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USASA qualifying heats up
Two qualify from Region IV, the remaining four to be determined this weekend
The NPSL’s Sonoma County Sol and the Arizona Sahuaros, a former NPSL team, claimed the two USASA Region IV U.S. Open Cup spots this weekend, at the Region IV National Cup Finals in Seattle, Washington.
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| Sonoma County Sol, Region IV Open Cup Champions Photo: www.soccerwest.us |
The Open cup field was reduced to six teams, after the NPSL’s Sacramento Knights withdrew at the last minute. In Group A, the San Jose Frogs, a first year NPSL club, opened the weekend with a 6-0 romp over CD Azteca, from Northern California.Azteca found no relief the next day, as Arizona rolled to a 8-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. Arizona then came back that evening and defeated San Jose 3-0 to return to the U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 1999, when they were a part of the USL.
Group B came down to the two NPSL teams, Chico rooks and the Sol. Both clubs had no problem with San Diego’s SudaCa FC, Sol winning 8-0 on Friday, and Chico
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Arizona Sahuaros
Region IV Open Cup Runners-up Photo:www.soccerwest.us
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prevailing 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. This left Chico needing a win to advance to the Open Cup, as a draw would put Sonoma County through on goal difference. Despite hitting both the crossbar and the goalpost, Chico were unable to get on the board, and the match finished 0-0. Sonoma County move on to make their second straight appearance in the U.S. Open Cup. The weekend was not over for the two Open Cup qualifiers however, as both teams faced off Sunday morning to determine who would be crowned the Region IV Open Cup champion, and represent the Region at the USASA National Cups Finals in Frisco, Texas in August. Sonoma County won the final 2-1, with Beto Sanchez heading home the winning goal. Both clubs will face the two PDL Western Conference teams in the first round of the Open Cup on June 14.
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Virgus Anusauskas (left) scored all four goals for the Ukrainian Nationals in their 4-1 win over the Aegean Hawks on Sunday.
Photo: Ukrainian Nationals
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In Region I action three teams are one step closer to an Open Cup spot. Philadelphia’s Ukrainian Nationals, four-time winners of the U.S. Open Cup, defeated Washington D.C.’s Aegean Hawks 4-1. All four goals were scored by Virgus Anusauskas. The Uke Nats will now face Allied SC, from Baltimore, in the Group A final, for one of the two Region I Open Cup berths, on May 28. In other action, Connecticut’ Milford International defeated Boston’s Green Briar Rebels 4-0. They will face White Eagles in next Saturday’s Group B final. White Eagles defeated Phantoms Future 4-0 as well.
In the Region II Open Cup final, Diego Codon’s goal in the 78th minute snapped a tie and lifted Lightning over the Croatian Eagles 2-1 in the USASA Region II finals Saturday afternoon in Chicago. Jakub Radkowski also scored for the Illinois club, which advances to the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. The Milwaukee-based Croatian Eagles will play in the qualifying round of the tournament, where they will play the second-place qualifier from the PDL Central Conference on Wednesday, June 7. The Croatian Eagles took the lead in the 25th minute, as Jason Willan scored on a free kick from about 28 yards out. Radkowski tied it for Lightning in the 58th, taking the ball on a break down the sideline, cutting back and firing a left-footed shot from about 16 yards out. Codon got the winner during a scramble in front of the goal.
With the victory, Lightning also earned a berth in the semifinals of the open division of the USASA National Cup Aug. 4-6 in Frisco, Texas, as well as placing them in the first round to start the U.S. Open Cup. Croatian Eagles will face the second place PDL Central Conference qualifier in the Qualifying round on June 7.
The Region III Open Cup finals are set for action this weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Seven teams will compete for the two Open Cup spots, lead by last year’s U.S. Open Cup qualifiers Dallas Roma FC.
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