May 20, 2008
Region I Open Cup semifinals came to a close Sunday, May 18th, after four teams battled it out for a spot in the regional final to be played on June 22nd at United German Hungarian Club, PA.
Boston Olympiakos (Massachusetts) defeated Danbury United (Delaware) 1:0 learning that they are one of the eight USASA teams to participate in the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Olympiakos are 2007 USASA Amateur Cup Champions after conquering the AAC Eagles (Illinois) with a 2:0 win; and this is their first time to play in the Lamar Hunt Championship.
Another Region I club to enter into the U.S. Open is the Pancyprian Freedoms of Eastern New York; the team took over on the Aegean Hawks (DC/VA) with a 3:2 tally on sunday’s match. The Freedoms are three-time U.S. Open Cup champions, as they hold the 1980, 1982, and 1983 titles. The Hawks made it to last year’s USASA National Cups semifinals after losing 3:1 to El Paso Indios-USA (NPSL) in the Open draw. The team also participated in the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
These semifinalists will meet on June 22nd to determine Region I Open Cup Champion, which will advance to USASA National Cups Finals in August.
After the results of the Men’s Over 30 quarterfinals held on Sunday, May 18th, four teams have officially advanced to the regional semifinals to be played on June 8th.
Danbury United O-30 (Connecticut) is expected to meet Wallace FC (Delaware); the winner will move forward to the Over 30 final. United qualified to the semifinal after defeating Garfield Visula (Champions League) 2:0, while Wallace FC cruised to a 3:2 victory over NYAC (Eastern NY), moving up in the round of qualification.
Maryland’s Christo/Colts FC will encounter PA Rush (Eastern Pennsylvania) for a semifinal match and the winner will meet in the regional final to be played on June 22nd.
The Colts FC beat Kappa Real Wyckoff (New Jersey) 2:1, as the PA Rush defeated Bier FC 1:0, allowing them to have a spot in the next round of competition. Bier FC participated in last year’s USASA National Cups Finals, though they only made it to the semifinals after losing to Arizona’s Big Ballers.
