2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup [R]

Chuck Harris

 

It's not even that hard. Did they call Paul Marie "Mary" again? That one is a real head-scratcher. The female name Marie is not that uncommon and everyone should know how to pronounce it.

 

#22 on Phoenix Rising, Darius Johnson, an English born player of Grenadian descent (has played for their national team), was beating everybody on his side of the wing (I think he switched sides). Just time and time again. We should sign him. We don't have anyone who can really do that. He's 26 and played for some years in The Netherlands, mostly in the 2nd division(?) - always hard to tell with pro/rel. He was also the guy that JoGo couldn't catch and fouled for his 2nd yellow.

Besides Fernandez I think Buck did well, as did Floriani and Jasinski. Marie was OK. Buck as a winger is an odd choice for him - he's not very fast, but he can pump in crosses and he's a threat to shoot from distance. I think if his shot had gone in - it was about an inch too far to the right, it would have been another assist for Fernandez.

I would add Edwards to the good game group. He did well coming out to stuff some chances.

 

Those announcers were HORRIBLE! They probably knew the shoe sizes of each Phoenix player but had very little clue about the Quakes. They also were trying so hard to sound like they were each defending their doctoral theses on Technical Football Terminology for Extremely Annoying and Verbose Announcers...

 

Bruce on Nick Fernandez. I'm glad he's noticed him now, and he doesn't have to play another year in Next/Pro. Glad also that he recognizes that he's naturally a 10 even if he's not playing him there right now.

“He's a good player. He's been a good player for us. He's played a lot of [MLS NEXT Pro] games. He's gotten in a little bit this year now, and he's been a good player. Probably his more comfortable natural position would be as a 10, but he's very versatile. He could play in a number of positions in the midfield. So he's been good.”

I listened to Ted Ramey's recent pod with guest Dave Romney. A couple of interesting things that he said:

- as a fellow USF left-footed defender he mentored Reid Roberts I think even before Roberts became a Quakes player - with video sessions, etc.

- Romney suggested that language might have been a bit of an issue with the back line last year, with Rodrigues and Bruno Wilson (a little odd because I think Wilson speaks English pretty well). But maybe if it's Romney, Rodrigues, Costa, and Daniel and Romney says something in the heat of the moment in English, some may not understand. Or they say something in Portuguese that Romney doesn't understand. Romney could have learned some Portuguese too?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soccer-hour-podcast/id1479227902?i=1000761612814

 

Good start, turned into a foul fest, and the Quakes holding on for the win. We got to the game right before kickoff and it was windy and cold (think on night games at Candlestick). The Quakes were quicker and able to press Phoenix which created turned overs and the first two goals. Ref got a little yellow card happy. With four players with yellow cards, I was afraid someone would get a red. Sure enough...Gonzales stepped up.

Positives were Jasinski, Fernandez, and Floriani. Negatives were Buck (who was terrible except for a near miss), Gonzales, Werner (slow and lacked sharpness), and Bouda (too often gets lazy at times). Edwards was solid which helped.

Disappointing game overall. Quakes seemed to be reading their own press and got sloppy. They are fortunate that Marie got the call on the goal called back. Otherwise, it would have been a long second half.

My biggest concern is Werner. After a good start with the team, he is taken a step back.

 

The 2nd JoGo yellow was obviously a very bad decision but it seems to me that the Quakes are more willing to foul whenever they are about to undergo a dangerous counter, like anytime someone gets beat and it looks like a favorable scenario for the opposition, foul to kill it. I know that's a common practice but seems more prevalent with the Quakes this year. It's kind of like - not sure if this is gonna be dangerous or not, but I don't like how it's setting up and I'd prefer not to find out.

Whatever they're doing, it's working. It's now 2 goals conceded in 8 games, all competitions. That's ridiculous.

 

I thought Bouda looked good. His speed was giving Phoenix fits.

 

MLS Quakes defeated Minnesota Thunder in the Open Cup back in 2004.



As I recall, the Mercury News did not bother to report the fact. Not even a fine-print line score on the pages devoted to such stuff.

 

I was a little disappointed with the game in that Phoenix Rising was so bad. It was almost like watching a high school team. Their #91 had only just turned 18, altho to me he looked 15. So I couldn’t gauge the Quakes reserves versus the Phoenix players.

I had higher expectations because one of the Total Soccer Show guys lives in Phoenix and calls their games. He’s so analytical about all the games he watches across European leagues and the USMNT. But he’s never mentioned how bad his local team is.

 

While Phoenix was rather poor technically and tactically, they were superior athletically. I was very surprised how weak the Quske’s midfield looked against them. Lots of lazy fouls and struggles to win second balls. Ian Harkes especially disappointed me because his experience should have allowed him to dictate play more often.

 

I didn't think they were that bad. Typically they are a mid-table USL team. As I mentioned before, #22, Darius Johnson was killing us on the wing. He would beat his man every time and they'd get some kind of chance out of it. I think he was about the best player on the field.

Before we went down a man we had enough pressure in the midfield to win the ball, limit their chances and get chances of our own. Once we went down a man they were able to play the game mostly in our half. Honestly we were pretty fortunate to come out of that 2-0 being down a man for 50-60 minutes. If we'd have stayed at 11, I think it might have been a 4-0 / 5-0 game. The Quakes have never lost a home game to a USL team in USOC as far as I can remember. Road games, yes, we lose those.

 

Huh I thought the quakes players were athletically superior to Phoenix. They made the quakes look fast.

 

Case in point. JoGo couldn’t catch Darius Johnson. That’s why he fouled him from behind and got a 2nd yellow (should have let him go). And Johnson beat everybody with quickness on the wing.

 

and we beat the stars in 2012 at stanford on a late lenhart goal off a beitashour cross.

 

Someone beating Jonathan Gonazlez is not an example of athletic superiority as a team! I’ve been wondering why Jona is on the team — i can’t even understand how he’s lasted this long as a pro. So small, not quick or fast. I suppose he has good ball skills, but I’ve seen so little from him so far this season, it’s hard to say.

He does, however, have A LOT of attitude

 

That’s not the only example I have. Not sure about the other guys on Phoenix but #22, Johnson, was beating the Quakes with pace and quickness all game long.

JoGo is a good player. He made a bad play.

 

SF Chronicle annouced that the SF taco place El Faro is for sale. Aren’t they the ones who sponsor the team El Farolito?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/el-faro-sf-closure-rent-hike-22210547.php

Apparently El Farolito had a fight after losing to SAC last month in USOC. Mark-Anthony Kaye got sent off…

 

Not the same place: https://elfarolitosf.com/

 

Thanks for finding that — i tried searching but failed!