Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2018 US Open Cup

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Welshman hat trick helps FC Cincinnati pull away from Detroit City FC in OT

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Emery Welshman of FC Cincinnati battles for the ball with a Detroit City FC player in a Second Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | 4th Floor Creative
Emery Welshman of FC Cincinnati battles for the ball with a Detroit City FC player in a Second Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | 4th Floor Creative

Detroit City FC battled valiantly against FC Cincinnati for 90 minutes to a 1-1 draw in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Unfortunately, the Cup match went an additional 30 minutes, and the United Soccer League side rallied to score three goals in extra time to defeat the amateurs from the Motor City, 4-1.

It was an offensive explosion that was completely different from what FC Cincy fans enjoyed last year during the club’s historic run to the US Open Cup Semifinals. The club advanced in five straight games to reach the tournament’s final four by scoring just four goals over 510 minutes. On Wednesday, it took them 120 minutes to put four goals in the back of the net. Canadian striker Emery Welshman scored three of the team’s four goals, with two fo them coming in extra time.

Play started early with Cincinnati holding a lot of pressure over the Hamtramck,Mich.-based club culminating with Daniel Haber’s cross almost finding the head of Paddy Barrett in the 21st minute. As the ball bounced around in the box and almost squirted out, Barrett found the ball again and unleashed a shot that was deflected out for another corner.

Cinco threatened again in the 23rd when Welshman took a shot toward’s Detroit’s net that was deflected, but landed in the box. Detroit’s keeper Nate Steinwascher beat the onrushing Cincinnati player to the ball and smothered it.

Detroit broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a goal that not only wowed the stadium, but also electrified the internet. Haber’s pass was intercepted by Detroit’s Elliot Bentley deep in their half. Bentley then found Deakin who paced down the field and found Bentley on the left side. Bentley played a one time pass to Rafa Mentzingan who played a short pass a full springing Deakin. Deakin carried the ball into Cincinnati’s box before sending a low pass to Shawn Lawson, who was in the middle of the box. Lawson waited patiently as two Cincy defenders went by before slotting home a low shot into the right corner for the 1-0 lead.

The lead did not last long however, as Cincy tied it up three minutes later. A long cross came into Cincy’s box from the right to Detroit’s back post. The 6’6 Forrest Lasso was waiting and flicked a header back across the mouth of the goal, and the Guyanese international Welshman jumped and headed home the equalizer to make it 1-1. At halftime, Cincy had outshot Detroit (8-2), taken less fouls (0-5), and taken more corners (7-2) than Le Rouge. Cincy picked up their first foul as soon as the official blew his whistle to start the second half as a defender mowed down the back of Lawson’s leg.

FC Cincinnati fans cheer on their team during a Second Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup against Detroit City FC. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | 4th Floor Creative
FC Cincinnati fans cheer on their team during a Second Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup against Detroit City FC. Photo: Brett Hansbauer | 4th Floor Creative

Cincy injected some life into their wings when they inserted former FC Buffalo winger Russell Cicerone in the 60th. Detroit had a decent chance to put them up in front in the 79th minute as Detroit received a foul about 8 yards outside of the box, with Deakin and Omar Sinclair standing over the ball to take the free kick. Deakin quickly did and hooked it very wide of the net. Cinco got one last chance in regulation in stoppage time as Cicerone fired a corner into the box, but it was dealt with by the Detroit defense. Unfortunately for the NPSL side, dead legs kicked in as the players were exhausted, and it showed. Cincinnati scored in the 93rd when Welshman cut from the right side of the box, and found substitute Corben Bone who steadied the ball and slammed it home to make it 2-1. Six minutes later, it was 3-1 as Cicerone made an angling run from the right wing and took a shot. The ball deflected off of the defense, and Welshman was there to half volley it home. Welshman would complete the hat trick in the 111th minute after being in the right place at the right time, and poking home a goal.

City head coach had nothing but admiration for his team.

“We played hard. We could have done a few things differently, but we played hard. Dead legs set in, and there isn’t much you can do there. But we took the best team in (the Eastern Conference of) the USL to extra time. Can’t really ask for much more.”

When asked about whether it might be seen as some silver lining as Detroit had played three games in eight days (last Wednesday against the Bucks, Sunday against NPSL side AFC Ann Arbor, and Wednesday night), Pitman quickly replied shook his head.

“No. These guys want to win every game they come to play at. I want to win every came we line up and play.”

FC Cincinnati will move on to Highmark Stadium next Wednesday to play against USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who beat another NPSL side, the Erie Admirals.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Louisville City crushes Long Island Rough Riders in this year’s amateur blowout

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Kyle Smith of Louisville City celebrates a goal against the Long Island Rough Riders in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Mathew Ballard | Louisville City
Kyle Smith of Louisville City celebrates a goal against the Long Island Rough Riders in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Mathew Ballard | Louisville City

Having watched film of his club’s Second Round opponent in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Louisville City FC forward Ilija Ilic saw in advance the type of play that led the Long Island Rough Riders to a Premier Development League conference final appearance a year ago.

“They have some movements that are next level,” Ilic said of the amateur side. But as the professionals in the PDL-USL matchup, Ilic added, “We were ready for it.”

It showed as Louisville City posted a dominant 5-0 victory Wednesday night at Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky. It was the second year in a row that City began the US Open Cup with a one-sided blowout of an amateur side. Last year, they traveled to Pittsburgh and embarrassed Tartan Devils Oak Avalon by the score of 9-0.

Ilic assisted Kyle Smith’s opening goal in the 25th minute before scoring one of his own own off a corner 12 minutes later. The game that was never in doubt from there with the Rough Riders unable to record a shot until the second half. In turn, Louisville goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski had to make just one save all night.

“They’ve had some success there as well,” Louisville coach James O’Connor said of Long Island, which defeated the Kingston Stockade to advance to the Second Round and also opened their PDL season with a win.

“It’s easy to see why, because they play really well. They’ve got good movement. We caused them a lot of problems and didn’t really allow them to get a foothold in the game, which was important, because if you do, then they’ll capitalize. It was great to see that intensity tonight.”

Rounding out scoring, Oscar Jimenez crossed to Luke Spencer for a tap-in goal in the 67th minute; Brian Ownby juked a defender on the end line and rocketed a shot in the upper corner in the 81st; and Cameron Lancaster scored on a gem of a curling free kick in the 86th.

Luke Spencer and Oscar Jiminez of Louisville City celebrate a goal against the Long Island Rough Riders in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Matthew Ballard
Luke Spencer and Oscar Jiminez of Louisville City celebrate a goal against the Long Island Rough Riders in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Matthew Ballard

Lancaster shrugged, smiled, and ensured LouCity was on to the Open Cup’s Third Round against fellow USL side Saint Louis FC, a former rival now playing in the Western Conference.

“I thought the guys performed really well,” O’Connor said. “I thought there were some lovely passages — some really good finishes. We can be really pleased.”

The scoreline would have been more lopsided were it not for a standout effort by Long Island’s goalkeeper, Danny Vitiello, whose University of Albany last year won the America East Conference and knocked traditional powerhouse Maryland out of the NCAA tournament.

Vitiello prevented a brace for Smith by diving to his right, stopping a penalty try in the 50th minute. And in the 60th, City midfielder Magnus Rasmussen played a shot through a defender’s legs. Vitiello couldn’t have seen much of the ball — but he got a hand on it nonetheless.

Ultimately, Louisville out-shot the Rough Riders 18-3 in what was a bounce-back performance. The 2017 USL champions entered having lost consecutive league games for the first time in nearly two years.

“I think it’ll certainly help,” O’Connor said. “It’s great to see some of the guys go on and get goals.”

The victory came in the University of Louisville’s soccer-specific Lynn Stadium, which is about half the size of what the club is currently constructing. For now, LouCity plays regular-season home games in a Triple-A baseball stadium, but will open its own facility in 2020.

“The first thing I’d like to do is really thank everyone connected with U of L,” O’Connor said. “Genuinely, a heartfelt thanks for allowing us to come and play at such a wonderful facility.”

“It was great — I’ll tell you that,” Ilic said of playing to a home crowd in the more intimate environment. “It was really good.”

And they’ll do it again next week, with Louisville-Saint Louis FC also to be played at Lynn Stadium.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Jacksonville Armada win rain-soaked rivalry game with Tampa Bay Rowdies

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JC Banks of the Jacksonville Armada scored the lone goal against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Keith Garrett | Jacksonville Armada
JC Banks of the Jacksonville Armada scored the lone goal against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Keith Garrett | Jacksonville Armada

There was no love lost between the former NASL foes Wednesday night as the Tampa Rowdies and the Jacksonville Armada met in the Second Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The two clubs fought aimlessly for possession throughout the match, but it was the Armada who ultimately came away with the victory, 1-0.

While Jacksonville are a rare professional team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), it still marked an accomplishment for the mostly-amateur league. Since the league was founded in 2003, only one NPSL club (Chattanooga FC, who did it twice) has defeated a professional team. (NOTE: FC Wichita joined the club later that evening)

The Armada also made some history for themselves, as they won three games in a single tournament for the first time.

It took a while for the game to get started as lightning delayed the start by 90 minutes. The delay and the soaked field could have affected the players as the first half produced very few quality chances as the two teams went into the halftime break scoreless.

Starting the second half, the Armada went on the attack and won a key possession in front of the Rowdies net. Josh Castellanos got a second chance and crossed it to JC Banks who buried in the back of the net. With that goal, the Armada were able to hold off the Rowdies for the remaining 40 plus minutes.

“The guys put everything out there today,” said Armada Coach Mark Lowry. “Tampa is very direct and put the ball in the box a lot. It wasn’t pretty but we defended fantastically well.”

This was certainly true as around the 65th minute, the Rowdies maintained the ball for a solid 10 minutes. Shot after shot, which led to four corner kicks in a row, the Armada held off the attack.

“Grinding, just grinding,” said JC Banks on recapping the match. “It wasn’t a pretty game, but you need to win those games.”

With their victory, the Armada now move on to the Third Round of the US Open Cup and will host Miami United FC, another NPSL team.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Richmond Kickers break ‘curse’ with PK win over Reading United

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The Richmond Kickers celebrate after wining the PK shootout with Reading United AC in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Matt Ralph | Brotherly Game
The Richmond Kickers celebrate after wining the PK shootout with Reading United AC in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Matt Ralph | Brotherly Game

After coming up empty in their two previous trips to Pennsylvania in league play, the Richmond Kickers finally had something to celebrate on the four-hour bus ride back to Virginia on Wednesday night: advancing in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

“Pennsylvania seemed a little cursed to us,” goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg said after Wednesday’s penalty shootout win in Reading, referring to 4-1 and 3-1 losses in two previous trips this season to play Bethlehem Steel FC in USL play.

Spangenberg didn’t start either of those matches — on-loan D.C. United goalkeeper Travis Worra got the call both times — but was a big reason why the Kickers are moving on to the third round of the competition after making eight saves and stopping two shots in the penalty shootout.

“It’s definitely been a while since I’ve been in a penalty shootout but we prepared all week for it, we know that situation can arise in the Open Cup, anything can happen,” he said. “Reading played a great game; it’s nice to just close out there and the bus trip home is a little more happy.”

Like they did at home last week in a Round 1 game against Christos FC (the team that upset Richmond in last year’s tournament), Reading fell behind early when Koby Osei-Wusu cleaned up a rebound in the 8th minute off a shot from Heveil Cordoves and then spent much of the rest of the half controlling possession but coming up empty in their search for an equalizer.

Reading’s team had five changes to the starting lineup from last week, which they had only two training sessions to prepare for in their first game of 2018. As an amateur team filled with college players on varying final exam schedules, it’s a scenario the Philadelphia Union Premier Development League affiliate faces every May.

“It’s just impossible to really prepare because there are four or five individuals we haven’t seen before even from the first game,” Kickers head coach Leigh Cowlishaw said. “After the goal we scored, it was one-way traffic (for Reading).”

The tying goal finally came for Reading in the 70th minute when substitute Austin Maloney made a darting run down the right flank and served a cross in to Khori Bennett, who flicked it home to even the score at 1-1.

“Austin’s come in and we also put Khori up at the nine too so happy with the return there,” head coach Alan McCann said. “Austin’s come in and taken the defender on directly, which we ask our lads to do on the wing. He has a low-driven ball and Khori finishes it. Very happy with that but we need to be taking more.”

It was another run and pass from Maloney in extra time that set up Alex Lipinski for a would-be winner that hit the right post. Defender Will Campbell also hit the post on a shot attempt that would have saved the eventual heartache in the penalty shootout. An Oscar Umar ejection with five minutes left in overtime gave the Reading offense one more boost in the final five minutes plus stoppage time. Umar saw red for contact to the face of a Reading player.

In the end, the small differences between a professional team and an amateur one filled with professional hopefuls determined the outcome. Reading outshot Richmond 21-8 for the match.

“That’s what pro teams do, they punish you when you don’t take your chances,” McCann said. “These are the harsh lessons they learn now for when they do make the jump. That’s what we take out of it.”

Cowlishaw admitted that his team was “very fortunate” to get to penalties and will take solace in knowing they get to play another Pennsylvania team — Penn FC — at home in the next round on May 23. Penn FC topped FC Motown 3-1 on Wednesday night to advance.

“I think we regrouped in overtime and finally got control of the game,” Cowlishaw said. “I was very confident we’d win on penalties because of Trevor and I knew the guys who would be stepping up to take them.”

Richmond won the shootout 4-3 with Neil Hlavaty’s kick holding up as the decisive one when Spartenberg, who has made only one start in USL play this season, stopped Bennett’s attempt in the fifth round of spot kicks. Spartenberg also saved Lipinski’s attempt while Reading keeper Bennet Strutz made the first save of the shootout on Mekeil Williams.

“Like the last game I was frustrated; we should’ve finished it off in regulation or overtime,” McCann said. “And here we are again.”

Notes

-The announced attendance for the game at Alvernia University was 119. The rainy weather from start to finish certainly played a part in that. While Reading United trains and boards players at Alvernia University, they are playing their home games this season at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium.

-Richmond advanced to the third round for the first time since 2016 but has now made it to the Third Round or further in eight of the last nine years.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Charleston Battery’s early goal vs. Tormenta FC keeps streak alive

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Victor Mansaray of the Charleston Battery delivers a cross in a 2018 US Open Cup match against South Georgia Tormenta FC. Photo: Ross Almers Photography
Victor Mansaray of the Charleston Battery delivers a cross in a 2018 US Open Cup match against South Georgia Tormenta FC. Photo: Ross Almers Photography

Courtesy of Soccer ‘N’ Sweet Tea

For the 13th consecutive year, the Charleston Battery won their first match in US Open Cup play and advance to the next round, this year beating South Georgia Tormenta FC, 1–0 on Wednesday night. The win extends the Battery’s winning streak to five in a row in all competitions after defeating Bethlehem Steel FC at home this past Saturday.

The Battery started in a 3–4–1–2 formation, giving veteran keeper Odisnel “Super” Cooper the start, as well as Ryan Arambula and Angelo Kelly. Swedish Ian Svantesson and Patrick Okonkwo drove Coach Michael Anhaeuser’s offense up front on a humid Carolina evening.

The Battery played defensively, focusing on holding a physically aggressive Tormenta FC in the beginning of the first half. Head referee David Erbacher was on his whistle consistently stopping play. Each side lost any momentum as play started and stopped over and over.

In the 21st minute, the Battery scored the match’s only goal in dramatic fashion. Patrick Okonkwo, on loan from Atlanta United, opened his Battery scoring account with his first professional goal, playing a cross from Victor Mansaray off his head and putting the Battery up for the rest of the match.

In the 63rd minute, Nico Rittmeyer, already shown a yellow card in the 48th minute for a questionable tackle, was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

Having to play a man down for the remaining 27 minutes, the Battery then substituted out Okonkwo and Vincenzo Candela for Tah Brian Anunga and Kotaro Higashi to better control possession and manage the tempo.

The Battery frustrated Tormenta the remainder of the match, and that frustration caught up with them in the 87th minute. Tormenta midfielder Nils Vinyals was overly aggressive on his challenge to Higashi and also saw his second yellow of the night, sent off for the remainder of the match.

With an additional three minutes of stoppage time added on at 90th minute, the 10-men Tormenta squad failed to mount an attack and fell short at the final whistle.

When asked about tonight’s performance, Coach Anhaeuser had this to say: “The key is win and move on … We were unfortunate to get the red card there, but the guys defended well. I don’t think we gave up a shot which is fantastic for our defense.”

The Battery then host the Third Round of US Open Cup play the following Wednesday. Elm City Express of the NPSL will make the trek down from the northeast to Charleston. The match is tentatively scheduled for May 23rd with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Pittsburgh Riverhounds snap streak, hold off Erie Commodores, 2-1

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Players from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Erie Commodores (blue) battle for the ball in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Jennifer White | Acacia Studios
Players from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Erie Commodores (blue) battle for the ball in the Second Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Jennifer White | Acacia Studios

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC returned to winning ways in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after a few years of futility.

The USL club knocked off the Erie Commodores of the NPSL in round two of the tournament at Gannon University Field in Erie, Pa. Wednesday night. It comes after the side suffered upsets by amateur clubs at the same point of the competition the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh didn’t take long to get out front. In the fourth minute, Kevin Kerr whipped in a well-placed corner that Thomas Vancaeyezeele headed past Commodores goalkeeper Nicolau Neto. The connection between the two midfielders put the road side up, 1-0.

That advantage doubled in the 30th minute. This time, Kerr turned from provider to goalscorer. After Erie took down Noah Franke in the box, the referee pointed to the spot. That’s when the Riverhounds number 10 stepped up and buried the ball past Neto to make it 2-0 Pittsburgh.

For most of the first half, Erie found themselves on the back foot trying to withstand an onslaught from Pittsburgh. But the Commodores began making forays into the attacking third late in the opening stanza. They were rewarded in the final minute of regulation via Cameron Philpot. The Erie attacking mid collected the ball eight yards from goal and put a brilliant one-time finish past goalkeeper Mike Kirk to cut the lead in half.

Philpot’s exploits will go down as among the most memorable for the Commodores in the US Open Cup. He finished with both tallies for the club during the tournament after scoring the lone goal in Erie’s penalty shootout win over the Rochester River Dogz in Round 1 last week.

Erie’s opportunities to level things up were few and far between in the second 45. But they did get a legit chance late in the half when Jack Simpson dribbled the ball into Pittsburgh’s box and unleashed a far post curler from the left hand side of goal. But Kirk was up to the task at diving to his left and parrying it away for a corner.

In the end, the game turned into a scrappy affair between an underdog hoping to pull off a shocker and a team coming into the game with high expectations.

“We get the early goal which helped but I think we got a little complacent,” Riverhounds manager Bob Lilley noted post-game. “I think (after) the second goal we really took our foot off the gas. And obviously they get a goal right before halftime that got them back in the game.”

“It’s disappointing we didn’t get a third goal with as much possession as we had,” Lilley continued. “But they deserve credit. They defended well. They kept themselves in it. They carved out some chances on the break and they were always in it.”

Erie clearly had hopes that Philpot’s tally late in the first half was the beginning of a comeback. But Pittsburgh held fast and persevered in the second stanza to come away with their first road victory in the Open Cup since 2008.

“We knew (after their late first half goal) that we were going to be in a battle for the rest of the game,” Kerr emphasized after the match. “(But) the boys did the job in the second half. It wasn’t the prettiest game you’ll ever see. It wasn’t the greatest football. But we’ve been here the last two years and had two early exits. So, all in all, (we’re) delighted to get the job done.

The Riverhounds move on to face FC Cincinnati in the Third Round which takes place next week on May 23.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Golden State Force ready for Cinderella role after upset of Orange County SC

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Players from FC Golden State Force celebrate a goal against the Orange County SC. Photo: Orange County SC
Players from FC Golden State Force celebrate a goal against the Orange County SC. Photo: Orange County SC

Orange County SC and their fans at The Championship Stadium in Irvine, Calif. were left stunned as the fourth-placed side in the Western Conference of the USL lost 4-2 to FC Golden State Force of the PDL. In the process, the home side tied a record for most losses by a professional team to an amateur side in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, with five such losses to their name.

The start of the first half was cagey for both sides as they looked to feel each other out. Then, Orange County SC began to control more possession as the half went on, but they couldn’t break down a stingy Golden State defense. Most passes went side to side and they couldn’t put any sustained pressure on the away side’s backline, but Golden State was the more effective team on offense, catching Orange County on the counter attack on a number of occasions.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute as OCSC midfielder Christian Duke made an inch-perfect tackle and rifled a shot past Golden State keeper Jose Miranda. It was an act of individual grit, determination, and skill as he started and finished the attack.

Two minutes later, Golden State equalized with Tyler Allen slotting a cross just out of reach of Orange County keeper Andre Rawls. It was the response the away side needed.

Golden State’s defense got caught napping as the clinical Dane, Thomas Enevoldsen latched on to a through ball from midfielder Koji Hashimoto and curled a shot past Miranda to make it 2-1 OCSC.

From here, the average fan would have expected the home side to take control of the match. They didn’t.

Golden State Force had a dream start to the second half as Thomas Juel-Nielsen took down Pedro Fonseca in the box and Alisson then converted the penalty to make it 2-2 in the 49th minute and for a good stretch of the second half, it was the visitors who controlled play and sustained possession in the attacking third of the pitch.

Orange County had no response to the onslaught that faced them and they conceded the lead in the 67th minute, when Samuel Goni Vilava scored.

The home side tried to get back into the game but Golden State stifled them defensively and limited their chances created before Golden State put the final nail in the coffin when Jose Fonseca rounded Andre Rawls to finish off a perfectly-executed counter and make it 4-2.

Golden State head coach Jon Spencer was overjoyed after the match:

“It couldn’t feel any better, I’m proud. My guys never gave up, they were down, but never know what out means.”

When asked if he would keep the same game plan against another USL opponent in the Third Round, Spencer offered,“Someone’s got to play Cinderella.”

FC Golden State Force will host the USL’s Las Vegas Lights in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Elm City Express’ Shaq attack finishes Seacoast United Phantoms

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elm-city-expressThe Elm City Express extended their cup run to Round 3 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 defeat of Seacoast United Wednesday night. Two second half goals from Elm City winger Shaquille Saunchez were all the Express needed as Seacoast United could not find the breakthrough goal.

The game kicked off with a showcase of attacking movement from Elm City, but Seacoast was putting on a defensive clinic in the early moments of the match.  As the first half begun to settle down into a back and forth affair, both teams began to get physical and the first yellow card of the game was shown to Elm City’s Tyler Carlos in only the 10th minute.

As the first half continued, the physical play from Elm City’s midfield allowed them to control the middle of the park and spread balls out to their flanks. This tactic exposed Seacoast’s back three and lead to several goalmouth scrambles. Only dropping further back to get behind the ball allowed Seacoast to get in at the half with the score line level at zero.

Most of the second half played out as it had in the first, with Elm City continuing to be a physical presence in the middle. The home side did carve out some possession in the final third and looked to threaten Elm City early in the second half but the Express back line, lead by Graciano Brito, defended well and limited Seacoast to a handful of chances.

There then followed a period of home team attack, forcing Seacoast United Keeper Mitch Steadman into several key saves to keep the match level. Elm City continued to pour forward and broke through with a Shaquille Saunchez shot from the top of the six yard box in the 81st minute.

Seacoast began to press, looking for an equalizer to force extra time but again the high press and physical play of the Elm City midfield proved to be too much for the Phantoms. After turning over the ball in the middle of the field, Express sprung a quick counter where Saunchez scored his second of the night.

From there, Elm City looked to close out the game, locking down their defensive third to all but guarantee a trip to the Third Round. Tempers began to get better of many the Seacoast players and they found themselves down to ten men in the final moments after a Daniel Bennett red card.

This win sends the Elm City Express down to South Carolina for a date with Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League.

 

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: David Ochoa’s hat trick lifts Miami United in Second Round

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Courtesy usoc_mu_finalMagic City Soccer

It didn’t start exactly how the team imagined, but the end result was sweet nonetheless. Miami United FC overcame an early deficit to storm back and defeat FC Kendall, 5-2. Miami United will advance to the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to face The Miami FC 2.

The man of the match was clearly David Ochoa, who scored three goals, including a world-class free kick from more than 30 yards away that settled in the top-left corner of the net to beat FC Kendall goalkeeper Ronald Garces.

Ochoa amassed the highest goal total, but it was FC Kendall which struck first. After a strong stretch of play by Miami United, Kendall were able to counter and Andres Navas had a shot on goal in the 10th minute, which was deflected away. On the subsequent corner kick, Daniel Gonzalez was able to swing a ball near post that Alessandro Mion redirected past Bryan Martin.

It’s not what Miami United would have asked for, but it was apparently the punch in the face the team needed.

Miami United were able to equalize in the 17th minute, when Mion caught the leg of Tomas Granitto inside the box. Granitto took the penalty kick himself and equalized the match.

Momentum really seemed to shift in the 24th minute, when Nicolas Gorobsov took a ball from Nicolas Micoli just outside the 18-yard box and finished beautifully top-right corner to give Miami United its first lead of the night.

But it was the moment in the 32nd minute that was sublime. Miami United earned a free kick and Ochoa, seemingly determined to find a way to best his teammate Gorobsov, absolutely hit an inch-perfect kick to put Miami United up and above FC Kendall for good.

Ochoa would score twice more, once off a well-played through ball and a precise finish close to goal, and the third off a strange clearance that came straight to his foot while he was on the ground in the box.

In reality, despite the scoreline, Garces may have been Kendall’s man of the match. After the opening goal, Miami United had nearly all of the offensive action, save for a penalty kick earned by Gonzalez and converted by Santiago Schmid in the closing seconds.

The second-round opponent for Miami United will be The Miami FC 2, cross-town rival and conference foe who defeated Red Force FC 4-0 to advance. The two teams have played twice already this year, with both games ending in 1-1 draws. Thanks to the format of the Open Cup, we know that’s not a possibility, and the Magic City Clásico trophy will be handed out along with a ticket to the third round and a possible date with a United Soccer League opponent.

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Pros from Miami FC 2 dominate Red Force FC

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Miami FC 2 and Red Force FC players battle for the ball in their meeting in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC 2
Miami FC 2 and Red Force FC players battle for the ball in their meeting in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Miami FC 2

Article courtesy of Magic City Soccer

The Miami FC organization could not have asked for a better showing Wednesday night at FIU Soccer Stadium. Playing a goal kick away from the organization’s “home grounds”, Miami FC 2 laid out a statement match versus local qualifier Red Force FC, cruising to a 4-0 win. It seems like Miami will not sit idly by and allow this Open Cup tournament to go to waste.

The action started almost as quickly as it did Sunday night in the match against FC Miami City. The Blues were buzzing early on and dictated over 85% of the possession in the first ten minutes of the match. In the 9th minute, Jaime Chavez would get played through on goal by an excellent pass from Kris Tyrpak down the left-hand side. Former Miami FC goalkeeper Sebastian Evers, timed Chavez run perfectly and managed to save a ball that was destined for the back of the net.

The game wouldn’t remain level much longer. In the 22nd minute, Tyler Ruthven played a beautiful cross towards the back post that found Tyrpak’s head and then the back of the net. Despite a few Red Force runs into Miami’s defending half, the Blues kept Red Force penned in to their own half of the field. In the 34th minute, Martinez almost found Tyrpak again for his 2nd goal of the night, but a crafty Red Force clearance gave Miami one of their 13 corners in the match.

miami-fc2-vs-red-force-2018-usoc-bigTyrpak would find another way to leave his mark on the match. In the 45th minute, Dylan Mares would send in a cross after a Miami corner was played short. Tyrpak sailed above the Red Force defense and floated a header past the outstretched arms of Evers. The first half would end with Miami dominating possession and taking a 2-0 lead into the break.

Miami would opt to use two substitutions early in the second half replacing Don Smart and Ariel Martinez with two goal scorers from the play-in round, Dario Suarez and Jeff Michaud. Miami would never take their feet off the gas. With a relentless press that kept Red Force inside their own end, Miami picked up a turn over and broke down the right-hand flank. A cross would be fired into Mares unmarked at the six yard box. The effort would be parried away by Evers but Mares would track the rebound and fire it past Evers on a bad angle to increase Miami’s lead to three.

Despite Red Force’s best efforts to be creative and push the game into Miami’s end, their turnovers would come back to haunt them. In the 87th minute a careless through ball would spring Miami on the counter. Using the recipe for success, Miami screamed down the right hand side before finding Chavez in the technical area. Chavez quickly found Dario Suarez on the back post unmarked and sent in a cross that was smashed home on a volley. Suarez, with a flair for the dramatic, sealed the match for Miami in his consecutive appearance for the club.

Miami’s technical ability and conditioning were vastly superior to Red Force FC. Red Force had a lot to be proud of, keeping a club of professionals off the board for twenty-odd minutes before conceding. Paul Dalglish complimented the Red Force effort by saying “I thought they did themselves proud. We were trying to score as many goals as we could and they managed to hold us to four.”

Up next for Miami FC is the third and final act of the #MagicCityClasico. The match will be hosted by Miami FC at FIU Soccer Stadium on May 16th at 7 p.m.

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