SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Chivas USA boasts five World Cup veterans, three of which played in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match.
Roma FC, meanwhile, featured mostly former indoor soccer players and a few ex-MLS veterans on its side.
It was the lightweights, however, who scored the huge upset.
Roma FC beat Chivas USA 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless, 120-minute draw. Chivas USA was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup while Roma FC now moves on to face the Los Angeles Galaxy in a fourth-round match on Aug. 1.
"It's a little bit embarrassing, a little bit disappointing, but it just goes to show you that any team can beat any team on any given day," Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch said.
As an expansion team a year ago, Chivas USA got past this same round, beating USL Second Division side Charlotte Eagles 3-2 in extra time. This year, with Chivas in contention for a playoff spot, the club suffered a lethal blow against a club that plays in the equivalent of the fifth division.
Chivas USA finished with 27 shots while Roma FC had 10. The Red-and-White also had 22 corner kicks. Roma FC goalkeeper Jesse Llamas played a great game, Marsch said, and was superb in the penalty-kick shootout. Llamas stopped Francisco Palencia on the first shot, then blocked Marsch's attempt two shots later.
Meanwhile, Chivas keeper Brad Guzan did not stop any of Roma FC's four shots.
"Sometimes sports can be cruel and today was one of those days where it hurts a bit," Marsch said. "I'm a little bit ashamed."
Chivas USA went down a man when Ante Razov, who was named to the MLS All-Star First XI earlier in the day, was giving a straight red card following a foul on Roma FC's Todd Paulette in the 57th minute, forcing Chivas to play a man down for the final 63 minutes.
"We didn't handle our business," Marsch said. "We get a stupid red, which now all of a sudden puts all the pressure on us. Once the game really starts getting pushed and we starts getting chances, we just couldn't finish. It was one of those game that you felt like anything you threw at the goal they were going to stop or it was going to hit the post or whatever."
Chivas fielded a strong starting lineup as it had five starters on the field at the beginning of the match. Palencia, Marsch, Tim Regan and Jason Hernandez all came on during the second half as Chivas finished the game with most of its first team on the field. Nevertheless, Marsch said Chivas should have won regardless of who took the field.
"We're all professionals. I don't care what lineup we put out there. We should beat that team, bottom line," Marsch said. "We don't do it today, though. We don't handle our business and in that manner I feel they deserve to win. If they can come in and hold a professional team and we can't take control of the game and score a goal and win the game, we don't deserve to win."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
