The First Round of the 2024 US Open Cup is officially underway, and Foro SC has given the tournament one of its first upsets after rallying to defeat Austin FC II 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out (2-2 aet) at Parmer Field in Austin, TX on Tuesday, March 19.
Despite multiple early chances by Austin FC II, Foro SC, a UPSL club from Dallas, opened the scoring late in the first half when Jonathan Sauceda capitalized on a whipped in cross that Austin FC II failed to defend.
While Foro SC would carry this lead into halftime, Austin FC II entered the second half with a newly found intensity, and were quickly rewarded with an equalizer when a Micah Burton free kick in the 53rd minute found the back of the net after taking a dangerous bounce in front of the goal. Though officially ruled an own goal, Salvatore Mazzaferro was quick to lead the celebration in front of a packed stadium of fans, many of whom were members of various Austin FC Supporter Groups who had come to cheer on the MLS Next Pro team.
Things went from bad to worse for Foro SC when their captain Ivan Muanze-Bengono was shown a red card in the 81st minute for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity after pulling down Jonathan Santillan. Austin FC II failed to capitalize on the ensuing free kick, though, and Foro SC managed to successfully defend the 1-1 scoreline through the end of regulation.
Near the end of the first half of extra time, Austin FC II substitute Sébastien Pineau scored what most thought to be the game winner when he capitalized on a rebounded back-heel shot from Santillan in the 105th minute.
Although time had seemingly run out for Foro SC at the end of the second half of extra time as the clock approached 120’, multiple injuries, plus a rare indirect free kick offense committed by Austin FC II goalkeeper Marcus Ryu Alstrup, resulted in three minutes of stoppage time. With no time to spare, Foro SC sent all of their players forward, and in the dying seconds of the additional three minutes, found an improbable equalizer off a header from Kyle Bennett.
A penalty shoot-out then ensued, with Austin FC II kicking first. Both teams converted their first round kicks, but not their second, with Mazzaferro’s shot hitting the crossbar, and then goalkeeper Alstrup responding with a diving save to his right. Both teams then converted their third and fourth round kicks, bringing the shoot-out score to 3-3.
In the final round of the shootout, Foro SC’s Gonzalo Santa Martinez made his first save of the shootout against Ervin Torres, opening the door for Foro SC to win if Kyle Bennett could score his ensuing kick. The whistle blew, Bennett took a long pause, and then confidently placed his shot into the top right corner, leaving no chance for Alstrup to make a save.
Foro SC advances to the Second Round of the 2024 US Open Cup, scheduled for April 2-3. The remaining 22 matches of Round One will be played on Wednesday, March 20, and Thursday, March 21.
