Elimination Wednesday produced two major upsets in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but the Minnesota Thunder didn't mind avoiding any David vs. Goliath excitement.
The defending A-League champion Thunder scored early and often in Wednesday's 7-0 thrashing of amateur club Mexico S.C. in front of 1,209 at Macalester College in St. Paul. Minnesota, which last year lost a second-round Open Cup game to the amateur Mid-Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League (PDL), advanced to meet the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the round of 16 on July 25.
Three MLS teams - 1999 Open Cup runner-up Colorado, the league-leading Kansas City Wizards and the New England Revolution - were among the losers as 15 single-elimination games were played Wednesday. Kansas City and New England were toppled by PDL amateur teams Chicago and Mid-Michigan, respectively, and Colorado fell 3-0 to the A-League's Richmond Kickers.
Thunder forward John Menyongar dimmed the upset hopes of Fresno, Calif.-based Mexico S.C. with a goal from fellow front-runner Gerard Lagos in the 8th minute. Lagos broke free on the right and slid the ball behind the Mexico S.C. defense to Menyongar, who curled an 18-yard shot inside the right post from the left.
Menyongar struck again in the 20th minute after midfielder Stoian Mladenov forced Mexico S.C. goalkeeper Francisco Alvarez into a poor clearance that went directly to Minnesota midfielder Mike Gentile 20 yards out. Alvarez leaped to deflect Gentile's chip shot, but Menyongar collected the loose ball near the penalty spot and angled an 8-yard shot just inside the left post and into the empty net.
The Thunder added a crippling goal just before halftime when Lagos fed Mladenov after Alvarez mishandled a crossing pass. Lagos scored from Menyongar three minutes after the intermission and substitute forward Paul Schneider scored with his first touch of the game after defender Don Gramenz stormed down the left wing and along the end line in the 55th minute.
Another substitute, midfielder Morgan Zeba, tallied in the 60th minute by sneaking a shot inside the near post from a narrow angle on the right. Menyongar, who set up Zeba's goal for his second assist of the night, added a third goal from Mladenov in the 68th minute.
Menyongar's hat trick was his second in four games. He is tied for third in A-League scoring with 17 points on seven goals and three assists.
Central Division-leading Minnesota (6-1-3, 31 points) resumes A-League play Saturday against the last-place Cincinnati Riverhawks (1-4-1, 5 points). Game time is 7:35 p.m. at the National Sports Center in Blaine.
Members of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) may use their free Thunder tickets at Saturday's game. Additional MYSA Night at the Thunder games are scheduled Saturday, July 22 (vs. Tennessee) and Friday, July 28 (vs. Cincinnati).
MINNESOTA THUNDER 7, MEXICO S.C. 0. Goals: John Menyongar (Gerard Lagos) 8, John Menyongar 20, Stoian Mladenov (Gerard Lagos) 45, Gerard Lagos (John Menyongar) 48, Paul Schneider (Don Gramenz) 55, Morgan Zeba (John Menyongar) 60, John Menyongar (Stoian Mladenov).
MINNESOTA -- John Swallen (Jon Lowery, 58), John Coughlin, Eric Otto, John Sylvester, Don Gramenz, Aaron Leventhal, Brian Winters (Luis Labastida, 62), Mike Gentile (Morgan Zeba, 58), Stoian Mladenov, John Menyongar, Gerard Lagos (Paul Schneider, 54).
MEXICO S.C. -- Francisco Alvarez, Jose Delgadillo, Jarred Souza (Oscar Ruelas, 46), Jose Mexicano, Eliseo Lopez (Marcos Lopez, 60), Juan Carlos Baviche, Andres Blanco, Jeremy Shultz (Jose Ramos, 64), Joel Ramirez, Carlos Lopez, Edgardo Contreras.
SHOTS -- Minnesota 24, Mexico 11. SAVES -- Swallen (MIN) 0, Lowery (MIN) 3; Alvarez (MEX) 5. FOULS -- Minnesota 17, Mexico 11. OFFSIDES -- Minnesota 5, Mexico 3. CORNER KICKS -- Minnesota 6, Mexico 1. CAUTIONS -- Delgadillo (MEX) 23, Ramirez (MEX) 82. EJECTIONS -- None. ATTENDANCE -- 1,209. OFFICIALS -- Richard Huber, Sia Rahimi, Bob Petersen, Elias Bazakos, Aaron West.
