2020 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying: Goals From Coast to Coast in First Round

With the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament firmly in the rearview mirror, 78 amateur teams from all regions of the United States kicked off the qualifying rounds for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup over the weekend.

Safira FC, national futsal champions out of Boston, put its skills to the test against a local rival, Miami United FC ran away with a victory, and Open Cup regulars NTX Rayados scratched its way on to the next round.

Join usopencup.com for a lookback at all the action as the hopeful locals take their first steps on a long road toward the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.

World Class Premier Elite, Safira FC start fast in East Region
Leading from the front office to the field, Idrissa Sesay scored the first goal for World Class Premier Elite in a 4-1 victory over Virginia’s SOCA at Charlottesville High School. “Our objective is to go as far as possible. Obviously, that’s wishful thinking, but I feel as if this time around this is a step in the right direction towards qualifying for the Open Cup,” said Sesay, World Class Premier Elite's manager and co-captain. “This is just one win of many, in our heads, and I think we still need to improve on it.” Sesay’s goal tied the game in the 25th minute, and Olakunle Banjo, Saidou Toure, Philip Blystone poured in goals to finish off the game. World Class Premier Elite, which lost in penalties in the fourth round of qualifying last year, wants nothing more than to take the next step in the tournament. “Last year we were down 1-0 in our first qualifier and I scored to tie it, so I’m 2-for-2 on the comeback goals,” Sesay said. “It feels good. Hopefully, this is something that continues to happen on a yearly basis.”

Elsewhere in the East Region, Safira FC showed off its technical abilities in a 5-0 over Kendell Wanderers on a cool and crisp New England day at Danehy Park in Cambridge. Eriksson ‘Ricky’ Alves scored from a free kick midway through the second half.

Meanwhile Brockton United FC held off Juve-Pro Soccer, 1-0, at Taunton Sports Soccer Park, and Pittsburgh’s Steel FC got goals from Christian Lewandowski, Matt McDyer and Anthony Virgara in a 3-1 win over Germantown City FC at Shady Side Academy. Ovan Oakley scored the game-winner on a breakaway as Cedar Stars Academy Westchester defeated Jackson Lions FC, the 2019 New Jersey State Cup champions, 2-1, at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Tartan Devils Oak Avalon scored twice before halftime on goals by Gregory Annan and Marcelo Vazquez-Casas, and Jacob Thiel netted the game-winner in the 85^th minute in a 3-2 victory over Steel Pulse FC at Troy Park. Lansdowne Yonkers FC got two goals from newly acquired Dean Dillon and led by four goals at halftime before going on to defeat Clifton Elite FC, 4-2, at Athenia Steel Recreation Complex. Chas Wilson had three goals, and A.J. Bishop and Sam Bollinger also scored as West Chester United SC dominated Danubia Swabian, 5-0, at Rosamont College. Vereinigung Erzgebirge hasn’t qualified for the Open Cup since 2002 but Greg Shertzer scored twice to unseat Ukrainian Nationals, the four-time tournament champions, 4-1, at Ukrainian American Sports Center.

In the first Open Cup qualifier for both teams, Woodbridge, Va.-based CD Huateras squeezed past FC Millennium, 3-2, at Howison Homestead Soccer Complex. Woodbridge’s other club attempting to qualify, Alianza FC, scored a 2-1 win over Doradus FC at George Hampton School.

East Region

Date	Game (home team listed first)	Result	Venue
Sept. 21	Kendall Wanderers (Mass.) vs. Safira FC (Mass.)	0-5	Danehy Park, Field 3; Cambridge, Mass.
Sept. 21	Juve-Pro Soccer (Mass.) vs. Brockton FC United (Mass.)	0-1	Taunton Sports Club; Taunton, Mass.
Sept. 21	SOCA (Va.) vs. World Class Premier Elite FC (Md.)	1-4	Charlottesville High School, Stadium Turf Field; Charlottesville, Va.
Sept. 21	Steel FC (Pa.) vs. Germantown City FC (Md.)	3-1	Shady Side Academy; Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sept. 22	CSA Westchester (N.J.) vs. Jackson Lions FC (N.J.)	2-1	Ramapo College of New Jersey; Mahwah, N.J.
Sept. 22	Steel Pulse FC (Md.) vs. Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (Pa.)	2-3	Troy Park; Elkridge, Md.
Sept. 22	Danubia Swabian (Pa.) vs. West Chester United (Pa.)	0-5	Rosemont College, Main Varsity Field; Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Sept. 22	Ukrainian Nationals (Pa.) vs. Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Pa.)	1-4	Ukrainian American Sports Center, Main Turf Field; North Wales, Pa.
Sept. 22	FC Millennium International (Md.) vs. CD Huateras (Va.)	2-3	Heurich Community Park, Turf Field; Hyattsville, Md.
Sept. 22	Doradus FC (Va.) vs. Alianza Futbol Club (Va.)	1-2	George Hampton School; Woodbridge, Va.
Sept. 22	Clifton Elite FC (N.J.) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (N.Y.)	2-4	Athenia Steel Recreation Complex; Clifton, N.J.

First Round Byes (5): Christos FC (Md.); Federal City Wanderers (D.C.); New York Pancyprian Freedoms (N.Y.); United German Hungarians (Pa.); Virginia United (Va.)

Miami United, NTX Rayados score wins in Central Region
Miami United FC Under-23s had a four-goal advantage over Atletico Miami CF at halftime before going on to a 7-3 victory at Ives Estates Park. A goal in the 65^th minute broke a 1-1 tie, and NTX Rayados went on to defeat FC Fort Worth, 4-2, at Premier Park in Balch Springs, Texas. Celtic Cowboys Premier got two early goals from Dave O’Brien, and then four more from Chris Wright in a 7-1 win over Central Texas Lobos at Onion Creek Soccer Complex. A first-half goal from Sebastian Sandoval saw GA Revolution past Club ATLetic, 1-0, at Dunwoody Springs Elementary School. Henrique Pimpao had a hat trick in less than 70 minutes as Louisiana Krewe FC defeated Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) rival Northshore United, 5-2, at St. Thomas Moore Catholic High School.

In the longest shootout of the first round, Hurricane FC and International Soccer Association played to a 1-1 draw before Hurricane outlasted ISA in PKs, 9-8, at Seacrest Soccer Complex. Bryan Flores scored in the first half, and John Mendoza and Mikey Maldonado added second-half goals as San Antonio Runners SC advanced in Open Cup qualifying for the first time after a 3-2 win over Coyotes FC, at Holy Trinity Catholic High School. Carlos Zarate struck it hard and low from the top of the box to break a scoreless game early in the second half, and Inocentes FC added a goal from a penalty kick in a 2-1 win over Lone Star Republic at The Greenhill School.

In what is quickly becoming South Florida’s top soccer rivalry, Florida Soccer Soldiers capitalized on its chances to score an edgy 2-0 victory over Red Force FC at Miramar Regional Park. A scoreless 90 minutes gave way to a flurry of goals in overtime as Orlando Wolves FC topped Deportivo Lake Mary, 2-1, to earn its first ever Open Cup qualifying round victory at Sylvan Lake Park. Livonia City FC trailed 2-0 after 31 minutes but battled back to force overtime before defeating Wayne County Sporting, 5-4, in a shootout at Schoolcraft College. Soda City FC is moving on to the second round of qualifying for the second consecutive season after defeating Charleston United, 4-2, in a shootout at Drayton Hall Elementary School after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.

The matchup between Houston FC and Atletico Katy was rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28 because of poor field conditions.Central Region

Date	Game (home team listed first)	Result/Time	Venue
Sept. 21	Celtic Cowboys Premier (Texas) vs. Central Texas Lobos (Texas)	7-1	Onion Creek Soccer Complex, Field 4; Austin, Texas
Sept. 21	Atletico Miami CF (Fla.) vs. Miami United FC U23 (Fla.)	3-7	Jr. Orange Bowl Stadium, Ives Estates Park; Miami, Fla.
Sept. 21	NTX Rayados (Texas) vs. FC Fort Worth Soccer Club (Texas)	4-2	Premier Park, Field 1; Balch Springs, Texas
Sept. 21	Club ATLetic (Ga.) vs. Georgia Revolution FC Reserves (Ga.)	0-1	Dunwoody Springs Elementary School; Sandy Spring, Ga.
Sept. 21	Coyotes FC (Texas) vs. San Antonio Runners (Texas)	2-3	Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Field 1; Temple, Texas
Sept. 21	Louisiana Krewe FC (La.) vs. Northshore United (La.)	5-2	St. Thomas More Catholic High School; Lafayette, La.
Sept. 21	Hurricane FC (Fla.) vs. International Soccer Association (Fla.)	1-1, 1-1 AET (9-8 PKs)	Seacrest Soccer Complex, Field 1; Delray Beach, Fla.
Sept. 22	Lone Star Republic (Texas) vs. Inocentes Futbol Club (Texas)	1-2	The Greenhill School, Frankel Field; Addison, Texas
Sept. 22	Charleston United (S.C.) vs. Soda City Sorinex FC (S.C.)	1-1, 1-1 AET (2-4 PKs)	Drayton Hall Elementary School; Charleston, S.C.
Sept. 22	Deportivo Lake Mary (Fla.) vs. Orlando FC Wolves (Fla.)	0-0, 1-2 AET	Sylvan Lake Park; Sanford, Fla.
Sept. 22	Florida Soccer Soldiers (Fla.) vs. Red Force FC (Fla.)	2-0	Miramar Regional Park; Miramar, Fla.
Sept. 22	Livonia City FC (Mich.) vs. Wayne County Sporting (Mich.)	2-2, 2-2 AET (5-4 PKs)	Schoolcraft College; Livonia, Mich.
Sept. 28*	Athletic Katy FC (Texas) vs. Houston FC (Texas)	7:30 p.m. CT	Campbell Road Sports Park Stadium; Houston, Texas

* Rescheduled due to field conditions
First Round Byes (3): Ann Arbor FC (Mich.); Nashville United (Tenn.); Springfield FC (Ill.)

FC Boulder Harpos, Cal FC post powerful wins out West
Freddie Braun and Shane Wheeler scored as FC Boulder Harpos overcame windy conditions to beat rival FC Denver, 2-0, at Aurora Sports Park. Colorado Rovers made back-to-back Open Cup appearances in 2013 and ’14 and are on track for the 2020 edition after a 6-2 win over Denver’s Logrones SC at North Stadium. Fabricio Brancoski scored twice in the second overtime period to push Colorado Rush SC past Cruz El Azul, 3-2, at Addenbrooke Park.

In the first ever Open Cup qualifier for both teams, Celso Lagunas scored twice for Alta California Sol in a 2-1 victory over USA Soccer Stars at Lake Forest Sports Park. Luke McCarty captained the first ever university club team to win a qualifying round game as SC Trojans FC defeated Newport FC, 4-1, at Orange County Great Park. In an all-San Diego County matchup, Chula Vista FC edged Rebels SC, 5-3, in a shootout at Terra Nova Park. In a return to Open Cup qualifying for the first time in three years, L.A. Monsters FC earned a dominating 4-0 victory over Valley United SC at Orange County Great Park.

A perennial Open Cup participant, Outbreak SC is moving on in qualifying after traveling to the Bay Area and escaping with a 4-2 shootout victory over Real San Jose at PAL Stadium after playing to a 2-2 draw. Khaled Arma assisted on Junior Leonardo’s goal in the 67^th minute as Oakland Stompers earned an upset 1-0 victory over Contra Costa FC at Raimondi Park. San Francisco’s Olympic Club was awarded and netted a penalty kick moments before halftime, then scored three more in the second half in a 4-0 victory over JASA RWC at Red Morton Community Park. Raul Yepez and Jesse Tamayo had goals as Oxnard Guerreros shutout Santa Monica United FC, 2-0, in an all-UPSL matchup at Del Sol Stadium. Armando Gonzales, Jr., had a goal as Azteca FC scored from start to finish in a 5-0 dismantling of Open Cup qualifying round first-timers AC Sloan’s Lake at Lakewood Memorial Field.

Willie Raygosa had three goals and Orr Barouch scored two more as Cal FC blasted GPS Quickening SC, 9-2, at Lancaster (Calif.) National Soccer Center. FC Union Jerez scored two unanswered goals and stopped a late penalty kick in a 2-1 win over GAM United FC at Lowry Sports Complex Park. San Juan FC played the role of rude host to its visitor from Oregon, defeating IPS/Marathon Taverna, 2-0, at Zions Bank Stadium. Desmond Madrigal and Ramiro Ceja had goals early in the second half to give Academica SC a 3-0 lead on its way to a 4-1 victory over Pajaro Valley United at Turlock (Calif.)’s Our Lady of Assumption Park.

West Region

Date	Game (home team listed first)	Result	Venue
Sept. 21	Chula Vista FC (Calif.) vs. Rebels Soccer Club (Calif.)	2-2, 2-2 AET (5-3 PKs)	Terra Nova Park; Chula Vista, Calif.
Sept. 21	FC Denver (Colo.) vs. FC Boulder Harpos (Colo.)	0-2	Aurora Sports Park, Field 4; Aurora, Colo.
Sept. 21	Logroñes Denver Soccer Club (Colo.) vs. Colorado Rovers (Colo.)	2-6	North Stadium/1st Bank Field; Denver, Colo.
Sept. 21	USA Soccer Stars FC (Calif.) vs. Alta California Sol (Calif.)	1-2	Lake Forest Sports Park, Field B; Lake Forest, Calif.
Sept. 21	Newport FC (Calif.) vs. SC Trojans FC (Calif.)	1-4	Orange County Great Park, Field 15; Irvine, Calif.
Sept. 21	L.A. Monsters FC (Calif.) vs. Valley United SC (Calif.)	4-0	Orange County Great Park, Field 19; Irvine, Calif.
Sept. 21	Real San Jose (Calif.) vs. Outbreak FC (Calif.)	1-1, 1-1 AET (2-4 PKs)	PAL Stadium; San Jose, Calif.
Sept. 21	Oakland Stompers (Calif.) vs. Contra Costa FC (Calif.)	1-0	Raimondi Park; Oakland, Calif.
Sept. 22	San Juan FC (Utah) vs. IPS/Marathon Taverna (Ore.)	2-0	Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Sept. 22	Athletic Club of Sloan's Lake (Colo.) vs. Azteca FC (Colo.)	0-5	Lakewood Memorial Field; Lakewood, Colo.
Sept. 22	Colorado Rush (Colo.) vs. Club El Azul (Colo.)	1-1, 3-2 AET	Addenbrooke Park; Lakewood, Colo.
Sept. 22	Quickening (Calif.) vs. Cal FC (Calif.)	2-9	Lancaster National Soccer Center, Field 33; Lancaster, Calif.
Sept. 22	Gam United FC (Colo.) vs. FC Union Jerez (Colo.)	1-2	Lowry Sports Complex Park, Turf Field 2; Denver, Colo.
Sept. 22	Oxnard Guerreros FC (Calif.) vs. Santa Monica United FC (Calif.)	2-0	Del Sol Stadium; Oxnard, Calif.
Sept. 22	Academica SC (Calif.) vs. PV United (Calif.)	4-1	Our Lady of the Assumption Park; Turlock, Calif.
Sept. 22	JASA RWC (Calif.) vs. Olympic Club (Calif.)	0-4	Red Morton Community Park, Bechet Field; Redwood City, Calif.

First Round Byes: None

All the first qualifying round winners now move on to the second round, which will be played the weekend of Oct. 19-20. The full schedule of second qualifying round match-ups will be published soon, following a draw at Soccer House in Chicago, U.S. Soccer’s headquarters.