The 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup got underway on Saturday afternoon, with 2012 surprise packages Cal FC announcing their return to the tournament with a dramatic 2-1 win over debutants San Francisco City FC.
The game was played in front of a USOC Preliminary Round-record 1,519 spectators at San Francisco's historic Kezar Stadium. Cal FC, who represent the United States Adult Soccer Association, opened the scoring in the 47th minute after SF City goalkeeper Austin Harms brought down Alberto Anguiano in the area and Chris Cummings converted the resulting penalty kick.
SFCFC, the lone entrant in the tournament from US Club Soccer, started to find their feet after the goal. Their attacking pressure was rewarded in the 76th minute when speedy forward George Plakorus got free on the left side and sent in a low cross that was turned into the net by Cal FC defender Randy Mendoza for an own goal.
The home side continued to apply the pressure in search of a winner, but were undone in the 87th minute when they were whistled for another penalty, this time for handball in the area, which Cal FC's Johnny Bravo finished for the winner.
Cal FC will now face off against PDL powerhouse Ventura County Fusion in the First Round of the tournament on May 13 as they look to replicate their 2012 run, in which they knocked out MLS' Portland Timbers en route to the Fourth Round.
In the other game of the Preliminary Round, Boulder, Colorado-based Harpo's FC scored a first-ever win in the Open Cup for a team from the US Specialty Sports Association. Harpo's, founded in 1997 as a rec-league team, topped the USASA's KC Athletics 2-0 at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park practice fields in Commerce City, Colorado.
Both goals for the home side came in the second half (HIGHLIGHTS), and guaranteed them a May 13 date with the PDL's BYU Cougars. For a full list of First and Second Round matchups, click here.
