Eight teams advance in U.S. Open Cup Second Round Qualifying

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The Second Qualifying Round for the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup concluded with eight matches this past weekend. Harpo’s FC (Colo.) and San Francisco City Football Club – both participants in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – took one more step towards the 2016 tournament, while past giant-killers Cal FC and Chula Vista FC fell at the second hurdle.

In one of three matches played on Saturday, Nov. 21, renowned amateur side Cal FC, who defeated Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, fell 2-1 to LA Wolves FC at Toyota Sports Complex in Torrance, California. Alberto Anguiano’s 63rd minute strike wasn’t enough to erase 15th and 25th minute goals from Wolves’ Samuel Higgins.

Chula Vista FC, who went on a Cinderella run of their own in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup, were also dispatched from the tournament, falling 4-0 to La Maquina (Calif.) Saturday at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California. Edwin Borboa’s brace (28th and 67th minutes) along with goals from Rodolofo Godinez Jr. (58th) and Jose Castro Perez (78th) pushed La Maquina into April’s Third Qualifying Round.

On Sunday, despite trailing 2-1 at halftime of their match with Davis Legacy (Calif.), San Francisco City FC ran out 4-3 winners at historic Kezar Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Davis Legacy received an own goal in the eighth minute, which City FC responded to with a goal from Reed Williams in the 14th. Davis restored their lead through Kevin Schulte in the 26th, taking the side into the locker room up 2-1. A 68th minute penalty-kick conversion from City FC’s Daniel Kirkland brought things level again. Legacy’s Andisheh Bagheri pulled the side ahead with a 79th minute strike, only for City FC’s Marc Tonkel to erase the lead one minute later. The goal would spur City FC on to victory as Johannes Demarzi found the game-winner five minutes later, putting the club on the doorstep of its second straight qualification to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Harpo’s FC used an early, sixth minute goal from Kyle Luetkehans to ride to a 3-1 victory against Colorado Rush at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Daniel Campbell would make it 2-0 for Harpo’s in the 36th minute, before Owen Darby pulled one back for the Rush in the 55th. Harpo’s Sawyer Frank put the game on ice with his finish in the 82nd.

The Third Qualifying Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is set for April 2-3. Twelve of the 14 Second Qualifying Round winners in closest proximity to each other will compete. The remaining two winners will be awarded the first two slots into the 2016 U.S. Open Cup from the Open Division local qualifying track and will be joined by the six victors from the Third Qualifying Round. The exact matchups for this round will be determined on Jan. 7, 2016.

The U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer’s national club championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion annually since 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

Second Qualifying Round

Third Qualifying Round: April 2-3, 2016

First Round: May 11, 2016