Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) 10 : 0 Azzurri (USASA)
Atlanta Match Report

In one of three games on the night to be delayed by bad weather, the Atlanta Silverbacks exploded for six goals in the final fifteen minutes to cruise past Azzurri 10-0. Rodrigo Rios notched three goals as well as two assists, and Warren Ukah also tallied a hat trick in the span of four minutes, just eleven minutes after coming on as a substitute late in the second half.

The ’Backs started the scoring in the 10th minute, when Dayton O’Brien notched a goal after receiving a ball that deflected off an Azzurri defender. Rodrigo Rios scored the first of his three goals just four minutes later, off a pass from Daniel Antoniuk. Just three minutes later, a severe thunderstorm rolled through, and the game was stopped for an hour due to lightning. Once play resumed, Atlanta added two more goals to the board, from Rafique Hassim, and a second from Rios. Azzurri had a good chance in the final moments of the half when Tomiwa Ogunsola hit a shot off the post.

In the second half, Azzurri tried to use an offside trap to slow Atlanta down, catching the ’Backs with eight offside calls in the first twenty minutes. As the half moved on, the Azzurri defense wore down, and Atlanta opened the floodgates, scoring six goals in the final fifteen minutes of play.

Atlanta will host the Charlotte Eagles on June 26 in the second round.

Scoring
(ATL) Dayton O’Brien 10’
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 14’ (Daniel Antoniuk)
(ATL) Rafique Hassim 19’ (Angel Rivillo)
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 25’ (Dayton O’Brien)
(ATL) Rafique Hassim 74’ (Rodrigo Rios)
(ATL) Dan Antoniuk 80’ (Angel Rivillo)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 84’ (Rodrigo Rios)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 86’ (Dayton O’Brein)
(ATL) Warren Ukah 88’ (Daniel Antoniuk)
(ATL) Rodrigo Rios 90’ (Angel Rivillo)

Cautions
(ATL) Hudson 40’

Atlanta Silverbacks -  Ryan McIntosh (Felipe Quintero, 17’), David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Tony McManus, Omar Jarun (Alvin Hudson 14’) (Justin Moore 65’), Scott Buete, Dayton O’Brien, Angel Rivillo, Rafique Hassim (Warren Ukah 77’), Rodrigo Rios, Daniel Antoniuk.

Azzurri - Michael Lahoud, Brian Hooten (Jeff Harwell 57’), Greg Mottinger, Adrian Chevannes, Daniel Dobson, Michael Anderson (Esteban Mariel 62’), Greg Martin, Matt Whiteley, Tomiwa Ogunsola (Nathan Neal 77’), Ryan Kneipper, Freddie Garcia (Manuel Mariel 16’).

Most goals, one team, single game, Professional Era (1995-2007)
10, Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Azzurri, June 12, 2007, First Round
9, Seattle Sounders vs. Everett BigFoot, June 12, 1995, First Round
9, El Paso Patriots vs. Arizona Sahuaros, June 24, 1998, Second Round
9, San Diego Flash vs. Arizona Sahuaros, June 30, 1999, Second Round
8, Chicago Stingers vs. SAC WISLA, June 11, 1998, First Round
8, Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Los Lobos, June 5, 1999, First Round
8, Richmond Kickers vs. Ocean City Barons, July 19, 2005, Third Round


Charleston Battery (USL-1) 3:0 Central Florida Kraze (PDL)
Charleston Match Report

The Charleston Battery, with the aid of two goals from Luke Vercollone, made easy work of the Central Florida Kraze, defeating the PDL side 3-0 at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery jumped on the board early, when Stephen Armstrong got a long range shot past Kraze goalkeeper Alessandro Barcherrini in the sixth minute of play. As Barcherrini bent over to pick up the ball, it took a slight deflection, allowing it to slip though his hand and across the goal line. Charleston continued to put pressure on the Kraze defense, and after several near misses, Vercollone slotted home a Mike Richardson cross in the 12th minute to put Charleston up 2-0.

Central Florida would not give up early however, as Keith Savage tested Charleston goalkeeper Keith Wiggins twice, once with a hard shot from thirty yards out, and again by forcing Wiggins to dive to push the ball over the touch line for a corner kick. In the 42nd minute, Vercollone struck again, finding himself unmarked on the left side of the penalty area after receiving a cross from Gordon Chin, which he chested down and slotted into the net. Vercollone nearly completed the hat trick early in the second half, but Barcherrini made a spectacular save to deny him.

The Kraze were reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute, when substitute Daniel Fadida was shown a straight red card for a two-footed foul on Ian Bennett. The Battery then played gracious hosts and put the game on cruise control, even playing out the clock when the Kraze were reduced to nine men in the 89th minute, when a Kraze player was injured after the team used their four substitutes.

Charleston will host the PDL’s El Paso Patriots in the second round on June 26.

Scoring
(CHR) Stephen Armstrong 5’
(CHR) Luke Vercollone 12’
(CHR) Luke Vercollone 42’


Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) 4:0 Aegean Hawks (USASA)
Harrisburg Match Report

The Harrisburg City Islanders opened up their first-ever U.S. Open Cup campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Washington D.C.-based USASA club Aegean Hawks. After a half hour, play was stopped due to lightning in the area, and a delay of almost 90 minutes followed. When the game was allowed to continue just before 9:30pm, both teams played the remaining fifteen minutes and finished the first half scoreless.

Early in the second half, Aegean goalkeeper Anthony Perers stopped a 20-yard drive from Chad Severs, but failed to keep the Adam Clay header out of the net in the 56th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. The City Islanders tripled their lead by the 69th minute, on goals from Mo Odour and David Schoefield. The Hawks nearly pulled one back in the 82nd minute, when Watson Vaughan-Prather pounded a shot from the top of the penalty area, but was denied by GK Dave Kern. Harrisburg finished the game with a counter attack goal, scored by Steve Fisher from David Schofield’s centering pass.

With the win, Harrisburg will travel to face the PDL’s Ocean City Barons in the second round on June 26.

Scoring
(HCI) Adam Clay (David Schofield) 56’
(HCI) Mo Oduor (Ryan Pierce) 68’
(HCI) David Schofield Chad (Chad Severs) 69’
(HCI) Steve Fisher (David Schofield) 87’

Aegean Hawks - Anthony Peters, Eddie Thurston, Ricardo Valverde, Nick McMorris, Trevor Martin, Michael Goldman, Justin Bodiya (Alex Nydal 70), Alan Golden (Robby Wright 69), Watson Vaughan-Prather, Rich Ryan (Andreas Nydal 67), Carlos Garcia (Geoff Thompson 69)

Harrisburg City Islanders - Dave Kern, Ryan Pierce, Dustin Bixler, Tim Velten (Mike Lookingland 67), Anthony Calvano, Chris Morman (Nate Baker 63), Mo Oduor, Adam Clay, David Schofield, Brian Ombiji (Matt Tanzini 60), Chad Severs (Steve Fisher 70)

Shots: AEG 3, HAR 17
Corners: AEG 7, HAR 7
Fouls: AEG 13, HAR 15
Cautions: AEG Bodiya 19’, HAR Morman 28’, HAR Velten 64’, HAR Pierce 67’
Goalkeepers: AEG Anthony Peters L, 0-1-0 (6 saves), HAR Dave Kern W, 1-0-0 (1 save)
Attendance: 874


Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) 4:1 RWB Adria (USASA)
Carolina Match Report

In their debut in the U.S. Open Cup, the Carolina Railhawks, an expansion team in the USL First Division, cruised to a 4-1 victory over Chicago’s RWB Adria at SAS Park.

The ’Hawks wasted no time in taking control of the game, jumping out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a Joey Worthen goal in the 5th minute. By the middle of the first half, the lead grew to 3-0. Connelly Edozien, who was just named the USL-1 Player of the Week, notched goals in the 31st and 34th minutes. With the game in hand, Carolina added a fourth goal nearly twenty minutes into the second half. Caleb Norkus stole a pass in the RailHawks half, passed it to Marco Leite, who then played it back to Norkus, whose shot hit the inside of the right post and into the net.

The Chicago USASA side didn’t leave Cary empty handed, however. Carlos Carrillo restored from pride for the amateurs with a  goal in the 76th minute.

Carolina will host Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC, upset winners over the USL Second Division’s Cincinnati Kings, in the Second Round on June 26.

Scoring
(CAR) Joey Worthen 5’
(CAR) Connally Edozien 31’
(CAR) Connally Edozien 34’
(CAR) Caleb Norkus 64’
(RWB) Carlos Carrillo 76’

Sent Off : Sinisa Alebic (RWB) 89’


Richmond Kickers (USL-2) 4:2 Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Richmond match report
Michigan match report

For the first time in club history, including six previous appearances in the U.S. Open Cup, the Michigan Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the tournament. It was a battle between the Bucks, the defending PDL champion, and the Richmond Kickers, the defending USL Second Division champion, and it was the Kickers who came out on top, 4-2. The loss by the Bucks also ruined their perfect 5-0 record against professional teams from the Second Division.

The Kickers took the lead in the first half on a pair of set pieces, scored by Robert Ssejjmba and Trevor McEachron. As the game move to halftime a severe thunderstorm moved into the area, and the start of the second half was delayed until almost 10:30pm. Once the game did resume, the Bucks created several scoring opportunities, but it was the Kickers who scored the next goal, in the 70th minute from Sascha Gorres. Michigan made a valiant comeback however, with goals in the 73rd and 76th minute from Nic Djokic and Xavier Balc to make the score 3-2. Richmond finally put the game away for good with four minutes to play when Matthew Watson scored for the 4-2 final.

The Kickers will now host the Cleveland City Stars in the second round on June 26. Both teams are undefeated this season in USL Second Division play.

Scoring
(RICH) Robert Ssejjemba 7’
(RICH) Trevor McEachron 36’
(RICH) Sascha Gorres 70’
(MICH) Nik Djokic 73’
(MICH) Nik Djokic 76’
(RICH) Matt Watson 86’

Richmond Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Trevor McEachron, Kelvin Jones, Steven Wolfe, Evan Harding, Sascha Gorres, Mike Burke, Matt Watson, Ihor Dotsenko, David Bulow, Robert Ssejjemba (Nowaf Jaman 77’)

Michigan Bucks: GK Steve Clark, Mike Holody, Kyle Russell (Eric Bronner 45’), Joe Donoho (Doug Demarkia 86’), Ian Daniel (Nik Djokic 45’), Pietr Nowak, Alex Morisset, Ty Shiplane (Xavier Balc 66’), Nate Jafta, Mkhokheli Dube, Kenny Uzoiqwe

Shots: RIC 13, MIC 6
Saves: RIC 3, MIC 7
Corners: RIC 3, MIC 5
Fouls:  RIC 10, MIC 17
Cautions: BAN Lockhart 19’, SEA Scott 34’, BAN Id-Deen 88’

Cautions:
62^nd minute: Kenny Uzoigwe (Michigan)
80^th minute: Mike Holody (Michigan)
85^th minute: Ihor Dotsenko (Richmond)

Referee: Shaun Papperman
Assistant Referees: Robert Velbis, Bill Dittmar
Fourth Official:  Kyle Falce
Attendance: 522
Weather: Warm, stormy, 84º


Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) 3:2 (OT) Danbury United (USASA)
MassLive.com Match Report
Danbury News Times Match Report

In the opening match of the day, the Western Mass Pioneers needed extra time and a pair of penalty kicks to overcome the upset bid of the USASA’s Danbury United.

After playing a scoreless first half, former Pioneer Tony Fernandes was called for a foul on Everson Maciel, who appeared to exaggerate the contact to draw a penalty kick.  Maciel converted the kick to give the USL-2 side a 1-0 lead. Danbury dramatically drew the game level in the 86th minute, when Mauro Costa headed in a free kick from Mauro Santos. Both teams nearly won the game in added time. Danbury goalkeeper Renildo Oliveira mishandled the ball, and Jeff Deren took a shot on an open net, but a Danbry defender slid in across the goal mouth to clear the ball away. Three minutes into added time, Tony Ferrnandes was awarded a penalty kick after a foul from Anthony Augustine, but Pioneers’ goalkeeper Kevin Trapp guessed correctly and made the save, sending the game to extra time.

In extra time, Santos quickly gave Danbury their first lead of the match, with a header in the 92nd minute that caught Trapp off his line. Western Mass was awarded another penalty in the 104th minute, when Alex Paulichi was called for a foul on Augustine in the area. Danbury GK Oliveira nearly saved Deren’s penalty kick, getting a glove on the ball, but was unable to fully stop it.  Easton Wilson scored the eventual game winner off a rebound of a 20 yard shot shot from Maciel, which he slid into an empty net.

Western Mass will travel to face Rochester in the second round on June 26.

Scoring
(WMP) Everson Maciel 59’ (PK)
(DAN) Mauro Costa 86’
(DAN) Mauro Santos 92’
(WMP) Jeff Deren 105’ (PK)
(WMP) Easton Wilson 109’

Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 4:1 Banat Arsenal (USASA)
Seattle Pitch Match Report
Seattle Sounders Match Report

Sebastien Le Toux paced the Seattle Sounders to a 4-1 victory over the USASA’s Banat Arsenal. Nathan Knox opened the scoring for Seattle with a goal nine minutes in, after a pass from Leighton O’Brien. Knox looked like he scored in the opening minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Seattle. Banat game right back and tied the game at one in the 18th minute. Maurice Hughes scored from a cross by Ty Hibbert to give the Phoenix amateurs hope early on.

After the goal it was all Sounders, as Banat were not allowed a shot the rest of the half. Sebastien Le Toux then struck twice in four minutes. In the 32nd minute, Le Toux took a diagonal pass from Roger Levesque at the right end of the goal arc, and beat Banat goalkeeper Chris Refuss for a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, when Gregory Howes sent a short cross to Le Toux from inside the penalty area, who buried it for a 3-1 Sounders lead. Howes himself finished the scoring in the match just before half time, taking a cross from Knox to put the game out of reach.

Seattle move on to face Northwest rivals Portland on June 26 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington.

Scoring

Seattle:
(SEA) Nathan Knox (Leighton O’Brien) 9’
(BAN) Maurice Hughes (Ty Hibbert) 18’
(SEA) Sebastien Le Toux (Roger Levesque) 32
(SEA) Sebastien Le Toux (Gregory Howes) 36’
(SEA) Gregory Howes (Nathan Knox) 44’

Seattle Sounders: Chris Eylander; Danny Jackson, Jake Besagno, Zach Scott (Santa Maria Rivera 71’); Kevin Sakuda, Leighton O’Brien (Kenji Treschuk 35’), Greg Howes, Roger Levesque (Andre Schmid 56’), Josh Gardner; Sebastien Le Toux (Craig Tomlinson 45’), Nathan Knox.

Banat Arsenal: Chris Rehfuss; Cory Norris (Brad Moore 75’), Frank Clay, Nick Tiggs, Elliot Weber; Ryan Lockhart (Imad Id-Deen 53’), Jaimie Miranda (Alan Watson 45’), Maurice Hughes, David Hopkinson (Brett Parry 45’); Esteban Bayona, Ty Hibbert.

Shots: SEA 21, BAN 6
Saves: SEA 3, BAN 5
Corners: SEA 6, BAN 0
Fouls:  SEA 23, BAN 21
Offsides: SEA 5, BAN 1
Cautions: (BAN) Lockhart 19’, (SEA) Scott 34’, (BAN) Id-Deen 88’


Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL-1) 1:0 Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)
Rochester Rhinos match report
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle match report

The Rhinos needed only one goal to defeat the PDL Long Island Rough riders, and advance to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Matthew Delicâte’s goal came in the 20th minute, heading in a cross from Stephen Shirley-Black The Rough Riders had two good opportunities to tie the game in the first half. A corner kick sent into the penalty area was headed on goal where Rhinos GK Chase Harrison was nowhere to be found, but midfielder Danny Kramer was there to save the day, at least momentarily. Just seconds later, Harrison made a point blank save from the left side of the 18 yard box which was one of his many great saves in the game. In the 40th minute, Harrison shined yet again. Rough Rider forward Mike Palacio launched a strong left foot from about 25 yards out but Harrison dove to his left to punch it away. One minute later, Palacio had another opportunity from 20 yards out, but Harrison was there again to keep it a 1-0 game.

While Matthew ’s goal in the 20th minute was enough for Rochester, it was Tim Melia vs. Johnny Menyongar in the second half. In the 64th minute, Melia stopped a 20 yard attempt from Menyongar off a touch pass from Delicâte. three minutes later, the Rough Riders ’keeper dove to his left to stop a one-timer shot from the Liberian striker, leaving Menyongar in disbelief. Menyongar struck again three times in three minutes. In the 83rd,  Melia got in the way of a 20-yeard shot, in the 84th, Menyongar’s shot went wide, and in the 85th, Menyongar thought he finally beat his arch-nemesis. Before he could celebrate however, the linesman raised his flag to signal offside.

Rochester returns to PAETEC Park on June 26 to host the Western Mass Pioneers in the second round.

Scoring

(ROCH) Matthew Delicate 20’


Bavarian SC (USASA) 1:0 Cincinnati Kings (USL-2)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Match Report

Milwaukee’s Bavarian SC pulled off the upset of the first round, knocking off the USL Second Division Cincinnati Kings 1-0 at Bavarian Soccer Park.

The Bavarians, making their first Open Cup appearance since 2004, scored the lone goal quickly. Brian Doherty crossed the ball to former USL First Division veteran Johnny Torres, who sent the ball to an onrushing Steve Sperl, who scored from 12 yards out in the 5th minute.

Cincinnati applied pressure to try and net an equalizer, but the Bavarian defense remained solid. Just after halftime, King’s forward Mike McGinlay sent a shot over the crossbar. Cincinnati’s best shot at drawing level came in the 67th minute, when Kwame Sarkodie struck a hard shot from the left side of the penalty area that also sailed over the crossbar.

In three appearances in the U.S. Open Cup, Cincinnati is 0-3, losing twice to USASA teams , to Bavarian SC, and Reggae Boyz (Ind.), and another time to the PDL’s Michigan Bucks.

Bavarian SC advance to the second round, where they will travel to Cary, North Carolina to face the Carolina RailHawks on June 26.


Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) 3:2 El Paso Indios USA (USASA)

Minnesota Thunder match report
El Paso Times

The Minnesota Thunder survived a tough encounter with the NPSL’s El Paso Indios USA,  managing a 3-2 win over the USASA side to advance to the second round.

El Paso got on the board almost immediately after the opening whistle, when Marco Vidal was left undefended inside the 18-yard box, and beat Thunder goalkeeper Nicolas Platter in the 5th minute. Indios kept the pros off the board for most of the first half, when Minnesota scored twice in four minutes. In the 37th minute, Jeremiah Bass scored from a Godfrey Tenoff cross, diving to head the ball past Indios goalkeeper Hernandez. The Thunder struck again in the 40th minute, Tenoff once again with the assist, this time to help Darren Spicer send a low ball past Hernandez.

Minnesota widened it’s lead twenty minutes into the second half. Leo Gibson took Kevin Friedland’s throw-in and chipped it over a surprised Hernandez. Indios would not quit, and pulled a goal back in the 77th minute. Urbica Uglijesa chipped a ball towards Joel Rios, but found the feet of Minnesota’s Spicer. Spicer then indirectly hit the ball towards Rios, who beat Platter to move to within one.

The Thunder will host the California Victory in the second round on June 26. it will be the second game in three days between the two clubs, the other being a USL-1 contest on June 24.

Scoring Summary:

(EPI) Marco Vidal 5’ (Olivares)
(MIN) Jeremiah Bass 37’ (Godfrey Tenoff)
(MIN) Darren Spicer 40’ (Godfrey Tenoff)
(MIN) Leo Gibson 66’ (Kevin Friedland)
(EPI) Joel Rios 77’ (Uglijesa)

Minnesota Thunder: Platter; Friedland, Tenoff, Greenfield, Taylor; Spicer (Mallace 79), Toure (Farber 86), Bass, Lencho (Alvino 23); Gibson, Paye (Gotsmanov 73)

El Paso Indios USA: Hernandez; Rios, Tena, Olivares, Becerra; Uglijesa, Vidal, Carrazco (Silva 71), Salas (Salas, Sergio 56); Brooks, Leal (Desantiano 62).  

Game Statistics:
Minnesota: Shots 15, Fouls 11, Offside 2, Corners 6.

El Paso: Shots 6, Fouls 10, Offside 4, Corners 3.

Goalkeeper Statistics:

Platter (Minnesota): Shots faced 6, Saves 4, Goals allowed 2.

Hernandez (El Paso) Shots faced 15, Saves 12, Goals allowed 3.

Cautions

Minnesota: Bass 43’, Friedland 45’, Spicer 65’

El Paso Indios: Becerra 25’, Juarez 89 ’

Attendance: 1,132


Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) 4:0 Kansas City Brass (PDL)

Cleveland match report (.pdf format)

The Cleveland City Stars continued their dream start to the 2007 season, remaining unbeaten on the year with a 4-0 victory over the PDL’s Kansas City Brass.