U.S. Open Cup Round-Up
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Ventura County Fusion set a modern-era U.S. Open Cup record by scoring four goals in overtime to take a 6-2 victory against the Fullerton Rangers in the first round of the 2012 Lama Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Santa Ana Stadium in Fullerton.
The Fusion had taken an early 2-0 lead, Michael Roman and Frankie Lopez each scoring by the midway point of the first half, and they would carry that lead to halftime. The Rangers hit back after the break, though, as David Arvizu and Eder Roldan tied the game with just more than 20 minutes remaining despite their side being reduced to 10 men after Sean Toth was shown his second yellow card.
The Fusion were able to regain control in the extra 30 minutes, retaking the lead just two minutes into the first half of extra time from the penalty spot as Lopez converted low to the left corner. Moments later Kennedy Chongo made it 4-2, while Willie Rupert and Rodrigo Lopez added another pair of goals in the second half of extra time.
The Fusion will now face USL PRO’s Los Angeles Blues at Titan Stadium next Tuesday in a rematch from the 2011 tournament that saw the Blues take a 1-0 victory.
READING 2, NY GREEK AMERICANS 1: Reading United took its first victory in the Open Cup as Notre Dame standout Ryan Finley had a goal and an assist as they advanced to the second round.
Finley assisted on Pedro Ribeiro’s opening goal in the 37th minute as United’s first-half pressure paid off, and the former ACC Offensive Player of the Year added a second in the 55th minute to double the lead. The Greek Americans pulled a goal back in the 64th minute as Stephen Roche found the back of the net, but after a 1 hour, 20 minute delay due to lightning in the 66th minute, Reading was able to hold on.
Reading will now travel to face USL PRO’s Charleston Battery in the second round at Blackbaud Stadium next Tuesday.
GEORGIA 1, MISSISSIPPI 0: The Mississippi Brilla’s return to the Open Cup ended in overtime as a goal by Hailab Habtom gave the Georgia Revolution victory on Tuesday night.
Both sides had gone close to taking the lead in the opening 90 minutes, with Gary Buffington going close in the second half as the game began to open up. It wasn’t to be the Brilla’s night as the Revolution moved into the second round through Habtom’s goal late in the first half of overtime.
LONG ISLAND 2, FC SONIC 0: A pair of first-half goals from Thomas Wharf and Shaun Higgins gave the Long Island Rough Riders victory against FC Sonic on Tuesday night as the Long Island side advanced to the second round of the Open Cup for the second time in three years.
Wharf gave the Rough Riders the lead in the 19th minute, and Higgins added a second shortly after to send their side through to a contest with USL PRO’s Harrisburg City Islanders next Tuesday at Skyline Sports Complex.
JACKSONVILLE 2, ORLANDO U23 1: Orlando City U23 led until the final 10 minutes, but were unable to hold on late as Jacksonville United scored twice to grab victory at the Seminole Sports Complex to advance into the second round of the Open Cup.
After a scoreless first half, Orlando took the lead three minutes after the break when Drew Helm found the back of the net from the top of the penalty area. The Lions U23 had other chances to extend their lead, but as the half wore on, so did Jacksonville’s pressure. It finally told as Jacksonville equalized from the penalty spot after handball through Tomislav Krizanovic, and United then grabbed victory with two minutes to go as Ramak Safi scored after scramble in the Orlando penalty area.
CHICAGO FIRE PDL 1, CROATIAN EAGLES 0: Isaac Kanneh’s fifth-minute goal was all the Fire PDL needed to advance to the Open Cup’s second round for the second consecutive season as they took victory at the Toyota Park Practice Field on Tuesday night.
Kanneh scored the first goal of the 2012 tournament as he tapped home from Mark Blades’ cross, the Northern Illinois standout finishing past an onrushing goalkeeper. Chicago had the chance to add to its lead, forcing eight saves from Eagles goalkeeper Bryce Boyd, but was able to hold on after some late pressure to advance.
The Fire PDL will host USL PRO’s Dayton Dutch Lions, again at the Toyota Park Practice Field, next Tuesday in the second round.
AEGEAN HAWKS 3, CAROLINA 1: A pair of goals by Scott Larrabee lifted the Hawks past the Carolina Dynamo in the Open Cup at the Maryland Soccerplex on Tuesday night.
Larrabee scored midway through the first half, and then added a second in the first minute of the second, to give his side a 2-0 lead. The Dynamo were able to pull a goal back through Thomas McReady in the 85th minute off a free kick, but a minute later as Carolina looked for an equalizer the Hawks restored their two-goal advantage through Matt Ney.
MICHIGAN 6, JERSEY SHORE 0: The Michigan Bucks got their Open Cup campaign off to an impressive start as they defeated Jersey Shore Boca to advance to the second round behind a pair of goals by Stefan St. Louis.
After Boca was reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute, Nick Tarquinio being sent off, the Bucks continually pressed to find the opening goal. St. Louis provided it in the 31st minute, and he added another seven minutes later to add to Nermin Crnkic’s 36th minute goal that made it 3-0 at the break.
The Bucks added another three goals after halftime, with Tom Catalano, Ethan Miller and Bim Ogunyemi all finding the back of the net as Michigan moved on to face USL PRO’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round next Tuesday.
BROOKLYN 3, GPS PORTLAND 2: The first team from Maine to play in the Open Cup, the GPS Portland Phoenix’s late rally came up short as they fell to the Brooklyn Italians on Tuesday night.
Brooklyn had burst out to an early lead as Nathanial Simons scored just five minutes in, and the Italians doubled their advantage two minutes later through Christian Turizo. When Jumol Harewood added a third in the 78th minute, the contest appeared to be over, but the Phoenix stormed back, Blaike Woodruff scoring in the 80th minute to cut the deficit to two. Woodruff then added a second in the first minute of stoppage time, but the final whistle went soon after, denying the Phoenix a chance at overtime.
DES MOINES 3, MILWAUKEE 1: A pair of overtime goals by Lebogang Moloto allowed the Des Moines Menace to rally past the Milwaukee Bavarians on Tuesday night in a game that saw two weather delays, three red cards and a sprinkler system stop play.
In an open first half, the Bavarians took the lead in the 26th minute as Cyril Simmons opened the scoring. The Bavarians were reduced to 10 men just before the break, though, as Andrew Stone was sent off. The Bavarians’ David Caban then received a second yellow card in the 68th minute, giving the Menace a two-man advantage, and five minutes later Husref Jupic tied the game.
The Menace received a red card of their own in the final minute of regulation, Jubril Lawal being sent off to reduce the Menace’s advantage to 10-on-9, but Moloto came through with goals in either half of extra time to send his side through. The Menace will now host the Minnesota Stars FC next Tuesday at Valley Stadium.
K.C. ATHLETIC 3, REAL COLORADO 1: The Real Colorado Foxes let a halftime lead slip, allowing K.C. Athletic to advance to the Open Cup second round thanks to three second-half goals.
FRESNO 2, TURLOCK 0: The Fresno Fuego got a pair of goals from Abraham Campos, and overcame being reduced to 10 men, as they defeated their U.S. Club Soccer opponent at Chukchansi Park to move into the Open Cup second round.
After a scoreless first half, Campos scored just after the halftime break to give the Fuego the lead. Making its first Open Cup appearance since 2003, Fresno was reduced to 10 men just before the hour-mark as Nini Blanco received his marching orders, but Campos put the game away with 20 minutes to go with his second goal.
The Fuego will travel east for their second round match as they face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers next Tuesday night.
CAL FC 3, KITSAP 1: The Kitsap Pumas were knocked out of the Open Cup by Eric Wynalda’s Cal FC side as former Ventura County Fusion standout Danny Barrera scored twice to lead his side to victory at Memorial Stadium.
Barrera opened the scoring just before the halftime break, then doubled his side’s advantage in the 66th minute. The Pumas rallied, pulling a goal back six minutes later through Matt Freisen, but as they pushed to try and find an equalizer Cal FC’s Artur Aghasyan put the game away with four minutes to go.
EL PASO 3, NTX RAYADOS 1: The El Paso Patriots advanced to the second round of the Open Cup for the first time since 2009 as Naoyas Aizawa had two goals and an assist to lead his side past the NTX Rayados.
El Paso took the lead in the 26th minute, Aizawa finishing off a quick move into the penalty area. The Patriots then doubled their lead through Michael Griego in the 61st minute before the Rayados pulled a goal back, Raul Rodriguez’s free kick making it 2-1 with 12 minutes to go. Aizawa’s second goal sealed victory for the Patriots in the 84th minute, though, giving the Patriots another home contest against USL PRO’s Charlotte Eagles in the second round.
PSA ELITE 3, PORTLAND TIMBERS U-23S 1: The Portland Timbers U-23s’ first foray into the Open Cup proved a frustrating one as they fell to PSA Elite and former PDL player Davis Paul, who had a pair of goals to lead his side to victory at JELD-WEN Field.
Paul, formerly of the Chicago Fire PDL, opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and PSA added to its advantage 15 minutes later as Christian Ramirez found the back of the net. The Timbers U-23s got back into the game 11 minutes into the second half as Eric Miller cut the deficit in half, but Paul’s second of the game with a minute to go ended the Timbers U-23s’ chances of forcing overtime.
LAREDO 4, ASC NEW STARS 2: The Laredo Heat needed overtime to advance past the ASC New Stars and into the second round of the Open Cup, thanks to a pair of goals in the additional half-hour by Placide Budiri.
Laredo appeared to be set to advance in regulation, having twice taken leads through Ernesto Serrato, from the penalty spot, and Irving Villanueva, who scored two minutes after the halftime break. The New Stars sent the game to overtime as Peter Kozlowski scored in stoppage time to tie the game 2-2. Budiri, brought on as a second-half substitute, made the difference, though, giving his side a trip to face the San Antonio Scorpions in next Tuesday’s second round.