The Connecticut Wolves scored a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny on Tuesday night at Willow Brook Park in New Britain, Connecticut to advance to the third round in the U.S. Open Cup, scoring another victory by an A-League franchise over an MLS team in the process. This represents the second time in a week that Tampa Bay has lost to an A-League squad (the other loss coming against Atlanta by a 2-1 score). For Connecticut, it is a vital victory that confirms their ability to compete at the highest level of American soccer.
The Wolves started out slowly, but from the start they were not intimidated and played their normal aggressive, attacking style. Connecticut began to carry the play after the first few minutes, with Temoc Suarez coming close on a blast from the left flank that barely missed wide of the far post. Winston Griffiths proved especially dangerous as the Wolves gained an early advantage in possession, with Griffiths using his speed and dribbling ability in midfield to find gaps in Tampa Bay's back four.
But the Mutiny began to create scoring chances at the other end, with Devin Barclay and Eric Quill proving especially dangerous for Tampa Bay. Yet the Wolves were able to shut down Tampa Bay's big threat up front, Mamadou Diallo, largely through the defensive efforts of Adam Eyre and Tony Soto in the center of the Wolves' defense. Diallo's only chance of the first half came on a close range shot that Wolves goalkeeper Adam Throop saved after cutting down the angle and forcing a quick shot.
Barclay continued to create problems in the first half, hitting the crossbar on one occasion. The Wolves continued to hold the territory and possession advantages, however, with Paul Oyuga coming closest to scoring for Connecticut in the latter stages of the half with a shot that hit the left side netting. It was 0-0 at halftime, but the Wolves had proven in the first half that they were not outmatched or outgunned.
Tampa Bay brought on Carlos Valderrama at halftime for Josh Keller, looking to gain more possession in midfield and also to create scoring opportunities for their dangerous forward line. However, Connecticut adapted well to the change, as David Vaudreuil took the task of marking the Colombian superstar. Vaudreuil prevented Valderrama from becoming a major factor in the second half with tight marking and strong defensive play. Even worse for the Mutiny, Vaudreuil became more of an offensive presence for Connecticut as well, due to Valderrama's inconsistent defensive effort.
The Wolves struck first in the wild second half. Fabio Zuniga drew a foul 20 yards from goal, setting up a free kick for Temoc Suarez. The Mutiny wall partially blocked Suarez's initial shot, but it caromed to Wolves midfielder Mobi Oparaku at the far post. Oparaku headed the ball into the back of the net past a surprised Matt Nyman in the Mutiny goal,as Nyman had replaced Scott Garlick at halftime.
Tampa Bay struck back to tie the game at 1-1 within five minutes. Barclay got behind the Wolves defense and deftly chipped the ball past Throop and into the net. Barclay was Tampa Bay's most impressive player on the night, showing the skill that made him a highly touted prospect in last year's MLS draft. Yet the Wolves did not let the setback get them down, as they immediately tried to regain the lead, with Zuniga forcing a quick save out of Nyman right after the goal.
The goal of the night (and perhaps goal of the season for the Wolves) came from Winston Griffiths in the 58th minute. Griffiths controlled the ball and dribbled along the left flank, splitting two Tampa Bay defenders and moving past them with expert skill and superb speed. Griffiths dribbled in for a breakaway against Nyman and finished with a blast into the back of the net to end a brilliant run. This goal put the Wolves back on top by 2-1, and soon Connecticut began to play with greater confidence.
Griffiths and substitute forward Irasto Knights began to dazzle the crowd with their skill and dribbling ability. More importantly, they found gaping holes in the Tampa Bay defense and began to create more attacking chances for the Wolves. Rather than sitting on the lead as the nominal underdog would be expected to do, Connecticut continued to put pressure on and push for an insurance goal.
In the 86th minute, the Wolves made it 3-1 with another brilliant play by the man of the match, Winston Griffiths. After stealing the ball on the sideline, Griffiths again dribbled 50 yards through the midfield and into the heart of the Mutiny defense. Griffiths put an exquisite pass through for Knights, who came in alone and beat Nyman with a shot into the lower right corner.
The Wolves would need the insurance, as Tampa Bay pulled one back in the 89th minute. Diallo's free kick squirted through Adam Throop's hands and trickled over the goal line to make it 3-2. It was a tense final three minutes of stoppage time, but Connecticut gained a deserved victory to advance to meet the winner of the Richmond-Reading match, which takes place tomorrow night. In any case, the win is a milestone for the Connecticut Wolves as a franchise, as Wolves midfielder Erik Barbieri stated after the match:
"To beat an MLS team and move on is really something special," Barbieri said, "Nothing like this has happened in the seven years that I have been here."
After these years of struggles and defeats, the Wolves have begun to turn things around with a mixture of veterans like Vaudreuil, Suarez, and Barbieri, as well as younger players like Griffiths, Max Zieky, and Throop. They are making an impact both in the A-League and now in the prestigious U.S. Open Cup. Saturday the Wolves attempt to build upon this success with a crucial home league match against the Toronto Lynx, while Tampa Bay must try to regroup and focus on what has to date been a poor MLS league campaign.
Wolves 3, Mutiny 2
Goals: Connecticut- Mobi Oparaku-50th minute
Tampa Bay- Devin Barclay-55th minute
Connecticut- Winston Griffiths-58th minute
Connecticut- Irasto Knights-86th minute
Tampa Bay- Mamadou Diallo-89th minute
Cautions: Connecticut- Dean Sewell-30th minute
Connecticut- Jake Dancy-36th minute
Tampa Bay- Devin Barclay-39th minute
Lineups: Tampa Bay Mutiny: Scott Garlick (Matt Nyman 46), Kevin Anderson (Gus Kartes 74), Craig Demmin, Steve Trittschuh, Richie Kotschau, Josh Keller (Carlos Valderrama 46), Jair, Steve Ralston, Eric Quill, Devin Barclay, Mamadou Diallo
Connecticut Wolves: Adam Throop, Tony Soto, Adam Eyre, Jake Dancy, Dean Sewell, David Vaudreuil, Temoc Suarez, Winston Griffiths, Mobi Oparaku, Paul Oyuga (Dan Rudoplh 88), Fabio Zuniga (Irasto Knights 66)
