US Open Cup Under Way

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup began its proper competition this week with 14 games played on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday. These are one-game sets with the winners all advancing to the second round.

Tuesday games:

At Irvine, California:

Sonoma County Sol (US Adult Soccer Association) defeated fellow California club Orange County Blue Star (Premier Development League) 5-3.

At Bremerton, Washington:

Brian Farber scored twice (33', 46') as the Portland Timbers (USL-1) defeated Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 3-0 on the road.

The Timbers will play Sonoma County Sol in the second round match next Tuesday at Santa Rosa, California.

At Austin, Texas:

Goals from Jeff Harwell (18') and Eddie Johnson (64') powered the Austin Aztex (USL-1) to a 2-0 home win over the Mississippi Brilla (PDL).

At El Paso, Texas:

Rodrigo Morin (27') and Gerardo Moreira (59') each tallied once as the El Paso Patriots (PDL) held off the visiting Arizona Sahuaros (USASA) 2-1.

In the second round next Tuesday, the Aztex will host El Paso in Austin in an all-Texas showdown.

At Bridgeview, Illinois:

Freddie Braun (26'), Andre Akpan (28'), and Pascal Millien (53') each scored once as Chicago Fire Premier (PDL), despite finishing the game with ten men, defeated the visiting Milwaukee Bavarians SC (USASA) 3-1.

At Blaine, Minnesota:

Brian Cvilikas' double (30', 46') helped powered the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) to a 3-2 home win over Nebraska's 402 FC (USASA).

Next Tuesday, Chicago Fire Premier will travel to Blaine, Minnesota for a second-round encounter with the Thunder.

At Rochester, New York:

After Taiwo Atieno's equalizer in second-half stopage time tied the score at 1-1 to force what proved to be thirty scoreless overtime minutes, the Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) , with successful conversions from Andrew Gregor, Keney Bertz, Mauricio Salles, and Tiger Fitzpartick, won the penalty kick shootout with the visiting Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) 4-2.

At Bedford, Ohio:

Ryan Stewart (27'), Ricardo Pierre Louis (34'), and Steve Gillespie (68') each tallied once as the Cleveland City Stars (USL-1) manhandled the visiting St. Louis Lions (PDL) 3-0.

Next Tuesday, in a matchup of USL-1 clubs, Cleveland will travel to Rochester to take on the Rhinos.

At Miami:

In an all-Florida contest, goals from Paulo Araujo, Jr. (64') and Diego Serna (65') concluded a lightning fast comback as Miami FC (USL-1) came from behind at home to defeat Jacksonville-based Lynch's Irish Pub FC (USASA) 2-1.

At Charleston, South Carolina:

The Charleston Battery (USL-1), thanks to goals contributed by Randi Patterson (1') and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (32') defeated Atlanta FC (USASA) 2-0. The visitors ended the match with only eight men as three were ejected via red cards.

Next Tuesday, in another matchup of USL-1 clubs, the Battery will travel to Miami for second round action.

At Wilmington, North Carolina:

In a battle of USL-2 clubs from North Carolina , the Wilmington Hammerheads blanked the visiting Charlotte Eagles 2-0. Jamie Watson (82') and Phil Hufstader (90') provided the goals for the Hammerheads.

At Cary, North Carolina:

Daniel Paldini (14') and Hamed Diallo (48') each tallied once as the Carolina Railhawks (USL-1) overtook the visiting Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 2-1.

Next Tuesday at Cary, an all-North Carolina second round contest will take place as the Railhawks will host the Hammerheads.

At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:

Four goal scorers each tallied once as the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) defeated the visiting Reading Rage (PDL) in an all-Pennsylvania contest 4-1.

At Ludlow, Massachusetts:

In a match between two Bay State clubs, the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2), thanks to Al Barbosa's overtime goal at 98 minutes, defeated the visiting Emigrantes das Ilhas (USASA) 3-2.

Next Tuesday in the second round, the Western Mass Pioneers will visit Harrisburg City in the Keystone State's capital city as the two USL-2 clubs battle for a berth in the third round.

Wednesday games:

At Rockville, Maryland:

Ryan Cordeiro scored at 14 minutes as Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) blanked visiting Agean Hawks FC from Virginia (USASA) 1-0 in a match that was stopped at 74 minutes due to lightning.

At Ocean City, New Jersey:

Byron Carmichael scored twice (7', 33') as the Ocean City Barons (PDL) hammered visiting Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) 3-0.

Next Tuesday, the Barons will face-off against Real Maryland at home in second round play.