Chula Vista Derby Ends in Tight Battle
Two teams from Chula Vista faced off in historic U.S. Open Cup Qualifier
The Rebels Soccer Club and Chula Vista FC (CVFC) both joined the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, often referred to as the US Open Cup, and it was a knock-out competition to the end in America’s oldest ongoing national soccer competition.
It was a Historic Chula Vista Derby
The US Open Cup draw placed the Rebels against their local rival on Saturday, September 21. The Historic Derby was the 4th time the two Chula Vista teams have played each other this year.
In a match reflecting the rivalry shared by these two clubs for decades, Chula Vista FC went head to head with Rebels Men’s Soccer Club in the first qualifying round until the bitter end in penalty kicks. The game was dramatic and action-packed from the start to finish.
The Rebels’ Oscar Brambila, the team’s starting goalkeeper, suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in the ten minutes into the match. Brambila was replaced by defender Vincent Acevedo who made some great saves during regulation time to take them into overtime. The game was halted for nearly 20 minutes because of the goalkeeper’s injury.
Julio Martinez opened the scoring, finding the back of the net for CVFC in the first half. Minutes after, Pablo Vazquez equalized for the Rebels.
The score was 2-1 going into the half time break as Alberto “Beto” Diaz scored, giving CVFC the lead going into the break.
In the second half, the Rebels continued to fight for the duration of regulation time, determined to wage a comeback and found success as Eric Gonzalez scored, ending regulation time with a score of 2-2 and sending the game into penalty kicks.
With bragging rights on the line as well as and critical win needed to advance in the US Open Cup, Chula Vista FC defeated the Rebels in penalty kicks.
CVFC shot first and successfully finished all 5 of their penalty kicks. Chula Vista’s Oscar Hernandez, Jordan Chavez, Yasser Hasani, Francisco ‘Cisco’ Ramirez and Alberto Diaz all scored their PKs while the Rebels missed the first opportunity and although they scored their subsequent PKs, the match was over.
The final score in the shootout was CVFC 5 – 3 RSC, advancing CVFC to the next round.
Chula Vista FC will advance to the next round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
“It was a great match vs the Rebels,” said Chula Vista’s head coach, Hector Diaz. “It is also awesome to stay undefeated and be moving onto the next round of the qualifiers.”
The rivalry between these two clubs began on the youth side and moved into the adult side when the Rebels launched their adult program.
Matt Emmert, Head Coach Rebels SC Men’s Soccer Team was very excited to make the club’s first appearance in U.S. Open Cup qualifying.
Read: REBELS SC VS CHULA VISTA DERBY IN U.S. OPEN CUP QUALIFIER
Photo Credit: Ramiro Figaroa
Brennan Kiledjian contributed to this article.
