Pro Soccer: Union eliminated from US Open Cup
SEASIDE — Perhaps it can be used as a teaching moment. As dominate as Monterey Bay FC was in the first half, it was completely outplayed in the second half by an amateur team that was just hungrier.
Two goals in the second half by El Parolito kept their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup dream alive, lifting them Tuesday to a 2-1 win over the Union in front of a sparse crowd at Cardinale Stadium.
The loss snapped a team record four-game winning streak for the Union, who were eliminated from the US Open Cup for a second time in the second round.
El Parolito, who plays in the National Premier Soccer League in the bay area, has beaten three professional teams in the US Open Cup over the last two years by identical come-from-behind 2-1 scores.
This was the franchise’s first win ever over a United Soccer League Championship team.
Monterey Bay FC, who sits in second place in the United Soccer League Championship Western Conference with nine points, will return to USL play Saturday in Detroit.
It will mark the second time this season that the Union — who are riding a three-game winning streak in the USL — have played three matches in a span of seven days.
Since falling 1-0 to unbeaten and Western Conference leader San Antonio in their USL opener, the Union have outscored their last three conference opponents 9-2.
The Union, who opened the US Open Cup tournament with a 4-0 win over Inter San Francisco, scored in the first half on a penalty kick from Xavi Gnaulati — his third goal in the tournament.
Missed opportunities in the first half fueled El Parolito in the second half as it controlled play on the pitch, tying the game minutes into the second half — the first goal the Union defense has given up in the second in half in four matches.
Unable to recapture the momentum, Monterey Bay FC was on the defense in the second half when El Parolito turned a series of attempts into a goal with under eight minutes remaining.
Having won four straight matches on two previous occasions, the Union came into the game having outscored their last four opponents 10-0 in the second half.
