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U.S. Open Cup Roundup – Hartford cruises into Second Round

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/18/25, 10:47PM EDT

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Calheira’s late penalty kick lifts FC Tulsa; Bonfiglio’s brace powers Miami victory; Bidois strikes twice as Loudoun advances


Hartford Athletic celebrates Mamadou Dieng's first-half goal during the side's 3-0 victory against the New York Shockers in the First Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. | Photo courtesy Axe Zito / Hartford Athletic

HARTFORD, Conn. – Adewale Obalola and Michee Ngalina each recorded a goal and an assist as Hartford Athletic cruised to a 3-0 victory against the New York Shockers in the First Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Trinity Health Stadium.

Mamadou Dieng also found the net for the hosts, who maintained their perfect record against amateur opposition in the historic tournament all-time.

Hartford took control of the game from the jump and took the lead in the 12th minute when Obalola and Jonathan Jimenez played a clever give-and-go in the right side of the penalty area that the Nigerian tucked home for his first goal in Hartford colors. The hosts then doubled their lead six minutes before the halftime break as Ngalina slid a through-ball into the left channel for Dieng, who outpaced the Shockers’ defense and slid a low finish into the right corner.

Athletic continued to control the action after the break – New York registered only one official shot – but it wasn’t until three minutes to go that they added a third. Obalola delivered a sharp low cross from the left to the top of the six-yard area where Ngalina clipped home a finish to wrap up the performance.

FC TULSA 1, TULSA ATHLETIC 0: Taylor Calheira’s first goal in FC Tulsa colors sent his side into the Second Round of the Open Cup as the USL Championship defeated its crosstown amateur opponent Tulsa Athletic at a windy Hicks Park.

The Scissortails had the better of the play with a strong breeze at their backs in the first half, but were held at bay by Athletic goalkeeper Jakub Gresziak, who ended the night with six saves. The game tilted in FC Tulsa’s favor midway through the second half, however, when Athletic center back Gustavo Vargas was sent off for his second yellow card, reducing the amateur side to 10 players.

FC Tulsa made that advantage count late on as a handball by Athletic’s Jonathan Harris resulted in a penalty kick with six minutes to go. Calheira kept his cool from the spot, shooting low to the left corner, to send the visitors through.

MIAMI FC 4, NAPLES UNITED FC 1: Francisco Bonfiglio scored a first-half brace before Allen Gavilanes and Tobias Zarate added goals three minutes apart in the second half to lead Miami FC to its first win of the new campaign at the FIU Soccer Stadium against Open Cup newcomer Naples United FC.

Miami had the majority of the play early on but didn’t capitalize on a chance until four minutes before the halftime break when Bonfiglio rose highest to head home a cross from the right by Deian Verón at the top of the penalty area. The Argentine added a second in first-half stoppage time, again from close range, as he was in the right place to put away a headed knock-back by Nicolas Cardona from the right side of the penalty area.

The hosts added a third midway through the second half as Gavilanes put home the rebound of his own shot before Zarate put home the pick of Miami’s four goals with a curling effort that dipped over the goalkeeper from the right side of the penalty area. Naples pulled a goal back through Jorge Moreno with seven minutes to go, but Miami remained in control for a solid victory.

LOUDOUN UNITED FC 3, WEST CHESTER UNITED 2: Riley Bidois scored either side of halftime and Christian Sorto converted a penalty kick to send Loudoun United into the Open Cup Second Round against a spirited West Chester United side at YSC Sports in Wayne, Pa.

West Chester took the lead in the 18th minute when Ayoub Mouhou was brought down in the right side of the penalty area by Loudoun’s Alex Nagy, allowing Yassine Elkahloun to convert from the spot. Loudoun pulled level eight minutes before halftime, however, as Ben Mines volleyed a cross from the left to the back post across goal where Bidois was on hand to tuck home a finish.

Sorto gave Loudoun the lead from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half after Bidois was brought down in the penalty area, and the New Zealand international then added his second of the night just past the hour-mark when he broke onto a slide-rule pass by Ethiopian international Surafel Dagnachew that split the West Chester defense before calmly slotting home a finish into the right corner. The hosts made it a one-goal game again through a smart finish by Kenneth Roby in the 68th minute, but Loudoun was able to see out the game from there to advance.

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