The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has announced the draw for the Play-In Round and the First Round of the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. For the first time since 2006, the 68-team tournament will have a Play-In Round, which is scheduled to begin on May 7, the earliest the competition has started in 20 years.
Sacramento Gold won 5 – 1 last Saturday evening to secure the Golden Gate Conference’s entry to the US Open Cup. Sonoma Sol scored first, in the 18th minute, to go up 1 – 0. The Gold, however, responded with five goals to finish as the Golden Gate Conference’s single elimination tournament top team.
A very competitive contest ended the first half with Sacramento Gold responding to its first deficit with goals by Manolo Pina (assist John Jones II) and John Johns II off Clemente Fonseca’s corner kick. Both teams started the second half sharply. The Sonoma Sol had a number of dangerous opportunities as the Gold responded with robust defending. High pressure by the Gold forced a turnover in the Sol penalty area, as Clemente Fonseca intercepted and squared the ball across the goal mouth. Eliot Ricks-Cambers brilliantly dummied the ball for Manolo Pina, who slotted in the upper right corner for a 3 – 1 advantage.
The Gold’s defensive pressure created another Sol turnover, this time an unfortunate header back to the Sol keeper going over his head, and finished off by Pina into the open net, earning Manolo a hat trick on the night. Manolo also figured in the last Gold goal one minute into extra time at the end of the game. Pina drew two defenders to the left side of their penalty area, only to square the ball for an onrushing Clemente Fonseca to one time volley into the right corner of the goal.
Both teams worked extremely hard during the match, with numerous Gold players coming off exhausted and with leg cramps. The match seemed to turn on the turnover leading to the Gold’s third goal. Without the Sol turnovers, the match would have been a very close one.
Sacramento Gold now travels, as fate would have it, to Rancho Cotati High School (5450 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park) for the Sol’s and the Gold’s NPSL opener Saturday night, March 30. Kickoff is at 7 PM.
Gold lineup (with substitutes): Jakubek, Smarte (de Alba, 71), Marroquin, Madu, Pina (Rene), Brioso, Colman (Espinoza 77), Ricks-Chambers (Martinez 76), Fonseca, Pina (Manolo), Jones (Alvarez 63)
Goals: Sonoma Middlesmiss 18th min; Gold Pina, M 27th min, assist Jones; Jones 38th min, assist Fonseca; Pina, M 58th min, assist Fonseca; Pina, M 72nd min, una
ssisted; Fonseca 90 + 1 min, assist Pina, M
Sacramento Gold played at Raimondi Park in Oakland against CD Aguiluchos on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in a single elimination tournament to determine the National Premier Soccer League’s North West Division (The Golden Gate Conference) direct entry to the US Open Cup.
A festive crowd greeted the Gold for the 7 PM kickoff. In the first half, the game was played at a fast pace, with the Gold trying to establish a rhythm of play and Aguiluchos testing the Gold backline on numerous occasions. The game turned, however, on a 31st minute errant back pass from an Aguiluchos defender which ended up in their own net. Although the Gold did not create many outstanding chances in the first half, they found a chemistry which proved to help them the rest of the match.
At the half time talk, Gold coaches stressed the need for steely defending, knowing Aguiluchos would be pushing very hard for an equalizer. And the Gold team responded. Goalkeeper Dominic Jakubek had a magnificent game, denying entry balls into his penalty area, and even coming out of the area to head away two other dangerous chances. The backline play continued their busy but effective night, as the midfield started to create counter attack chances for wide players and the forwards. The Gold’s hard work paid dividends at the 78 minute mark, as forward John Jones received Clement Fonseca’s throw in, playing the ball behind the defender, rounding him and slotting past the keeper near post in the ensuing one v one. Minutes later Marco Ramirez played Eliot Rick-Chambers into space behind the Aguiluchos defense and, after getting around the keeper, and Eliot played the ball into the open net. The final score, 3-0 for the Gold, did not reflect the very competitive nature of the match.
Sacramento Gold is well aware that a fluke own goal turned the tables in this match, and is determined to solidify its game for the next round of tournament elimination: Saturday, March 16, 2013, at River City High school in West Sacramento for a 7 PM kickoff for the next conference opponent, Real San Jose. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youth, youth 15 years old and younger wearing a jersey get in free. Parking at River City High School is free, and concessions are available at the stadium.
Starting Lineup (with subs) for the Gold:
Jakubek, Smarte, Marroquin, Pina, Zevallos, Fonseca, Brioso (Colman, 51), Ramirez, Ricks-Chambers, Jones (Terrico, 82), Alvarez.
Goals: 31 min, own goal. 78 min, Jones, assist Fonseca. 83 min, Ricks-Chambers, assist Ramirez
The 2010 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Champions Sacramento Gold (Gold), kicks off its 2013 season by taking on CD Aguiluchos USA in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifier this Sunday at Raimondi Park Stadium in Oakland Ca. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Should the Gold win the match, they would earn home field advantage for the semi-final and final of the qualification rounds. Those games would be played at River City High School in West Sacramento with 7pm kickoff times on March 16th and 23rd, respectively. Winner of the Golden Gate Conference (formerly North West Conference) of the NPSL earns an automatic bid to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament. The Gold will continue to participate in the NPSL. The Golden Gate Conference includes four returning teams and one new team to the league. The new team is the CD Aguiluchos USA out of Oakland Ca. The returning teams are the San Francisco Stompers, Real San Jose, Sonoma Sol and the Gold.
The 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Tournament features 68 teams, an increase from the 64 that competed last year, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). This year also marks the second-consecutive year in which all U.S. based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper: 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO. The tournament will begin with the Play-In Round to be completed by May 7 and will culminate with the tournament final, which will take place on Oct. 1 or 2. For more info see http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Lamar-Hunt-U-S-Open-Cup/2013/03/2013-US-Lamar-Hunt-US-Open-Cup-Release.aspx
The Sacramento Gold returns a solid core of players that have been part of the successful program for several years. Returning to the lineup is star forward Manolo Pina, Anthony Chimienti who was part of the active roster in 2010 during the National Championships, midfielders Abrahm Prado and Marco Ramirez, defenders Diego Marraquin and Rene Pina. New signees that should bring strength to the team are former MLS players Peter Lowry and Adam Smarte. The team will be coached by Rick Caldwell and assisted by Ruben Mora, who have switched roles for the 2013 campaign. Ownership remains the same and volunteers are always welcome. The season starts Saturday March 30, 2013 as the Gold visits the Sonoma Sol. All home games will be played at River City HS Stadium in West Sacramento.
The overall league continues to expand nationally and is currently made up of over 40 teams.
