Matchups and results were all over the map, both literally and figuratively, as qualifying for the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup wrapped up, sending the 12 third round winners into the tournament proper, which begins next Spring.
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms survived a watery mess in the East, while NTX Rayados continued to shine in the Central Region, and Chula Vista FC escaped out West to advance.
Join usopencup.com for a look back at all the action as local qualifiers took the last step toward reaching the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.
Pancyprian-Freedoms Still Fighting Back Time
When life gives you a torrential rain storm, you play in the puddles.
Charlie Ledula scored early in the second half as New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, the three-time Open Cup champions, defeated Brockton FC United, 1-0. The game was ultimately abandoned due to field conditions in the 57th minute at Memorial Stadium in Everett, Mass.
“We were confident in our forward to get the job done,” said George Halkidis, general manager of New York Pancyprian Freedoms. “Even with bad weather we can score goals.”
Despite playing without its two top options at center back, the 2019 Cosmopolitan League champions qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2016.
“We didn’t have our best defenders but our guys have each other’s backs. We are a mentally tough team,” Halkidis said.
Elsewhere in the East, Derek Antonini and Alec Neumann had goals to help Vereinigung Erzgebirge advance to the Open Cup for just the second time in the Modern Era (1995-present) with a 2-1 victory over West Chester United at Warminster, Pa.’s William Tennent High School.
Christian Osorio scored goals in the 20th, 63rd and 90th minutes to help Virginia United advance to the Open Cup for a second consecutive year with a 3-1 victory over CD Huateras at Howiston Homestead Complex in Woodbridge, Va.
Pete Caringi III scored two more goals as Christos FC moves on to the Open Cup for the third time in four years with a 3-2 victory over Steel FC at Glen Burnie High School in Maryland. Caringi III, who scored three times in Christos FC’s opening qualifier, now has five goals in two qualifying games.
East Region Results
|
Date |
Game (home team listed first) |
Result |
Venue |
|
Nov. 24 |
Brockton FC United (Mass.) vs. New York Pancyprian Freedoms (N.Y.) |
0-1 (57’: abandoned due to field conditions) |
Everett Memorial Stadium; Everett, Ma. |
|
Nov. 24 |
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (Pa.) vs. West Chester United (Pa.) |
2-1 |
William Tennent High School; Warminster, Pa. |
|
Nov. 24 |
Christos FC (Md.) vs. Steel FC (Pa.) |
3-2 |
North County High School; Glen Burnie, Md. |
|
Nov. 24 |
CD Huateras (Va.) vs. Virginia United (Va.) |
1-3 |
Howison Homestead Soccer Complex;Woodbridge, Va. |
NTX Rayados Keep Their Streak Alive
Mohamed Sesay’s second-half hat trick was more than enough to lead NTX Rayados to its ninth consecutive Open Cup with a 3-0 victory over Celtic Cowboys Premier at Premier Park in Balch Springs, Texas. Sesay scored in the 55th, 69th and 77th minutes and now leads all players with nine goals in qualifying.
Four first-half goals from four different players sealed Miami United FC U23’s first Open Cup berth with a 4-0 victory over Hurricane FC at Kendall (Fla.) Soccer Park. Bautista Dominguez, Daryl Gordon, Nicolas Micoli and William Stamatis each had goals as the club’s Under-23 side qualified for the first time.
Nashville United is the first Tennessee-based amateur club to qualify for the Open Cup after Logan Paynter and Georgi Hristov scored two goals apiece in a 4-0 victory over Soda City FC at Ben Lippen High School in Columbia, S.C.
Matheus Fulini netted the lone goal as Louisiana Krewe FC defended home turf to become just the second Louisiana-based qualifier with a 1-0 victory over Livonia City FC at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, La.
Central Region Results
|
Date |
Game (home team listed first) |
Result |
Venue |
|
Nov. 23 |
Miami United FC U23 (Fla.) vs. Hurricane FC (Fla.) |
4-0 |
Kendall Soccer Park; Miami, Fla. |
|
Nov. 23 |
Soda City Sorinex FC (S.C.) vs. Nashville United (Tenn.) |
0-4 |
Ben Lippen High School; Columbia, SC |
|
Nov. 23 |
Louisiana Krewe FC (La.) vs. Livonia City FC (Mich.) |
1-0 |
St. Thomas More Catholic High School; Lafayette, La. |
|
Nov. 23 |
NTX Rayados (Texas) vs. Celtic Cowboys Premier (Texas) |
3-0 |
Premier Park, Field 1; Balch Springs, Texas |
Chula Vista FC Sets Another Record
Drama continues to surround Chula Vista FC but the San Diego County, Calif.-based club is through to the 2020 Open Cup after setting another new Qualification Round record with its third consecutive shootout victory. Mario Rubio’s 81st minute equalizer got Chula Vista FC to overtime, and teammate Luis Espinoza-Vasquez pinged a penalty try off the cross bar in the second overtime to send it to kicks from the spot before CVFC edged L.A. Monsters FC, 2-2 (5-4 PKs), at Terra Nova Park in Chula Vista.
Willie Raygosa scored his sixth goal of the qualifying rounds, and German Alfaro added another in the moments leading into halftime as Cal FC earned entry into the Open Cup for the fifth time with a 2-1 victory over Oxnard Guerreros at Del Sol Stadium.
Freddie Braun and Shane Wheeler had two goals apiece as FC Boulder Harpos scored early and often to move on to the Open Cup for the first time since 2016 with a 4-0 victory over Colorado Rovers at Boulder, Colo.’s Fairview High School.
Matt Fondy and Bryan Burke scored for the second consecutive game, and Javier Ayala-Hill added a third goal as San Francisco-based Olympic FC made the long trip worth it with two second-half goals to defeat Azteca FC, 3-1, at Ridgeview High School in Colorado.
West Region Results
|
Date |
Game (home team listed first) |
Result |
Venue |
|
Nov. 23 |
Chula Vista FC (Calif.) vs. L.A. Monsters FC (Calif.) |
2-2, 2-2 AET, 5-4 PKs |
Terra Nova Park; Chula Vista, Calif. |
|
Nov. 23 |
Azteca FC (Colo.) vs. Olympic Club (Calif.) |
1-3 |
Rangeview High School; Aurora, Colo. |
|
Nov. 23 |
Oxnard Guerreros FC (Calif.) vs. Cal FC (Calif.) |
1-2 |
Del Sol Stadium; Oxnard, Calif. |
|
Nov. 24 |
FC Boulder Harpos (Colo.) vs. Colorado Rovers (Colo.) |
4-0 |
Fairview High School; Boulder, Colo. |
Photo credit photo: Nikolas Emack-Bazelais