Ventura County Fusion

2015 US Open Cup Round 1: Ventura County Fusion set unbeaten mark with ‘wild’ PK win over Cal FC (video)

May 18, 2015 by Joe Curley

The Ventura County Fusion celebrate with their fans after defeating Cal FC in penalty kicks 6-5. Photo: Ventura County Fusion

No other amateur team, much less Premier Development League team had won a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match in four straight seasons.

No US Amateur Soccer Association club had made as many headlines, in recent years, as Cal FC.

So when these two teams faced each other in the first round of the US Open Cup Wednesday night at the Ventura College Sportsplex, there was the potential for a memorable Ventura County derby.

The result was delightful madness.

Three times in regulation and five more times during the decisive penalty kick shootout, host Ventura County took the lead only to be pegged back by Cal FC.

It wasn’t until, after 120 minutes and 16 penalty kicks, when Edgar Espinoza couldn’t answer Matt Sheldon’s spot kick in the third round of sudden death, that the Fusion survived 6-5 on PKs after a 3-3 draw.

Espinoza had forced extra time in the first place with a 25-yard rocket in second half stoppage time, spoiling a 3-2 Fusion lead.

“These are the type of games that you have to find a way to win,” Fusion coach Rudy Ybarra said. “It’s a cup game with all the excitement, the fans are fantastic and you’re saying to yourself,
‘Man, how are we going to win this game?’ Because every time we went ahead, they came back.”

Ventura County, now the first amateur team to advance in the Open Cup in five straight years, will visit the Los Angeles Galaxy II (USL) in Wednesday’s second round.

Cal FC, after its memorable run to the Fourth Round in 2012, which included an upset of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, miss out on a chance at a rematch with Los Dos, the team that eliminated them 6-1 in last year’s second round.

But with former star Danny Barrera back in the No. 10 role, Cal FC flashed some of its former giant-killing verve.

The Thousand Oaks-based adult club, which now plays in the Adult Soccer League of Simi Valley, should have taken a 2-0 lead within 10 minutes. But Jhonny Bravo missed a sitter and Justin Vom Steeg, the Fusion’s 17-year-old UC Santa Barbara-bound goalkeeper, made a huge one-on-one save.

The Fusion’s reply was swift and sharp. Former Louisville attacker Michael Roman drove a diagonal ball that Carlos Martinez tucked inside the far post in the 14th minute.

Barrera answered in the 30th minute, turning in space and curling home a 25-yard beauty to tie the match at 1-1.

“Unbelievable goal,” Cal FC coach Ross Greaney said. “He’s a great leader… Both teams had a lot of very good attacking players on display.”

Javier Castro took down Michael Mercado’s cross and patiently finished in the 39th minute to give the Fusion a 2-1 halftime lead and the home team pushed for more before the break.

“We had to fix some stuff at halftime because they were all over use towards the end of the first half,” Greaney said. “It was an open game, which I think we wanted. They are training every day. We wanted a little bit of chaos, so our maturity could help.”

Cal FC capitalized on the chaos to make it 2-2 in the 51st minute, when fullback Chris Cummings finished a rampaging 30-yard run with a blast that Vom Steeg failed to punch over the bar.

About 12 minutes later, the Fusion put on substitute Julian Zamora to change the game and he obliged, heading the Fusion into a 3-2 lead with his first touch of the season.

Just when it looked like the Fusion would see out its lead, Espinoza let rip and forced extra time.

But not before Cal FC substitute Johnny Lopez nearly ended it with the last kick of regulation, forcing a point blank save from Vom Steeg.

Lopez also had a goal disallowed in the first half of extra time.

“We didn’t give up,” Lopez said. “That was the thing…. It was a good game. We gave it our all.”

Ventura County hung on for PKs and prevailed, despite two saves by Cal FC goalkeeper Bryan Hill, who was between the sticks when the Fusion won the PDL championship in 2009.

Two other members of that PDL championship team, Barrera and defender Dylan Riley, also converted PKs for Cal FC in the shootout against their former club.

“It was a wild game,” Hill said. “Give credit to both sides for being able to stick to their game plan, execute and put the effort in. At the end of the day, it was anybody’s ballgame, as we saw.

2014 US Open Cup Round 2: Sacramento Republic, without Preki, win debut vs. Ventura County Fusion (video)

May 16, 2014 by Evan Ream

Two second-half goals propelled Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup debutante Sacramento Republic FC past the Ventura County Fusion 2-1 Wednesday night at Cosumnes River College.

Republic forward Dakota Collins scored the winning goal with 12 minutes left after a pair of former Fusion players, Rodrigo Lopez and Harrison Delbridge, combined to level the game in the 59th minute.

“In this knock-out, elimination tournament, it’s always hard because you only have 90 minutes and you have another 30 if it’s still tied,” said assistant coach Rod Underwood who was standing in for suspended head coach Predrag “Preki” Radosavlijević. “It’s a lot of pressure, but we made it more difficult than it should have been.”

Sacramento dominated the whole game, but found itself behind at halftime when Ventura County forward Jordan Rideout was sent through on a counterattack by Agustin Cazarez in the 36th minute.

With the ball on his right foot, Rideout blasted the ball past onrushing Republic goalkeeper Dominic Jakubek and into the back of the net.

Underwood responded by bringing on Lopez, who usually starts, after the break.

The former Chivas USA man whose father played one game in the Open Cup for San Nicolas in 1998, made his first contribution 13 minutes after coming on when he lofted a free kick to the back post that towering Aussie defender Harrison Delbridge was able to get a head on.

Delbridge’s header was perfectly placed into the upper corner of the net, tying the game in front of a crowd of 1,347.
“It’s always important, the first game in Open Cup history for this franchise,” said Lopez. “It’s important to get the win. We had a slow start, but we pulled away with the win. Good teams find a way to win against a good opponent. Ventura Fusion is always one of the top PDL teams.”

“It’s just a tournament that personally I want to advance in, being here with such an amazing crowd and atmosphere at our games,” Lopez said. “I think deserves an MLS team. Outside of the field they’re doing things right, so I think inside of the field, we gotta do our job and keep advancing and make a statement, not just for our league, but for MLS and all the other leagues in our country.”

“Ro-Ro is a key player for us,” Underwood said of Lopez. “We needed someone to come in and help us do the things we like to do. And he did that.”

Nineteen minutes later the comeback was complete when Collins latched onto a saved shot to tap the ball into an empty net from inside the six-yard box.

Right back Emrah Klimenta’s run forward found Chad Bartlomé at the top of the box. Bartlomé played a 1-2 with Klimenta, then turned and shot the ball low and hard to Fusion keeper Trey Mitchell’s right.

Mitchell got a hand on the ball, but he was powerless to stop Collins from cashing in the rebound.

The game was sealed 10 minutes later when Ventura County defender Javan Torre was sent off after making physical contact with the referee after he received a yellow card for a bad challenge.

Republic FC will host the Fresno Fuego from the PDL on May 28 in the Third Round.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

2014 US Open Cup Round 1: Ventura County Fusion rallies to beat CD Aguiluchos to set amateur win record (video)

May 8, 2014 by Joe Curley

The Ventura County Fusion became the first Premier Development League team to win US Open Cup matches in four straight seasons Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over the NPSL’s CD Aguiluchos USA.

Kennedy Chongo and Peter Gregory scored second half goals as the Fusion reversed a 1-0 deficit before 200 fans at the Ventura College Sportsplex.

“If we’re making history, it’s because the organization is getting great leadership,” Fusion coach Rudy Ybarra. “That starts at the top with ownership. We’re seen as one of the best PDL teams in the country.”

Since falling on penalty kicks to the Arizona Suaharos (USASA) in 2010, the local Premier Development League has beaten Doxa Italia (USASA), Fullerton Rangers (NPSL), FC Hasental (NSPL) and Aguiluchos (NPSL) in consecutive years.

The Sacramento Republic, an expansion team in USL Pro that have five Fusion alumni on its roster, will visit Ventura in Wednesday’s second round.

The reunion was in jeopardy after the opening 45 minutes.

Two giveaways at the back within seconds of each other allowed Aquiluchos forward Jorge Ruiz to slot the opening goal into an empty net in just the fifth minute.

The Oakland-based National Premier Soccer League side put forth a starting XI that included striker Rudis Corrales, who had 77 appearances and 17 goals for El Salvador over the past decade. His resume includes a record five goals in a World Cup qualifier against Anguilla and a goal against the US national team in a 2010 friendly.

Aquiluchos’ solid first half forced Ybarra to use two of his three substitutes at the break.

Chongo and midfielder Steve Palacios opened the second half on the field, transforming the Fusion attack by combing with Gregory, winger James Kiffe and playmaker Johnny Lopez.

They earned the Fusion an equalizer in the 53rd minute as Chongo flicked a ball forward for an on-rushing Lopez. The ball was batted out of the air by the hand of a defender and Chongo slotted home the resulting penalty kick with ease.

Ventura County took the lead 12 minutes later, when Chongo’s rebound fell for Gregory to tap in at the near post.

Aquiluchos argued that the goal was offsides even more fervently than they did the earlier penalty decision. The visitors were even more unhappy when Francisco Mendoza’s potential equalizer was nullified by the offsides flag in the 70th minute.

Ybarra refused to render an opinion on the match’s controversies. But did argue that the Fusion proved to be the better team by creating more chances.

“You saw the difference in the second half,” Ybarra said. “We controlled the tempo. We had to withstand the little storm there, but the game should have been over prior to that. We created plenty of chances and that’s a good sign.”

Game highlights

Full game replay

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: LA Blues avenge last year’s upset, cruise past Ventura County Fusion, 5-1

May 22, 2013 by Kim Tate

The LA Blues came out in spectacular fashion tonight in Fullerton, scoring five goals in the first half, and knocking Ventura County Fusion out of the Second Round of the US Open Cup and advancing to the Third Round of the US Open Cup, where they will face MLS side Chivas USA.

The Fusion started out with possession for the first minute, but created very little chances and the Blues were quick to win the ball from the get go. Four minutes in, a perfectly crossed ball from Shay Spitz found Gabriel Gonzalez, who headed the ball into goal, giving the Blues an early 1-0 lead and kickstarting an onslaught that saw them up by three by the 12-minute mark.

The Fusion gained possession and bounced back making a run to set up Ema Boateng, who clumsily skied a shot just over the Blues bar in the sixth minute.

But not even a minute later, the Blues were on the attack when Matt Hall crossed a ball to Spitz, who struck with his left foot from the top of the box into the upper left corner for a spectacular finish, giving LA a 2-0 lead in just under 10 minutes.

You’d think the Fusion would start to look alive after finding themselves down two goals in 10 minutes, but it was quite the opposite, actually, as they themselves down by three only two minutes later. Mehrshad Momeni found a ball played from his right and danced around until he found some space to strike from distance, putting a rocket into the back of the net from about 20 yards out.

The entire first half was the LA Blues show, and now down by three the Fusion attempted to pick up the aggression when Frankie Lopez gained possession and spun a shot high, but it went well wide of the Blues’ net.

In the 29^th minute things got worse for Ventura County when a defender dragged Gonzalez down in the box and the referee whistled for a penalty to the Blues. Allen Russell converted the penalty for LA and the Blues, now up 4-0, rode the advantage out, scoring another goal six minutes later. It was Momeni again, firing another 20-yarder off a corner cross and putting the Blues up by five.

In the 40^th minute, Fusion midfielder Steve Palacios was given a yellow card for a hard foul on Momemi on the edge of the area that resulted in him being carried off after several minutes laying on the ground in pain.

The Fusion saw three more chances before the halftime whistle, but shots were high and wide.

Sam Hayden came up with a couple of big saves for Ventura County early and midway through the second half, preventing what could have been a sixth goal for the Blues. The Fusion saw a chance in the 68^th minute but the header went high. Finally, in the 87^th minute, the Fusion put themselves on the scoreboard when Peter Schmetz flicked a cross with his head into the back of the net from the six.

The Blues held onto their four-goal lead up until the final whistle blew, handing the Fusion a record loss as it was the first time in four years in which the Fusion have lost a game by more than one goal, including previous fixtures against the Blues and Chivas USA.

2013 US Open Cup First Round: Ventura County Fusion rallies twice for historic win over FC Hasental (video)

May 17, 2013 by Gerald Barnhart

In a showdown of two Los Angeles area clubs, it was a true back and forth affair with the visiting FC Hasental side taking the lead twice before ultimately falling 3-2 on a late goal from the Ventura County Fusion, sending them on to face the Los Angeles Blues of USL Pro in Round 2.

With the win, the Fusion made history by tasting victory in three straight Open Cup tournaments. The Michigan Bucks (1999-2001) are the only other amateur team to win at least one game in three consecutive tournaments during the Modern Professional Era (1995-present).

The dramatic contest started to heat up near the half-hour mark when Agustin Cazarez nearly put Hasental up in the 27th minute with a shot that rang off the woodwork and was subsequently cleared away from the line by defender Dylan Riley.

Cazarez, however, would find the opener 12 minutes later. A ball over the top sent Alberto Anguiano down the left edge of the box all alone. He turned his gaze inside the box and seeing a nearing defender crossed it into the area where it was brought down at the penalty mark by a Fusion defender, who fell after making the hard twist back to make the play. The ball, consequently, was left wide open for the incoming Cazarez, who ripped it home from 11 yards out.

Two minutes before the break it appeared the hosts would have a perfect chance to pull even when Peter Schmetz was taken down while attempting to cross the ball within the area, but Hagop Chirishian’s spot kick to the lower left was denied by Hasental keeper Trey Mitchell.

The equalizer, however, did come just before the intermission for the Fusion when Ema Boateng, after being fouled, launched a free kick toward the far post where Frankie Lopez got his head on it to make things even.

Hasental again had some quality chances initially in the second half, chief among them being a shot from Ruben Rodriguez in the 63rd that forced a dynamic save from Sam Hayden.

Despite the pressure, it was an unexpected quick play that resulted in the visitors reclaiming the lead four minutes later. A bouncing ball was cleared out by the Hasental center back and headed forward at midfield over the defense, putting Gustavo Villalobos, who scored twice in the opening round a week ago, through in a goal similar to the club’s tallies last week.

The Fusion, though, would get another chance to pull even from the penalty spot after defender Connor Dreschler was fouled in the area by Kleber Ortiz. This time Patrick Otte put away the subsequent penalty in the 77th minute to create a tension-filled final 13 minutes.

Hasental nearly took the lead again five minutes later when Armando Gaitan slipped a 40-yard free kick narrowly over the crossbar, but it was Ventura County who would find the winner.

In the 87th minute Riley drove forward and sent a fantastic cross in to Chase Minter, who finished with a diving header. The Fusion nearly added another in stoppage time for insurance when Chirishian sent a free kick into the upper corner, forcing a brilliant save from Mitchell a minute into the added-on time.

Scoring Summary

HAS: Agustin Cazarez (Alberto Anguiano) 39

VC: Frankie Lopez (Ema Boateng) 45

HAS: Gustavo Villalobos 65

VC: Patrick Otte (pen) 77

VC: Chase Minter (Dylan Riley) 87

Discipline

HAS: Joel Contreras (yellow) 33

VC: Kip Colvey (yellow) 63

Lineups

VC: Sam Hayden; Kip Colvey, Connor Drechsler, Peter Schmetz, Dylan Riley; Patrick Otte, Hagop Chirishian, Manny Guzman (Steve Palacios 55); Ema Boateng (Artur Aghasyan 65), Chase Minter, Frankie Lopez

HAS: Trey Mitchell; Ruben Rodriguez, Sebastian Rivas, Kleber Ortiz (Ericson Penate 88), Joel Contreras; Agustin Cazarez, Alberto Rosas, Armando Gaitan (Milan Radovic 45); Gustavo Villalobos, Alberto Anguiano, Manuel Cazares (Liviu Leu 77)

FC Hasental Highlights

Cazarez Goal

Villalobos Goal

Mitchell PK Save

#USOC100

Meet the 16 Premier Development League teams entering the 2013 US Open Cup

March 5, 2013 by Josh Hakala

Michigan Bucks vs. Chicago Fire - 2012 Third Round — The Michigan Bucks upset their second Major League Soccer team last year, knocking off the Chicago Fire 3-2 in extra time. Will we see another PDL team claim an MLS victim this year? Photo: Dave McCauley | Michigan Bucks

Shortly after the United States Soccer Federation announced the format for the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the United Soccer Leagues confirmed which Premier Development League teams would enter the competition. As reported by TheCup.us in January, the PDL will have 16 entries into the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second consecutive year.

Last year the US Soccer Federation expanded the Open Cup field to include all US-based Major League Soccer teams and increased the number of amateur teams to a Modern Pro Era-record 32. The upcoming tournament, the 100th consecutive running of the Open Cup, follows a similar format, and will include two addition amateur clubs, bringing the total to 34.

With the date of the 2013 tournament moved earlier in the month of May for the second year in a row, the PDL has decided to base their entries on the previous season’s results once again. The Central, Southern and Western conferences will each submit the top two American-based clubs from each division, while the Eastern Conference, which is made up of three divisions, will be represented by four teams. The Ocean City Nor’easters, who finished with the conference’s best record (13-3-0), the team with the second best record in Ocean City’s division, Reading United, the South-Atlantic Division champion Carolina Dynamo, and the GPS Portland Phoenix who finished one point behind the Canadian-based Ottawa fury in the Northeast Division.

A dozen clubs are making a return appearance in the event, including 10 that were in the tournament this past year. Four sides will be making their US Open Cup debuts in 2013. The foursome is comprised of the River City Rovers, Ocala Stampede, FC Tucson and Seattle Sounders U-23s.

All of the PDL teams will begin play in Round 1 on May 14, and the amateur team (PDL, NPSL, USASA, USCS, USSSA) that advances the furthest this year will receive $15,000 (up from $10,000 last year).

Here are the teams that will be taking part in the 2013 US Open Cup (read about the changes to the 2013 tournament here):

Central Conference

Michigan Bucks
1st place in Great Lakes Division (13-1-2)
Record 10th appearance, 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 12-8-1 (0-1 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2012

The Bucks will make their record 10th appearance in the US Open Cup and are the league’s most successful team in the tournament. With a record 12 Open Cup wins, 9 of them against professional opponents, they bring the strongest resume of any amateur team in the country. Last year, they bolstered their reputation as giant killers with their second win in franchise history over a Major League Soccer team, defeating the Chicago Fire 3-2 in extra time. Combined with their 1-0 road win over the New England Revolution in 2000, they are the only amateur team to defeat multiple MLS teams.

Bucks vs. NE Revs - 2000 — As you can see, not very many people were on hand to see the Michigan Bucks upset the New England Revolution in Foxboro back in 2000. Photo: Tony Biscaia | RevsNet

Last year, they crushed Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) 6-0, before upsetting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Pro) 1-0 on the road in Round 2. In the Third Round they defeated the Chicago Fire at home in just the fourth Open Cup game in history to be played indoors. In Round 4, their Cinderella story came to an end in front of their home fans (this time outdoors at Oakland University) by another unlikely team, the USL Pro’s Dayton Dutch Lions who converted a penalty kick in extra time to win the game 2-1.

River City Rovers
3rd place in the Great Lakes Division (7-7-2)
1st appearance in the US Open Cup

The Louisville, Kentucky-based River City Rovers have qualified for the tournament for the first time, benefiting from the fact that Forest City London, the team who finished in second place in the division, are Canadian and are not eligible for the Open Cup. Forest City finished with a 7-5-4 record, two points ahead of River City, and made an improbably run through the PDL playoffs to win the championship. River City had a chance to overtake Forest City for the last playoff spot, but they lost their season finale to the Michigan Bucks 4-0.

River City becomes the first Kentucky-based club since 1993 to qualify for the Open Cup. That year, the Louisville Alliance reached the Regional Semifinals before falling to Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC, 2-0.

Real Colorado Foxes
2nd place in the Heartland Division (8-4-4)
3rd appearance in the US Open Cup, 3rd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 1-2-0
Last appearance: 2012

The Real Colorado Foxes (no relationship with the Colorado Foxes who took part in the 1995 US Open Cup), have qualified for the third year in a row as the second place team in the Heartland Division (Division champion Thunder Bay Chill are from Canada). The Foxes won their first-ever tournament game in 2011 when they defeated USASA’s DV8 Defenders from San Jose, Calif. 5-0. Then after being eliminated by fellow PDL side Kitsap Pumas the next round, they suffered another defeat at the hands of an amateur team, losing 3-1 to the KC Athletics (USASA) at home.

Des Moines Menace
3rd place in the Heartland Division (8-5-3)
7th appearance in the US Open Cup , 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 7-6-1 (1-0 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2012

The Des Moines Menace are back in the competition for the second year in a row, making their seventh all-time appearance. Only the Michigan Bucks (10) have qualified for the Open Cup more times among PDL teams. They enter the tournament as a 3rd place team because the Heartland Division champion, Thunder Bay Chill, are based in Canada.

Aside from their consistent success in the league, the Menace are best known for their back-to-back cup runs in 2005 and 2006 when they four professional teams in two years, only to fall to the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting Kansas City) both years on the road. Last year, they picked up their first Open Cup victory since 2006 with a 3-1 extra time road win over the NPSL’s Milwaukee Bavarians, only to fall to the NASL’s (2nd Division) Minnesota Stars 2-0 in Round 2. The Menace are tied with the Ocean City Nor’easters for second place among PDL teams with 4 professional team upsets (Michigan Bucks have 9). According to TheCup.us records, the Menace are the only Iowa-based team (aside from the Iowa Menace who qualified out of the USASA in 2011) to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Professional Era, and even before that, there are no records of any Iowa team qualifying (records incomplete).

Eastern Conference

Ocean City Nor’easters
1st place in the Mid-Atlantic Division (13-3-0)
6th appearance in the US Open Cup (5th as PDL)
All-time Open Cup record: 7-5-0 (6-4-0 as PDL)
Last appearance: 2009

kevin-curran-vs-boyzz-kuhmalo-dcu-barons — The Ocean City Nor'easters (shown here as the Ocean City Barons in 2009 against DC United) have upset four professional teams in their club history. Only the Michigan Bucks have more with nine. | Photo: Bill Pellegrino, Ocean City FC

Ocean City ranks right near the top along with the Menace and the Bucks as one of the best teams in the PDL, and are back in the Open Cup thanks to last season’s division title, their first since 2004. Despite only winning two division titles since they joined the league back in 2003, they are 87-40-37, which is the sixth best record during that span. The Nor’easters qualified as the team in the Eastern Conference with the best record (13-3-0).

Reading United AC
2nd place in the Mid-Atlantic Division (11-2-3)
7th appearance in the US Open Cup (5th as PDL), record 5th straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 1-6-0 (1-4-0 as PDL)
Last appearance: 2012

web-Reading-NYGAA-GlennRiegel — Reading United are back in the US Open Cup for a fifth straight year, a Modern Pro Era record for an amateur team. Photo: Glenn Riegel / Reading United AC

For the first time in the Modern Professional Era, an amateur team will be making their fifth straight appearance in the US Open Cup. Reading United will attempt to put the past behind them, as the tournament has not been kind to United. Last year’s 2-1 home win over four-time Open Cup champion New York Greek American Atlas, was their first tournament win in franchise history. They would lose in the next round, 2-1 to the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Reading has their friendly rivals, Ocean City, to thank for keeping their streak alive. The Nor’easters, by virtue of finishing with the Eastern Conference’s best record, earned a berth, leaving the second place team, Reading, as the Mid-Atlantic’s representative.

GPS Portland Phoenix
2nd place in Northeast Division (10-4-2)
2nd appearance in the US Open Cup, 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 0-1-0
Last appearance: 2012

In just their fourth season in the PDL, GPS Portland Phoenix will make their second straight appearance in the US Open Cup, finishing behind the Canadian-based Ottawa Fury in the Northeast Division. The Phoenix had a chance to win the division, but they finished scoreless against Seacoast United when they needed a win to overtake the Fury. Last year, Portland lost their first-ever Open Cup game 3-2 to the Brooklyn Italians of the USASA. They found themselves behind 3-0 until Blaike Woodruff scored a pair of late goals but it wasn’t enough as the they fell to the two-time tournament champions.

Carolina Dynamo
1st place in the South Atlantic Division (11-1-4)
10th appearance in the US Open Cup (5th as PDL), 3rd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 10-9-0 (5-4-0 as PDL)
Last appearance: 2012

The Carolina Dynamo with their rich history dating back to 1993, will make their 10th appearance in the tournament this year, and their 5th as a PDL side. This is the third year in a row for the Dynamo as they will attempt to avoid their third straight one-and-done. Last year, they were eliminated by the Aegean Hawks from the DC-area 3-1. It was an impressive year for the Dynamo in the league as they only lost one game (11-1-4), and made a playoff run that took them all the way to the championship game, where they lost 2-1 to Forest City London. They will try to re-live their glory days this year, with their greatest moment coming in 2006 when they upset the Richmond Kickers (Div. 3) and the Seattle Sounders (Div. 2) to become the third PDL team (now there have been four) to advance beyond the Third Round. They would eventually fall in the ‘Battle of the Dynamo’, losing 4-2 to Houston of MLS in Round 4.

Laredo Heat
1st place in the Mid South Division (10-3-3)
3rd appearance in the US Open Cup, 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 1-1-1 (0-1 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2012

web-SA-LAR2-RobinJerstad — The Laredo Heat advanced to the Second Round of the 2012 US Open Cup, but lost to the San Antonio Scorpions, 2-0. Photo: Robin Jerstad | San Antonio Scorpions

The Laredo Heat are back in the Open Cup for a second straight year, and just the third time in franchise history. Three trips to the tournament in a decade is a surprising number for one of the best teams in the PDL. The 2007 league champion, and a three-time runner-up, the Heat qualified for the Open Cup for the first time back in 2006 when they nearly eliminated Dallas Roma FC in the first round before Roma began their historic run to the Fourth Round. Last year, the Heat returned, winning their first-ever Open Cup game, 4-2 over fellow Texas amateur club ASC New Stars (USASA) in extra time. They hit the road in Round 2 and lost 2-0 to the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions. This is a PDL team that has qualified for the league playoffs nine years in a row, and have only failed to qualify once, during their inaugural season in 2004. Single-elimination tournaments are nothing new to them, so this tournament could suit them well.

Austin Aztex
2nd place in the Mid South Division (9-5-2)
2nd appearance in the US Open Cup
All-time Open Cup record: 0-0-1 (0-1 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2008

After starting as a PDL franchise in 2008 (and qualifying for the US Open Cup), the Austin Aztex launched a professional team the following year and made two more Open Cup appearances. The franchise was moved to Orlando to form Orlando City SC, but in 2012, the Aztex franchise was revived in Austin as a PDL franchise. Their first season back was a successful one, finishing in second place behind the Laredo Heat. The only Open Cup game the Aztex PDL team played was in 2008 when they took the Atlanta Silverbacks (Div. 2) to penalty kicks, but lost the shootout 5-4.

Ocala Stampede
1st place in the Southeast Division (11-3-2)
1st appearance in the US Open Cup
All-time Open Cup record: N/A
Last appearance: N/A

The Stampede are one of four clubs who are taking part in their first Open Cup as they were an overwhelming success in their inaugural season in the PDL. Ocala, which is located in Central Florida, just northwest of Orlando, won the Southeast Division title with an 11-3-2 record, which was the best record in the conference. They will join the nearby Orlando City U-23s in the tournament.

Orlando City U-23s
2nd place in the Southeast Division (8-3-5)
6th appearance in the US Open Cup, 4th straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 0-5-0
Last appearance: 2012

Orlando City U-23s are back for their fourth straight Open Cup appearance and their sixth overall berth. In 2013, they will attempt to do something the previous five teams editions of the club have failed to do: win a game. Last year was the first year under the current team name. Prior to that, they were known as the Central Florida Kraze and made four trips to the competition before the team was bought by Orlando City after the 2011 season. Last year, they fell to Jacksonville United 2-1 after letting a 1-0 lead in the second half slip away. Jacksonville was awarded an 82nd minute penalty kick and then scored the game-winner in the 89th minute to seal Orlando’s doom.

Seattle Sounders U-23s
1st place in the Northwest Division (11-2-3)
1st appearance in the US Open Cup
All-time Open Cup record: N/A
Last appearance: N/A

No matter what they are called, the Seattle Sounders U-23s are making their first Open Cup appearance in franchise history. The club was originally known as Tacoma FC, but never qualified from 2006-2011. Last year, the team re-branded as the Seattle Sounders U-23s and enjoyed immediate success. They won the Northwest Division championship and reached the final four in the PDL playoffs.

Portland Timbers U-23s
2nd place in the Northwest Division (10-4-2)
2nd appearance in the US Open Cup, 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 0-1-0
Last appearance: 2012

After enjoying success in their first three years as a PDL franchise, including the 2010 league championship, the Portland Timbers U-23s qualified for the US Open Cup for the first time last year. They lost their first game to a USASA side, PSA Elite, 3-1 in front of their home fans, but they will have a chance to redeem themselves with their second straight berth in 2013.

Ventura County Fusion
1st place in the Southwest Division (12-2-2)
4th appearance in the US Open Cup (4th straight)
All-time Open Cup record: 3-2-1 (0-1 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2012

The Ventura County Fusion qualified for the Open Cup for the first time back in 2010 and were one-and-done to the USASA’s Arizona Sahuaros. Each year after that, they have improved on the previous year’s performance. In 2011, they won a single game before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Blues (USL Pro). Last year, they won two games, including a revenge win over the Blues in Round 2. They nearly knocked off an MLS team, but were unable to overcome an early goal by Chivas USA, and lost 1-0. If the pattern continues, will the Fusion reach Round 4 this year?

FC Tucson
2nd place in the Southwest Division (9-3-4)
1st appearance in the US Open Cup
All-time Open Cup record: N/A
Last appearance: N/A

FC Tucson became another first-year team to punch their ticket to the Open Cup after a successful inaugural season. They edged out the Fresno Fuego for second place and will be the first Arizona-based club to reach the tournament since the Arizona Sahuaros took part in 2010.

2012 US Open Cup Round 3: Chivas USA hold off local amateur Ventura County Fusion

May 30, 2012 by Gerald Barnhart

Travis Bowen of the Ventura County Fusion scrambles past a Chivas USA defender during a Third Round match in the 2012 US Open Cup. Photo: Aaron Schmidt

It was the shortest trip of all the Major League Soccer sides in the tournament, but by no means was it an easy one as Chivas USA squeezed out a 1-0 victory against Ventura County Fusion, one of three remaining amateur clubs in the tournament.

The result was important, though, for Chivas USA, who had previously been upset in the first match in four of their six previous tournament appearances, including their only previous match against an amateur opponent – a penalty kick tiebreaker loss to Dallas Roma (USASA) after a scoreless draw in 2006 that stands as one of five such upsets.

The Fusion came into the match riding a 3-1 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Blues of USL Pro, making Chivas USA take them seriously with stars Juan Pablo Angel and Juan Agudelo in the lineup for the match.

Agudelo would play an immediate factor, sending a through ball in the 13th minute to Cesar Romero, who nutmegged Ventura County goalkeeper Earl Edwards for what would stand as the only goal of the contest.

The Fusion showed great poise in not being star-struck. They nearly had an equalizer in the 20th minute Travis Bowen forced a save from backup netminder Tim Melia on a breakaway after John Alexander Valencia slipped.

Francisco Lopez, the overtime hero in the first two rounds, also had a chance at an equalizer, breaking through the defense and forcing another stop from Melia in the 71st minute.

The victory for Chivas USA, oddly, puts them into the shoes of rival Los Angeles Galaxy, sending them across the country to WakeMed Soccer Park to face the Carolina RailHawks, who rallied to defeat the Galaxy, 2-1.

2012 US Open Cup Round 2: Ventura County uses extra time to get revenge on LA Blues

May 23, 2012 by Michael Orr

Players from Ventura County Fusion and the Los Angeles Blues battle for the ball in their Second Round match in the 2012 US Open Cup. Photo: LA Blues

Ventura County Fusion emerged from a wild game with local rivals LA Blues in the Second Round of the US Open Cup. The game at Sherbeck Field on the campus of Fullerton College required 120 minutes and featured two sendings off before the Fusion won 3-1. The victory avenges the Blues’ 1-0 triumph in the 2011 Open Cup and provides Ventura County with a match against Major League Soccer side Chivas USA on May 29 at Ventura College.

LA Blues entered the game without the services of newly arrived striker Bright Dike, who is on loan from the Portland Timbers. Dike traveled back to Portland to take part in a friendly against Valencia CF on Wednesday and was thus unavailable for his new team, for whom he has already scored and assisted in two games this season.

The scoring opened in the 14^th minute when Ventura County’s Tim Pontius put a ball into his own net, ceding the lead to LA. The Premier Development League side responded through Frankie López, whose penalty in the 35^th minute leveled the score at 1-1.

Ventura County nearly took the lead in the 50^th minute when Kennedy Chongo’s header narrowly missed the target. The Fusion had repeated attempts on goal midway through the second half as López and Daniel Steres provided the shots.

Maykel Galindo came on for LA Blues in the 66^th minute. The former Chivas USA and FC Dallas striker almost scored within moments of his entry, and gave the Blues a renewed attacking presence as they tried to win the game in regular time.

Perhaps the most important sequence in the second half came when Steres fouled LA midfielder Irving Garcia in the 83^rd minute. Fusion goalkeeper Earl Edwards saved Allan Russell’s resulting penalty, keeping the score even at 1-1. Just two minutes later, the Blues had Cory Miller sent off for his second yellow card. Instead of taking the lead and keeping eleven men on the pitch, LA went a man down and remained on level terms.

Full-time saw the two sides retreat to their respective benches to regroup for two fifteen-minute overtime periods. In the 97^th minute, Fusion manager Ole Mikkelsen was sent off for roaming beyond his appointed technical area. Without its manager and a man up, Ventura County attacked.

López had the best chance of the first overtime, firing just wide late in the period. Just two minutes into the second overtime, the 23-year old midfielder finally put the Fusion ahead with a 107^th minute goal. That strike proved to be the match winner, but not the final action of the highly competitive affair.

Edwards survived late LA attempts an equalizer with a double save of Russell and George Davis. The Fusion finally got space enough to enjoy when Travis Bowen scored on a rebounded from a Chongo shot in the 116^th minute. The 3-1 score line held in favor of eleven-man Ventura County and the Fusion celebrated advancing to the Third Round.

Bowen will get chance to oppose his brother Tristan when Chivas USA travel to the northwest next Tuesday. For their part, Chivas crashed out of the Open Cup in the first MLS qualifying round in 2011.

2012 US Open Cup First Round: Ventura County Fusion generate OT electricity, history in 6-2 win over Fullerton Rangers

May 16, 2012 by J.T. Alwin

The Ventura County Fusion started off hot, and exploded for a record-tying four extra time goals to take out the hosting Fullerton Rangers on Tuesday night. The Fusion notched a brace in the first 22 minutes, but couldn’t make the lead hold in the second half.

After the game started as an end-to-end affair, the Fusion proved to win that game even-handed. Michael Roman took the feed from Kennedy Chongo in the back of the penalty box at 17′, and lofted it over Fullerton keeper Geovanni Hernandez to put Ventura on the board. Fullerton insisted in continuing the fast pace, and were torched again at 22′. The Rangers were caught napping, as three Ventura County players found themselves onside at close range. Francisco Lopez received from Chris Tsonis at close range, and slotted his second. Realizing their situation, Fullerton slowed the game down, their defense holding serve to prevent more damage going into the half.

The urgency started to build for the Rangers early in the 2nd half, and they started clawing their way back 55 minutes in. David Arvizu slid the ball in past Sam Hayden, cutting the deficit down to 1. Despite Sean Toth recieving a red for his second booking, Fullerton rallied around their lost man and leveled at the 67′ mark, with Eder Roldan doing the honors. Roldan put an excellent shot past Hayden, shocking Ventura. With both defenses proving sturdy, neither team could capitalize on rare chances by the end of regulation.

However, Ventura attacked early in extra time, and it paid off. Chongo was fouled in the box by the Rangers’ Leobardo Alvarez, and Francisco Lopez calmly slotted home the penalty bottom left to restore Ventura’s lead three minutes in. They seemingly plunged the dagger in at 98′, Chongo sliding in to restore the two-goal lead. Daniel Steres and Rodrigo Lopez would propel the Fusion into history with goals in the last ten minutes. Ventura County ended with four tallies in extra time, tying a Pro Era record. Miami FC notched the same amount in ET against the Central Florida Kraze (now Orlando City U23s) in the first round of 2010. Ventura’s chemistry proved to be electric to equal that goal, and look to continue that momentum next Tuesday, as they travel to Fullerton Stadium to play the Los Angeles Blues at 7:30 PM Pacific.

Source: 2013 US Open Cup to feature 16 Premier Development League teams

January 14, 2012 by Josh Hakala

This was confirmed this yAccording to sources at the United Soccer Leagues’ annual general meeting in Tampa, Fla., the Premier Development League will have 16 entries into the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second consecutive year.

Last year the US Soccer Federation expanded the Open Cup field to include all US-based Major League Soccer teams and increased the number of amateur teams to a Modern Pro Era-record 32. The upcoming tournament, the 100th consecutive running of the Open Cup, appears to be following a similar format, but the official announcement is yet to be made.

With the date of the 2013 tournament expected to be earlier for the second year in a row, the PDL has decided to base their entries on the previous season’s results once again. The official announcement came nearly a year ago exactly with two berths, with one exception, going to each division.

According to sources, here are the teams that will be taking part in the 2013 US Open Cup (we will be updating with brief summaries of each team’s tournament history):

Bucks-Fire 2012 3rd Round — Last year, the Michigan Bucks upset Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire 3-2 in extra time indoors at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich.

Des Moines Menace
3rd place in the Heartland Division (8-5-3)
7th appearance in the US Open Cup , 2nd straight appearance
All-time Open Cup record: 7-6-1 (1-0 in PKs)
Last appearance: 2012The Des Moines Menace are back in the competition for the second year in a row, making their seventh all-time appearance. Only the Michigan Bucks (10) have qualified for the Open Cup more times among PDL teams. They enter the tournament as a 3rd place team because the Heartland Division champion, Thunder Bay Chill, are based in Canada.

Eastern Conference

Ocean City Nor’easters
1st place in the Mid-Atlantic Division (13-3-0)
6th appearance in the US Open Cup (5th as PDL)
All-time Open Cup record: 7-5-0 (6-4-0 as PDL)
Last appearance: 2009

The Nor’easters are back in the tournament as another PDL team with a giant killer reputation. This is their first appearance since 2009, when they defeated two Division 3 professional teams to reach the Third Round where they lost a close 2-0 decision to Major League Soccer’s DC United on the road. Only the Michigan Bucks (12) and the Des Moines Menace (7) have more Open Cup wins as a PDL team than the Nor’easters (6), who were known as the Barons the last time they entered the competition. The Bucks are also the only team with more professional team upsets in the tournament (9) than the Nor’easters (4). Ocean City ranks right near the top along with the Menace and the Bucks as one of the best teams in the PDL, and are back in the Open Cup thanks to last season’s division title, their first since 2004. Despite only winning two division titles since they joined the league back in 2003, they are 87-40-37, which is the sixth best record during that span. The Nor’easters qualified as the team in the Eastern Conference with the best record (13-3-0).