Last week the Carolina Dynamo all but clinched their return to the U.S. Open Cup, this week it was confirmed. 
The Dynamo, who have wrapped up their PDL qualifying campaign with a perfect 4-0-0 record, needed only a draw in tonight’s match between the Cocoa Expos and the Augusta Fireballs. At the end of the night, the Expos and Fireballs stood at 2-2, opening the door for Carolina’s Open Cup confirmation. The draw left only two other Southern Conference clubs who could match Carolina’s perfect mark, the El Paso Patriots and Laredo Heat. Since both clubs face each other Saturday night, only one could possibly remain on pace to match the 4-0-0 record of the Dynamo. Carolina’s last appearance in the U.S. Open Cup was in 2004, falling in the third round after a thrilling 4-3 defeat to the Atlanta Silverbacks.
At Augusta, Jordan Kelly opened the scoring in the 10th minute for Cocoa, only to see the scored equalized by Augusta’s Ryan Rouchandel 24 minutes later. Both teams stuck once each early in the second half. Tomek Charowski put Augusta up 2-1 in the 56th minute, thanks to an assist from former Cocoa Expo Fred Moojen. Former MLS regular Pete Marino scored the final goal of the match two minutes later. The draw leaves Cocoa 1-0-1, currently sitting third in the Southern Conference qualifying standings, and the match was the first in Augusta’s qualifying effort.
In other Southern Conference qualifying action, the Atlanta Silverbacks u23’s kept their slim Open Cup hopes alive with 3-0 win at home over Ajax Orlando Prospects. Damone Priestly scored twice for the ’Backs. Atlanta only have 6 points with one match remaining (Saturday vs. Cocoa), which may not be enough to secure the second spot in the Southern Conference, should they win their final match.
Other PDL results from Friday night....
Eastern Conference - Cape Cod Crusaders 4, Westchester Flames 0; Richmond Kickers Future 1, Albany Admirals 0; Deleware Dynasty 5, Vermont Voltage 1
Sill very early in Eastern Conference qualifying, with most clubs having only one or two games played thus far.
Central Conference - Des Moines Menace 3, Colorado Springs Blizzard 0; Boulder Rapids Reserve 2, Sioux Falls SpitFire 0; Kalamazoo Kingdom 2, Cleveland Internationals 1
Des Moines move into second with 6 points from 3 games, and need a win Saturday against visiting Boulder Rapids Reserve to boost thewir chances of qualifying.
Western Conference - Cascade Surge 2, BYU Cougars 0; San Fernando Valley Quakes 2, California Gold 1
The win by Cascade further tightens the race in the West, four clubs now sit on top with 6 points.
