US Open Cup: Southeastern region first round recap
Six games kicked off the First Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Wednesday night across the Southeast. Here is a round-up of the action.
It was a busy night of soccer across the Southeast as the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup first round games were played from the coast of South Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. Six games pitted regional PDL and NPSL teams looking to advance to Round Two next week.
There were two hat tricks, a PK shootout, and a pair of late comebacks to highlight a wild night of soccer in the Southeast region.
US Open Cup Winners on the night included the Jacksonville Armada, Inter Nashville, Miami FC, South Georgia Tormenta, Miami United, and Mississippi Brilla. Four of these teams will see USL opposition in the second round while the two NPSL teams from Miami will make it an all-NPSL Miami clash meeting in Round Two next week.
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Other round two regional games will see two teams from the Mid-Atlantic region travel south to North Carolina while the Richmond Kickers will travel north to Pennsylvania to face Reading United.
US Open Cup Round Two action will be played on Wednesday, May 16 as the regional USL teams join the tournament.
US Open, Round 1 results:
SIMA Aguilas (PDL) 0-2 Jacksonville Armada (NPSL)
Montverde Academy; Montverde, Fla.
After a scoreless first half, the Armada pressed the issue and scored a couple of goals from Joshua Castellanos and Conor Doyle to seal the win. Up next: Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL) @ Jacksonville Armada
Charlotte Eagles (PDL) 1-6 Inter Nashville FC (NPSL)
Mecklenburg Co. Sportsplex; Matthews, N.C.
It was the Chuka Aruh show in North Carolina as the Inter star ran out a first-half hat trick to never leave any doubt in this one. It was 5-0 before the Eagles claimed a consolation goal off a PK to break up the shutout. Up next: Inter Nashville @ Nashville SC (USL)
Miami FC 2 (NPSL) 4-0 Red Force FC (Fla.)
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FIU Soccer Stadium; Miami, Fla.
Miami FC had a storybook run last season as an NASL franchise in the Cup knocking off MLS sides Atlanta and Orlando. Miami is off to a bright start again this year as Kris Tyrpak scored a first-half brace to never let Red Force into the game en route to their 4-0 win. Up next: Miami United @ Miami FC
Myrtle Beach Mutiny (PDL) 1-2 South Georgia Tormenta FC (PDL)
North Myrtle Beach Sports Park (Field 1); Little River, S.C.
It was 0-0 at the half and Myrtle Beach took the lead before Tormenta stormed back with goals from Jad Arslan in the 76th and Toni Solar in the 82nd to give the visitors a successful start to their U.S. Open Cup run in their Cup debut. Up next: South Georgia Tormenta @ Charleston Battery (USL)
Miami United FC (NPSL) 5-2 FC Kendall (Fla.)
Ted Hendricks Stadium; Hialeah, Fla.
FC Kendall scored first and then it was all Miami United fueled by a David Ochoa hat trick to set up an all-Miami match up in the next round. Up next: Miami United @ Miami FC
New Orleans Jesters (NPSL) 1-1 (2-3 PKs) Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL)
Pan American Stadium; New Orleans, La.
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After a scoreless first half, Brilla opened the scoring in the 62nd only to be answered in the 70th by the Jesters. When overtime could not settle the result it was Jordan Bell in the Brilla net making two saves during the shootout to set up a visit from the Indy 11 in round two next week. Up next: Indy 11 (USL) @ Mississippi Brilla