Contributed by Steven Torres
Jacksonville Armada FC and Miami FC 2 of National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) advanced to the second round of 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening, after posting shut out victories over Sima Águilas of Premier Development League (PDL) and United States Adult Soccer Association’s Red Force FC, respectively.
Jacksonville, who played last year in the NASL (North American Soccer League), needed second half tallies from midfielder Joshua Castellanos and forward Conor Doyle to post a 2:0 victory over the hosts Águilas during first round action at the Montverde Academy Center in Montverde, Fla.
The Armada FC, who are coached by English native Mark Lowry since late 2016, reached Wednesday’s match after defeating PDL side The Villages SC, 2:1, in an Open Cup Play-In encounter last Sunday.
In another Florida match-up on Wednesday, two goals by forward Kris Typrak, and one each from midfielders Dylan Mares and Darío Suarez gave Miami FC 2 a 4:0 win against visiting Red Force at FIU Soccer Stadium.
Miami FC 2, who’s first team also competed in the NASL in 2017, is under the direction of new Scottish coach Paul Dalglish and reached Wednesday’s encounter also needing to win a Play-In match last Sunday, as it defeated PDL’s FC Miami City, 3:1.
The NPSL sides of Jacksonville, Miami will now compete in the Open Cup’s Second Round set for next Wednesday, May 16. Armada FC will host a familiar foe of Tampa Bay Rowdies, who are now in United Soccer League, while Miami FC 2 greets fellow city and NPSL neighbor Miami United FC.
05.09.2018: Montverde, Florida; Montverde Academy Center
SIMA ÁGUILAS (PDL) – JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC (NPSL) 0:2 (0:0)
Joshua CASTELLANOS 54’, Conor DOYLE 76’
Sima Águilas: Richie Steinmann - Pepe Gracias, Randy Mendoza, Gabriel Pfeffer, Anthony Manning, Alexandre Happi, Allen Seals, Ates Diouf, Mikael Martins, Alejandro Pereira, Seo-In Kim. Booked: Mendoza 62’, Seals 66’, Mendoza 89’
Coach: Mike POTEMPA
Jacksonville Armada FC: Brian Holt – Wesley Charpie, Mechack Jérome, Drew Beckie, Michael Melvin, J.C. Banks, Christian Silva (46: Camilo Portilla), Conor Doyle, Yuma, Joshua Castellanos (63: Derek Gebhard), Ciarán Kilduff (84: Alhassane Keita). Booked: Beckie 30’, Yuma 36’
Coach: Mark LOWRY
Photo: MiamiFC.com
05.09.2018: Miami, Florida; FIU Soccer Stadium
MIAMI FC 2 (NPSL) – RED FORCE FC (USASA) 4:0 (2:0)
Kris TYRPAK 22’, 45’; Dylan MARES 60’; Darío SUAREZ 87’
Miami FC 2: Daniel Vega - Rhett Bernstein, Dylan Mares, Ariel Martinez (Jeff Michaud), Mason Trafford, Kris Tyrpak (71: Coy Craft), Tyler Ruthven, Don Smart (55: Darío Suárez), Tyler Polak, Vincenzo Rennella, Jaime Chavez. Booked: Mares 79’
Coach: Paul DALGLISH
Red Force FC: Sebastian Evers – David Holguin, Scott Gordon, Stiven Salinas (28: Sebastian Frings), Cesar Murillo, Kehoe, Omar Persad (47: Juan C. Jimenez), Gilbert Ruiz, Matteo Mendoza, Lucas Campos Coro, Fernando Hernandez. Booked: Frings 36’, Gordon 57’, Holguin 65’
Coach: Gabriel VEGA
Written by Steven Torres