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Meet The Columbus Crew U-23 Squad

 Posted by on May 20, 2013 at 9:18 pm  Blogs/Media, Columbus Crew, MLS, United States, US Open Cup
May 202013
 

Let’s lay a few ground rules before we get this underway…

-The real U-23 squads in the US Open Cup (Portland, Seattle, Orlando, New York) are NOT professionals who also happen to be on the senior roster of their respective teams. I’m breaking that rule for Columbus.

-Unfortunately, there aren’t enough players 23 or younger on the Crew to fill an 18 man gameday roster.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at what the Crew have to work with. This exercise was inspired by the lack of creativity and ingenuity shown by Robert Warzycha, even when faced with a growing injury list.

Goalkeepers (2): Matt Lampson (23), Daniel Withrow (22)

Defenders (4): Chad Barson (22), Drew Beckie (22) , Kyle Hyland (22), Kevan George (23)

Midfielders (4): Wil Trapp (20), Shawn Sloan (22), Ben Speas (22), Ethan Finlay (22)

Forwards (3): Aaron Horton (21), Aaron Schoenfeld (23), Ryan Finley (22)

I know, I know…it’s going to be tough just to fill out a lineup. But what kind of fake coach would I be if I couldn’t mold this short handed bunch into a US Open Cup contender.

So what’s my starting formation? Have a look…

Lampson

Barson – Beckie – George – Hyland

Trapp

Speas               –               Finlay

Sloan

Schoenfeld  -  Finley

Matt Lampson is the easiest selection here and thankfully he has a decent backup in Marshall product Daniel Withrow. Homegrown signing Chad Barson is capable of playing on the right or in the middle, but Drew Beckie and Kevan George are more physically imposing and thus better suited for the center back pairing. Kyle Hyland already has a couple assists from the left side of the backline; the senior team’s most short handed position. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to trot him out there if Agustin Viana is out long term and Tyson Wahl doesn’t improve.

We know all about each wide midfielder, but Wil Trapp and Shawn Sloan haven’t been seen as much. Trapp is an excellent tactical fit as a holding midfielder. He’s calm, cool, and collected on the ball and is a good passer out of the back. Unfortunately, he may get run over with his diminutive stature. He’s only 20 though, so maybe he can squeeze in another inch or two in height. Shawn Sloan has played all over the midfield throughout his high school/college career, but he managed to scored 58 goals and serve 40 assists in high school. He also had seven assists as a junior in college and ten in his senior year so he’s more than capable of distributing.

And thankfully, he has two very stellar forwards to whom he can distribute. Ryan Finley is a clinical finisher with his head and both feet while Aaron Schoenfeld has already shown us (in limited first team action) that he can hang with MLS defenders.

So how will this side fair in the US Open Cup?

Here’s what the bracket looks like:

http://thecup.us/2013-us-open-cup-bracket/

So the U-23 Crew will get the winner of Dayton Dutch Lions and Dearborn Stars SC. Even though Dearborn pulled off a shocker over the USL’s Michigan Bucks, I still like Dayton Dutch Lions to win and set up the revenge match. Several guys on this squad have been on the fringe with the first team and most of the others have impressed in the Reserve League.

Crew U-23 2-1 Dayton Dutch Lions

Crew U-23 goals: Finley & Speas

On to the next one! Assuming this is the real bracket (I don’t know if the pairings are 100% accurate) the Crew U-23 team gets a date with the winner of the LA Galaxy and Carolina Dynamo/Carolina Railhawks. Even if the Galaxy take this one off, I still like them to get past the winner of the Carolina duel.

Crew U-23 1-2 LA Galaxy

Crew U-23 goal: Finley

Unfortunately this would be the worst possible draw for the Crew if it held up; especially if the U-23 squad has to go on the road to California. Even the scrubs at LA Galaxy have enough to beat this Crew U-23 side, but it would be a very close match. With a better draw this team would be more than capable of advancing to the quarterfinals over a “senior” MLS side (depending on who takes it seriously).

So even though the lads in black and yellow couldn’t break through to the quarterfinals, they’ve still shown us that Robert Warzycha has plenty of options in his back pocket that he will no doubt waste. Ryan Finley is the best (aka most MLS ready) player on this squad with Ben Speas right behind him. I really want to see what Chad Barson and Drew Beckie can do in defense. Beckie’s college highlights were solid and he showed Josh Williams-type athleticism. When Wil Trapp finally gets back from his national team duties, he’ll be well seasoned and hungry to prove himself. He’s already told his travel days off between USMNT U-20 and Crew duties to eff-off so we know he’s a hard worker.

Thoughts? Agree or disagree?

 

“Be MASSIVE!!!”

Region III US Open Cup Qualifying Ends With Red Force & NTX Rayados Joining 19 Pro Teams Going for Glory

 Posted by on April 15, 2013 at 9:26 pm  FC Dallas, GFT Special, Global Football Today, Houston Dynamo, MLS, NASL, Orlando City, United States, US Open Cup, USL PDL, USL Pro
Apr 152013
 
usasaregioniii

Region III has spoken and the final participants, from USASA, have been chosen or rather earned their spots through a weekend of US+Open+Cup+WEB Region III US Open Cup Qualifying Ends With Red Force & NTX Rayados Joining 19 Pro Teams Going for Glory match play in New Orleans.

Red Force (Florida) and NTX Rayados (NTX) will enter into the draw for this years 100th edition of the Open Cup, the matches of which will take place on May 14th and alongside 30 other sides, they will compete for a spot in round two.

This weekends play which saw nine sides compete in three groups of three, resulted in Sundays final matches involving group winners NTX Rayados (NTX), CD Motagua (LA), Red Force (FL) and also best runner-up ASC New Stars (TXS) all competing for the winning two spots that would ensure an US Open Cup Spot.

Both 2012 region III entrants, ASC New Stars (beaten in 1st round by Laredo Heat 4-2) & NTX Rayados (beaten in 1st round by El Paso 3-1) managed to reach the qualifying stages again this year and would be hoping for much the same this term in qualifying but faced stiff opposition from the plethora of young guns searching for Open Cup success.

Friday saw previous two year entrants ASC New Stars take on Dallas TNT, emerging 3-0 winners to stamp their authority on the competition once again. Fellow 2012 entrants NTX Rayados also kicked off this years qualifying campaign with a thumping 6-1 win over Texas South entrants Islanders FC, who lost out at this stage last year.

Saturday saw the bulk of the matches and in Group A, Louisiana based CD Motagua took the bull by the horns early in the day with a magnificent 11-1 victory over Dallas TNT, that not only set the benchmark for scoring for the day, but also eliminated the Dallas side from the competition. In the later match, both CD Motagua and ASC New Stars who had a win each to this point, sparred off for the winners title which CD Motagua walked away with after a hard fought 2-1 victory. ASC New Stars though would find out later that they had secured the best placed runners up spot, that gave them the fourth semi final place in Sundays matches.

In Group B, Los Lobos from Oklahoma who had taken Boston Avenue’s spot, started their first ever Open Cup campaign with a defeat to one of Friday night’s winners in the form of NTX Rayados by the score of 4-1, which although never eliminated the OK side, made it difficult to progress as the the NTX side would not be able to be caught with two victories under it’s belt. Los Lobos only hope would be best placed second spot but after a three goal deficit, that would be difficult to achieve. This proved to be the case after Islanders FC defeated them 4-2 in the evening Saturday match which ultimately eliminated both sides from contention.

Group C saw FC Rahr (NTX) take on Barracudas FC (Texas South) in the early match on Saturday but a 3-3 draw ensured that the group remained wide open. Later that day FC Rahr were defeated quite comprehensively 3-0 by Florida side Red Force who went on to also beat Barracuda 2-1 to take the group title.

So the semi finals were set, CD Motagua v NTX Rayados, Red Force v ASC New Stars and after a thunderstorm delayed start to Sunday morning’s proceedings, it was NTX Rayados & Red Force who emerged victorious with 4-0 & 2-0 victories respectively, and with the wins, secured their spots in the 100th edition, the 2013 US Open Cup as USASA Region III representatives.

They will join an abundance of fellow Region III sides this season to compete for the ultimate prize in cup competition within the United States.

With the largest ever number of sides competing this year (68), joining them from our region are also the largest percentage (31%) of soccer sides in comparable terms to the other three regions.

USASA will join round one with NTX Rayados (2012 R1), & Red Force

NPSL sides will join round one with Georgia Revolution (2012 R2) & Chattanooga (2011 R1)

PDL will join round one with Austin Aztex, Carolina Dynamo (2012 R1, 2011 R1), Laredo Heat (2012 R2), Ocala Stampede & Orlando U23s (2012 R1)

USL PRO side will join round one with VSI Tampa Bay

USL PRO sides will join round two with Charleston Battery (2012 R3, 2011 R2), Charlotte Eagles (2012 QF, 2011 R2) & Wilmington Hammerheads (2012 R2, 2011 R3), Orlando City (2012 R3, 2011 R3)

NASL will join round two with Atlanta Silverbacks (2012 R3), Carolina Railhawks (2012 R4), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2012 R3), San Antonio Scorpions (2012 R4) & Tampa Bay Rowdies (2012 R3)

MLS will join round three with Houston Dynamo (2012 R3) & FC Dallas (2012 R3, 2011 SF)

A total of 21 sides (31%) from the eventual 68 taking part will be from our Region III, the future’s bright for the Region, let’s make this 100th year one to remember in the US Open Cup.

The winner of this years competition will receive a $250,000 cash prize and a berth into the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League while the runner-up will received $60,000. The top finisher from each lower division will receive $15,000.

Mark the first round in your calendar to support Region III sides, May 14th 2013.

You can follow Region3Soccer on Twitter @region3soccer

US Open Cup Final Preview

 Posted by on August 8, 2012 at 4:44 pm  US Open Cup
Aug 082012
 
2012+US+Open+Cup+Final+Logo US Open Cup Final Preview

It is finally here.

The fixture that has been greatly anticipated since July 11, the biggest single game since the 2004 MLS Cup Final is here and it is in the friendly confines of Livestrong Sporting Park.

The stands will be packed with 300 Seattle fans and the rest bellowing their support for the hometown team.
Fact is there is nothing bigger in the recent history of the club that tonight’s game.

Champions League birth is on the line and that will equal more international exposure and make the club more appealing towards foreign players in Europe and South America.  Cause fact is that Kansas City is not as enticing as New York or Los Angeles.  But I digress.

The night before tonight’s final club President Robb Heineman wrote this and it to me really shows the dedication that the ownership has to this city in bringing home a winner.

All that aside it still is a game against an opponent that Sporting KC has had little success against.

Since SKC beat Seattle in 2009 in the first game there has yet to be another victory over the Sounders.

So yes history is totally against Sporting but as Sir Alex Ferguson once said ‘you play the game not the moment’ and that is exactly what needs to be done by this squad.

Tonight’s real battle will be between the attack of Seattle and the defense of Sporting and here is why.

Seattle is one of the most loaded attacking teams in North America with Freddy Montero up top with Eddie Johnson(fromer KC Wizard) and in the midfield with Osvaldo Alonso and Mauro Rosales this side has the fire power to make things happen.

Sporting KC is dealing with issues in selection at the back with Chance Myers hurt and Aurelien Collin out via yellow card accumulation.  Michael Harrington and Lawrence Olum will both be expected to be called on to fill the gaps.

As much as this is worrying this is a big moment for all players involved and they will be up for this game as they may have never been before.

Prediction: Sporting KC 1-0, this will need additional time to find a winner and it will be a player that makes me cringe Teal Bunbury knocking home the winner

Semifinal Preview

 Posted by on July 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm  MLS, Sporting KC, US Open Cup
Jul 112012
 

The right to host the final of the US Open Cup ins on the line as Sporting Kansas City looks to take revenge on the Philadelphia Union for a recent 4-0 road loss less than a month ago.
Now, unlike then, the game will be played in front of a less than full capacity crowd at PPL park.  So far they have had poor attendance for their two hosted US Open Cup matches in comparison to Sporting who have had at least 12k in attendance.
Thing is that this will be the third game in a row where Kansas City has had a chance at revenge with one ending in victory, the other in a draw.
Beyond the making of the final is the chance to be playing in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League, a competition that the ownership and players have wanted to play in for some time due to the expanded competition that they will face therein.
But the fact is that this is the biggest match of the season and also a must win.
So Peter get on with it.
Lets win this one.
Prediction: 1:1 AET Sporting win on penalties

Sporting Down Dayton to Reach Cup Semifinal

 Posted by on June 27, 2012 at 6:47 am  Sporting KC, US Open Cup
Jun 272012
 

Veni, vidi, vici can only sum up the game Sporting Kansas City has as they demolished the Dayton Dutch Lions of the United Soccer Leagues Pro Division(USL Pro) by a score of 3-0.

CJ Sapong’s pair or Graham Zusi’s from outside the box, take your pick of which you like more.

Fact of the matter is that SKC are in their first US Open Cup Semifinal since they won the competition in 2004.

Opposition is the Philadelphia Union. The same team that beat KC and inspired me to write a little poem about it.

Yeah I know it was a stinker but I’m no Vincent Buckley.

Watching Sporting dominate the way that they did was nothing beyond fantastic.  The team kept the ball well. Passed like the Italians did recently against England.  They also put in three goals which showed that they were fully prepared and ready to make certain that they were going to the next round and put to death
the ghosts of last year against Richmond.

Credit must go where it is due…to Peter Vermes.

With this game being against lower league opposition, and a cellar dweller in their own rights, the subs and the reserves could’ve been called out and a much different game might have come out of it.

Instead, knowing there is a home MLS game against the Chicago Fire on Friday on NBC Sports Network, Vermes threw out a squad that had plenty of skill and involvement of his typical starting 11 sprinkled in with some fresh legs.  Its squad rotation with the limitations installed by MLS.

With the Union defeating their minor league affiliate Harrisburg City the squad will be looking out for revenge when they return to Chester, PA to settle the score.  Game will be July 11 at PPL Park. Winner faces the winner of Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders.

2012 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Preview

 Posted by on June 26, 2012 at 8:02 pm  MLS, Sporting KC, US Open Cup
Jun 262012
 

Sporting Kansas City are on the cusp of taking on lower league opposition for the second time in this competition as they host the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL Pro.
This time last season a team from this exact same division, the Richomond Kickers, arrived in town and surprised the team, after a lengthy weather delay, in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.
In the round of 32 of this year’s competition Orlando City of USL Pro came to Livestrong Sporting Park and went toe to toe with Sporting and left with a feeling of being hard done by of which was stated in their press release of the game on their website.
Dayton on the other hand is on the other side of the USL Pro table in comparison to Orlando City. Dayton is what Toronto FC currently is to their league, the cellar dweller. There is little chance for the team to progress this season in the league due to their position and number of games remaining.  Also the fact that Orlando has some deep pockets for their level on competition doesn’t hurt things none.
What does that mean?
That Dayton looks at this game as a chance to redeem themselves in their own eyes and possibly for the fans to have something to cheer about.  This makes them dangerous.
Sporting KC was just scalped 4-0 at the Philadelphia Union after playing Seattle on Wednesday and Toronto on Saturday.  They will be facing Chicago at home on Friday so there is no time to rest weary legs.  This is the moment for Sporting KC to show their depth and their determination.
Peter Vermes has talked about how this competition is a direct path to the CONCACAF Champions League, a competition that this club has not had a taste of since the re-branding of the competition and change up of how it is run and rewards those involved.
It seems like a good few years since the team was involved in the SuperLiga and a victory over Dayton will put Sporting in a position to win their first piece of serious silverware since the 2004 US Open Cup.  With what is riding on this game look for the players to come out the gate with the mentality that we haven’t forgotten last year.
Prediction: Sporting dominate every possible statistical category in a 2-0 victory

Victory Over Colorado in Fourth Round

 Posted by on June 6, 2012 at 10:34 pm  MLS, Sporting KC, US Open Cup
Jun 062012
 
As the final moments of a blood bath wound down the Cauldron started chanting ‘We want the Cup’.
The US Open Cup match between Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City was not expected to be nearly as vicious as it turned out.
In their post game press conferences both managers were critical of the referee crew whose job it was to govern the game.
Being a level 8 referee I can only stand so much bashing of the ref but here it can be said that their quality was well below par. Studs up tackles that only received warnings? I chastise the boys and girls I referee and point out what they did wrong so that they might learn. Fact was when the Rapids players started getting sloppy poor tackles were made. Each team should have been down a man come the end. But I’m getting away from the game itself.
Both Colorado and Sporting put out near full strength sides.
And why not?  The next league fixture for either team is not for nearly two weeks so no reason for not attempting to go for it as the winner would only have the winner of a USL Pro/USL PDL for play at their home ground.  A good opportunity to obtain a valuable piece of silverware with the reward of cup glory and CONCACAF Champions League for 2013-14.
Sporting KC was making more of an offensive effort in the early goings with chances off corners that they were earning via attacking thrusts which were erratically kicked away by the Rapids defense.
For the first goal it was a free kick that was how Sporting broke the deadlock.  Graham Zusi’s free kick connected with Aurelien Collin which Rapids keeper Troy Perkins parried to into the post.  The ball proceeded to roll and bounced into Perkins and rolled across the goal line for the first own goal in Sporting KC’s 2012 season.
From there Sporting continued their attacking advantage while Colorado attempted much the same while being unable to puncture through the Kansas City defense.
As the game pushed into the second half both teams were being called for their poor decisions via foul and offside. This contributed to the poor display that the game was turning into.
In an actual good attacking display recent substitute Soony Saad looked up from the right wing an crossed to CJ Sapong who was charging in from the left wing. His header to the center of the box was flicked into the net by Teal Bunbury who was in the right spot to give seal the game at 2-0
Sporting will now face Dayton Dutch Lions of USL Pro on June 26 at Livestrong Sporting Park in the quarter final of the US Open Cup. Last year Sporting was in the same situation only to lose to Richmond Kickers of the USL Pro.

Out in the Third Round

 Posted by on May 31, 2012 at 3:04 am  US Open Cup
May 312012
 
A 51st-minute Hans Denissen penalty kick was enough for the San Antonio Scorpions to beat the Houston Dynamo as they claimed a 1-0 victory in the third round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday.
Both clubs started slow and committed their fair of fouls early as both looked to find their legs and flow in the first half. The result was a slow first half that finished scoreless with just a handful of chances.

Denissen got his chance when former Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes forward Pablo Campos drew a foul from Dynamo right back Warren Creavalle a yard inside the 18-yard box. Both players were chasing a hopeful, bouncing ball and Creavalle wrapped his leg around Campos drawing the whistle.
Denissen hit a crushing penalty off the underside of the crossbar and just beyond the goal line. Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric guessed right on Denissen’s take but the sheer force and placement made it impossible to save.
  
Instead of dropping back after the goal, San Antonio threatened to extend their lead. Campos, Denissen and Wes Knight attempted to double the lead but a combination of solid goalkeeping from Deric and wayward finishing preserved the Scorpions’ lead.
Houston did have chances to equalize down the stretch. Brian Ownby made several probing runs including an 89th minute gallop that resulted in a left-footed shot that was saved easily. In the end the Dynamo were unable to pull one back and the Scorpions advanced past their fellow Texans. 

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