Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Tim Melia

2024 US Open Cup Semifinals: Tim Melia of Sporting KC voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

by

tim melia sporting kansas city
Photo by Sporting Kansas City | Graphic by Phil Naegely

After a stellar performance where he made four saves on his way to a clean sheet and a spot in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final, Tim Melia of Sporting Kansas City has been voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel of from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers from TheCup.us’ Patreon. Anyone interested in voting for this award in future rounds may consider pledging $10 or more and help us with the continuing coverage of the US Open Cup and research on the tournament’s storied history. 

Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC finished as the runner-up with his game winning goal from the penalty spot on the road against the Seattle Sounders FC, and Melia’s Sporting KC teammate and goalscorer Johnny Russell finished third.

Melia’s four saves against USL side Indy Eleven came spread out as it seemed every time they had possession, they pushed forward quickly to try and test the 38-year-old. 

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP
Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

Melia now has two straight games with at least four saves, the other match being against FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals where he made seven saves including a late diving save in the 122nd minute on a close range Sebastian Llegget shot that would have been the equalizer.

TheCup.us has been awarding a Player of the Round award since 2006. During that time, Melia has won the award three times, which is more than anyone during that span. Melia has won this award two times (2015 Final, 2017 Final) during his time at Sporting KC, and once as a member of the Charleston Battery in 2010.

In addition, he also won TheCup.us Player of the Tournament in 2017 where he led his club to their fourth US Open Cup title where they defeated New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the Final. He kept three shutouts en route to the title, only allowing two goals in five matches.

Melia’s road to this stage has been arduous. Before arriving at Sporting KC in 2015 he served as Chivas USA’s backup keeper in 2013. During his time there, he made six appearances where he conceded 11 goals. But when Chivas USA dissolved in 2014, he ended up in the MLS goalkeeper pool, which seemed like a black hole for someone at the age of 28. But in 2015, Sporting KC had a goalkeeper sized hole as all three of their first team keepers were hurt, and Melia took the opportunity as quick as he could and proved he still had it. He went on to win 2015 MLS Comeback Player of the Year along with two US Open Cup titles in 2015 and 2017, along with the latter years MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.

He looks to help bring home Sporting KC’s fifth US Open Cup title on Wednesday September 25 when he faces LAFC in the final, where he will possibly play his last final for the club he spent the majority of his career at.

 

2010 US Open Cup Third Round: Tim Melia of the Charleston Battery is Player of the Round

by

The third round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup featured eight low scoring, defensive battles with only two teams pulling off upsets of Major League Soccer clubs. With that being the case, it was no surprise that it was a goalkeeper that was named TheCup.us Player of the Round. Tim Melia’s performance in net for the Charleston Battery in their upset of the Chicago Fire in round 3 was enough to get the votes for the award.

Tim Melia goes up for the ball against the Chicago Fire’s Patrick Nyarko. Photo: Brian Kersey | Chicago Fire

The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters (www.soccerreporters.com).

Melia, who is on loan from Real Salt Lake of MLS, made 8 saves and kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes against the Fire, who were playing in front of their home fans at Toyota Park. After a scoreless draw through extra time, Melia saved Krzysztov Krol’s attempt in the penalty kick shootout while Brian McBride and Wilman Conde missed their attempts and the Battery moved on to the quarterfinals 3-0.

Melia received the vast majority of the votes, while Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who shut out the New York Red Bulls in a 1-0 extra time win, finished second.

The Battery will play their second straight road game at the Columbus Crew on July 6 in the quarterfinals.

2010 US Open Cup Third Round: Charleston advances in PKs as Chicago can’t find net

by

Tim Melia goes up for the ball against the Chicago Fire's Patrick Nyarko. Melia would be named TheCup.us Player of the Round for his eight-save performance against the Chicago Fire. Photo: Brian Kersey | Chicago Fire

After a scoreless two hours, the Chicago Fire’s scoreless woes continued as USL-2’s Charleston won the penalty shootout 3-0. Battery goalkeeper Tim Melia, on loan from MLS’s Real Salt Lake, was the star of the night, stopping all 8 of the Fire’s shots on goal, and adding a save in the shootout.

The Fire started several players not in the regular starting lineup, and the inexperience showed as Charleston dominated early play, Chicago only having one shot until 34′. Play was more even for the rest of the half, but neither team mounted any serious chances.

Chicago substituted two regulars to begin the second half, but still could not generate a goal, despite gaining an advantage over the Battery in play. The Fire got more chances in extra time, but Melia was equal to the challenge.

Melia would be up to the challenge in the penalty shootout, while things unravled for the Fire. Chicago captain Brian McBride, who subbed in at the beginning of extra time, kicked the first penalty shot well high of the goal, while the Battery’s Lamar Neagle was able to convert against Chicago keeper Sean Johnson. Melia saved Krzysztov Krol’s kick, while Mike Zaher converted, putting the Fire down to the Battery 2-0. With the pressure on Wilman Conde to get the Fire on the board, he couldn’t pull through and hit the crossbar. This gave Charleston’s Ian Fuller the opportunity to give his team their fourth straight trip to the Quarterfinals, and put it in the net to do just that.

Charleston will head north to play Columbus on July 6, attempting to make the Semifinals for the second time in three years.

SCORING:
none

PENALTY KICKS:
CHI (0)- McBride miss (high), Krol miss (save), Conde miss (off crossbar)
CHS (3)- Neagle goal, Zaher goal, Fuller goal

DISCIPLINE:
CHS- Armstrong 16′ (yellow, Reckless tackle)
CHI- Nyarko 48′ (yellow, Unsporting behavior)
CHI- Conde 70′ (yellow, Persistent infringement)
CHI- Watson-Siriboe 73′ (yellow, Reckless foul)
CHI- Pappa 88′ (yellow, Persistent infringement)
CHS- Zaher 90′ (yellow, Tactical foul)

LINEUPS:
Chicago: Sean Johnson (GK), Deris Umanzor, Krzystof Krol, Steven Kinney, Kwame Watson, Peter Lowry (Brian McBride – 90th), Marco Pappa, Logan Pause (Wilman Conde – 52nd), Corben Bone, Mike Banner (Patrick Nyarko – 45th), Stefan Dimitrov

Charleston: Tim Melia (GK), Yeniel Bermudez (Jon Gruenewald – 90th), Nigel Marples, John Wilson, Colin Falvey, Stephen Armstrong (Mike Zaher – 65th), Ian Fuller, Alioune Gueye, Rudolph Mayard, Tom Heinemann, Lamar Neagle

STATS:
Charleston: SHOTS: 10 (Mayard 5); SAVES: 8 (Melia 8); FOULS: 15 (Gueye 3); CORNER KICKS: 4; OFFSIDES: 1; PENALTY KICKS:(NONE); CAUTIONS: Armstrong 16, Zaher 90;

Chicago: SHOTS: 18 (Pappa 6); SAVES: 2 (Johnson 2); FOULS: 18 (Umanzor 4); CORNER KICKS: 6; OFFSIDES: 2; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Nyarko 48, Conde 70, Watson 73, Pappa 88;

2009 Third Round: Rhinos need PKs to knock out defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew

by

Marina Auto Stadium – Rochester, N.Y. | 7 p.m.
1
AET
 1
Rochester advances on PKs 5-3
Ty Harden 32’
       37’ Duncan Oughton
Penalty Kick Summary
Darren Kenton – GOAL      
GOAL – Emmanuel Ekpo
Mauricio Salles – GOAL       GOAL – Alejandro Moreno
Andrew Gregor – GOAL       SAVED – Duncan Oughton
Kenney Bertz – GOAL       GOAL – Jason Garey
Ryan Heins – GOAL        

It took an extra hour to kick off the game due to lightning, but it was worth the wait. The Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division defeated Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew 5-3 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw in regulation.

In the third all-time meeting (1-1-1) between the clubs in the US Open Cup, Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was tested early and often as the Rhinos bombarded him with shots in the first half. In the 32nd minute, Rochester would finally break through as Ty Harden, on a month-long loan from the Colorado Rapids, received a cross from Johnny Menyongar and put home the opening goal of the match. Just 5 minutes later, Columbus would respond. Veteran and New Zealand native Duncan Oughton put in a volley through two defenders and past Rhinos keeper Tim Melia to tie the game at one.

In the 55th minute, the Rhinos got a huge break as Ryan Heins was fouled in the box, earning a penalty kick for Rochester. Andrew Gregor took the kick, but Gruenebaum was up to the task and made the crucial save for Columbus. No one would break the tie through the rest of regulation and both extra time periods, sending the game into a penalty kick tiebreaker.

Rochester would make their first three penalty kicks, but then the Crew’s third wouldn’t end so well. Duncan Oughton’s shot was deflected, then recovered on the rebound, by Melia. Ryan Heins would go on to put home the winning goal for the Rhinos, who now move on to host the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division in the Quarterfinals.

2007 First Round: Rhinos make early goal stand up, beat Rough Riders 1-0

by

The Rhinos needed only one goal to defeat the PDL Long Island Rough Riders, and advance to the Second Round of the US Open Cup. For Long Island, it was their first appearance in the tournament since they moved down to the PDL from the Second Division.

Matthew Delicâte’s goal came in the 20th minute, heading in a cross from Stephen Shirley-Black.

The Rough Riders had two good opportunities to tie the game in the first half. A corner kick sent into the penalty area was headed on goal where Rhinos goalkeeper Chase Harrison was nowhere to be found, but midfielder Danny Kramer was there to save the day, at least momentarily. Just seconds later, Harrison made a point blank save from the left side of the 18 yard box which was one of his many great saves in the game. In the 40th minute, Harrison shined yet again. Rough Rider forward Mike Palacio launched a strong left foot from about 25 yards out but Harrison dove to his left to punch it away. One minute later, Palacio had another opportunity from 20 yards out, but Harrison was there again to keep it a 1-0 game.

While Matthew ’s goal in the 20th minute was enough for Rochester, it was Long Island goalkeeper Tim Melia vs. Johnny Menyongar in the second half. In the 64th minute, Melia stopped a 20 yard attempt from Menyongar off a touch pass from Delicâte. Three minutes later, the Rough Riders ’keeper dove to his left to stop a one-timer shot from the Liberian striker, leaving Menyongar in disbelief. Menyongar struck again three times in three minutes. In the 83rd,  Melia got in the way of a 20-yeard shot, in the 84th, Menyongar’s shot went wide, and in the 85th, Menyongar thought he finally beat his nemesis. Before he could celebrate, however, the linesman raised his flag to signal offside.

The loss extends Long Island’s Open Cup losing streak to four games, including games from their first tournament appearance in 1997 as a member of the A-League (losing 1-0 in extra time to the Metrostars), and as a Second Division team in the 2003 and 2005 competitions when they lost to the Mid-Michigan Bucks (PDL) and the Ocean City Barons (PDL).

Rochester returns to PAETEC Park on June 26 to host the Western Mass Pioneers in the Second Round.

Scoring
(ROCH) Matthew Delicate (Shirley-Black) 20′

Copyright © 2025 • Built by Jacob Martella Web Development