Last night’s 4th round, 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup finished with another 7 great matches. The celebration of the beautiful game continued with teams from all leagues, shapes and corners of the country came to compete in the USA’s longest-standing soccer competition.
MLSGoals brings you the results and highlights of last night’s games.
June 18, 2015
Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy met last night with PSA Elite – An Amateur club that plays in the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). Although the 1st goal of the match was scored by PSA’s Michael Salazar (12’), Elite’s joy was short lived.
LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget equalized a few minutes later (’15), followed by Gyasi Zardes (’19), and finishing off the 1st half for Galaxy’s lead was Robbie Kean (’29). As if a 3-1 in the 1st half wasn’t enough, Robbie Keen continued to destroy PAS Elite in the second half with 2 additional goals to complete a hat trick (’53, ’70), and finishing of MLS LA Galaxy’s win was Baggio Husidic, scoring the last goal of the match (’77).
Sadly, PSA Elite was the last amateur team that was left in the competition. We, at MLSGoals commend for their efforts this season, as well as 2014, in which both seasons the team qualified, yet got knocked out in the 4th round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This type of effort and diversity is what makes the true spirit of this competition.
MLS Huston Dynamo also got a win against fellow Texans USL Austin Aztex. Ranked 7 in the Major League Soccer Western Conference, the Dynamos are coming into this match with a 2-game winning streak, but had mixed results this season (5-5-5). Visitors Huston Aztex are ranked 8 in the USL Western Conference with 13 matches played this season (5-7-1).
The 1st goal was scored by Huston’s Leonel Miranda (‘24), and on the other side of the game, a stoppage time goal (’91) for Dynamo’s Ricardo Clark.
Clark’s goal was assisted by Mauro Manotas, who debuted for the Huston Dynamos last night. MLSGoals was impressed by Huston’s Coach Owen Coyle, who kept a dynamic formation and put a lot of thought into the game. Raul Rodriguez was the only starter for Huston that played a full 90 minutes.
National American Soccer League New York Cosmos, hosted a New York Darby with Major League Soccer Rival New York City Football Club. MLSGoals was especially interested in this fixture, as we follow NYCFC closely. They recent MLS expansion side, part of the international City Football Group, has had an uphill battle in its 1st MLS season, and is still trying to find its way in Major League Soccer.
New York Cosmos on the other hand, has been a club that was reinstated in 2013, but has a long heritage and tradition in American soccer history. This is the first time these two New York sides meet, when last US Open Cup season, the Cosmos had beaten 3-0 the other MLS New York franchise: New York Red Bulls.
Most notably in this match, is the personal rivalry between two Spanish Football legends NYCFC’s David Villa and Cosmos’ Raul.
Things went NYCFC’s way until the middle of the 2nd half, with Kwadwo Poku scored the 1st goal of the match (’25), followed by a second goal by Poku again on the 2nd half (’57), putting New York City FC in a 2-0 lead. All went bad for NYCFC, as the Cosmos rebounded, with Leo Fernandes (on loan from MLS Philadelphia Union) scoring (’65), followed by another goal – an equalizer on stoppage time (’90).
The two teams went into a 30-minute overtime, and then to a penalty shootout, where New York Cosmos won the match.
Another MLS new expansion team, Orlando City met USL Charleston Battery. And again, both sides drew the match, went into overtime, and then into a penalty shootout. MLSGoals noticed that this time however, it was the MLS side that won (although by the skin of its teeth).
After a goalless 1st half, all hell broke loose with Charleston’s Jarad van Schaik scored the match’s 1st goal (’58), shortly thereafter Lewis Neal equalized for Orlando (’64). Charleston’s Dane Kelly then followed suit (’67), to be followed by an additional goal from the penalty spot for Orlando’s Carlos Rivas (’76). Tied at 2-2, the match then went into added time.
Carlos Rivas scored again for Orlando from the penalty spot (’94), and again from the penalty spot for the 3rd time this game (‘105+2). However, it was not over as far as Charleston Battery were concerned, with Battery’s Justin Portillo scoring 2 goals in overtime (‘105+3, ‘116), finishing the match at a 4-4 tie.
Orlando City did finally came atop, but by a very narrow, 1-point difference in the penalty shootout. So the total match consisted of 23 goals on 1 night!! We at MLSGoals sure wish we were there!
History was made last night, with USL Charlotte Independence becoming the first lower division club to knock out of the competition an MLS side this 2015 US Open Cup season. Major League Soccer side New England Revolution conceded the 1 and only point of the match to Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera (’55).
MLSGoals congratulates Charlotte Independence for the achievement, and wishes the Charlotte squad further success in the rest of the tournament.
MLS Columbus Crew beat USL side Richmond Kickers last night. The first goal came from Crew’s Adam Bedell (’17), with an equalizer curtesy of Kickers’ Fred Owusu (’23). Richmond even managed to hold the lead for a while, until Ethan Finlay broke the tie with another goal for Columbus (’42). And Adam Bedell sealed the deal for Columbus with his second score of the match (’63).
MLSGoals is now wishing luck and looking forward to Richmond Kickers hosting English Premier League Club West Bromwich at Richmond City Stadium, Virginia for a friendly match next month. July 19th, kickoff time to be confirmed.
USL side Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosted MLS powerhouse D.C. United, who dealt a defeat to their Pennsylvanian hosts. DC’s Facundo took the lead with an early score (‘8). Pittsburgh’s Rob Vincent equalized (’23), but late goals in added time by Kofi Opare (’92) and Nick DeLeon gave D.C. United the Win.
MLSGoals still wants to commend Pittsburgh for the effort and tenacity, playing a very strong MLS team and holding up the tie for most of the game.
