Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

2022 US Open Cup

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Ex-Battery man leads Tormenta FC to upset of Charleston in empty stadium

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Players from South Georgia Tormenta FC (left) and the Charleston Battery battle for the ball in their Second Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Tormenta FC

In a rescheduled game played in front of an empty stadium, South Georgia Tormenta FC left South Carolina in the early afternoon with an upset win over the Charleston Battery, scoring early through Arthur Bosua before holding on for a 1-0 road win.

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The Second Round game for both teams was played behind closed doors after being originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday night. However, due to storm damage to the Battery’s stadium at Patriot’s Point, the game was moved to an 11 a.m. kickoff with no fans in the stands. The weather would keep even the players off the grounds that evening, It was an unusual time for a professional soccer game and the first morning kickoff in the US Open Cup since 2016.

The game remained tied until the 61st minute when 2019-2020 Battery player Bosua blasted in a header against his former team from a corner kick taken by Adrian Billhardt, giving the USL League One side a lead they would not relinquish.  The goal was South Georgia’s first-ever U.S. Open Cup goal as a professional side.

Despite Charleston having greater possession and taking more shots, they were unable to get the ball into the back of the net in a game that saw 11 yellow cards distributed between the two teams.

The result was the first opening round loss by the Charleston Battery in the Open Cup since 2005, and ending what was the second-longest opening-round win streak at 14 games.  Rochester currently holds the longest win streak with 17 opening round wins. The loss also brought the Battery’s nine-game home unbeaten streak in the tournament to an end. It tied a club record and was tied for the fourth-longest such streak in the Modern Era.

Tormenta head coach Ian Cameron had praise for his side and how they can use this experience going forward in league play.

“A strong, professional performance from the side today,” Cameron said. “We are going to play against Omaha in a couple of days, but today’s match helped us prepare because both clubs share similarities. Both teams are excellent on the field: they are direct, and we have to adjust to their style of play.”

“We didn’t adjust to NCFC, and we lost,” Cameron added about his club’s previous league performance. “Today we adapted and won, and we will do the same two Saturdays from now.”

With the win, South Georgia Tormenta FC advances to the Third Round of the US Open Cup, scheduled to be played April 19-21.  They will learn their opponent in the Round 3 draw Friday at noon ET.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Motown beats first pro team in shutout of AC Syracuse Pulse

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Federico De Olivera of FC Motown salutes the fans after scoring a goal against AC Syracuse Pulse in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Peter Bonilla

There’s an honest debate to be had regarding the best run from FC Motown’s 1-0 Second Round win against professional side AC Syracuse Pulse on Wednesday. On one hand there’s Federico De Oliveira who charged into the box to strike home a pass from former Portuguese professional Samuel Pompée in the 96th minute to win the game in extra time. The other option is Motown co-owner Dan Karosen who sprinted down the bleachers at MSU Soccer Park after the ball went in the net, arms fully raised in the air and screaming his lungs out.

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With the win, FC Motown — based in Morristown, N.J., and certainly not Detroit — moved on to the Third Round for the first time in its history. The result is also the team’s first win over a professional side in the competition. It’s previous attempt was a 3-1 loss against Penn FC in 2018’s Second Round.

After the match, De Oliveira was eager to credit every member of the team for the result. From goalkeeper David Greczek who punted the ball down field to start the scoring play, to Pompée who was a key attacking defender all game.

“It’s not about individual things here,” the Portuguese expat explained. “Motown is all about family and we’re very, very proud. Very proud of ourselves, the coaching staffs, the presidents, and yeah … it was a great goal.”

Officially, this is the second straight shutout for Motown and a clean sheet for Greczek in this year’s tournament. Head coach Šaćir Hot knows this team is no stranger to good defensive outings. His group that reached the 2018 NPSL National Final was led by a stout backline that earned multiple league honors.

“I always say that championship teams have to have great defense,” said Greczek, a former New York Red Bulls homegrown player. “To hold West Chester and Syracuse back-to-back zeros is a good start. It keeps me very optimistic about this team because, again, when you have a great defense you can always do something.”

The team’s third tournament match at Montclair State University in three weeks opened up as a sluggish affair. Misty conditions became light rain over the course of the game, making the field slick and hampering both teams. Even before that though, neither side looked convincing in their attacks. The first 45 minutes produced two “shots” for each side but none were on target or, frankly, convincing.

The visiting Pulse, a first year outfit in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA, Div. 3 pro), had the size advantage but struggled to build up through the middle of the field. Syracuse focused any chance it got by trying to out-physical the home team while passing up the wings. Head coach Peter Fuller wasn’t surprised though considering his team had only started training together less than three weeks ago.

“I would’ve liked to have had a little bit more time under our belt,” the coach admitted afterwards. “Obviously we’ve been together for 18 days and had one other game. In a way, it’s a little bit almost preseason for us.”

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FC Motown pose for a team photo prior to the club’s match vs. AC Syracuse Pulse in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup in Montclair, NJ. The team wore shirts in support of teammate Sanclair Tueno, who was hospitalized after being involved in a car crash. Photo: Peter Bonilla

“I thought our play was real disjointed. We gave away a lot of balls that we shouldn’t have given away. We were passing when we probably should have been shooting. We were not passing when we’ve opened space, like driving at guys. I think it was a team that hasn’t been together long enough.”

That one other game was a 1-0 win against fellow NISA expansion team Flower City Union two weeks ago in the season opener. The team’s game last weekend against Chattanooga FC, which Fuller previously coached, was postponed due to snow in upstate New York. Fuller went back and forth on how much that missed extra 90 minute played into Wednesday’s result saying he and his staff had talked about it a little. In the end, he lamented that it was open for debate.

Both of Syracuse’s first half shots came from forward Alexander Satrústegui and both were blocked. If his name sounds familiar, his father Jesús María Satrústegui was a legendary player at Real Sociedad and Spain national team striker. On this night, his son worked the right wing of the field. He and right back Kyle Nuel, both former teammates at Michigan Stars FC, had great chemistry all game. But it didn’t translate into looks on the net.

Motown was similarly stuffed up during the first 45. Haitian youth international Nerlin Saint-Vil was the focus of the offense early on. His speed worked both wings and allowed him chances to cut into the middle of the field. However the former Carribean pro wasn’t able to connect on any follow-up passes due to Syracuse’s heavy pressure. On the left side, Ryan Peterson looked lost all match. Following his dramatic game-winning goal against West Chester last Friday, most attacks that went through him fizzled out quickly. By the 42nd minute, his frustration boiled over after Pulse forward Stephen MacDonald picked the ball off him. Peterson fiercely pulled back on the opposing player’s jersey to hinder the attack, earning himself a yellow card.


Outside of this moment though, Motown succeeded in not getting pulled into a physical game. Syracuse finished the match with 28 fouls and the New Jersey sideline was visibly frustrated early on with the lack of cautions shown to them. That itself resulted in Motown head coach Šaćir Hot getting a card in the 33rd due to dissent, one minute after Fuller was shown yellow for use of “colorful language.”

“I think that our guys showed very, very good maturity and very good composure,” said Hot. “I think that it could have got real chippy if they lost their heads in the first half. They’re warriors, man. These guys are warriors.”

De Oliveira pointed out their maturity was helped by how much experience Motown has. With players like international Gidean Baah on the sideline it’s easy to see how that mentality flows through the close knit unit.

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Federico De Olivera of FC Motown celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against AC Syracuse Pulse in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Peter Bonilla

“We’re not rookies,” the forward said with a smile on his face. “We’ve been here, we’ve been at the pro level. We have a lot of ex pros at Motown. So we knew what to expect. AC Syracuse have a great team. They started a really strong game. Physical, but we didn’t let ourselves down actually. We have big guys, we have physical guys, and it was just a 50-50.”

The second half opened up for both teams despite the worsening weather. Syracuse kept Motown in their own end to start but eventually the home side took more control. The offense moved the ball and kept it at midfield and in the Pulse’s end. Still, a handful of mixed-bag attempts from Saint-Vil and Peterson in a six minute span (52nd to 58th minute) were the only shots toward Macklin Robinson. Meanwhile the fouls continued to build up for the visitors with three players going into the book.

The biggest chance for both teams came back-to-back in the final three minutes. In the 86th, Min-jae Kwak fed charging second half substitute Molley Karpeh a ball following a run down the middle. The forward had open space on the right side with Motown’s Kian Alberto caught out. His right footed shot to the opposite post got past Alberto and a diving Greczek but rolled inches to the left of the post. On the subsequent play, Motown passed around the Michigan defense in the 88th minute. A long pass to Joe Fala on the edge of the box was chested down towards De Oliveira, who sliced the ball inches right of the post and off the back advertisements.

For his part, from the moment Karpeh set foot on the field in the 80th minute the game shifted. The former Maryland Bobcat had a majority of his team’s best chances for the rest of the game. Coach Fuller called him the most dangerous player on the field.

In extra time, the intensity from both teams kicked up. After De Oliveira’s goal, Syracuse nearly tied the game twice in the first extra time half. Kwak demolished a shot from the penalty arc in the 101st minute that was going upper right. Greczek managed to just get a hand on it with a jumping dive and forced it up off the crossbar. The subsequent corner was sent in by Kwak and needed a Motown defender to head it out after it was heading towards the goal line.

Syracuse had one more chance to tie the game during stoppage time of the first extra time period that will be on many of the players’ minds. A low corner kick was headed over the Motown defense by Nuel and looked to be going in. In an odd moment, Karpeh raised his leg as the ball neared the goal line, inadvertently redirecting it out of play as the whistle blew.

It’s the defining moment that goes back to what coach Fuller said; this team had only known each other for 18 days. Karpeh may have not trusted Nuel enough to let the ball go in, tried to steal the goal stat for himself, or any number of other things. But it was something a team wouldn’t do if it had chemistry.

“I’m really hoping once we get to that break (in May) and get through it I’m almost looking at that as our preseason in a lot of ways,” Fuller said. “So I’m hoping once we get to the 1st of June, I’d like to believe we’re starting to click a little bit.”

For coach Hot and his team the reaction to the win is the same as any other cup game. The chance to move and possibly play the Red Bulls, a team he and many of the Motown staff have connections to, is big. But the bigger result for the team is the sense of joy and accomplishment they give one another by doing their best. That includes their teammate Sainclair Tueno, who continues to recover in hospital following an accident last month.

“I told the guys before the game that ‘nothing’s better than making someone else happy. There’s nothing better in the world than making others happy,’” he said. “I told them today that if we battle and fight and we win, regardless of who it is, we’re gonna make each other happy. And that’s what we did today. Obviously for our guy Sainclair, he saved us a couple of times today, he was there with us. Some goal line clearances. Some close calls that could have fallen their way. I think the power of our guy up there was with us.”

Please see: Tueno’s family is currently raising money on GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.


Scoring Summary
95’ – FC Motown – Federico De Oliveira

Lineups

FC Motown: David Greczek (GK), Hermanus Achterkamp, Mike Da Fonte, Zach Perez (Jean Voltaire 59’), Mardochée Samuel Pompée, Daniel Cordeiro, John Casey (Hayden Criollo 90’), Kian Alberto, Joseph Fala, Nerlin Saint-Vil (Marcus Hackett 108’),  Ryan Peterson (Zachary Knudson 59’), Federico De Oliveira 74’)

Manager: Šaćir Hot

AC Syracuse Pulse: Macklin Robinson (GK), Morian Moussi, Kaio Dasilva, Shaun Russell (Christian Waegelin 108’), Kyle Nuel, Min-Jae Kwak, Michael Kafari, Evan Waldrep (Alec McKinley 72′), Stephen MacDonald (Molley Karpeh 80′), Kaleb Jackson (Juan Louis 59’), Alejandro “Alex” Satrústegui Lopetegui (Bruno Rendón (59′)

Manager: Peter Fuller

Yellow Cards
Hermanus Achterkamp, Motown 4’
Ryan Peterson, Motown 42’
Kaleb Jackson, Syracuse, 51’
Kaio DaSilva, Syracuse 75’
Shaun Russell, Syracuse 82’
Federico De Oliveira, Motown 90+3’
Alec McKinley, Syracuse 120+1’

Referee: Luis Arroyo
Assistant: Joseph Paolini
Assistant: Bomer Fierro
Fourth official: Caleb Firl
Attendance: 50

Link to ESPN+ Replay

 

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Gibran Rayo’s strike edges Rochester NY FC past tough Lansdowne Yonkers

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Thursday evening’s Second Round encounter between Rochester New York FC and Lansdowne Yonkers FC was a physical affair. The first minute of the match saw RNY captain Lamar Batista go to ground holding his face following an aerial challenge with an opponent. This contentious nature continued through to the final whistle.

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Rochester head coach Bruno Baltazar told theCup.us, “We found a tough opponent, really physical, a lot of tackles and a lot of physical game, and we struggled a bit with how they play.”

Though both sides have since changed their names, the game was a rematch of a 2016 Third Round match won by the Rochester Rhinos 2-0. In its first Open Cup contest since coming off hiatus, Rochester put a stellar 16-0-0 record against amateur teams on the line against the reigning National Amateur Cup champions.

Rochester added to their perfect record against amateur teams (19-0-0) with a narrow 1-0 win over Lansdowne on the strength of a first half goal by Gibran Rayo.

Rochester made a name for themselves under the name “Rochester Raging Rhinos” in 1999 when they became the first lower division club in the Modern Era (1995-present) to win the US Open Cup. More than two decades later, they remain the only non-MLS team to lift the trophy.

Baltazar discussed the club’s history after the match and how he used it as a motivation rather than a burden.

“I wouldn’t call it pressure, I would call it a positive energy and a positive feeling that we have to represent this club, to honor the big history that this club has,” said Baltazar.

Rochester’s Portuguese coach went on to allude to his preparations to avoid being upset despite only having two friendlies and two club games with his squad so far.

“It’s a tough game, always. Cup games are always tough, in American soccer, all other the world,” Baltazar addeed. “There’s a lot of surprises happening in every round and we were aware of that.”

To that end, the home side started on the front foot. Rochester’s Pedro Dolabella saw his 22 yard free kick tipped over the bar in the fifth minute before Ojai Bedford made a last-ditch tackle for the visitors a few minutes later.

Just after the half-hour mark, the hosts pressured again with a through ball on the edge of the area but Lansdowne’s Kyle Parish slid in with a timely intervention for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick, goalkeeper Abdou Karim Danso made a diving save to his left to preserve the deadlock. Danso flapped at the next ball into the box but his defense was able to complete the clearance in the 33rd minute.

MORE: American soccer’s greatest modern underdog story: Rochester Raging Rhinos win 1999 US Open Cup 

As the match looked destined to head into the break scoreless, Rochester hit on the counter attack and Gibran Rayo played a wallpass before neatly finishing past Danso deep in stoppage time.
Lansdowne Yonkers FC head coach Sean Kelly commended his team’s work rate in the first half but stressed that they improved after the intermission.

“We wanted to go and make it as hard as possible for them and I think we did,” said Kelly. “I think we worked hard. We defended really well in the first half. We were nearly there, we nearly made it into the dressing room 0-0. We defended really well even though we didn’t play well – they played really well, credit to them.”

“It was just an absolute knife to the heart, just a knife to the heart!” Kelly, who played in the 2016 match against the Rhinos, elaborated on the emotional toll of conceding just before halftime. “We had just had a free kick … and they cleared it and within a minute the ball was in the back of the net. And when you play against teams of this standard, that’s what will happen. They’ll punish you. If you don’t aim to punish them first, they will punish you on counters.”

Lansdowne came out for the second half looking to switch their style of play. A key addition in the underdog’s quest for an equalizer was former Shamrock Rovers attacker Dean Dillon, who entered the contest in the 51st minute. A sloppy midfield characterized much of the second half, with multiple substitutions for both teams and the referee handing out yellow cards rather haphazardly.

2022 MEET THE UNDERDOGS: No longer Bhoys, Lansdowne Yonkers FC continuing unprecedented success

The visiting team grew as the match wore on and developed a number of chances in the dying minutes of the games. In the 89th minute, Lansdowne had a deep free kick that drew Rochester’s Philip Chijioke Ejimadu off his line but the goalkeeper did not punch cleanly before his defense cleaned up the mess.

In second half stoppage time, Dillon saw a headed chance fly just over the frame of the net and forward Shamir Mullings, who scored the equalizer in the club’s penalty kick win over the Ocean City Nor’easters in Round 1, directed a header from an in-swinging corner kick just wide of the far post. After six minutes of time added on, the referee blew an end to the match and Rochester NY FC will advance to the Third Round where they will face another amateur team, FC Motown of New Jersey in the NPSL.

Kelly was almost beaming after the match despite the result.

“The gameplan didn’t really go to plan in the first half but in the second half we were much better,” said Kelly. “And I’m really proud of the boys for that. This group has come a long way. It’s just more experience for us as a club and as a team. Hopefully we can grow and get better from this.”

“We had two half-chances towards the end. But if you start the game slow in the first half, you can’t just come out and turn it around in the second half and expect rewards. Saying that, I would have loved it if we had gotten an equalizer but it just wasn’t meant to be today. Rochester needed a win at the same time and they got it.”

Thursday’s result means that Rochester has advanced in a Modern Era record 17 straight opening round cup matches dating back to 2002.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Late goal gives Loyal SC, Landon Donovan first USOC win in battle of San Diego

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Taylor Crull celebrates with his San Diego Loyal teammates after scoring an 89th minute go-ahead goal against ALBION San Diego in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: San Diego Loyal

Widely known as America’s finest city, San Diego hosted a Second Round Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match between two first-time participants: ALBION San Diego and San Diego Loyal. Supporters from both teams packed Canyon Crest Academy’s stadium, home of the reinvigorated ALBION soccer club who are now participating in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA, Div. 3 pro).

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The night was electric with the Loyal supporters setting the tone and bouncing to the beat of the drums for over 90 minutes.

San Diego Loyal, the USL Championship side led by their head coach, US National Team legend Landon Donovan, scored two dramatic late goals, one in each half to secure a 2-1 win and to punch their ticket to the Third Round of the 107th edition of the US Open Cup.

ALBION put up a fight and made things difficult for the Loyal when they equalized in the 65th minute through Mayele Malango who found himself at the end of a good cross inside the box to make the final 25 minutes enthralling for those in attendance.

The Loyal starting eleven consisted of two homegrown talents in Calvin Jay Fodrey (18) and Xavi Gnaulati (17) who were both signed through their part-time youth development program, Loyal Select. The 18 and 17 year old teenagers each displayed an impressive performance against a stout ALBION team who fought until the very end. A third homegrown player, Davi Santos (17) came on in the 63rd minute to see out the game.

The first goal scored by the Loyal was in the final minute of the first half when Evan Conway ran onto a well-timed through ball by Jack Blake following quick build up play into the ALBION half. Conway ran past his defender and slid to get to the ball first, the goalkeeper got a touch on the ball but it was not enough to keep the ball from rolling into the back of the net.

Following the ALBION equalizer in the 65th minute, the game got really scrappy with both teams battling all over the pitch. The record shows seven fouls called by the officials in the minutes leading up to the game winning goal.

In the 89th minute, Loyal earned a corner kick and it was through this set piece that the USL Championship team scored the game winner when Alejandro Guido placed an in-swinging corner kick with his right foot onto the head of Taylor Crull who rose highest to head the ball into the net.

The final few minutes were full of frustration by the home team and with seven minutes of added time, the battle continued. In the second minute of added time ALBION’s Jacob Haupt was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.

An inspired Loyal team held off the home team in the final minutes and earn their right to continue their journey into the Third Round. They will learn their opponent in Round 3 on Friday at Noon ET.


2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Bay Cities FC spoil reunions with late winner vs. Monterery Bay

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Edson Cardona of Bay Cities FC celebrates his stoppage time goal with his teammates in a match against Monterery Bay FC in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Lyndsay Radnedge – @el_radical_photos

Bay Cities FC is hoping this is the beginning of a Cinderella story. The club, founded in little over a year ago, has now moved on to the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The match was played at the home of the San Jose Earthquakes, but was labeled as a home match for Bay Cities. Bay Cities, who play in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA, Div. 3 pro) won 2-1 over a big favorite in Monterey FC of the USL Championship in front of a crowd of about 500 fans. Bay Cities ended up spoiling a return to PayPal Park for former San Jose Earthquakes player Simon Dawkins and former coach Frank Yallop. The run continues, as a lot of firsts for the Bay Cities’ history happened today.

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Both teams were making their tournament debut and both scored their first goals in US Open Cup history, and Bay Cities got their first win in US Open Cup in their short history as well. And they did it in dramatic fashion.

The first goal came off the right foot of midfielder Rei Dorwart as the shot is a deflection off the Monterey Bay FC goalie JJ Dallas.

Monterey Bay scored the second goal of the match off a header by midfielder Robbie Crawford, he was assisted by Morey Doner.

The last came off a failed clearance by Monterey Bay defender Hugh Roberts. Edson Cardona took advantage with a beautiful left foot volley that screamed past the goalie to shock the whole stadium.

“They played with heart, they played for their communities,” said head coach and co-founder Anders Perez. “This is a group of guys that should be playing Division 1 or Division 2, nobody gives them much opportunity. This why we started this, this is why I started this. There are a lot of players not being seen, and we are giving them a chance.”

“We were definitely the underdog today, I don’t think a lot of people were expecting us to get the results we have been getting lately,” said Tony Jimenez about his team’s upset. “It was such a beautiful feeling to be out there, this is my first contract.”

On the other side of things, Monterey FC was hampered with the thought of losing in their first US Open Cup match ever. That fate loomed large as Bay Cities celebrated like it was a cup final.

”It was like a cup final for them … credit to them honestly … they capitalized on the mistakes that we made, and they punished us,” said Monterey goalscorer Robbie Crawford.

Monterey head coach Frank Yallop, who was coaching in his 25th US Open Cup match, 10 of them with the San Jose Earthquakes, had a more somber tone after the game.

“It’s not a good feeling losing any game, we didn’t play very well … they had two or three good chances, and they scored two goals, we had five really good chances and scored only one,” said Yallop. “It’s disappointing as it is. It’s not a fair reflection of the game, but you got to finish your chances.”

Despite the result, the fans that were there to see beloved former San Jose Earthquakes player Simon Dawkins return to PayPal Park got to see him play for 84 minutes.

“It was good to see the fans out here, there were a lot of San Jose Earthquakes fans, and they are supporting the local teams out here, it was good to see a good turn out,” said Dawkins. “It was great to play in front of them again.”

“That was my first match in the last three years, it was good to get match fitness in for me,” said Dawkins. “Disappointed with the result, but one personal thing I can take away from this is I got some minutes in”.

The former Tottenham and Jamaican International prepares to make a mark in the USL Championship as he makes his return to soccer.

Bay Cities moves on to the US Open Cup Third Round that has a possible date with an MLS team. The draw for Round 3 will take place on Friday at Noon ET.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Claudio Repetto’s late OT winner sends Phoenix Rising past Valley United

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Claudio Repetto smolders during Phoenix Rising FC’s match against Valley United in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Erin Nicholson

Phoenix Rising hosted their new NISA neighbors, Valley United FC, this evening in Chandler, Ariz. in the Second Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It took almost two hours of play to determine a winner, dramatically provided by Claudio Repetto in the 115th minute.

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Phoenix Rising held on for a 1-0 extra time win, which was the club’s first home win in Open Cup play since their inaugural season in 2014. The win snapped a five-game home winless streak and a three-game overall winless streak in the tournament. Rising’s last two trips to the Open Cup both ended in penalty kick losses (2018 at Sporting AZ FC; 2019 home vs. New Mexico United)

The NISA West leaders, United, started very compact but grew into the game as the first half wore on, creating a couple of good chances. Phoenix had eight first half corners, seven of them in the first 17 minutes. Ryan Flood would prove the biggest problem for Valley. Flood won three free kicks in the first half, and two more in the second half.

The second half got very physical as Valley United would have three players booked in the span of seven minutes early on. Aodhan Quinn would also add to Valley’s woes, stepping up his contributions in the second half. Claudio Repetto, an offseason acquisition from the Charleston Battery, would replace Richmond Antwi in the 61st minute.

The game would change in the 81st minute when Valley would go a man down when Sebastián Contreras would see yellow for a second time in a half hour. His foul on Ryan Flood, put Valley in an even more defensive stance. After this, Phoenix would again boss the game.

The final minute plus stoppage time would see no fewer than four fouls and a Phoenix yellow card as Rising took control.

“They sat back a bit, and it kind of took us a bit to break them down,” said Phoenix defender Darnell King.

Extra time almost exclusively belonged to Phoenix. Repetto would have a great shot to the upper 90 saved by Javier Olmedo in the 91st minute, followed by a great opportunity by a Luis Seijas free kick in the 96th nearly broke the deadlock but sailed just wide.

In the 110th minute, Arturo Rodriguez would have his right-footed shot saved by Olmedo. Darnell King would put a dangerous header on goal in the 115th, the blocked ball found its way to Repetto and he coolly hit to the bottom left corner to put the home side in front. The remaining five minutes would see the Valley side step up, but it was too little, too late.

Phoenix Head Coach, Rick Schantz, “Credit to Valley United. They fought; they were very organized,” said Phoenix head coach Rick Schantz. “They made it difficult, and we made it worse by playing with no energy, no tempo.”

Phoenix advance to the Third Round for the first time since 2017 and will learn their opponent when the Round 3 draw is announced on Friday at Noon ET.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: In first-ever game, 10-man Northern Colorado Hailstorm stun Switchbacks

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Players from Northern Colorado Hailstorm (white) and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks battle for the ball in their Second Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Northern Colorado Hailstorm

On a chilly April Colorado night, the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC found just enough magic to defeat the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in extra time 1-0 to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

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Colorado Springs came into the game as the only perfect team in the USL Championship, with a record of 4-0-0. While they decided to rest regular starters Hadji Barry, Michee Ngalina, and Cam Lindley, they did come prepared with their regular back line of Jimmy Ockford, Tristan Hodge, and Dennis Erdmann.

For Northern Colorado, this was the first competitive game in club history, and all eyes were on USL veteran Irvin Parra, who came into this season with 103 USL Championship appearances and 39 goals.

The night started quickly as the Hailstorm almost saw disaster when Switchbacks forward Kharlton Belmar scored in the first minute, but the goal was ruled offside and waived off.

Both teams exchanged possessions early, but the tenor of the game changed in the 27th minute when Parra swung an elbow that connected with Dennis Erdmann’s face. Referee Laura Rodriguez consulted at length with her linesman before concluding the offense was deserving of a straight red card, and the Hailstorm found themselves down to 10 men early in the game.

The Switchbacks began to press hard, with Zach Zandi missing a wide open goal on a Belmar pass, and Belmar missing a point blank shot shortly before the half. The Hailstorm held on with a bend-don’t-break defense and the first half ended deadlocked at 0-0.

The second half began much as the first half ended, with the Hailstorm withstanding a furious attack by the Switchbacks. Despite controlling play, and pressing at will, the Switchbacks could not find the back of the net, with their best chances coming from a pair of shots from Tristan Hodge that bounced off the woodwork.

Northern Colorado nearly pulled out the victory in the 89th minute when Lachlan McLean struck a shot that was barely saved by keeper Christian Herrera. By the end of 90 minutes, both teams were still unable to find glory, and went into extra time scoreless.

The stalemate was quickly broken in extra time, when in the 96th minute McLean fed a ball to Jerry Desdunes who bashed it home to give the debutant Hailstorm their first ever goal, and the lead.

Things further unraveled for the Switchbacks in the 103rd minute, Hodge picked up his second yellow, and was sent off, evening the sides at 10 men apiece. The Switchbacks continued to frantically press but could not find the equalizer. The final whistle blew and the Hailstorm picked up their first win, 1-0.

Northern Colorado will advance to Round 3 of the Open Cup, and will await their next opponent, which will be announced Friday when the pairings are drawn at Noon ET. They open League One league play Saturday April 9 at the Richmond Kickers.

Colorado Springs failed to advance out of the Second Round for the first time in club history (five previous appearances). They will look to turn things around and continue their undefeated Championship league campaign April 6 at the Las Vegas Lights, who were also eliminated from the tournament on Wednesday night.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2 Day 2 Review: Close games throughout Day 2

by

Wilson Harris Louisville City Chattanooga Red Wolves 2022 US Open Cup
Wilson Harris of Louisville City FC celebrates his goal in the 75th minute against Chattanooga Red Wolves in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Connor Cunningham

Wednesday night was for extra time and barnburners in the Second Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The second of three nights in Round 2 saw four matches go to extra time, one amateur team survived into Round 3, three Division 3 upsets over Division 2 teams, and one match postponed until Thursday morning.

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FC Motown will join Tuesday winner North Carolina Fusion U-23s in the Third Round after the NPSL side upset AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA) 1-0 in extra time. It was one of 10 matches decided by one goal on Wednesday night, including FC Tucson’s barnburning 3-2 upset of Las Vegas Lights FC.

Here’s a look at the second night of the US Open Cup’s Second Round. The Round 3 draw will be held Friday at 12 p.m. ET, streamed live on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube and Twitter.

Click here for a preview of all the Round 2 games (including video links) including Thursday’s games

Click here for a review of Tuesday’s Round 2 action

Flower City Union (NISA) 1:0 (AET) Western Mass Pioneers (USL League Two)
Lusitano Stadium – Ludlow, MA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Open Cup debut for NISA’s Flower City Union began in Ludlow, Massachusetts against the USL League Two Western Mass Pioneers.

Flower City held 69% of the first half possessions, but each team’s shots were near even and the clubs entered the half scoreless. The NISA pros took the lead just four minutes into extra time when Alex Ainscough passed to Lukas Fernandes, who then dribbled amongst a group of Pioneers defenders before getting the goal.

Flower City found their backs against the wall in the 110th minute when Marcus Micheletti was shown a red card from stepping on the back of a downed Pioneers player after a corner kick. Flower City survived a flurry of Western Mass chances in the final minutes to secure the first Open Cup win for a team from NISA. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Richmond Kickers (USL League One) 1:0 Northern Virginia FC (USASA/EPSL)
Venue Virginia Revolution Sportsplex; Leesburg, Va.
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Richmond kickers of USL League One traveled to just outside Alexandria, Virginia to face the EPSL’s Northern Virginia FC.

Richmond opened the scoring midway through the first half when David Olden put away a close-range shot from an assist by Matthew Bentley.

Richmond controlled the game the rest of the way, allowing only two NoVa shot attempts, although the EPSL club did win seven corner kicks, including a couple late in the game. The Kickers held NoVa at bay to make their way to the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

FC Motown (NPSL) 1:0 (AET) AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA)
Montclair State University Soccer Park; Montclair, N.J.
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

NISA’s AC Syracuse Pulse made their Open Cup debut against the NPSL’s FC Motown at Montclair, New Jersey. FC Motown played with a heavy heart as their teammate Sainclair Tueno lay in a coma after being struck by a car last week.

The majority of the opening half was listless, with the teams combining for just three shots on goal towards a 0-0 halftime score. The teams slugged it out for another scoreless 45 minutes, and extra time would be needed. It was Motown’s second extra time game of the tournament, though the first against West Chester United was annulled by a successful Motown protest.

Kian Albdreto nearly gave Motown the lead in the 95th minute with a shot right in front of goal, but Syracuse goalkeeper Mcklin Robinson was able to block his attempt and clear.Motown finally got their goal two minutes later on a breakaway when Semual Pompee passed back to Federico De Oliveira for a wide open shot into goal. Syracuse nearly tied the score on a corner kick, but narrowly missed just outside the post. Motown survived the remaining Syracuse attempts to equalize in extra time, and booked the clubs first ever spot in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

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Miami United FC (NPSL) 0:3 Miami FC (USL Championship)
Florida International Univ. Soccer Stadium – Miami, FL
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

Miami FC jumped out in front after just 12 minutes on a penalty. Miami United’s Miguel Benito brought down Lamar Walker in the area, and Kyle Murphy stepped up and put the spot kick in the bottom right corner. 

FC Miami doubled its lead eighteen minutes later when Adonijah Reid struck from outside the penalty area after a Miami FC corner kick. Miami FC padded their lead in the 82nd minute on a Lamar Walker-assisted goal from Romeo Parkes. The pros saw out the final eight minutes and earned a spot in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship) 2:1 North Carolina FC (USL League One)
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The USL League One’s North Carolina FC played host to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the USL Championship.

Despite Rio Grande Valley having a majority of the possession, North Carolina broke the scoreless tie just before halftime. Jaden Servania blasted a rocket from the top of the penalty area that Toros goalkeeper Colin Miller had no chance to save.

The Toros equalized in the 54th minute when Frank Lopez found himself one-on-one with NCFC goalkeeper William Pulisic after a defensive miscue, easily finding the net. Rio Grande Valley took the lead with ten minutes remaining when Frank Nodarse collected a pass from Ricky Ruiz outside the top of the penalty area and sent a line drive past Pulisic. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL League One) 0:1 Louisville City FC (USL Championship)
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KY
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One took a trip to the Bluegrass State to face the USL Championship’s Louisville City FC.

The opening half was rather uneventful as the Red Wolves managed just one shot attempt to Louisville’s seven, with the teams scoreless at the break. As Louisville continued to control play in the second half, they finally took the lead in the 75th minute. Wilson Harris collected the rebound of a contested pass , and beat Red Wolves goalkeeper Carlos Alivez one-on-one. Ian Pino nearly doubled Louiville’s lead minutes later, but his header went over the bar.

Chattanooga’s only real chance the rest of the way was a header by Devin Benton close to goal, but it went wide to the left. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Cleveland SC (NPSL) 0:3 Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
Breese Stevens Field – Madison, WI
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The NPSL’s Cleveland SC traveled north to face Forward Madison FC of USL League One.

Madison had a couple dangerous chances midway through the first half, but Cleveland goalkeeper Conor Cable was equal to the task. The home club finally broke through in the 37th minute when Justin Sukow took an assist from Alann Torres in the center of the box and scored. Just before halftime Madison doubled their lead when Cesear Murillo one-timed a pass from Cyrus Rad.

Nazeem Bartman extended the lead to 3-0 for Madison when he scored from up close when Cable  mishandled a shot. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL League One) 1:0 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship)
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Jerry Desdunes scored the only goal of the match in the sixth minute of extra time, and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC stunned its USL Championship opponents in Colorado Springs, 1-0 in front of 1,099 fans at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Hailing from USL League One, the Hailstorm were reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute with Irvin Parra’s red card. But the Open Cup debutants threw everything into defending, holding off 26 shots from the Switchbacks and their dominating 73% possession. 

Northern Colorado goalkeeper Danny Faundez kept the shutout through regulation, setting up Desdunes’ heroics in extra time. 

The 20-year-old Floridian who previously played for Peachtree City in USL League Two redirected Lachlan MCLean’s pass in the 96th minute with one touch, burying the ball inside the far post for the Hailstorm’s first-ever goal in magical fashion. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

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Las Vegas Lights FC (USL Championship) 2:3 FC Tucson (USL League One)
Kino North Stadium – Tucson, AZ
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

USL League One side Tyler Allen scored the match-winning goal with a banger in the 77th minute to lift FC Tucson to its first Open Cup win in four years with a 3-2 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC at Kino Sports Complex. 

After a tight first half, Jacob Crull put Tucson ahead 1-0, finishing off a corner kick just before halftime to give the hosts the edge over the USL Championship side at the break. 

Mohamed Traore leveled the match with a goal from the same corner, pulling one back for Las Vegas with a strong header in the 65th minute to equalize. 

But Tucson converted on a goalkeeper gaffe — an Olympic-Oh-No from Bedoya in the corner off the gloves of Abraham Romero — in the 71st minute to retake the lead. 

Just over six minutes later, Allen ripped a blast from the edge of the six-yard box to put Tucson up, 3-1. 

Daniel Crisostomo pulled one back for Lights FC in the 80th minute, sliding a ball off the inside of his boot to pull within 3-2. But it was too little for the USL Championship side playing the recently promoted amateur squad to the professional ranks. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Valley United FC (NISA) 0:1 Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) (AET)
Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass – Chandler, AZ
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

The wait was well worth it for Phoenix Rising FC. Claudio Reppetto made sure of it. 

The 25-year-old forward from Genoa, Italy struck the only goal of the match after 115 minutes of a scoreless play to lead Rising to its first Open Cup victory since 2017 with a 1-0 win over NISA upstarts Valley United FC at Wild Horse Pass. 

Arturo Rodriguez delivered a ball into the area that caromed off a defender and fell right to Reppetto, who volleyed the shot into the back of the net and ended with a shirtless celebration near the corner flag. 

After more than 110 minutes of scoreless soccer wherein Rising limited Valley United to just eight shots, including two on goal, Repetto finally converted on Phoenix’s 19th attempt of the night. 

Not even a yellow card could spoil the win. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) 2:1 Albion San Diego (NISA)
Canyon Crest Academy – San Diego, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Taylor Crull scored the match-winner in the 89th minute, and San Diego Loyal went on the road in their Open Cup debut to hold off NISA side Albion San Diego, 2-1. 

Evan Conway gave the Loyal the early lead just before the break, nodding one home just before the break to give the visitors a 1-0 halftime lead. 

Mayele Malango scored for Albion San Diego in the 65th minute, but the lead didn’t last long. 

Crull nodded home a well-placed corner kick with his head in the 89th minute, fishing inside the back post to send the USL Championship outfit into the third round. 

The NISA debutants were then forced down to 10 men via Jacob Haupt’s red card in the second minute of extra time to see out the result. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Monterey Bay FC (USL Championship) 1:2 Bay Cities FC (NISA)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Equalizers don’t always last long, and such was the case in Bay Cities’ stunning 2-1 win over Monterey Bay FC. 

After Robbie Crawford’s goal in the 87th minute leveled the match at 1-1, Edson Cardona needed just four more minutes — including one minute of stoppage time — to send the NISA side into the third round of the US Open Cup. 

Rei Dorwart gave Bay Cities the early lead in the 55th minute, but Monterey Bay didn’t give up in the match played at PayPal Park in San Jose. The USL Championship side out-shot Bay Cities 14-10, but only put three shots on target — including Crawford’s late goal from Morey Doner. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT


ROUND 2 DAY 1 RESULTS (TUESDAY)

North Carolina Fusion U-23s (USL League Two) 4:2 Charlotte Independence (USL League One)
American Legion Memorial Stadium – Charlotte, NC
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The North Carolina Fusion U23 pulled off the first upset of the second round, knocking off their professional USL League One opponent Charlotte Independence 4-2 in Charlotte.

Charlotte opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Shalom Dutey found the end of a Ayrton Paez free kick just in front of goal near the post, beating Fusion goalkeeper Josh Perryman. Twenty-three minutes later, a shot by Faisal Almabaslat was blocked by Charlotte goalkeeper Keegan Meyer, but Luis Neto was right there to put away the rebound to draw the Fusion level 1-1. It took Charlotte just five minutes to regain the lead, as Ivan Luquetta took the ball to the touch line in the penalty area, then passed back to Paez for the goal.

The Fusion tied things up minutes into the second half when Joao Silva took a shot at the top of the box that deflected off a Charlotte defender. Charlotte was reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute when Tresor Mbuyu was sent off for an altercation with a Fusion player after a hard tackle. With just a few minutes remaining in regulation, Charlotte goalkeeper Meyer fumbled an easy shot by Alexandre Horveno, and Tom Marriott scored on a wide-open goal. The Fusion cemented the upset in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Colton Sessoms easily scored on a 3-on-1 breakaway, the youngster’s fourth goal of the night, to book a spot in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Maryland Bobcats (NISA) 0:2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL Championship)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

On a rainy Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, the USL Championship Riverhounds entertained the visiting Maryland Bobcats of NISA. A pair of goals from Toby Sims on either side of halftime was all the Riverhounds needed to see off the Bobcats 2-0 and advance to the third round. Simms’ first goal came in the 38th minute from the center of the penalty area off a Luis Argudo assist. Almost 10 minutes into the second half, Simms tallied from the left side of the penalty area on a Mohamed Sesay assist. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

St. Louis CITY 2 (MLS NEXT Pro) 2:0 Indy Eleven (USL Championship)
Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium (IUPUI) – Indianapolis, IN
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

St. Louis City 2 notched the first-ever Open Cup win for a MLS NEXT Pro team with a 2-0 victory over Indy Eleven of the USL Championship.

St. Louis drew first blood when Joshua Yaro sent an attempted clearance back into the box, where Era Armstrong collected the ball and beat Indy goalkeeper Tim Trilk. The reserve club of the future St. Louis MLS club doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Armstrong passed to substitute Celio Martins, who then fed Wan Kuzain at the top of the box for the goal. From then on. Indy only managed a couple of chances on goal and the St. Louis reserves made their way to the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Michigan Stars FC (NISA) 0:3 Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

In a battle of former NISA rivals, the USL Championship Detroit City FC smoked the Michigan Stars 3-0 in Detroit.

Just as the first half looked to end scoreless, Detroit stuck twice on corner kicks. In the 45th minute, Connor Ruiz put away a Maximilliano Rodriguez corner kick. In the second minute of stoppage time, Rodriguez served up another corner, and this time Matthew Lewis headed the ball home for a 2-0 lead. For the rest of stoppage time, the air was filled with smoke from jubilant City supporters.

After a pair of crosses Detroit extended their lead to 3-0 in the 63rd minute. After Michigan headed away an initial cross, Michael Bryant sent the ball back into the box, where Connor Ruiz headed the ball to the feet of Matthew Lewis for his second goal of the game. From that point, Detroit easily saw out the remaining time to book their first ever appearance in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

The Villages SC (USL League Two) 0:6 Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Villages SC of USL League Two were no match for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship, with the hosts steamrolling to a 6-0 win. Lucky Mkosana quickly put the Rowdies ahead 2-0 with two goals early in the first half. Jordan Scarlett pushed the lead to 3-0 on a header from a Jake Areman free kick. In the 53rd minute Mkosana appeared to have completed his hat-trick, connecting on a cross from Jake Areman, however the goal was later credited to Kyle Greig.

The goals continued to flow in as Jake LaCava (63rd minute) and Laurence Wyke (73rd minute) finished the rout of their amateur opponents, and confirmed a spot in the third round for the Rowdies. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) 1:2 Union Omaha (USL League One)
Morrison Stadium (Creighton Univ.) – Omaha, NE
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The Menace opened the scoring in the 15th minute when a shot from Gabriel Rodriguez struck the crossbar and was swatted away by Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu. Corey Hertzog then slammed home the loose ball. Five minutes later, Union found the equalizer when John Scearce headed home a corner from Joseph Brito.

Union Omaha kept control most of the second half, and with nine minutes remaining, Omaha gained the lead on a Menace mistake when Alefu Bertini accidentally headed a lobbed pass from Conor Doyle past his own goaleeper. Omaha withstood a desperate Menace search for an equalizer to win their debut Open Cup match and advance to the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 1:2 FC Tulsa (USL Championship)
ONEOK Field – Tulsa, OK
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The USL Championship’s FC Tulsa came out on top in the Tulsa derby, defeating the NPSL’s Tulsa Athletic, 2-1.

FC Tulsa wasted no time grabbing the lead, as Jorge Corrales sent a cross into the box that Brian Brown managed to put away while being pulled down by a Tulsa Athletics defender. FC Tulsa scored again in the 19th minute, this time on a Ronald Rodriguez header off a corner kick from Joaquin Rivas. Tulsa Athletic had a few promising free kicks in the rest of the half but the score remained 2-0 at the break.

Despite being outshot by a wide margin, Tulsa Athletic managed to cut the lead in half with thirteen minutes remaining. Halftime substitute Billy Nzojyibwami’s goal from the right side of the penalty area gave the amateurs a glimmer of hope. But FC Tulsa kept the visitors at bay in the final minutes to book their place in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

D’Feeters Kicks (USCS / The Roja League) 1:3 San Antonio FC (USL Championship)
Lynchburg City Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

For 45 minutes, the amateur D’Feeters Kicks had hope of an upset over the professional San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. However, in four quick minutes that dream was interrupted.

San Antonio scored three goals in four minutes of the second half to separate themselves from their amateur guests en route to a 3-1 win. In the 53rd minute, Henrik Sakshaug scored from the top of the penalty area after a free kick pinballed between players from both teams. Just a minute later, a shot by Justin Dhillon deflected off a D’Feeters defender, allowing Connor Maloney to easily beat goalkeeper Anthony Rodriguez for San Antonio’s second goal. Three minutes later, Sakshaug struck again from the center of the penalty area, assisted by Shannon Gomez, and suddenly San Antonio were comfortably ahead 3-0.

D’Feeters regained a slight glimmer of hope when San Antonio goalkeeper Matt Cardone was unable to handle a long shot from the left side, allowing Sebastian Mendez to easily tap home the goal. With seven minutes remaining, D’Feeters were reduced to 10 men when Juan Ramirez was shown his walking papers after a hard foul. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL) 0:5 New Mexico United (USL Championship)
Univ. of New Mexico Soccer Complex – Albuquerque, NM
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Chuck Nolan Jr.

The NPSL’s Las Vegas Legends saw their luck run out in the second round as New Mexico United of the USL Championship rolled to an easy 5-0 victory.

The hosts set the tone in the seventh minute when Chris Wehan converted a penalty after Sergio Rivas was fouled by the Legends’ Hector Casillas. Jerome Kiesewetter scored the first of his two goals from close range in the 17th minute, and Randy Ovouka placed his shot in the bottom left corner of the goal five minutes from halftime for a 3-0 lead at the break.

Carl Sainte made it 4-0 from a shot outside the penalty area shortly after halftime. Eduardo Guzman was sent off in the 82nd minute, leaving Las Vegas with 10 men. New Mexico was awarded another penalty with four minutes remaining after another foul by Hector Casillas in the box. Kiesewetter stepped to take the penalty and New Mexico cruised to a berth in the third round. [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

El Paso Locomotive (USL Championship) 1:4 Central Valley Fuego (USL League One)
Lamonica Stadium (Clovis H.S.) – Clovis, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Villyan Bijev scored a brace, and USL League One side Central Valley Fuego stunned El Paso Locomotive of the USL Championships, 4-1 at Lamonica Stadium in Clovis, California.

Nathan Smith and Christian Chaney also scored for the Fuego, which needed less than five minutes to score and never looked back.

Bijev opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, chipping the goalkeeper from the left side of the box to put Central Valley up 1-0 mere moments into the game. The goals kept coming, too, through Smith’s golazo in the 15th minute and a second from Bijev in the 44th minute en route to a 3-0 halftime advantage. Chaney added a goal in the 62nd minute for the Fuego.

Eric Calvillo scored in the 90th minute for El Paso, which turned out to be the first Open Cup goal in Locomotive history for the 2019 debutants. El Paso was playing its second of three games in eight days after a four-match winless skid to open USL Championship play, and had traveled up the California coast following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the San Diego Loyal in league play.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

LA Force FC (NISA) 2:5 Orange County SC (USL Championship)
Orange County Great Park (Championship Stadium) – Irvine, CA
BROADCAST: ESPN+

By Sean Walker

Former Real Salt Lake homegrown signing Milan Iloski had a goal and an assist as Orange County SC of the USL Championship rolled by the NISA’s LA Force, 5-2 at Championship Stadium in Irvine, California.

Daniel Pedersen, Sean Okoli, Mikko Kuningas and Kobi Henry each added a goal for Orange County, which converted five of its six shots on target into goals and out-shot the Force 22-15.

Samuel Goni scored a brace for LA Force FC, including a 37th-minute strike that pulled the Open Cup debutants within 3-1 at halftime. But Iloski dished a pinpoint backheel pass to Kuningas to restore Orange County’s three-goal lead, and Henry’s goal in the 69th minute helped seal the win for good.  [+] FULL MATCH REPORT

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Tucson earns first win as pro team, 3-2 over Las Vegas Lights

by

Tyler Allen FC Tucson Las Vegas Lights 2022 US Open Cup
Tyler Allen scores what would prove to be the game-winning goal for FC Tucson in a 3-2 win over the Las Vegas Lights in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tucson

USL League One side FC Tucson beat USL Championship team Las Vegas Lights 3-2. All but one goal was scored in the second half in the match at Tucson’s Kino North Stadium.

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For FC Tucson, they were making their first appearance in the tournament as a professional team after previously qualifying five times (and eliminating two pro teams) as a member of USL League Two. It was the club’s first Open Cup win since 2018.

Las Vegas’ offensive trio of Daniel Trejo, Danny Musovsky and Cal Jennings were left off the starting roster. FC Tucson’s Kaelon Fox and Deri Corfe were out with injuries.

Los Tucsonenses had the lion’s share of possession, but Las Vegas kept them hemmed in. FC Tucson keeper Carlos Merancio had a couple of big saves that helped keep the teams level at zero goals until the final moments of the first half.

In minute 45, FC Tucson’s Daniel Bedoya launched a corner kick into the box that eventually found the head of Luca Mastrantonio. He settled the ball at the foot of Austrian-born winger Jacob Crull. He poked it past Lights keeper Abraham Romero to open the scoring as the first half ended.

Mohammed Traore evened it up for Las Vegas in minute 66. The lead was short lived as FC Tucson kept threatening goal and earning corner kicks with, it seemed, every sally up field. Daniel Bedoya’s 71st minute corner was a near Olimpico, as his kick ended up in the back of the net after the otherwise strong Romero bobbled the ball.

Tyler Adams extended the lead in the 77th minute with an oblique rocket that ended up at the top of the goal. It should have locked the game down right there, but with Traore on the field and a late substitution by league leading scorer Daniel Trejo, two goals wasn’t necessarily a safe lead.

An 80th minute shot from Daniel Christomo caught Merancio off guard with a bit of marksmanship from the edge of the box. Tying it up was tantalizingly close, but the Lights weren’t able to do it.

Often a lower division will score a lucky goal against an upper division team and sit on the lead to earn a “cupset.” That wasn’t the way FC Tucson chose to play.

“We never really had the mindset to sit back and absorb pressure,” said Jacob Crull after the match. “Not having that mindset allowed us to score three goals.”

FC Tucson moves on to the next round and will possibly face Phoenix Rising FC, who owned the team from 2017-2021. The draw will be announced on Friday at Noon ET.

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: Rio Grande Valley rallies to win Open Cup debut over NCFC

by

Rio Grande Valley Toros North Carolina FC 2022 US Open Cup
Jonathan Ricketts of Rio Grande Valley FC tries to avoid a tackle from a North Carolina FC player in the club’s Second Round match in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Greg Ng @followgregsports @wearencsoccer

The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros beat North Carolina FC 2-1 to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

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NCFC took a lead into the halftime break thanks to a rocket of a shot from Jaden Servania, but the Toros came roaring back after the break, with an SportsCenter Top 10 contender of their own from Frank Nodarse Chaves giving the visitors a 79th minute winner.

“It was an even game, especially in the first half,” said RGV head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “I thought we started off well, but then we gave the other team the chance to get comfortable with their plan and then, at the end of the first half, they, in a counter attack, created a problem and they scored and it was a better half for them at the end.”

The win marked the USL Championship side’s first appearance in the Open Cup. While the club is new to the competition, Cabrera is no stranger, winning in 2018 with the Houston Dynamo and losing against the then-Carolina RailHawks in 2014.

“It’s been good.” Cabrera said. “Coming back to the US Open Cup is a great opportunity. And it’s my second time coming over here to North Carolina. I remember I came in 2014 and we lost against the team in PKs, so it’s great to be back and it’s now even better for us because we have the opportunity to win. But it feels good to be back in the US Open Cup, especially for our club, which is the first time in franchise history.”

Capping off a chippy and physical first half, Servania blasted NCFC into the lead in the 45th minute. Capitalizing on a poor clearance, Servania’s first touch gave him enough time and space to line up a rocket off a shot off the bottom of the bar.

“For him, anytime it’s on his left foot and when he’s on that inside kind of right position formation wise, we want him to be aggressive,” said NCFC head coach John Bradford. “We want him to create goals, and I think he’s gonna have a lot more of those as the season goes on.”

The hosts took that lead into the break, but the Toros didn’t take long to level things up as Frank Lopez Garcia finished off a breakaway in the 54th minute.

NCFC defender Jordan Skelton was in good position to snuff out the danger early but slipped, allowing Garcia to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Will Pulisic.

With both teams searching for a late winner, it was Rio Grande Valley that broke the deadlock in the 79th minute. In an attempt to one-up Servania’s first-half goal, Chaves beat Pulisic with a hard-hit shot from 30 yards out.

“We spoke about being a little bit more of a solid team because we didn’t combine as well as we should and in the second half we improved our movement of the ball, our touches,” Cabrera said. “We were able to score two goals and I think it was more solid for us and it was a good game.”

The two sides combined for five yellow cards in the tightly contested matchup, with three cautions coming after the 77th minute.

Rio Grande Valley FC’s next opponent will be determined in the Third Round draw on April 8.

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