2024 US Open Cup

Playing at the home of their birthright rivals, New York City FC II left Montclair State University with their first ever US Open Cup win. The reserve team from Queens, NY beat FC Motown of the National Premier Soccer League, 3-0.

“I thought the boys put in a really good effort today,” said NYCFC II head coach Matt Pilkington. “This was a different game for us because it was a competition, (a) knockout game, and we talked about how excited the guys are to play in these competitions and to test themselves… It was a really good experience for the group, and I thought they really took on the challenge really well.”

In front of 450 fans at MSU Soccer Park, and without the snow squall that ripped through the field during the previous night’s Open Cup game, the younger side came out of the gate quickly. Despite two early chances by Motown’s Joe Fala, including a header that required a diving save by Alexander Rando, the Baby Blues looked more confident with the ball.

A break down the middle by Jacob Arroyave allowed him to place the ball at the feet of captain Taylor Calheira at the top of the box. He punched a shot into the top left corner past Motown goalkeeper David Greczek in the ninth minute to make it 1-0.

The goal was Calheira’s first as a member of New York City FC II. In fact, every goal scored on the night was that player’s first goal for the team.

“It was a great experience to perform for the team in New York City and get my first goal,” said Calheira. “But most importantly, performing with the team we knew that we had to come out early, score early, and play well. It meant a lot being the captain, too, and leading the team.”

The visitors showed no signs of stopping and nearly capitalized on a Motown defensive error in the 16th minute. A backpass at the top of the box was intercepted by Jonathan Jimenez, who shot right at Greczek. The keeper bobbled the pass and players from both teams jostled before the ball went out for a corner.

Not long after, Jimenez sent a long ball towards the right side of the field and a running Jonathan Shore. A tic-tac-toe of passes along the top of the box left Motown out of place. Calheira sent the ball back into the middle, where it deflected off a defender before a charging Andrew Baiera pump faked the home side and put it into the right corner.

NYCFC looked poised to add to their lead as the first half wore on. When everything was said and done the reserve team outshot Motown 34 to 4 in total shots taken. Motown, veterans of the US Open Cup who hold the active streak for consecutive qualifications by an Open Division team (7), looked slow on the ball. Unable to make convincing runs into the opposing end.

Fala was able to use his size advantage against the much smaller New York players, but their numbers and ability to cut off his passes made him a hermit on offense.

Motown head coach Dilly Duka, a former Major League Soccer player and a legend with the home side, knows first hand the challenges amateur teams face in the Open Cup. Having played in multiple tournaments with Morristown it’s never been easy to get match ready two months before the regular season starts.

“That’s the thing with the amateur team. We’re pulling guys early in the year that are not as fit,” said Duka. “We’re hoping to get these experienced guys. You’re up against a team that has the chemistry, that’s been training that’s been in preseason like a New York City FC II. It’s gonna be difficult.”

At halftime, Duka opted to replace the struggling Da Fonte with Handy Coby Jean Rodriguez. The Haitian has a history of saving the team, like he did in the 2022 NPSL Championship where he scored both the late equalizer and go-ahead goals to win the title. While the midfielder brought that much needed speed, and at times shored up the holes to stop City’s transitions, he wasn’t enough.

New York could have had more goals in the second half if it wasn’t for Greczek, a former pro with Swope Park Rangers, and the woodwork. In the 53rd minute a long shot by Calheira got past the keeper but hit off the left post and rolled down the goal line. A subsequent corner kick saw a shot ring off the crossbar. Motown countered and earned a corner of their own in the 59th, but a Fala header went right into the arms of Rando.

Once again, another misjudged back pass by Motown gave City II a chance to score in the 62nd. Calheira beat defender Jean Voltaire for the ball and ran into the right side of the box, shooting towards the left post. Greczek dove and stopped the ball with his fingertips, allowing his teammate to get it away.

“We’re a team that’s trying to put it together early in the year and it’s difficult fitness wise to get these guys going so early in the year,” Duka said after the game.

Still, New York was going to get a third. In the 65th minute, Calheira crossed in from the left side and found Maximo Carrizo to tap in the ball from the goalline. He and his teammates were able to celebrate in front of the traveling members of the Third Rail supporter’s group.

Despite more attempts being stopped by posts or an overworked keeper, including a hockey esc save that would impress Martin Brodeur, City would not find the net again. Still the youngsters left New Jersey with their organization’s first ever win in a knockout competition.

“We can obviously learn from tonight and we can learn from how to manage games and put games away, so we don’t have to run as much and fight as much towards the end,” said Pilkington. “I think that’s something we can take away. It’s from a learning perspective. Obviously, we don’t know who we will play yet, so once that happens, we’ll start to prepare accordingly. But I think the guys are really excited about how they played and can enjoy the moment and then look forward to the next match.”

It took NYCFC II only one Open Cup to get its first win. The first team took five.