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Open Cup Roundup – Des Moines Menace Sweeps into Second Round

By USLLeagueTwo.com Staff, 03/23/23, 12:38AM EDT

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Nona FC sets up clash with Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies; Fusion U23 fall in shootout after comeback


The Des Moines Menace took a 3-0 victory against Beaman United to advance to the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A pair of goals by Gabriel Rodriguez led perennial USL League Two power Des Moines Menace to a 3-0 victory against Beaman United and into the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.

Des Moines will play host to Chattanooga FC of NISA in the Second Round at Valley Stadium on Wednesday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET.

While both teams had early chances, the Menace took the lead in the 21st minute when Rodriguez put home a finish into the right corner off a pass by Chris Bermudez. The visitors were then awarded a penalty kick just before the hour mark as Fernando Garcia was brought down in the area, and Rodriguez stepped up to convert from the spot to double the lead.

The Menace got a pair of second-half saves by goalkeeper Grant Makela to maintain their lead, and then Garcia put the game to bed in second-half stoppage time as he rounded out the scoring off an assist by Boxi Yomba as the experience in the side – including former pros Denso Ulysse and Chris Nanco, both of whom came off the bench – saw the game out.

NONA FC 1, CLUB DE LYON B 0: A first-minute goal by William Eyang sent League Two side NONA FC into the Second Round as it defeated hosts Club de Lyon B at Austin-Tindall Regional Park. NONA FC will visit the USL Championship’s Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Second Round at Al Lang Stadium.

Eyang shot home to the bottom-left corner of the net to cap virtually the first attack of the game. From there the visitors held onto the lead despite being reduced to 10 players after Jeferson Júnior was sent off with 25 minutes to go. NONA goalkeeper Rafa Santos came through with five saves for the shutout to help send his side through.

APPALACHIAN FC 2 (3), NORTH CAROLINA FUSION U23 2 (0): US League Two side North Carolina Fusion U23 battled back from a two-goal deficit despite playing more than 80 minutes down to 10 players but were unable to come good from the penalty spot as hosts Appalachian FC advanced to the Second Round.

Appalachian got out to an ideal start as Camden Holbrook scored inside a minute for the hosts. He then struck again to make it a two-goal lead in the 32nd minute before the Fusion responded six minutes later on a powerful header by Juancho Fernandez. The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Brian Torre was sent off in the 40th minute, but despite that North Carolina continued to create chances in the second half.

In the 79th minute it found an equalizer when Fred Ferreira picked out the top-right corner of the net with a free kick from outside the top-left edge of the penalty area, which sent the game to extra time. After 30 scoreless minutes, the game went to the spot where North Carolina missed all three of its shots, opening the door for Appalachian, which was perfect from the spot to advance after three rounds.

CAPO FC 4, VENTURA COUNTY FUSION 1: USL League Two newcomer this campaign Capo FC got out to a great start this season as it rallied from an early deficit to defeat future Southwest Division foe the Ventura County Fusion at Ventura College. The Fusion took the lead in just the sixth minute as Jerry Desdunes scored from close range before Capo FC equalized through Joshue Gallardo in the 16th minute.

The Fusion continued to push, and hit the woodwork on three occasions in the first half, but Capo took the lead in first half stoppage-time as Hevany Mota scored from close range. Eight minutes into the second half Parker Scalzo added a third for the visitors before Mota capped the performance with a fourth to send Capo into the Second Round.

TULSA ATHLETIC 1, BRAZOS VALLEY UNITED FC 0: A first-half goal by Stefan Cvetanovic proved the difference for the hosts as Tulsa Athletic advanced past USL League Two’s Brazos Valley United FC at Hicks Park in Tulsa, Okla.

UDA SOCCER 1, PARK CITY RED WOLVES 0: First-time qualifier UDA Soccer advanced to a date with in-state professional side New Mexico United of the USL Championship as it got a second-half goal from Jose Luis Puente to advance past USL League Two’s Park City Red Wolves at the New Mexico State Soccer Field.

CHICAGO HOUSE AC 1, BAVARIAN UNITED 0: John Makowiecki scored the only goal six minutes before halftime as Chicago House AC defeated 2023 USL League Two arrival Bavarian United at Langhorst Field. Bavarian almost grabbed a late equalizer to send the game to extra time, but Ivan Cueller and Jose Gutierrez were both denied deep in stoppage time as Chicago goalkeeper Tony Halterman preserved his shutout.

CROSSFIRE EDMOND 3, PROJECT 51O 0: Three second-half goals saw Crossfire Edmond pull away for victory as Project 51O’s youngsters were unable to respond at Ohlone College Soccer Field. Luke Hauswirth put the visitors ahead in the 49th minute, and while Project 51O goalkeeper Tim Syrel was able to save a penalty kick, Crossfire pulled away late as Eric Howard and Hamza Haddadi also found the net inside the final five minutes.


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