US Open Cup

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: Defending champ FC Dallas advances thanks to late Roughnecks own goal

June 15, 2017 by Adam Uthe

FC Dallas celebrates the game-winning goal against the Tulsa Roughnecks in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas

An own goal in second half stoppage time from Tulsa Roughnecks’ (USL) defender Modou Jadama sent FC Dallas (MLS) through to the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup with a 2-1 win after they had squandered several scoring opportunities throughout the second half. For the second straight year it looked as though FC Dallas would need extra time while playing at Southern Methodist University’s Westcott Field, but the pressure they applied to the Roughnecks paid off in the dying seconds of the match.

Both teams looked sluggish from the start; quite possibly due to the mid-90s heat radiating at kickoff. Neither managed to create much until the 28th minute when Tulsa captain Juan Pablo Caffa got free in the box and hit a well struck volley first time that rolled just wide of goal.

The chance seemed to wake the home side and three minutes later Dallas midfielder Coy Craft found himself in space on the left, via a pass from Ryan Hollingshead, and fired low and hard from the edge of the box to give the Hoops the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Cristian Colman broke through the Tulsa back line but was denied from point blank by Roughnecks goalkeeper Fabian Cerda. Reggie Cannon almost gave Dallas an insurance goal just before half, beating two defenders with two deft touches, but he lost control in the box and the opportunity was wasted.

The defending champion FC Dallas battled the Tulsa Roughnecks at Southern Methodist University in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Dallas

As the sun set in the second half, both teams seemed to find a second wind; and not just in a positive way. Juan Pablo Caffa earned a yellow card in the 56th minute for arguing with the official. It seemed to fire up his team, because three minutes later — moments after Dallas replaced veteran playmaker with Carlos Remeno — Tulsa midfielder Kosuke Kimura got a good look in the box and tied the game up 1-1.

Dallas coach Oscar Pareja wasted no time and emptied his bench, bringing first team regulars Michael Barrios and Tesho Akindele on for homegrown stud Paxton Pomkyal and Coy Craft, respectively, in the 63rd minute. The switches worked and Dallas created several dangerous chances in the ensuing minutes, but failed to convert any of them.

They continued to press the visitors, but continually came up empty and it looked as though 90 minutes would not be enough to settle things; just as last year when Dallas needed a penalty kick shootout to take down another USL side in the OKC Energy in the Fourth Round.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Barrios put a low cross across the box that was redirected into the back of the net by Jadama. The referee blew the whistle almost immediately after play resumed and the defending champions could breathe a sigh of relief.

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: Sporting KC’s strong lineup gets strong result vs. Minnesota United

June 15, 2017 by Alan Hainkel

Ike Opara of Sporting KC celebrates his goal against Minnesota United in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Sporting KC

When lineups were released, it was clear Minnesota United’s plan was to put numbers behind the ball and hope to get a goal on the counter. That plan seemed to be working for the first 40 minutes of the first half as they allowed seven shots for Sporting Kansas City, only two of which were on target.

Unfortunately for Minnesota United, soccer is played in 45 minute halves and Sporting KC got two goals in the last five minutes of the first half on their way to a 4-0 win in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night.

Sporting KC’s intent was also clear when they trotted out a lineup with several regular starters included.

“This is a very important tournament, it’s an opportunity to win another trophy,” said Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes. “We want to do the best we can. We want to play to try and win every game. To do that, you’ve got to constantly put teams out there that can get the job done. Tonight, obviously, we made a few changes, but it was to put a group out there to get the job done, and they did.”

Sporting KC opened the scoring in the 43rd minute on a goal on a set piece by defender Ike Opara. Defender Graham Zusi’s corner kick found Opara near the top of the 6-yard box and Opara headed it directly over goalkeeper Patrick McLain and into the back of the net.

The home side doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time on a goal by Gerso Fernandes. Forward Daniel Salloi’s shot from 30 yards out deflected off McLain’s right hand post and directly into Fernandes’s path. Minnesota’s defense failed to close down the Bissau-Guinean, who managed to take two touches before denting the twine for his first Open Cup goal of his career.

Minnesota United’s best chance came in the 53rd minute when Collen Martin put a shot off Tim Melia’s right hand post. The visitors only managed five shots in the entire match and none of them were on target.

There was a scary moment in the 56th minute. Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza and Minnesota defender Joseph Greenspan both went up for a ball in the Minnesota penalty area and Greenspan came down hard, staying down on the turf for more than ten minutes as medical staff prepared to put him on a backboard and get him off the pitch. He was immediately taken to KU Medical Center and team officials did not know his immediate status.

Sporting KC didn’t take long after the restart to get back to business. In the 72nd minute, Fernandes played a perfect through ball to Dom Dwyer, whose well-timed run put him in alone on McLain. Dwyer’s soft chip over the sliding keeper made the advantage 3-0.

Eleven minutes later, Sporting KC executed an almost exact copy of goal No. 3. This time, Espinoza played Salloi in on goal and Salloi rifled a shot just inside the near post to close out the scoring. It was Salloi’s first goal in a Sporting KC uniform.

“He’s a great finisher,” Vermes said of Salloi.” He has a real knack in and around the box. He really does. He’s a really good finisher, and the fact that he did does not surprise me.”

Added Salloi: “It’s amazing. It’s a big day because it’s also my first start, too. I’m happy that everything worked out and I hope I can score in MLS and play in as many games as I can. I’m just looking forward to the next game.”
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2017 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Cincinnati makes case for MLS with record crowd, win over Crew SC

June 15, 2017 by Ralph Schudel

FC Cincinnati earned its first win over an MLS opponent with a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew in the Fourth Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | FC Cincinnati

The long-awaited clash between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC finally occurred. FC Cincinnati fans saw this as an audition against the founding club in Major League Soccer. A second-half goal by Cincinnati’s Djiby Fall stood tall against the Major League Soccer Crew as the hometown USL club stood tall in a 1-0 victory in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday.

One of the stories of the match was found in the stands at Nippert Stadium. An announced crowd of 30,160 shattered the Modern Era (1995-present) attendance record for a non-final. The previous record was 20,376 set in Third Round of the 1999 tournament when the Colorado Rapids of MLS hosted the Seattle Sounders of the USL’s A-League. The match’s attendance was boosted by the fact that it was a doubleheader with the US Men’s National Team as they played against English club Derby County in a friendly. the field. The announced attendance of 30,160 seemed to play a role for the hometown team.

Both clubs began the evening like heavyweight boxers as they tried to get a feel for one another and learn each others tendencies. Initially, Cincinnati were quite content with committing numbers to defense while Columbus threw numbers forward and committed to the attack looking for an early advantage.

Crew SC midfielders Federico Higuain and Justin Meram were catalysts for the Columbus offense as they looked to get the attack going. While Fall was relentless for Cincinnati. Fall was responsible for the two most threatening scoring attempts in the first half. He harassed Crew SC homegrown defender Alex Crognale through a series of bumps and scuffles and bumps to try to rattle the rookie.

One of the brightest stars for Cincinnati was goalie Mitch Hildebrandt. He had two clutch saves in the first half stopping dangerous shots by Meram and Hector Jimenez. Things got interesting towards the end of the half as Crew SC defender Waylon Francis committed a foul just outside of his 18-yard-box and led to a dangerous Cincinnati set-piece. The opportunity was foiled and referee Yours Marrakchi blew the whistle to signal halftime.

The second half showed that both teams would come out a bit more aggressive. The game was a tactical stalemate until the defender Justin Hoyte was subbed into the game for Cincinnati. Hoyte was the primary assist on the 64th minute goal that was scored by Fall. Hoyte lofted the ball on a cross that took a deflection off of Crew defender Alex Crognale and Fall was engaged in an aerial battle with Jimenez in which he leapt above the shorter defender to head the ball into the back of the net for the lead

The goal from Fall made Nippert become unglued. Chants from The Bailey of “F-C-C” began to ring out across the stadium as fans began to sense that this could victory could become a reality for the USL side.

“It was an event for our team, our club and our city,” said Cincinnati manager Alan Koch as he touted the fan’s performance.

Koch wasn’t the only one to take notice of the fantastic atmosphere. Crew SC manager Gregg Berhalter added, “This is what makes soccer special, it’s great to give Americans a real cup atmosphere. That’s exactly what this is. You have our fans who were amazing, their fans were amazing and it made an atmosphere that was electric. For the spectators that’s what you want to see.”

Both groups of supporters affectionately dubbed the match the “Hell is Real” derby. It’s in reference to an infamous sign one encounters on the drive between Cincinnati and Columbus.

Berhalter was asked if Cincinnati was deserving of an expansion bid into Major League Soccer. He simply responded: “That’s above my pay grade.”

Koch was asked if he considered this a rivalry with Columbus.

“People can say it’s the first game so there’s not a rivalry,” he said. “Of course there’s a rivalry.”

Random #USOC2017 fact: FC Cincinnati is the first club in the Modern Era to win three consecutive 1-0 games.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Fall scores another game winner as FC Cincinnati edges rival Louisville City

June 8, 2017 by Jordan Beech

River Cities rivals clashed in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday night at Nippert Stadium, with FC Cincinnati claiming a 1-0 victory over Louisville City FC.

Djiby Fall netted a poacher’s goal in the 48th minute of play to give the match its lone tally of the evening. The forward did well to get on the end of a rebound after Harrison Delbridge’s header off a corner was parried away by Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.

After weathering an early chance by Louisville in just the sixth minute of action from a long-range try by Oscar Jimenez, the hosts responded with several quality chances of their own. However, neither team was able to break the deadlock, and the clubs went into the locker rooms at the interval knotted up at 0-0.

The stalemate concluded quickly after the restart after Cincinnati earned a corner thanks to Fall’s efforts. Though Louisville ramped up the pressure desperately searching for a goal as the match marched on, they were unable to come away with anything for their efforts. In fact, they almost gave up a second goal when Danni Konig saw his headed effort just tipped over the crossbar by Ranjitsingh in the 78th minute.

Surviving that near-decisive shot, Louisville nearly had the tying goal in the 80th minute when Guy Abend made good contact on the volley. Unfortunately for Abend and the Louisville faithful, the shot went high. Cincinnati was able to see out the dying embers of the match to punch their ticket to the Fourth Round.

This marks the first time in club history that FC Cincinnati has moved on to the Fourth Round after bowing out, 1-0, to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Third Round last season. Cincinnati will host MLS-side Columbus Crew SC on June 14.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: OKC Energy beat Switchbacks to earn MLS matchup for third straight year

June 1, 2017 by Jason Smith

Oklahoma City Energy FC handed Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC a rare home defeat as OKC advanced to the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup a 2-1 winner at Weidner Field.

Oklahoma City advances to the Fourth Round, where they will face MLS side Colorado Rapids at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on June 13.

“I thought we played a very, very smart game,” said Energy head coach Jimmy Nielsen. “We defended extremely well, counter attacked a few times, and dominated the second .”

The Energy controlled the game from the outset, controlling the pace and kept Colorado Springs on its back heels. Oklahoma City dominated statistically, outshooting the home side 8-3 and earning six corners, but despite the numerous opportunities, the teams were even heading into the half, 0-0.

“We fought hard tonight, but it wasn’t good enough,” said Switchbacks midfielder Conner Bevans. “We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities in the first half.”

Colorado Springs came out brightly to start the second half, and managed several scoring chances, but never seriously challenged Oklahoma City goalkeeper C.J. Cochran. The Energy broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, when Jose Barril curled in a beauty past Colorado Springs keeper Dan “Stonewall” Jackson. Oklahoma City doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later, when Wojciech Wojcik slipped behind the Switchbacks backline and slotted a goal in the 83rd minute. Wojcik, who celebrated his 25th birthday, convened a celebration with his teammates, as the game looked well in hand.

Colorado Springs managed to build some steam late when Kevaughn Frater was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick in the 90th minute. Defender Jordan Burt stepped to the spot and calmly converted, giving Switchbacks faithful some hope but they could not find an equalizer.
“We weren’t good enough tonight and lacked the energy we needed to win,” said Switchbacks head coach Steve Trittschuh.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Sacramento Republic’s “complete performance” leads to win over Reno 1868

June 1, 2017 by Thomas Hodul

Sacramento Republic had their most complete performance of the year to top new rivals, Reno 1868, 2-0 in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Republic were led by a goal and an assist from forward Trevin Caesar to earn the right to host their first ever MLS side in their home stadium in the Fourth Round against Real Salt Lake.

“I thought it was a complete performance from our boys tonight and now we face an MLS team,” said Republic head coach Paul Buckle.

The Republic took control of the game straight from the first whistle and were all over Reno from the start. Their best effort came in the 11th minute when Trevin Caesar dribbled the ball to the center of the box before firing it just wide.

They created more chances in the 18th minute when Reno goalie Russ Klabough was forced to parry the shot from Danny Barrera wide before a follow up shot from Agustin Cazarez forced a second save out of the Reno keeper.

Sacramento continued its relentless pressure for most of the first half. They were eventually rewarded with a goal when Caesar slipped the ball into Harry Williams who buried his chance to give the Republic the lead just before the break, 1-0.

“I was thrilled to see Trevin Caesar build on Saturday. That’s the Trevin Caesar the fans want to see, and I want to see running in behind teams, using his pace,” Buckle said.

The second half played out very similar to the first as the Republic were clicking on every level.

“It was a wonderful performance tonight. I thought the players were magnificent tonight,” Buckle said. “You saw fight, you saw energy, you saw goals, you saw chances created and a clean sheet, against a good side.”

Caesar went on to cap his performance when he found the back of the net in 59th minute.

“Trevin’s finish was excellent. I was wanting him to pass it into Sammy and he just drove it bottom corner,” Buckle said.

Reno would push for a goal, which left them exposed at the back, allowing Sacramento a few more chances to kill the match off, but they were unable to capitalize. For the expansion side, they are the first professional team from Nevada to ever qualify for the tournament.

“I desperately wanted to win the game, you know, so we can get an MLS side,” Buckle said. “It’s what we want to see. It’s what ownership wanted. We all wanted it, and we got it and I’m proud of the boys, I’m very proud of the team tonight.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Late winner by San Francisco Deltas bounce star-studded Phoenix Rising out of tournament

June 1, 2017 by Bianca Barajas

The San Francisco Deltas defeated Phoenix Rising FC 2-1 in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Wednesday night at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex.

Tommy Heinemann’s goal in second-half stoppage time was the winner for the Deltas of the NASL, who advanced to the Fourth Round to face another Bay Area club, the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, on June 14.

While Phoenix awaits Didier Drogba’s debut, set for June 10, Omar Bravo made a comeback into the starting lineup from an injury and was ready to play.

Early in the game, Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Josh Cohen saved two potential goals in the first seven minutes on shots from San Francisco midfielder Michael Stephens and defender Reiner Ferreira.

Deltas goalkeeper Steward Ceus was down for three minutes while he got checked out for an injury after he collided with the post but stayed in the game in the 19th minute.

Phoenix Rising had many chances to score, including when Peter Ramage almost made a header in the 35th minute that went over the bar.

An apparent goal by Bravo just before halftime was nullified by an offside call.

On another chance for Rising, Eric Avila passed the ball to Bravo but he missed wide for the goal.

“When we get Omar involved often, he does a really good job, the hard part is with Omar’s age, he isn’t ask explosive as he once was and we had to play to his feet a little bit more and this team sat back so deep, they made it kind of difficult for us. But his interchange with Jason Johnson was good,” said Phoenix interim coach Rick Schantz.

San Francisco put Phoenix in a dangerous position when Kyle Bekker curled in a free kick from an angle outside the box in the 82nd minute, which put the Deltas up 1-0.

Phoenix Rising made the most of its chance to tie. Ramage was taken down in the box off a free kick in the 84th minute, which led Bravo to step to the penalty spot.

Bravo tied the game with a penalty kick in the 86th minute and left the crowd wildly chanting, “Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!”

Karl Ouimette dribbled the ball up the field and passed to the center, where Heinemann got the shot for victory.

“As a striker you always have to be ready in a split second, you never know when you’re going to get your chance so there’s always pressure in this game… But its good, it’s another step for us in the club, it’s a good progression competing in the Open Cup,” said Heinemann.

Schantz said his team looked tired after playing the last two games on the road, then having a midweek game to prepare for.

“Overall, I think we deserved to win..We respected them (Phoenix Rising FC) a lot and we knew we were coming to a tough place… Good opponent, good players, dangerous attack…I think we defended well and picked our chances and encountered good moments with good mentality from our guys,” Deltas coach Marc Dos Santos said.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Defense reigns as Tulsa Roughnecks eliminate first-place San Antonio in PKs

June 1, 2017 by Roger Graham

It took 120 minutes and eight rounds of penalty kicks on Wednesday night, but Tulsa Roughnecks FC managed to sneak past visiting San Antonio FC in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Tulsa prevailed 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless match at the University of Tulsa that featured only three shots on goal in regulation.

The home side secured its first US Open Cup victory over another professional team when goalkeeper Fabian Cerda denied his opposite number, San Antonio’s Diego Restrepo, in the eighth round of the shootout.

Tulsa coach David Vaudreuil said his team, which featured some players hampered by a flu bug, hasn’t practiced penalty kicks regularly.

“We only did a little bit yesterday. I wanted to see how the guys did them and where they put the shots,” said Vaudreuil, who won the US Open Cup as a member of D.C. United in 1996. “It’s not realistic to practice them for a game situation.”

That practice paid off for the Roughnecks, who were successful in seven of their eight penalty kicks.

Cerda kept Tulsa in the shootout by denying San Antonio’s Mark O’Ojong one round after Roughnecks teammate Pasha Kondrakhin skied his shot over the crossbar. He saved Restrepo’s shot in the eighth round to propel Tulsa into the next round and a June 14 match at MLS side FC Dallas.

Vaudreuil said the Roughnecks weren’t able to press as much as they would have liked after a difficult stretch of games, but they tried to maintain possession against San Antonio.
Both teams had chances in the first half, but were unable to convert.

Tulsa was denied a penalty kick on two occasions in the second half, once on a potential handball on Sebastien Ibeagha in the 64th minute and again three minutes later when Joey Calistri was knocked down in the box.

San Antonio has its best chance in overtime, when Victor Araujo saw his shot from the top of the box saved by Cerda.

Defense dominated the added 30 minutes, setting the stage for Tulsa’s dramatic victory in penalty kicks.

With the win, Tulsa will move on to the Fourth Round for the first time where they will face the defending champions from FC Dallas on the road. The game is scheduled for June 14.

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: Christos FC, last amateur team, win to earn $15K, date with D.C. United

June 1, 2017 by Tom Arnison

Christos FC continued its Cinderella run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a narrow 1-0 road win over the PDL’s Chicago FC United.

By the end of the night, Christos FC was the last amatuer team still standing in the tournament, which earns them a $15,000 cash prize. The win also makes them the 13th amateur team in the Modern Era (1995-present) to reach the Fourth Round, where they will play D.C. United of Major League Soccer on June 14.

“It was a great team effort from all the players and coaches,” said Christos FC founder and general manager Jody Haislip. “Couldn’t have envisioned a better start to the game but sometimes that bites you in the ass. You kind of want to sit back and rest on the lead but the guys didn’t do that and we still generated a few solid opportunities.”

Christos FC opened the scoring in the first minute off a throw-in from the right corner. The long throw found the head of Peter Caringi, who won TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for his hat trick in Round 1 against Fredericksburg FC (NPSL). Caringi flicked the ball to the back post where Levi Houpeau was able to force the ball into the back of the net.

Houpeau, who was a Third Round MLS SuperDraft pick by the Philadelphia Union out of Maryland-Baltimore County, scored his first career US Open Cup goal, and it proved to be the difference.

MORE >> 2017 Meet the Underdogs: After 20 years, amateur power Christos FC makes US Open Cup debut

The first half was a very physical affair with fouls from both sides disrupting the flow of play. In the 32nd minute, Caringi would muscle off a defender before curling a shot around the keeper and into the net, only to be ruled offside by the assistant referee.

Mark Segbers would be the lone attacking threat for Chicago FC United in the first half, working his way into the box from the left side to generate two shots on goal, but he was unable to beat Phil Saunders, last round’s top performer.

Momentum would switch in the second half when United midfielder Chris Mueller would hit a dipping shot from the top of the box that Saunders would nudge just over the bar. From that point on, United would keep the ball in the offensive half for most of the match, forcing Christos to rely on the long ball. Segbers and Mueller would generate several chances through link-up play, but only to be turned away by Saunders time and time again.

After 90 minutes of play, a visibly exhausted Christos side would weather the storm from United and advance 1-0.

After three straight road wins in the club’s first-ever trip to the tournament, they will play a fourth road game in Round 4. Although, fortunately, that road game will be in their home state when they face D.C. United at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Maryland.

For Christos, the fact that they started the day one win away from a game against a Major League Soccer team was a little hard to ignore.

“When the Fourth Round draw was announced it definitely was a ‘wow’ moment,” said Haislip, who started the club back in 1997. “It just had to be D.C. . If it were the Union or another club it would still be the biggest game of our lives but to go up against them will be what Baltimore soccer needs and wants. The entire city of Baltimore and surrounding areas will be behind us and we will put an forth an effort that they will be proud of win or lose.”

2017 US Open Cup Round 3: North Carolina FC claim state supremacy with 4-1 win over Charlotte Independence

June 1, 2017 by Harrison Huntley

North Carolina FC raced past interstate rival Charlotte Independence, 4-1, on Wednesday night and into the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The NASL side took the lead in the 17th minute when James Marcelin headed in a cross from Lance Laing.

North Carolina FC coach Colin Clarke said getting on the scoreboard first was vital for his team.

“We talked before the game, saying the first goal was going to be important,” said Clarke. “We started our regular season scoring the first goal in the first five games. We haven’t done that in the last couple so it settles us down.”

Charlotte’s defense limited North Carolina to only two shots in the first half, but the team formerly known as the Carolina Railhawks managed to double its lead just seven minutes after halftime.

North Carolina captain Nazmi Albadawi slipped his shot into the Charlotte net after taking a pass from Saeed Robinson.

Albadawi scored again in the 82nd minute, when he chipped the ball over the Charlotte goalkeeper after a long pass from Austin Da Luz found him alone in the box.

Clarke said that goal clinched the win for North Carolina FC.

“That third one goes in and it’s game over,” the North Carolina coach said. “You know, 2-0 and you’re always worried about the momentum shift a goal can bring for them and then anything can happen from there.”

North Carolina extended its lead to 4-0 when defender Connor Tobin drilled a shot into the upper corner of the Charlotte net.

Charlotte tacked on its goal with a stoppage time penalty kick.

North Carolina will host MLS’ Houston Dynamo on June 14 in the next round of the USOC.