Recap: America SC vs. Soda City FC

November 17th was one hell of a night to remember for America Soccer Club.  They were competing in potentially the last round of local qualifying for amateur sides against Soda City FC from South Carolina.  In this contest of two top UPSL clubs, it could be seen that both teams were up to the task of leaving it all on the pitch.

For the first 15 minutes of the match, things were evenly contested and it was beginning to turn in to a chess match.  However, that changed in the 17th minute.  Soda City took a corner that ended up in the mixing pot in front of the America keeper.  While the ball pinged around, none of the America defenders could get a foot to it and it ultimately landed at the feet of a Soda City player, who poked it home to give them the early lead.

The tide began to swing in America’s favor just a few minutes later, though.  In the 22nd minute, William Eyang was dragged down in the box after fighting with a Soda City player for a loose lobbed ball from an America player.  Once the ref cleared the area, Rafael Tobias stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to tie the game in the 25th minute.  Eyang added another to America’s tally at the end of the first half on a lobbed ball over the top.  He beat out two defenders and was able to poke the ball home in to the bottom left corner, past the keeper’s outstretched hands.  Shortly after America scored the second goal, the half ended.

The second half was rather uneventful, aside from multiple yellow cards handed out to both sides due to rough challenges.

In the end, America came out victorious by a final of 2-1.  Once again, this writer was able to pick the correct winner, however, the score was wrong.  While the margin of victory was correct, there was no clean sheet to be had in this round.

America now waits to learn whether they must play another qualifying round or they’ve made it to the first round proper.  Unfortunately, they won’t find that out until January 2019. Here’s to hoping they are placed in the US Open Cup tournament and continue their run.

- Shawn Laird

Match Recap: Southwest FC vs. San Juan FC

On what was a cold night in the West Texas town of El Paso, Southwest FC emerged victorious by a score of 3-0 over San Juan FC of Utah. SWFC’s captain, David Lopez, set the tone with a goal and an assist from his left back position and the team’s ability to convert timely chances, if not all of their chances, put the result beyond doubt. The win could mean SWFC’s first Open Cup berth, but that celebration will be on hold for just a bit.

Southwest FC got off to a lightning fast start for the second straight Open Cup game, opening the scoring after just two minutes through a combination of high pressure, quick passing, and a clinical finish at the end. It was Cesar Sosa, playing up top for SWFC who supplied the cool, left-footed finish.

The approach looked familiar, with their first goal against Sporting AZ in the Second Qualifying Round coming from similar early pressure. “I think every game is different and we prepare for each differently…but the approach of Sporting and San Juan were similar so we saw it might work,” said SWFC manager Endy Gonzalez.

San Juan followed with a quick chance off a long throw, with Elias Dandi striking the post with a glancing header that nearly caught SWFC out. From there, the strategy for SWFC shifted, opting for control and looking for their opportunities to get forward and attack San Juan, who had chosen to sit back for much of the first half.

This lead to a period of about 25 minutes where chances were hard to come by for either team. However, after 35’ SWFC struck again. A break down the right hand side eventually fed Sosa again, who was able to find David Lopez at the far post. Lopez made no mistake, smashing the ball into the upper left hand corner and sending SWFC into the break with a two goal advantage.

The break served San Juan well and they came out snarling in the second half. The visitors from Utah were much the better side after the interval and threatened to dent SWFC’s lead.

Still it was the El Paso side that threatened first, with Alexis Gomez forcing a save from San Juan’s Juan Parente with a curling effort from the right side of the area. San Juan maintained pressure though and Dandi struck the post with the visitors best chance of the game. 

As the game entered its final half hour, both teams made a few substitutions. SWFC won the tactical battle, as they earned a free kick on the left wing. The captain Lopez stepped up to take and delivered a free kick that evaded the defense and recent sub Mario Ramirez powered home the finish to give SWFC the 3-0 lead and put the game out of reach for San Juan.

The Utah club did not go quietly, as they tested Daniel Medina in the SWFC goal a number of times. The last 10 minutes was mainly San Juan knocking on the SWFC goal and then being immediately countered by the fresh substitutes down either flank. This sequence of punches and counterpunches saw the clock run to ninety minutes and SWFC claimed the well-deserved victory.

The US Open Cup has many instances where teams who are not familiar with each other have to adapt. This particular matchup was the first between these teams and SWFC was able to grab that early advantage that sent San Juan searching for solutions. This adaptability could serve SWFC well as they progress further in the competition.

- Phil Baki