Zum Schneider

The New York Renegades defeated Zum Schneider 4-2 on Sunday night to clinch the club’s second straight US Open Cup berth. The Renegades were heavily favored, but both sides contested well: trading goals, well-timed shots, and hard tackles throughout the 90 minutes. 

After the match, New York Renegades founder and manager Boris Linares credited his team for their hard work throughout the tournament. 

“Any team can give you a battle, and everybody comes at us hard. Everybody plays a hell of a game,” Linares said. “They didn’t come to roll over … and I expect my players to know that, but they responded.” 

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Renegades drew first blood with an excellent goal from Junior Rosero. A long ball from the halfway line bounced once in front of Rosero, who had a defender challenging him for the ball and his back to goal. Rosero used his skill, touch — and some yoga moves — to spin his defender and toe-poke the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. 

The goal was a step in the right direction for the Renegades, but their lead wouldn’t last long.

Moments later, Tomas de Andrade Gomes was left unmarked at the back post and was able to slide in and redirect a cross into the net. The response was swift, the slide was stylish, and the equalizer signaled it was game on.

While the referee didn’t have a significant influence on the match, he did make a few important calls. Several crunching tackles and late challenges lead to yellow cards. 

The most controversial of the first half came in the 31st minute as Zum Schneider’s Jason Budhai received the ball on the right at the top of the box. He executed some swift step-overs before coming into contact with the Renegades’ Cristian Garcia. Despite the foul and goal-scoring opportunity, Garcia did not receive a yellow card, which would have been his second. The referee was consistent in calling fouls and issuing cards, but the nature of the match changed nearly instantly.

The second half mirrored the first with the same sense of battle, grit, and now, urgency with the match tied at 1-1. 

The Renegades once again took the lead early in the half as a cross from the right was smashed home by an unmarked Samuel Caceres to make it 2-1. 

Gomes would answer after he found himself in space and saw his shot deflected. Still, a poor clearance set up a perfect volley for Gomes, who once again equalized at 2-2. Fans of Zum Schneider in attendance exploded with flags and songs in support. 

When all signs pointed to extra time, the Renegades found the breakthrough. They scored not one, but two late goals to ensure they would move on to the 2026 US Open Cup. 

The first came from Eric Turcios, who got a touch on a low cross from Garcia. Turcios had been out injured, didn’t start the match, but had the crucial touch that sealed the win. Turcios is making a name for himself in scoring dramatic late winners, as he had also scored a late winner against the NY Braveheart to send the Renegades to the UPSL National Finals.

Zum Schneider had four minutes to find some Open Cup magic. They made quick substitutions and did their best to get into an attacking position. It was clear that going for the equalizer would leave them exposed, as Sebastian Ruiz got free on the left and hit the post. 

Zum Schneider’s tired legs and broken hearts were starting to show as Ruiz once again got free in a similar area and this time did not miss the far corner. He left the goalkeeper rooted to his spot, Zum Schneider’s dreams dashed, and sent his team into pandemonium with the final score to make it 4-2.