ballard was adamantly refusing easy play in their defensive third. Ballard goalkeeper Lanphier was called on to punch a 70th minute cross clear through traffic, but as the clock neared 90 minutes it was destined to see extra time. The Bridgekeepers and the rest of the Ballard faithful would be treated to free soccer.

In the first half of extra time, Spokane connected down the right side of the pitch as Ballard gave away a questionable throw in. In the 100th minute Masango Akale was found through the center of the 18 yard box and taken down after a heavy touch put him out of reach to do anything more in the attack. 

The ensuing clearance allowed Ballard to work down their right side immediately. Alex Mejia beat the Spokane defenders on the end line after a failed clearance, serving a cutting ball across the 6 yd box. To the anguish of the Ballard Faithful, Mungomba scuffed the shot to relieve Spokane for the time being. 

It appeared both sides were content going to penalties. For the next 18 minutes, going into the 120th minute, threats toward goal didn’t amount to more than half-chances. 

Then, to the horror of Ballard, Spokane’s Nil Vinyals took advantage of a high-stepped Ballard midfield getting the ball to the feet of Neco Brett 30 yards out in the center of the pitch. With an easy turn to goal, Brett slipped a pass to Anuar Peláez sitting at the top of the penalty area – who fired toward goal. Ballard’s Harrison Bertos reached for the block, which took a nasty spinning deflection down into the turf and over Lanphier’s top hand.

1 – 0 to Spokane.

Ballard pushed back with seconds as a luxury. Throwing numbers forward. Desperation hanging in the air at Interbay Stadium.

In the 123rd minute, Ballard collected the ball in the middle of the field and into the path of Austin Brummett. Brummett had a window from 25 yards out, and smashed the ball toward the back post. Bilichuk used every inch of his wingspan and tipped away the ball just as it seemed to be dipping in for a sure-fire goal.

In a last gasp as the clock ticked into the 125th minute, Ballard’s Lanphier collected a recovered pass at the top of his box to distribute to Sean Sent in acres of space in the center-circle. With a driving run forward Sent picked out Nii Engmann with a driven ball onto his head, bypassing Spokane’s exhausted midfielders. Engmann’s deft flick forward found the overlapping run of Harrison Bertos. Bertos beat his defender, redirecting the ball in the back of the net! To Ballard’s dismay, the checkered flag shoots up for offside amid a chaotic, celebratory, Interbay Stadium. Heartbreak…

Following two hours of soccer, nail-biting late drama, and Bilichuk’s heroics, the victory was sealed for Spokane.

After the match Spokane’s netminder was “buzzing” with the result after celebrating the victory with the Velocity away supporters.

“It was a tough game, tough conditions, but we just grinded through the game. Props to the team for fighting through 120 minutes” said Ryan; ultimately highlighting the intensity and skill Ballard brought to Interbay Wednesday night. 

Once again, Ballard had come within a hair’s breadth of open cup glory. Once again, it was snatched away at the death by the Spokane Velocity. For Nii Engmann, the brother of Ballard FC veteran Christian Engmann, it was his first experience in what is becoming a macabre tradition for The Bridges.

“We brought it right from the start. came out with an energy that I don’t think was matched. At the end of the day the professionals had their say and even though it was a pretty fair game, sometimes the football gods are not on your side…”

“It’s a tough way to lose.”

 

2024 US Open Cup Round 3: Las Vegas Lights overcome stunning equalizer, beat Spokane Velocity in OT, 2-1

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Photo: Las Vegas Lights FC

Las Vegas Lights defeated Spokane Velocity FC 2-1 in a thrilling matchup for a spot in the Fourth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. 

The Lights had a dominant performance at their home Cashman Field with a total of 23 shots, with six on target, in comparison to visitors Velocity who only managed nine shots with two on target. The Lights would take the lead in the 51st minute with a beautiful right footed shot from Valentin Noel who slotted the ball past Velocity goalkeeper Peter Swinkels putting the Lights 1-0 up.

Just as the game seemed to be over for Velocity, Josh Dolling struck a rocket from outside the box, which despite Vegas goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena getting a hand to it, was not enough to keep it out as Velocity equalized 1-1.

However in the 113th minute of overtime, Riki Alba caught the ball on his left foot, placing it in the bottom left corner past Swinkels to seal the victory for Las Vegas.

After the victory, Lights player Solomon Asante spoke about how he felt after the victory.

“Fantastic you know?” said Asante. “I feel good. I feel so great. The Open Cup is never easy. It’s always difficult. So no matter what happens, the qualifiers are the most important and we are going forward and we are moving forward, that’s the most important thing.”.

In the 16th minute, Las Vegas Lights defender Valentin Noel received a yellow card after taking down Pierre Reedy as he headed towards goal for a Velocity freekick.

On the freekick, Ariel Mbumba shot it just high and wide of the goal.

Spokane’s Kimarni Smith broke away on a 1-v-1 in the 36th minute and attempted to play a ball across goal to one of his teammates, but it was cleared by the Lights defender Fabien Garcia for a corner kick.

On the corner kick, Velocity’s Jack Denton played a cross to Ahmed Longmire who headed the ball on target, however Lights defender Emra Klimenta cleared it away. 

Coming into the second half, J.C Ngando played a through ball to Riki Alba who struck the ball on goal but it was caught by Velocity goalkeeper Swinkels.

In the 51st minute, Solomon Asante was running down the right side and switched the ball to Noel who caught the ball on his right foot and slotted the ball in the bottom right corner past Swinkels putting the Lights 1-0 up.

In the 67th minute, Ngando played a ball from the right side across to Shawn Smart who struck a low ball with his right foot towards the center of goal, however it was caught by Swinkels.

In the last minute of the game, Velocity’s Josh Dolling played a ball to Andre Lewis who struck a rocket shot which Lights keeper Arozarena was able to get a hand to, however was not enough to keep it out as Velocity tied the game 1-1 for overtime.

In the 91st minute in overtime, Asante played a ball to Khori Bennett who unleashed a right footed low shot into the bottom left corner of goal, but was parried away by Swinkels who dove to the save.

In the 98th minute, Kilmenta gave the ball to Alba who struck a power shot at the right center of the goal but was caught by Swinkels.

In the 112th minute, Velocity’s Dolling ran down the field with the ball catching the Lights on the wrong foot, getting a one on one with the goalkeeper as he struck a ball to the bottom left corner, however Arozarena made a great extension dive to save the ball with his right hand.

In the 113th minute, Alba caught the ball with his left foot and sunk it into the bottom left corner putting the Lights 2-1 up.

And with Velocity unable to find the net again, The Las Vegas Lights secured their spot in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

After the game, Las Vegas Lights coach Dennis Sanchez, gave his thoughts on how the team will continue to build momentum from this victory.

“We just gotta keep going.” Sanchez said. “We want to be competitive. Our objective is to make the playoffs. We ultimately want to play as many games as we can throughout the season. That means we’re making a run in the playoffs, that means we’re making a run in Open Cup. So we’re just going to continue one game at a time. Build our identity. Build the winning culture that we want.”

This victory is history in the making for the Lights as it is the first time in their history that they have made it to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup.

“I think that any time we can continue to break barriers and build upon the identity and new era we’re having here, it’s a great opportunity for the club.” said Sanchez.

2024 US Open Cup Round 2: Luis Gil’s late goal sends Spokane Velocity past LA Force

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Luis Gil of Spokane Velocity celebrates his goal against LA Force FC in the Second Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Gerald Barnhart - InlandSoccerNews.com
Luis Gil of Spokane Velocity celebrates his goal against LA Force FC in the Second Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Gerald Barnhart – InlandSoccerNews.com

Spokane Velocity FC remains undefeated in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after the club’s second ever match in the tournament, as they took down the Los Angeles Force 1-0.

The lone score of the match was banged home by Velocity striker Luis Gil in the 85th minute of the contest. A wild first touch missile from midfielder Andre Lewis ricocheted off of LA Force goalkeeper Seth Torman and Gil quickly turned into Velocity’s “Johnny-on-the-spot”, sending the ball into the net. 

“It was a great start by Andre, forcing the keeper to make a save and I was right there,” said Gil. “I know that you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net no matter how so, that’s what’s gonna make us move on.”

This is Gil’s second goal of the season and his first in this year’s Open Cup. It was his second career goal in the tournament. His first came back in 2012 when he was a teenager with Real Salt Lake, scoring a goal in a 3-1 upset loss to the Minnesota Stars FC (NASL). Gil’s play outside of the game-winning score helped his team in a major way, as his team took control of the game from the LA Force. 

The Force seemed as though their gameplan revolved around hunkering down in the middle of the field and obstructing any path onto their third of the field. This created a slow tempo to the game, and only a single off-target shot from outside the box was recorded in the first 20 minutes of the game. 

“I think they wanted to be a little bit more aggressive defensively than they were,” explained Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “I think that we did a fantastic job with the ball and maintaining the ball, especially in the second half.”

The crowd watching the spectacle witnessed the game get physical at times, and were quick to cheer on or cheer against the referee’s calls. All 2,423 attendees did their best to aid the city’s newest professional sports organization, doing a splendid job according to Veidman.

“I’ll tell you something, a Wednesday night midweek game, regardless if it’s Open Cup or not, to have that many people here tonight was absolutely phenomenal,” said Veidman. The city showed up tonight and they are a massive reason why we pulled through that game and found a way to win. The fans are the heartbeat of every single football club.”

It was the first US Open Cup game for the city of Spokane since 2004 when the Spokane Shadow of the PDL (now USL League Two) dropped a first round game to the Sacramento Knights (USASA/NPSL).

The LA Force struggled to get going offensively, but keeping the Velocity off of the scoreboard for 85 minutes was a difficult task. Their chippy defensive prowess led to a couple of chances with the ball reaching deep into Velocity territory, but the club was only able to register a single shot on target throughout the match. 

Velocity goalkeeper Peter Swinkels has yet to be scored on in his two starts during the Open Cup, and came away with one save. On the other side, Seth Torman of the Force recorded three saves.

Spokane Velocity return to league play on April 14 as they take on Lexington SC before their Third Round matchup when they travel to take on the Las Vegas Lights (USL Championship) on April 17.

2024 US Open Cup Round 1: Spokane Velocity’s stoppage time winner stuns Ballard FC crowd

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Players from Spokane Velocity (right) and Ballard FC battle for the ball in a First Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Blake Dahlin
Players from Spokane Velocity (right) and Ballard FC battle for the ball in a First Round match in the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Blake Dahlin

Spokane Velocity were victorious in their first-ever match in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and they did it in dramatic fashion. Andre Lewis scored the game’s only goal deep into second half stoppage time to give the USL League One expansion team a 1-0 win over Ballard FC, the reigning champions of USL League Two.

“That was a real Open Cup game. Let’s just say it was a difficult environment with the fans they had here and a difficult surface to play on,” said Spokane head coach Leigh Veidman. “Really scrappy, really direct, big game about duels and defending and ultimately, just finding a way to win. And that’s what we did tonight.”

The game was played at Memorial Stadium in Seattle in front of nearly 2,500 fans. It was just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that the venue has hosted a US Open Cup game. The first involved a team from Spokane when in 1999 the Seattle Sounders’ USL team defeated the PDL’s Spokane Shadow 3-1.

In the opening 30 minutes of the game, Ballard FC, the amateur side, appeared to be the favorite with backheel flicks, bombing runs, give-and-goes and twice as many shots gave the home crowd a lot to be excited about. Despite having the early momentum, neither team was able to find the back of the net. Both teams made two substitutions around the 60th minute, but the changes in tactics didn’t break the deadlock.

For most of the game Spokane couldn’t get out of their own half except for a few breakaways. When they did, it would be on the opposite side of the pitch from Khai Briscoe who, playing as an inverted wing back for Ballard, saw a lot of the ball and kept a lot of Spokane’s attack at bay.

The match appeared headed to extra time but referee announced there was at least four minutes of stoppage time left in regulation. Additional stoppages led to even more time to be added and Spokane needed every second. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, the Velocity received a throw in from the right wing deep in Ballard FC territory. The long throw came made its way to the penalty area and found the head of a player inside the six and skipped out toward the top of the box where Smith ran onto it and volleyed it into the back of the net.

The game-winning goal silenced an otherwise enthusiastic home crowd and sent Spokane into the Second Round, which is scheduled for the week of April 2-3.

With the win, the Spokane Velocity become the first professional team from Spokane to win a US Open Cup game, and are the first team of any level to win a game since 1999 when the Spokane Shadow (PDL, now USL League Two) beat the Chico Rooks of the D-3 Pro League in the opening round.

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