USASA

2018 Meet the Underdogs: NTX Rayados preps for record 7th straight US Open Cup run

April 25, 2018 by Adam Uthe

NTX Rayados pose for a team photo in 2018. Photo: Tito Salas

Deep in the heart of (Dallas) Texas, you’ll find one of the best kept secrets in American soccer.

NTX Rayados find themselves back in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the seventh year in a row, the longest streak of any open division local entry in the Modern Era (1995-present). While they have qualified for the last seven tournaments, they have only participated in six of them. A 2016 disqualification, which was handed down the night before their first round game, is the only interruption of their record streak.

Their success is no secret to fans of the Open Cup, but the details of the team’s approach to the Open Cup may surprise some.

Tito Salas helped found NTX Rayados in 2011 and the following spring in 2012, he and his squad got their first taste of what it’s like for an amateur team to play in the US Open Cup.

“Back in 2012, we learned so much from that experience,” said Salas.

Back then, Salas had recently graduated college and was just looking for a way to continue playing competitively. You might think a former college soccer player would bring that competitive fire with him to his new team and institute mandatory practices to work on tactics and mold the best possible team. After all, the tournament is serious business for amateur teams now that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is increasing prize money and revamping its travel expense policy to help amateur sides get to away games that require expensive, long distance travel arrangements.

NTX Rayados in the US Open Cup
2012 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
2013 Round 1: Loss, 3-0 at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 2: Draw, 4-4 (4-2 PK win) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
2014 Round 3: Loss, 4-2 at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
2015 Round 1: Draw, 0-0 (4-2 PK loss) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
2016 Round 1: Forfeit loss (DQ’d due to not participating in league play)
2017 Round 1: Loss, 3-1 at Dutch Lions FC (NPSL)
2018 Round 1: Home vs. Fort Worth Vaqueros (NPSL) – May 9

But Salas, who is married with two kids and works full time as an assistant principal in the Dallas Independent School District, takes a very pragmatic approach to organizing his team ahead of the Open Cup every year.

“We don’t practice,” Salas reveals. “We just can’t. We’re with our families, we have jobs. We’ll be lucky if we can have five players get together. Our practices consist of league games on Sunday.”

For NTX Rayados, they have only managed to play five league games in the spring season of the North Texas Premier Soccer Association due to a variety of weather-related postponements. As of now, they are 4-1-0 and sit in second place. Despite playing fewer league games than he would like, Salas is still optimistic about his team’s preparation for the US Open Cup.

“We still feel good about it,” he said. “These next couple weeks we plan on having a couple mandatory scrimmages.”

Not all of the players on his squad work full-time to support their families, but they still have their own difficulties getting together with the team. Seven players on the roster, all of whom grew up in the area, are currently away from Dallas at college. But they all want to answer the call of the Open Cup for Rayados.

“For things like the Open Cup, they will make the effort to come back and play,” said Salas.

Salas wouldn’t have it any other way either. He doesn’t believe Rayados exist to fight for glory in the Open Cup. His ultimate goal is for players who spend time with the team to go on to college and make a better life for themselves. He’s dedicated to helping them in any way possible.

“This is kind of the norm: you come here, you play here during the summer … but we expect you to move on and play in college. That’s something that I really am proud of,” said Salas. “Whenever you move on, let me know how I can help you.”

It’s the same for Salas year in and year out. He is willing to let his roster turn over every year, even if it’s detrimental to the team; though there’s no evidence that’s actually the case. In fact, if you pressed him, he might tell you that ends up benefiting the team in the long run.

“We take the positives out of everything,” he said. “We lose (players) for good reasons. We’re known, we’re pretty well known.”

Salas does sometimes wonder what his team might be capable of if they had a dedicated practice facility and used it to try and take the team to the next level. But he still maintains everything Rayados do is about more than just winning and advancing in the tournament. His expectations for the tournament are just as pragmatic as his approach to the team’s ultimate purpose.

“I’m satisfied with the guys going out and giving it their best. My expectation is for us to go out there and give everyone a good night of soccer, whether they’re there for us or not.”, he states, without skipping a beat.

All of that said, Salas still has a roster stacked with local, homegrown talent and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the team to make a run in this year’s tournament.

Up front, Salas has a variety of options to help supply the goals. Veteran forward Alberto Rodriguez grew up with Salas and has been with the team since 2011. Salas also expects big things from forward Mohamed Sesay.

“(It’s the) first time he’ll see Open Cup action, but he’s played with us. We’re going to be relying on him a lot as well.”

There’s also midfielder Christian Okeke, who supplied the 85th minute game-winner in the team’s final qualifying match against CD Motagua New Orleans. Even center back Javan Goncalves-Toledo scored a spectacular overhead kick in the team’s qualifying victory over Celtic Cowboys Premier.

NTX Rayados will open their 2018 tournament run on May 9 when they will host a game for the first time. They will face off with first-time entry Fort Worth Vaqueros of the National Premier Soccer League at Richland Community College (Field No. 10) in Dallas.

No amateur team can boast an Open Cup qualification record to match Rayados’ these past seven years, but they are still missing a signature win in the tournament itself. In fact, technically speaking, they are missing a win. Their lone trip to the Second Round occurred in 2014 when they defeated the PDL’s Austin Aztex in a penalty kick shootout after a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Cal FC’s 2012 victory over the Portland Timbers (MLS) is etched into Open Cup history, La Maquina FC took the Los Angeles Galaxy to extra time in 2016 and Baltimore’s Christos FC made national headlines last year for their valiant effort against D.C. United. All three of those teams pulled off their magical Open Cup run in their first trip to the tournament. Sometimes, in the Open Cup, the ball just needs to bounce your way.

Tito Salas’ priorities may lie in accomplishments off the field, but perhaps this is the year his Rayados can get over the hump and bring their story into the national spotlight.

2017 US Open Cup qualifying: Brick Lions rally with five straight goals to overcome VE on the road

September 11, 2016 by Michael Berton

Kris Olsen-Barr (pictured) scored two of the Brick Lions' five straight goals to overtake VE, 5-2. Photo: Kari Berton — Kris Olsen-Barr (pictured) scored two of the Brick Lions’ five straight goals to overtake VE, 5-2. Photo: Kari Berton

New Jersey’s Brick Lions FC overcame oppressive heat and an early two-goal deficit to defeat their Philadelphia-area hosts Vereinigung Erzgebirge 5-2 in the first round of 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament on Saturday.

Brick Lions earned the win in its first Open Cup qualifying appearance, but several members of the organization had been part of the process before. Manager Michael McCullion helped run the Jersey Shore Boca, which reached the second round of qualifying last year and qualified for the US Open Cup in 2012.

The temperature at kickoff was well over 90 degrees, but that paled in comparison to Vereinigung Erzgebirge’s (VE) start. Just 30 seconds in, Anthony Bafile found himself with the ball and curled a shot from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner of the goal.

After some wide open play and multiple chances for each team, the hosts scored again. This time the ball was played to William McGuiness, who scored past the Brick Lions keeper into the bottom left corner.

Brick Lions FC pose for a team photo before their 2017 US Open Cup qualifier against Vereinigung Erzgebirge. Photo: Brick Lions FC

The visitors got one back less than ten minutes later. In the 33rd minute, Chris Katona put in a cross from the right. The VE keeper got a touch on it, but the ball went right to the Lions’ Kris Olsen-Barr, who calmly shot the ball into the net to cut the deficit in half.

The Garden State Soccer League members got another goal right before the half. A long ball was played to Thomas Gray, who sprinted roughly 25 yards before blasting the ball into the top right corner of the net, tying the game at two goals apiece.

“We were down but got a couple huge goals,” Brick Lions coach Costas Kaifas said. “After we got those goals, we were very confident. Our style is very open and attacking, so we weren’t afraid after going two goals down.”

Buoyed by a huge home crowd, VE, which was founded in 1931, came out strong in the second half. However, despite getting a slew of shots off, it would be the Brick Lions that would get on the board next. After VE cleared a corner kick in the 54th minute, a second cross went into the box. Chris Katona, who played for Stockton University, snuck his header in to give his team a 3-2 lead.

In the 64th minute, Gray got on the board again to give his team a 4-2 lead. Gray, who has played professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, stepped up to take a free kick from 20 yards out. He hit a beautiful curling shot that gave the VE keeper no chance.

“They are a really good team,” said VE’s long-time coach Rob Oldfield. “They had a couple great goals. That free kick goal was just icing on the cake.”

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Olsen-Barr wanted a second goal as well. In the 72nd minute, coming in from the left side of the field, he slipped the ball past the keeper into the bottom right of the net to give his team a fifth straight goal.

With the win, Brick Lions FC will host a second round qualifying match October 15 or 16. The opponent will be either Rising Stars or Junior Lone Star, both of which play in the Philadelphia Premier Soccer League. VE is still looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002, when they lost to the South Jersey Barons (now Ocean City Nor’easters) in the opening round.

Controversial goal fuels shorthanded LA Galaxy to 4-1 extra time win over La Maquina

June 15, 2016 by Dennis Pope

Dave Romney of the LA Galaxy celebrates his goal against La Maquina in the 2016 US Open Cup. Teammate Jose Villarreal is shown injured in the background. Photo: LA Galaxy

An early red card, a controversial goal in overtime, and a whole lot of questions after Tuesday night’s game at StubHub Center.

Chaos reigned but Dave Romney scored what proved to be the game-winner in the first overtime as Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) defeated Santa Ana (Calif.)-based La Maquina (UPSL), 4-1, in a 4th Round game.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said afterward.

Arena definitely was not happy that his team had to play more than 100 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Rafael Garcia was sent off for a horror tackle in the 17th minute.

“We shot ourselves in the foot there,” Arena said. “Not a smart way to play. I thought (the red card) was warranted.”

But the victory advances L.A. into the Round of 16 for the … Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament, which Galaxy won previously in 2001 and 2005.

“I think in games like this you are in for a surprise,” said Sebastian Lletget, who scored twice in overtime to seal the win.

Galaxy applied early pressure and earned three corner kicks in the first five minutes, as La Maquina’s defense survived on wits and luck for 15 minutes.

Alan Gordon missed out on a sure goal in the 10th minute, when a cross from Jose Villareal went unfinished at the far post, trickling across the goal line as Gordon’s sliding attempt was inches short.

Five minutes later Villareal was the recipient of a long cross from Raul Mendiola, chesting down the ball across the line past La Maquina keeper Luis Sosa.
“Clearly, we were going to get a goal,” Arena said.

Former Chivas Guadalajara striker Edwin Borboa had a solid shot on goal in the 26th minute, forcing a jump save from Galaxy keeper Clement Diop, and La Maquina found a groove with a pair of opportunities leading to its goal in the 28th minute.

Forcing the ball back, center half A.J. DeLaGarza misplayed a ball to Diop, and Borboa pounced, supplying an easy finish for an equalizer.

“They got that goal on my mistake,” DeLaGarza said.
Borboa is the first amateur player to score in the first four rounds in the modern era of the tournament.

“(La Maquina) did a solid job. You could see some of their guys have experience,” Arena said.
La Maquina, or “The Machine”, came out firing early in the second half, but Galaxy absorbed the amateur club’s heat without giving up playing two forwards and went to overtime drawn at a goal apiece.

“They made a couple of plays, their goalkeeper made a few saves and they worked hard,” Arena said.

Early in overtime, Villareal was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and stayed on his back. Second-half substitute Jack McBean stood over Villareal, stretching his leg, as players caught their breath.

Baggio Husidic, another Galaxy second-half sub, stood over the ball and looked at referee Ramon Hernandez.

“He goes (shrugs) so I kicked out, passed to the left,” Husidic said. “I didn’t ask for a whistle, told the ref I wasn’t going to ask for a whistle, and he said ‘OK.’”
Husidic’s pass connected with Romney, who placed a shot past La Maquina’s Sosa as the stout keeper scrambled to defend his line.

“Am I allowed to shoot this? Is this really real?” Romney rhetorically asked. “I just got it on my right foot and tucked it away.”

Lletget scored on a penalty in the 105th minute and added a second on a breakaway in the 115th.

HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH REPLAY
(NOTE: The controversial goal begins at 2:32:40)

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Former Chivas forward, record-setting defense earn La Maquina date with LA Galaxy

June 5, 2016 by Dennis Pope

La Maquina (left) vs. LA Wolves in the Third Round of 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Joe Walsh

With its play on the field, La Maquina has proved its maturity.

Former Chivas de Guadalajara forward Edwin Borboa scored twice as La Maquina continued its run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 victory over fellow United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) team Los Angeles Wolves FC. The match was played on June 1 in a Third Round game at Boswell Field on the campus of Westminster High School.

With the win, La Maquina becomes just the 12th amateur team since 1996 to reach the Fourth Round.

“As I’m getting older and towards the end of his career, primarily the focus is the team and helping the team through my experience and realizing that means putting some goals in the back of the net,” said Borboa through an interpreter.

The 33-year-old Mexican headed in the game’s first goal in the 17th minute, then scored on a free kick in the 68h minute to propel La Maquina into a Fourth Round matchup against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Wednesday, June 15.

“Very happy because we’re going against the next level, the LA Galaxy,” Borboa said. “They’re a very professional team but we know what we have, and we’re going to work hard to get to there, and try to move on the next round.”

Santa Ana, Calif.-based La Maquina, banned from the UPSL’s winter season due to its participation in a post-game brawl late last year, are one of only two amateur clubs (Kitsap Pumas) remaining in the tournament.

“We can’t believe where we are right now, but we’ve still been working every week, hard, hard,” La Maquina head coach Alex Uribe said. “We know it’s a very exciting game in two weeks.”

The club has not played a league fixture since December when UPSL President Yan Skwara announced the league’s ruling. Skwara, coincidently, is president and head coach of the LA Wolves.

“Give credit to La Maquina,” Skwara said. “They play a certain game, and I can’t tell exactly if it’s the way they played defensively against us, or if we didn’t play our game, or a combination of the two.”

Borboa’s first goal punctuated non-stop early pressure from La Maquina, which produced five shots on goal in the first 15 minutes.

His second goal came on a direct free kick at the top of the penalty area, 20 yards from goal. With three players standing over the ball, Borboa saw Wolves goalkeeper Kifi Kalani leaning and took his shot.

“The keeper was giving me the right side, trying to cheat, so I just took the easy way and placed it where he was cheating,” Borboa said.

“That’s Borboa. That’s the way he plays,” Uribe said. “You can see the goalie was expecting a lefty, and he just saw the goalie move the left and so he strikes it to the right.”

La Maquina, relying on competitive friendlies in between its US Open Cup calendar, have won all three rounds by 2-0 score lines. They are just the second team — and the first amateur team — in the Modern Era to earn three or more shutouts in each of their first three Open Cup games. (DC United had 5 straight from 1996-97)

“Since Day 1 in this Open Cup and I told them, ‘If we’re going to be in this Open Cup our goal can’t just be playing, that’s it,” Uribe said. “We want to go all the way, all the way to the end.”

La Maquina’s 2-0 win in the Second Round over Portland Timbers U-23s at Providence Park was an important moment, Uribe said.

“The experience they got in Portland, it was a huge stadium, it was an important team, it’s not a first-team but we demonstrated we can control the ball in any stadium,” Uribe said.

2016 US Open Cup Round 3: Rochester Rhinos play role of giant with 2-0 win over Lansdowne Bhoys

June 3, 2016 by Brendan Doherty

The Bhoys from New York City represented themselves well in a 2-0 loss to the Rochester Rhinos on Wednesday night.

Lansdowne Bhoys FC, one of six remaining teams from below the professional leagues, traveled to Rochester to face a team that, while best known as an occasional giant-killer, and the 1999 US Open Cup champion, is also a perennial minnow-crusher. The Rhinos entered Wednesday night’s game with a 15-0-0 all-time record against amateur sides in the Open Cup but the Bhoys proved they were no pushovers by defeating USL team Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Second Round.

The visitors flew up to Western New York on Tuesday night and had an extended training session on the turf at Rhinos Stadium on Wednesday morning. This rather professional preparation showed its value as Lansdowne players were competitive in every challenge from the first whistle.

Strong defenses from both teams limiting close-range chances in the first half but while Rochester attempted to make the pass in the final third, Lansdowne decided to shoot from distance. Attacking midfielder Daryl Kavanagh cut inside from the left channel to fire a right-footed shot wide of the far post from 18 yards out in the 16th minute.

In the 28th minute, Ciaran McGuigan rifled a heavy free kick just outside the post that appeared to have Rochester goalkeeper Tomas Gomez beat.

The Rhinos on the other hand tried to play short passes inside the area or low cross across the face of goal. Rochester forward Asani Samuels, who scored a hat-trick in the Second Round, dribbled towards goal along the end-line in the 12th minute but his patience allowed Lansdowne defenders to recover. Right winger Michel Guilavogui got around the corner in the 18th minute but there were no advanced teammates to meet his centering pass.

After the halftime break, the game continued in much the same way. In the 47th minute, Christian Volesky headed a cross from Bradley Kamdem tamely at Lansdowne goalkeeper Danso Abdoukarim. On the other end of the field, Ovan Oakley capitalized on a mistake by Rochester’s defense to create a breakaway but his attempted chip bounced harmlessly wide of the post in the 54th minute.

Rookie midfielder Andre Fortune II broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Rochester’s right back Dom Samuel had done well to cut inside and draw a foul from Lansdowne midfielder Craig Purcell. Several Rhinos stood around the ball but Fortune ultimately stepped up to take the free kick from 22 yards out. The Trinidad and Tobago youth international expertly curled the ball around the defensive wall and inside the post leaving Abdoukarim rooted to the spot.

The Bhoys responded well to conceding the game’s first goal, fashioning multiple chances in the next ten minutes. Purcell and Kavanagh in particular were active, forcing Gomez to make saves. The task facing the amateurs from Yonkers got considerably more difficult when Volesky doubled Rochester’s lead.

Marcos Ugarte picked up the ball after a half-clearance from Lansdowne’s defense. The second-year Rochester winger saw Volesky in a meter of space and found his teammate with a crisp, low pass. Volesky took a touch to settle the ball before burying a right-footed shot from 18 yards in the 71st minute.

Despite the two-goal deficit, Lansdowne Bhoys FC continued to battle for loose balls and challenge the Rochester goal until the final whistle.

“They were a tough team, they were physical. They came to play for sure. They beat Pittsburgh a couple weeks back,” Andre Fortune II said after the game. “We knew that after this game, whoever came out of it was playing Red Bulls and that meant a lot to both of us. They came out fighting and they were ready to play.”

Christian Volesky described his goal to media after the game. “Marcos and I have a really good chemistry,” he said. “He picked me out and I knew I was going to get the ball. I took a touch away from the pressure and just hit it and found the back of the net fortunately for me.”
The forward added, “The goalkeeper was good but I was able to beat him on this shot.”

“Obviously they’re a physical team,” Rochester head coach Bob Lilley said about Lansdowne Bhoys FC. “Their long-range shooting was impressive, they stung a lot of balls from distance … for sure, they were dangerous.

“Overall it was a good win. We knew it was going to be a tough game,” the veteran coach continued. “We took the game seriously and we told the guys that it may take a while to crack them. It was always going to be a tricky game and I think we handled it pretty well.”

After the game Lansdowne head coach Austin Friel was disappointed but proud of his team’s achievements and humble in defeat. Friel said his players knew the mental fortitude that was necessary to play against the defending USL champions.

“I knew they were very good at keeping the ball. I knew they were very dangerous on set pieces. And I knew they can hurt you if you make any mistakes. So we were coming up here basically to keep a good shape, keep a good formation, and to try and frustrate the Rochester Rhinos and to try to take our chances whenever we got them.”

We did well for nearly 60 minutes. We gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and fair play to the midfielder, he put it away well. So coming up here, we were expecting a tough game and we got one. The best team won I thought.”

The coach reflected on the context of this year’s cup run within the club’s history. “Obviously it has to be up there with the very best achievements because it’s not every day that an amateur team beats a professional team, or even beats a PDL team. But as I said, it’s the start of where the club wants to go.”

“Whenever you get a taste of what you can achieve, what the players have achieved, you want more. Definitely we’ll be back in it next year and try and have a journey again. I think it’s been like a 9 or 10 month journey already that we’ve had. It’s been a great experience. The players have really adapted themselves well and deserve all the credit they get.”

While Lansdowne Bhoys FC saw their first ever entrance to the US Open Cup end in the Third Round, the Rhinos are looking forward to a Fourth Round match against the New York Red Bulls. Rochester will host the MLS side on June 15 from Rhinos Stadium at 7 p.m.

2016 Meet the Underdogs: La Maquina fighting to earn respect in inaugural US Open Cup run

June 1, 2016 by Ted Prezelski

La Maquina lines up for player introductions before their 2016 US Open Cup qualifying match with Chula Vista FC. Photo: La Maquina

After traveling from Southern California to Portland, Ore. and dispatching the Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) 2-0 in the opening round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, La Maquina has gotten the attention of the American soccer public. They followed up that performance with another 2-0 shutout in Round 2 against the NPSL’s Sacramento Gold.

They were one of eight teams entering the First Round for the first time and are a bit of an unknown.

The Santa Ana, Calif.-based club finished second in the southeast division of United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) after last year’s spring/summer season. Then the club qualified for the US Open Cup with wins in the open division tournament over Strikers FC and a surprising 4-0 defeat of former Open Cup darlings Chula Vista FC in October and November respectively.

Then things got weird.

La Maquina faced San Nicolas in an UPSL quarterfinal playoff match in December. An altercation followed the match involving players, coaches and fans. UPSL reviewed the incident and handed down hefty penalties to both teams: San Nicholas was docked six games and La Maquina was banned for the winter season.

You read that right: La Maquina were ejected from the league for the next session of play.

“It was not an easy decision, especially when you have two good teams at the table,” said UPSL commissioner Yan Skwara. “As a league, we have a zero tolerance for violence and stay firm with that. At the end of the day, I think both teams have learned from this and they will be better citizens both on and off the field.”

Both teams have served their suspensions and La Maquina will return to the league for 2016’s spring/summer session.

The team’s suspension from the league hasn’t stopped them from playing. They have continued to schedule matches and have posted strong wins in a series of friendlies against local clubs, including a recent 6-0 victory against newly-rebranded PDL side LA Laguna.

Unlike most of their counterparts, the team drew another amateur side, fellow UPSL side Los Angeles Wolves, for the Third Round. They are eager to prove themselves in the Open Cup.

The team draws most of its players from the Orange County area, and counts former members of Pateadores among its ranks. One exception is Edwin Borboa, the 33-year old former chivas de Guadalajara forward who last played professionally for Liga de Ascenso club Lobos.

“The guys are really motivated. This is what they have been waiting for,” said coach Edson Martinez. “We have had a lot of games lately, and we should be playing harder teams.”

“If we win Wednesday, anything is possible,” he added.

Martinez y La Maquina will get that chance after this round where they will face the Los Angeles Galaxy. He isn’t worried. He says that his team has something special that the others don’t.

“We’ve played together for a long time. That’s the difference,” he said. “A lot of guys that could be playing on a PDL team want to play for La Maquina. They like playing here.”

Kristen Gehrke also contributed to this report

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: LA Wolves hand Orange County Blues 3rd straight loss to amateur team

May 22, 2016 by Dennis Pope

Luis Mora scored the game-winner on home turf as the Los Angeles Wolves (UPSL) held on to defeat Orange County Blues (USL), 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw, Wednesday night at Wilmington (Calif.) Banning High School.

“He lives around the block, the whole community is watching him; He takes the final kick and he buries it,” LA Wolves owner/head coach Yan Skwara said.

Skwara said Mora, a Banning High School graduate, wanted to be the fifth kick taker.

“He wanted it. He played on that field for four years for his high school, and he buries it,” Skwara said. “It couldn’t be more dramatic.”

Mora’s home-town finish punched the Wolves’ ticket to a third-round matchup against fellow UPSL side La Maquina. The winner plays at LA Galaxy (MLS) in the fourth round.

“(La Maquina) beating their opponents handily, I’ll say that,” Skwara said. “We’re not going in, by any means, with any sort of comfort level.”

Miguel Sanchez had a goal in the 72nd minute, and 20-year-old goalkeeper Kifi Kalani made two saves in the shootout win for Wolves, who continue to enjoy their first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run.

“We have a blend of players and we’re in the (UPSL) playoffs,” Skwara said. “You want to come into any cup scenario in good form, and we are in good form right now. We’re on the rise.”

Sanchez started the shootout with a miss for Wolves, who were down 2-0 before Joey Chica and Gonzo Salguero scored to level.

Jeremiah Eglijie made it 3-2 but it was Kalani’s back-to-back blocks that gave Wolves a real advantage.

“(Kalani) had a (heck) of a game,” Skwara said. “He made two PK saves. That’s what happened.”

Grady Howe equalized in the 77th minute for OC Blues, which still suffered its fourth loss to an amateur side in its last six Cup entries, including its third straight. Blues previously lost to Ventura County Fusion in 2012, Fresno Fuego in 2014 and PSA Elite in 2015.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: La Maquina earn second straight shutout, 2-0 over Sacramento Gold

May 21, 2016 by Alicia Rodriguez

Orange County’s La Maquina defeated NPSL side Sacramento Gold 2-0 at Westminster High School in Westminster on Wednesday in the US Open Cup Second Round.

The game remained scoreless through the first 70 minutes, but La Maquina scored two goals inside of 10 minutes, courtesy of Edwin Borboa and Jose Castro Perez, to grab the result and advance to the third round.

La Maquina, in their first ever US Open Cup tournament, controlled the run of play throughout the night, as second-time Open Cup participant Sacramento tried to hold firm and grab chances when they could.

“Basically, we just told the guys they have to keep playing the same way they have,” said La Maquina assistant coach Edson Martinez on Thursday.

“As soon as they were able to score that first goal, that gave them more confidence to score another one or two, which they did.”

The hosts, who went on the road to claim their first-round win over Portland Timbers U-23s, showed why they have been a successful tournament team in recent years on the local Southern California circuit, with former pros like Borboa, who won two Mexican league titles, meshing well with a core group of players who have been playing together for several years for the team.

Martinez praised Borboa’s “stellar performance” and ability to “always come through for the team,” an important feature in a tournament atmosphere, and also singled out the twin brothers in central midfield, the goal scorer Perez and his brother Rosando.

“They’re the motor of the team that keeps everyone going,” he said. “Those guys don’t stop, they just run, run, run.

“They’re twins, and they know what doing. They play with their eyes closed-type of thing.”

La Maquina will now host fellow UPSL competitors LA Wolves FC in the third round on June 1 at Westminster High School with a match-up against two-time US Open Cup winners LA Galaxy in the following round on the line.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Rochester Rhinos stampede Southie FC in record blowout

May 20, 2016 by Brendan Doherty

The Rochester Rhinos are well-known in American soccer as a defensive powerhouse but the reigning USL champions have notably struggled to dispatch lower division sides in the US Open Cup. Southie FC is a Boston-based team that participates in the Massachusetts State Soccer League and the Bay State Soccer League. Rochester’s head coach Bob Lilley rolled the dice with heavy squad rotation against the lively side from Massachusetts.

That heavily-rotated lineup was more than enough as the Rhinos dominated Southie FC, 7-0 to improve the club’s all-time record against amateur opponents to 15-0. The Rhinos also extend their Modern Era record of consecutive opening round victories to 15 games.

Southie FC started the match purposefully, moving the ball around the field with crisp short passes, but the Rhinos quickly made the breakthrough. In the sixth minute second-year forward Christian Volesky dispatched a penalty past Southie goalkeeper Colin O’Donnell. Left-winger Marcos Ugarte, who grew up near south Boston, went down in the box after contact from behind while running onto a pass from Sofiane Tergou.

Rochester midfielder Andre Fortune II, in his first start for the team, doubled the hosts’ advantage in the ninth minute with a wonderful solo effort. Fortune picked up the ball in the right channel and cut inside near the top of the 18-yard box with one thing on his mind. The first-year Rhino angled for an open shooting lane before curling a shot to the far post out of the reach of the Southie goalkeeper.

Despite going down two goals in the opening ten minutes, Southie FC players were resilient. The visitors did not resort to direct “route one” play and instead continued to play their deliberative passing style.

Just before the half-hour mark, Ugarte played an impressive one-two with Tergou in the attacking third. Tergou’s return pass split the Southie defenders and Ugarte was able to latch onto the ball in the air. With the goalkeeper rushing off his line, Ugarte chipped his shot to the far post for the team’s third goal in the 27th minute.

Asani Samuels, who scored twice in the 2015 USL Championship, grabbed two quick goals before halftime on Wednesday. Southie FC had tried to hold a high line ten yards from half, but Samuels broke through on a pass from Ugarte and rounded the goalkeeper before tapping home in the 42nd minute. Just two minutes later, Volesky cut back onto his right foot and curled a cross into the area from the left channel. The cross found the feet of Samuels, who made no mistake from six yards out.

Rochester went into the halftime break leading 5-0. While Southie FC scored an own goal early in the second half, a lot of the play after the break favored the visitors. Bob Lilley credited the Southie players for working hard and putting the home side under pressure.

Southie, who brought only two substitutes with them, showed tremendous fitness to harass and harry the Rhinos until the final whistle. Even though the scoreline seemed insurmountable, the amateur team from Boston continued to play positive soccer and attack their hosts.

In the 77th minute, Samuels completed his hat-trick after great work from Tergou and Ugarte in the build-up. Holding onto the ball inside the Southie penalty area, Tergou played a disguised pass to Ugarte towards the endline. The winger cut a low ball back to Samuels and the forward finished emphatically from close range for his fifth goal in two U.S. Open Cup appearances for the Rhinos.

Marcos Ugarte drew a penalty, scored a goal, and added two assists on the night against Southie FC. He talked to media after the game about the team’s preparation for the cup match.

“Coach said that this was going to be a good game,” said Ugarte. “I’m from the Boston-Providence area so I know a lot of these guys, I played with a lot of them at Providence College for two years. I knew what they were capable of and I know it was going to be a good game. We came out strong and we put them away early.”

Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley spoke to media after the game about his team’s resolve in the face of the unpredictable nature of the Open Cup.

“You never know with these games. It was good to get the early first few goals. I thought the guys were pretty focused on doing a job,” Lilley said. “We had a job to do, it not always easy, and I think the guys handled it well.”

Asani Samuels, who scored the first hat trick in Rhinos Open Cup history, credited the big win to the fact that the Rhinos did not approach the game against Southie FC any different than a league match.

“We treat every game as the same. We went through the same match preparation, we did everything the same,” Samuels said. “We just went out there to play our game.”

Sofiane Tergou, making his full debut with Rochester, agreed with those sentiments.

“We took this game very seriously, even if it was against an amateur team. When you’re in the cup you never know what can happen.”

“They were missing a couple of guys. Today could have been close,” Lilley said referring to Rochester’s recent record of tight games in the early cup rounds. “They had some pieces that were more than capable of hurting us today but once you put a team in the hole, it’s hard for them. They’re not training as regularly, the energy it takes to pull those goals back is pretty difficult.”

Lilley had praise for the fighting spirit of his team’s amateur opponent.

“I thought they deserved credit. In the second half – the game was 5-0 – but they played more in our half. They wanted to score. They were pretty committed to scoring.”

The 7-0 victory over Southie FC shatters Rochester’s club record for most goals in a US Open Cup match, and the largest margin of victory. The previous record was set in 2006 when the Rhinos defeated USL Second Division side New Hampshire Phantoms 5-1. In the Rhinos’ previous 56 Open Cup games, the game against the Phantoms was the only game that they won by more than three goals.

Rochester advances to the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup where they will host another amateur side, New York City’s Landsdowne Bhoys on Wednesday June 1 at 7 p.m.

2016 US Open Cup Round 2: Richmond Kickers strike early, cruise past Aromas Cafe FC, 4-0

May 20, 2016 by Craig Tower

The Richmond Kickers celebrate a goal against Aromas Cafe in the Second Round of the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: James Loving | Richmond Kickers — The Richmond Kickers celebrate a goal against Aromas Cafe in the Second Round of the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: James Loving

Aromas Café went to Richmond hoping to come out giant killers, but their hopes were squashed almost immediately and never revived.

After a goal in the first minute, the Richmond Kickers never looked back as they cruised to a 4-0 win in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The 1995 US Open Cup champions, playing in their 10th straight Open Cup game at home, emerge with a seven-game winning streak in opening round games.

The Kickers took an early lead when they were awarded a free kick at the top of the Aromas box in the first minute. Sunny Jane steered his powerfully dipping shot over the wall and into the near corner at hip level for the one goal lead.

Richmond continued to press, winning a series of corners and free kicks in the Aromas end. In the 25th minute, after winning one of those free kicks at a distance of forty yards, the Kickers directed the ball onto the head of Yomby William who found himself unmarked on the left side of the goal box. Directing his shot down and into the near corner, a good strategy in most instances, he managed to drive it into the keeper’s calf. The ball dribbled into the path of a charging Hugh Roberts who slotted it home for the 2-0 lead, which held until the half.

Richmond came out almost as strong in the second half as the first, but had to wait until the 48th minute of the new term to find the net on an Anthony Grant strike of a feed from Travis Pittman. Grant forced a diving save off Aromas keeper Hohoff in the 57th off a volley, and Jackson Eskay pinged a shot off the crossbar in the 4th.

“I’m elated with that goal and as coach said earlier we need some goals in this game,” said Grant about his first tally for the Kickers. “I’m really elated with my performance, with my goal, and most of all with the team performance.”

The Kickers put the game to bed in the 83rd minute when Romulo Peretta deflected a cross for Luiz Fernando to clean up for the four-goal victory while preserving the clean sheet.

The Kickers move on to meet the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL in the Third Round.