Rookie club New Mexico United rolls into Phoenix tonight to take on Phoenix Rising FC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
A Primer
The US Open Cup (USOC) is a knock-out cup competition involving American clubs from all levels of US Soccer. Ninety-four Amateur clubs played local qualifiers in September of 2018 for the right to play in the tournament proper. Sporting AZ FC was the only entry into the local qualifying rounds, but was knocked out by Southwest FC in the second round of qualifying after a first-round bye.
Amateur teams who survive the four rounds of qualifying meet up with NPSL divisional champions, as well as USL League Two (formerly PDL) and USL League One teams in the first round, which began on May 7, 2019.
The second round introduces USL Championship teams to the mix. This round, which started yesterday, has yet to produce a “cupset,” the term used for when a lower-division team beats its higher-division opponent.* Several NPSL (semi-pro) sides play tonight.
*Edit: Florida Soccer Soldiers knocked of USLC side Charlotte Independence in penalty kicks
The eventual winner will earn $300,000 in prize money and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, with the runner up receiving $100,000. The final team from each lower division will also receive a cash prize of $25,000. Last year, Houston Dynamo (MLS) defeated Philadelphia Union
(MLS) to become the 2018 USOC Champion.
Tonight’s Match
Phoenix Rising (3-2-5) is riding a proper high after a 3-1 drubbing of mid-table Rio Grande Valley FC on May 10. Dollar beer night produced a tenth consecutive victory, as well as favorable coverage from national news source Barstool Sports.
Adam Jahn was named USL Player of the Week for his brace, which included a memorable panenka free kick from the spot. Jahn’s award was the first time this season a Rising player has been named PotW, and the sixth week a Rising player was given recognition this season.
Phoenix Rising is unbeaten at home (2-0-3) and is 2-2-1 in their last 5 matches, but this is unlikely to be the typical starting lineup that has scored 18 goals and has 57 shots-on-target.
Starting XI
Lineups for USOC matches are notoriously difficult to predict. However, the Rising FC front office had excellent foresight in scheduling a Friday match immediately preceding their opening contest, which gives the team an extra day of rest. It is possible we could see a very similar lineup tonight as we saw on Friday. Solomon Asante is available for selection after returning to the team from Ghana.
It is also possible that we see an entirely different lineup. Teams often use early rounds of the USOC to give bench players time on the field, and to test their mettle against lower division opponents. Phoenix Rising had the unfortunate luck to draw against divisional rival New Mexico United, so the lineup will be a reflection of the importance Rick Schantz places on the cup competition in relation to the regular season.
With a must-win home game against 6th ranked Las Vegas Lights coming on just three days later, I am predicting a 2nd-team starting XI:
The Other Guys
Newcomers New Mexico United currently reside in the second spot in the conference standings, but have suffered when playing away from the 13,000 fans who regularly show up to their home at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque with a 1-1-4 record. The timing of the match couldn’t come at a worse time for the boys in yellow, who just played on Sunday, and are in the middle of logging nearly 2,000 miles of travel in a period of just 8 days.
In their recent match on Sunday, New Mexico faced off in a contentious match against El Paso. The team found a ’79 minute goal to finish the game in a 2-2 draw. The contest ended with 10 men on the field for both teams, after Santi Moar disagreed with El Paso’s Yuma Monsalvez about the Game of Throne’s finale, and the referee thought it best for them to discuss it in the locker room for the remainder of the match. Moar’s red card does not carry into cup competition, but it will likely signal a starting nod for him since he will be resting for their following match against Colorado Springs on Saturday. Former Rising forward Kevaughn Frater is almost a sure-thing starter in the match after resting against El Paso.
Frater and Moar share the team lead in goals (7) and have contributed to the conference’s best goal differential (8). Chris Wehan, Manny Padila, and Josh Suggs join Frater with three assists a piece, with team captain Suggs creating the most chances from his defensive position. Goalkeeper Cody Mizell has appeared in all of the squad’s matches and gives up an average of 1.45 goals per game, with only 2 clean sheets in 11 appearances.
New Mexico leads the conference in goals (24), is second in shot conversion (24%) and passes (4,567) and is heavily disciplined (158 fouls, 24 yellow cards).
Predictions
The result of this match will be dependent on the seriousness the two clubs take the extra-curricular cup competition. Will a potential away match against an MLS squad, and $25,000 be enough motivation to treat this like a regular season match? I say no.
All indications show that New Mexico will be putting its top scorers into the match in an effort to reach the next round against the winner of Colorado Springs Switchbacks and FC Denver. If that is indeed the case, the more seasoned Phoenix squad will likely suffer a defeat at the hands of the novices, 1 goal to 3.
