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Lightning first USASA club to qualify for the Cup!
Four-team race for NPSL Region IV spot
Lightning, from Chicago’s Metropolitan Soccer League, became the first USASA club to qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this past weekend, defeating the NPSL’s Detroit Arsenal 3-1. Lightning did very well to win the game, considering their circumstances. The club’s bus had been stuck in construction traffic, resulting in them arriving only 15 minutes before the game began. After playing the first half to a scoreless draw, Arsenal and Lightning traded goals in the first ten minutes of the restart. Lightning then took control, scoring two more before the final whistle.
Meanwhile in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Carpathia Kickers demolished Lafayette Veracruz, from Indiana, 6-1. Lafayette dominated the first 25 minutes, butr could not find the back of the net. Carpathia them burst through, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes of the half, with Veracruz only getting one. Carpathia finished the match off in the second half, scoring three more. With the withdrawal of Kutis SC, Milwaukee’s Croatian Eagles received a bye to the semfinals. A draw was conducted to determine which of the two winners would play the Eagles, and who would get a bye to the final, thus earning an Open Cup berth. Lightning won the draw, and Carpathia Kickers will travel to play the Eagles on May 13. Lightning will them play the winner of that match in the final, not only to determine who advances to the USASA National Finals, but to see which club will enter the cup n the qualifying round, and who will start in the First Round.
Meanwhile out west, the race for the NPSL’s other Region IV finals spot is heating up. The Sacramento Knights stand on top with 10 points, followed by Sonoma County Sol with 9, Chico Rooks with 8, and San Jose Frogs at 7. All teams have two matches left to play. Sacramento lumped into the top spot with a 3-1m win over Sonoma County, a match that only counted fro the Knights’ qualifying run. Sacramento then saw a team gain ground on them at their own expense, falling to San Jose 5-2. Chico drew with Salinas Valley 2-2 on the 29th, them came back an demolished last place Redwood City 6-1. Sonoma County play at Chico this weekend in what could prove to be a pivotal match in the qualifying standings. Sacramento play Redwood City, while San Jose travel to Salinas Valley, although the match does not count for the Frogs qualifying record.
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