Portland Timbers (USL-1) 1-3 Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, S.C.
The Charleston Battery overcame an early 1-0 deficit to topple the Portland Timbers 3-1, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston. In the 5th minute, Timbers winger Mumba Chisoni sent a ball across from the left flank, which deflected to Luke Kraemelmeyer who sent the shot past goalkeeper Dusty Hudock for the early lead. The Battery did not take long to equalize, when Luke Vercollone fed a cross to Ben Hollinsworth to level the score at 1. At fifteen minutes from full time, Hollinsworth nearly got his second when he attempted a bicycle kick near the six-yard box, which Timbers ’keeper John Saunders just manages to turn around the post and out. Just a few minutes later Charleston did get their go-ahead goal. Ian Fuller sent a pass over the Portland back line, which Gavin Glinton ran to and touched the ball just past Saunders and into goal. Charleston sealed the game with a penalty late in the game, converted by Hollinsworth for a 3-1 win. Charleston will host FC Dallas at Blackbaud on August 2 in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 1-2 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2)
Legion Sports Complex - Wilmington, N.C.
The Wilmington Hammerheads, no strangers to U.S. Open Cup upsets, pulled another off on Wednesday night, defeating the USL First Division Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 at Wilmington. Atlanta came into the match missing injured midfielder and team captain Rodrigo Rios, as well as defender David Hayes and head coach Jason Smith, both of whom were red carded in last year’s 5-1 U.S. Open Cup loss to Des Moines. Hammerheads defender Kevin Nylen put Wilmington ahead 1-0 in the 25th minute after the Silverbacks failed to clear a corner kick. Atlanta drew level in the 61st minute. The ’Backs were awarded a penalty when Omar Jarun was fouled in the area, and Alex Pineda-Chacon converted the kick to make it 1-1. Fourteen minutes later, Wilmington had their own chance at the spot, when Atlanta goalkeeper Felipe Quintero was called for a foul in the box. Chris Bagley drilled home the eventual game winner for a 2-1 score line. The Hammerheads are now the lone USL Second Division club remaining in the U.S. Open Cup, and will host the New York Red Bulls on August 2 in the fourth round.
Des Moines Menace (PDL) 1-2 Kansas City Wizards (MLS)
Blue Valley Athletic Complex - Overland Park, Kan.
Match Report: MLSnet.com
In the dying seconds of second half stoppage time, Scott Sealy broke the hearts of the Des Moines Menace, giving the Kansas City Wizards a 2-1 win at Overland Park, Kansas. Sealy had a chance to give the MLS side an early lead, but sent his shot from the left side of the penalty high over the crossbar. Fielding a team of mostly reserves, the Wizards battled a defensive minded Des Moines to a scoreless halftime draw. Despite playing with nine players in the defensive end, Des Moines still managed some chances, most notably, Joe Germanese forced Wizards goalkeeper Will Hesmer to scramble towards a 25-yard shot that passed within a foot of the post. Kansas City finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Sealy fed Ryan Pore through the middle of the Menace defense, and Pore eluded a defender and beat the goalkeeper with a shot from distance. The Menace answered less than ten minutes later when Edwin Disang’s corner kick found the head of Brad Whitsitt to level the score at one a piece. The game would move into overtime, where Sealy won the game for Kansas City with an impressive individual effort, dribbling inside a defender and scoring the game-winner from just outside the penalty box.
Columbus Crew (MLS) 4-1 Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Stony Creek High School - Rochester Hills, Mich.
Match Report - MLSnet.com
In a game that was much closer then the score line would indicate, the Columbus Crew knocked off PDL giant-killer Michigan Bucks 4-1 Wednesday night in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The Crew snatched the lead in the 16th minute, when Ezra Hendrickson scored from an assist from Sebastian Rosental. The lead held for only six minutes, as the Bucks equalized through Doug Rice. The Bucks played the Crew evenly for the first twenty minutes of the second half, until the Crew eventually broke the draw. Ivan Becerra headed home a Rosental corner kick to give the MLS side a 2-1 lead. The Bucks would not give up however. Throwing everyone forward in search of the equalizer, the Crew stole the ball and drew a foul from 25 yards out. Columbus free kick specialist Jacob Thomas curled his kick into the upper corner of the goal for a 3-1 lead in the 88th minute. Rosental was credited with the assist on the free kick, giving him three for the game. Adding insult to their own injury, the Bucks Erik Nelson accounted for an own goal during stoppage time, making the final score 4-1. Columbus will face MLS Eastern Conference league leaders D.C. United at the Maryland SoccerPlex on August 1 in the fourth round.
Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 2-3 (aet) Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
Macpherson Stadium - Browns Summit, N.C.
Match Report - Triangle Soccer Fanatics / Seattle Sounders
Coming from behind twice, once in regulation, and again in extra time, the PDL Carolina Dynamo upset USL First Division Seattle Sounders 3-2 at Browns Summit, North Carolina. Carolina came out of the gate attacking, and had several opportunities to take the lead, but failed to convert. The game remained scoreless until the 76th minute, when Sounders striker Cam Weaver scored on a header. Carolina came back in full attack, and it paid off two minutes later. Michael Lahoud, who had come on as a sub just before Weaver’s goal, drew Carolina level. Seattle were awarded a penalty five minutes into extra time, and Andrew Gregor converted from the spot to put the Sounders up 2-1. Just as in regular time, Carolina answered right back, on the strength of Ben Hunter’s goal in the 98th minute. With Seattle looking fatigued from their long flight, Carolina grabbed the game winner midway through the second session of extra time, when Darryl Roberts headed home a corner kick to give the Dynamo a 3-2 lead, and eventually the win. The win sets up a rather unique match up in the fourth round, as the PDL Dynamo will travel to Houston to face the MLS Dynamo on August 2.
New Hampshire Phantoms (USL-2) 1-5 Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
Paetec Park - Rochester, N.Y.
The Rochester Raging Rhinos charged through the USL Second Division New Hampshire Wednesday night, 5-1, Phantoms at Paetec Park in Rochester. John Ball opened the Rhinos’ account early with a goal in the 12th minute. New Hampshire were quick to respond, on Almir Barbosa’s goal six minutes later, his third of the competition. Rochester retook the lead in the 32nd minute, on Matthew Delicate’s goal, on an assist from Charles Gbeke. Gbeke got a goal of his own just before halftime making the score 3-1 Rhinos. New Hampshire managed only nine shots, forcing Rhinos goalkeeper Scott Vallow to save only three. The hosts topped off the night with goals from Connally Edozien and Aaron Lines in the final five minutes. Rochester will welcome the New England Revolution to Paetec Park on August 2 for the fourth round.
