Soccer News: Bucks Sweep to Victory in U.S. Open Cup First Round
The Michigan Bucks advanced to the second round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-0 victory against Detroit City FC on Wednesday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Michigan. The defending PDL champions scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, and added another before the halftime break, to take the victory against their local opponents.
David Goldsmith gave Michigan the lead in the seventh minute as he volleyed home a cross from the left by Calvin Rezende from close range. Two minutes later, Peri Marosevic made it two as Michigan made Detroit pay for a turnover in its own end as the midfielder sent a low shot into the right corner from 15 yards.
The Bucks scored a third at the half-hour mark, as Akron standout Brad Ruhaak struck from distance. Rezende had a cross from the left, half-cleared by the Detroit defense, but the ball found Ruhaak in space 25 yards out, and he fired home a finish into the top-left corner of the net.
Both sides had chances in the second half, and the Bucks came close to extending their lead late with a shot that came back off the post. Michigan’s lead was never truly threatened, however, as it earned a home contest with the Portland Timbers 2 in the second round on May 20.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
READING UNITED AC 1, MARYLAND BAYS 0: Brett Campbell scored the only goal as Reading booked its place in the second round. Campbell poked home a finish from Neco Brett’s assist to set up a clash with the Harrisburg City Islanders.
DES MOINES MENACE 2, MADISON FIRE 1: Goals at either side of halftime sent the Des Moines Menace into the second round as Charlie Bales recorded assists on both to lead his side through. Bales set up Vince Cicciarelli in the 36th minute, and then Ramone Howell 19 minutes into the second half, to give the Menace a two-goal lead. Madison pulled one back late, but the Menace held on to earn a clash with Saint Louis FC.
VENTURA COUNTY FUSION 3 (6), CAL FC 3 (5): The Ventura County Fusion conceded late in regulation, but earned victory in a penalty shootout to advance to the second round. In a back-and-forth contest, the Fusion took the lead three times through Carlos Martinez, Javier Castro and Julian Zamora, only to be pegged back each time. The game went to sudden death with the teams tied 3-3 in the shootout after five rounds, but when Matt Shelton converted in the eighth round, and Cal FC’s Edgar Espinosa shot over, Ventura County moved on to face the LA Galaxy II next Wednesday.
WEST VIRGINIA CHAOS 1, FT. PITT REGIMENT 0: An early goal by Daniel Smee earned the Chaos victory in their first Open Cup contest. Smee scored off a corner in the fifth minute to earn his side a contest with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and former player Rob Vincent, in the second round.
LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS 3, BROOKLYN ITALIANS 1: Joe Holland had two goals and an assist to lead the Rough Riders past the Italians. Holland opened the scoring in the first minute, but Brooklyn got back on level terms from the penalty spot to leave the game even at the break. Long Island regained the lead in the 66th minute, however, as Holland set up Ben Wignall, and Holland added his second nine minutes later to wrap up the win.
LAREDO HEAT 4, NTX RAYADOS 2: Leon Taylor scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout to send the Laredo Heat through to a contest with their former PDL rival the Austin Aztex. The Heat had chances, but were unable to find a goal, but when the Rayados missed in the first and third rounds, the door was opened for Laredo to advance to the second round for a fourth consecutive season.
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY FC 3, AC CONNECTICUT 2: AC Connecticut rallied to take the lead in its first Open Cup appearance, but a late goal by Virginia Beach earned a comeback win. Goals by Raphael Carvalho and Zach Zurita put Connecticut up just before the hour mark, but VBCFC tied the score from the penalty spot before Pat Thompson’s 88th-minute winner.
SEACOAST UNITED PHANTOMS 2, GPS MASSACHUSSETTS 1: The 10-man Phantoms rallied to take victory as Anthony Grant and Sofiane Tergou both scored. GPS took a first-half lead, and Seacoast was reduced to 10 men after a second yellow card to Terence Carter, but the Phantoms received a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty kick that Grant converted midway through the second half. Tergou then scored with five minutes to go to lift his side to the second round for the first time since 2006.
JERSEY EXPRESS 3, NY GREEK AMERICAN SC 0: The Jersey Express scored all three goals in the second half as they advanced to the second round for a second consecutive season. Marko Drljic opened the scoring in the 66th minute. Chris Karcz added the second in the 88th minute before the Express wrapped up the victory with a third in stoppage time, and earned a meeting with the New York Red Bulls II in the second round.
CHATTANOOGA FC 1 5, OCALA STAMPEDE 1 3: The Ocala Stampede fell in a penalty shootout to Chattanooga FC, as Lewis Hilton’s opening goal wasn’t enough to send his side through. Hilton fired home a finish just past the hour mark, but Chattanooga scored with a fine close-range finish to level the score, and was clinical in the shootout as it converted all of its shots to advance.
MIDLAND/ODESSA SOCKERS FC 3, TULSA ATHLETICS 1: The Sockers marked their first appearance in the Open Cup with a victory, as Walker Hume scored once and Tucker Hume had two assists in their win against Tulsa. Walker Hume opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and Midland/Odessa doubled its lead when Andy Lopez put home a finish from Tucker Hume’s ball 10 minutes before the break. Tulsa pulled a goal back with 14 minutes to go, but Tucker Hume again played provider as Scott Smith restored the Sockers’ two-goal lead in the 86th minute to wrap up the victory.
KITSAP PUMAS 5, FC TACOMA 253 2: The Pumas romped to victory against Tacoma as they scored five unanswered goals before the hosts pulled back a pair of late consolations. Joe Masumiya and Carlos Patino each scored a pair of goals and added assists, and Mike Ramos added a pair of assists on the game’s opening two goals, as the Pumas advanced to face Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the second round.
GREATER BINGHAMTON THUNDER 1 4, WESTERN MASS PIONEERS 1 3: The Western Mass Pioneers took a first-half lead, but fell on penalty kicks after being reduced to 10 men. Ryan Taylor gave the Pioneers the lead in the 24th minute, but the Thunder equalized nine minutes into the second half before Kyle Tomas was sent off for Western Mass three minutes later. The Pioneers managed to take the game to a shootout, but Binghamton earned the victory.
HARPO’S FC 4, BYU COUGARS 2: BYU’s first trip to the Open Cup ended in disappointment as the Cougars fell in a penalty shootout. Both teams had chances, and BYU goalkeeper Jake Peterson saved well to deny a big chance for Harpo’s just before the hour mark, but the Cougars goalkeeper was unable to come up with a stop in the shootout as Harpo’s went four-of-four from the spot.
SONOMA COUNTY SOL 2, BURLINGAME DRAGONS 1, AET: The Burlingame Dragons let a late lead slip as they fell to Sonoma County. The Dragons took the lead in the 77th minute on a goal by Nacho Verde, but the Sol leveled the game in the final minute and then took the lead early in extra time. The Dragons tried to find an equalizer, but saw their first appearance in the Open Cup end at the first hurdle.
CHULA VISTA FC 2, FC TUCSON 1, AET: A late equalizer and a missed penalty kick in extra time saw FC Tucson fall at the first hurdle in its return to the Open Cup. After a scoreless first half, Tucson took the lead in the 58th minute through Brandon Zambrano, but Chula Vista tied the score with eight minutes to go in regulation, and then took the lead four minutes into extra time. Tucson had the chance to equalize from the penalty spot later in the extra session, but Eddie Sanchez’s shot went off the crossbar, and Chula Vista held on for the victory.
MIAMI UNITED 2, SW FLORIDA ADRENALINE 1: A stoppage-time goal by Miami United ended the SW Florida Adrenaline’s first trip to the Open Cup, as all of the goals came in the second half at Milander Park in Hialeah, Florida.
PSA ELITE 7, GOLDEN STATE MISIONEROS 1: A first-half hat trick by Norberto Orajel led PSA Elite to an emphatic victory against the Golden State Misioneros. Former Orange County Blues FC forward Andrew Hoxie and Michael Salazar were also on the score sheet for PSA, as the Misioneros fell in the first round for a second consecutive season.
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