USOpenCup.com has learned from USASA Region IV Cup Commissioner Albert Espinoza that Miran have been disqualified from the Region IV Open Cup tournament for using ineligible players, and will forfeit their qualifying berth for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. As runners-up in Group B, the Arizona Sahuaros, will claim the Open Cup spot vacated by Miran.

The protest was filed by the Sonoma County Sol, Miran’s opponents for the championship match, after the Sol were informed by another coach that Miran had used players who were not cleared for the tournament. Due to the rules used for the tournament, nothing could be done until a team submitted a formal protest, and even that had to come before the match was played. Therefore, Miran’s three opponents in group play were powerless to do anything. After finding out the only way any action could be taken was if the Sol filed a protest, the Sol players gathered to decide what to do. “To be honest we actually thought about not filing the protest because our team is player-funded and a trip to Florida for the USASA National Championship could kill us, budget wise”. A souce with the club said via e-mail. “We had already achieved our goal of reaching the open cup and winning the final would make us travel more”.

In the end, the Sol decided the right thing to do would be to file a protest. The Sol eventually prevailed 2-1 in the final, but the team felt it had done the right thing. ”The integrity of the Open Cup must be upheld and the same rules should apply to everyone, especially when it was known they were broken.” the unnamed source said. “We felt bad for the team because it seemed the error may have been on somebody else(s) part and they had used the players in good faith.”

Sahuaros head coach Petar Draksin was understandably excited by the news that his club would continue on in the Open Cup. “We are excited to continue in (the) Open Cup competition”, Draksin said via e-mail, “We know we belong on the U.S. Open Cup stage.”  Last year Arizona hosted the Seattle Sounders, then of the USL First Division, in the opening round in front of 3,700 fans, but dropped a 1-0 extra time decision to the Sounders. “We are thankful to all (the) people involved, for following the rules.” Draksin exclaimed.