Since Sacramento Republic FC made their debut in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, the club has hosted six matches, appeared in eight and even set the single-match attendance record for a Second Round match in 2015.
However, with 103 years of tournament history, Republic FC’s involvement in the U.S. Open Cup is just a tip of an iceberg of Northern California’s deep roots within the tournament.
Since Sacramento Republic FC made their debut in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, the club has hosted six matches, appeared in eight and even set the single-match attendance record for a Second Round match in 2015.
However, with 103 years of tournament history, Republic FC’s involvement in the U.S. Open Cup is just a tip of an iceberg of Northern California’s deep roots within the tournament.
As in many parts of the country, the beautiful game first appeared in Northern California and Sacramento in the late 19th century, several decades before the U.S. Open Cup was founded in 1913, originally as the National Challenge Cup. Teams such as the Oakland Hornets, Albion Rovers were all clubs that were active in the region, primarily competing in league matches as well as California State Senior Challenge Cup, a state tournament founded in 1904.
Despite an active soccer scene that dominated the state tournament, Northern California would not make a true splash in the U.S. Open Cup until 1962, when the San Francisco Scots became the first club from the region to reach the Finals of the tournament, falling 2-3 to New York Hungaria at Eintracht Oval in New York City.
San Francisco I.A.C. won the region’s first U.S. Open Cup title in 1976, winning 1-0 against New York Inter-Giuliana. Just a couple of years later in the late 1970s, CF Croatia of Sacramento also made an early U.S. Open Cup run, but were knocked out of Greek Americans AC from San Francisco, who went on to win the U.S. Open Cup in 1984.
As in many parts of the country, the beautiful game first appeared in Northern California and Sacramento in the late 19th century, several decades before the U.S. Open Cup was founded in 1913, originally as the National Challenge Cup. Teams such as the Oakland Hornets, Albion Rovers were all clubs that were active in the region, primarily competing in league matches as well as California State Senior Challenge Cup, a state tournament founded in 1904.
Despite an active soccer scene that dominated the state tournament, Northern California would not make a true splash in the U.S. Open Cup until 1962, when the San Francisco Scots became the first club from the region to reach the Finals of the tournament, falling 2-3 to New York Hungaria at Eintracht Oval in New York City.
San Francisco I.A.C. won the region’s first U.S. Open Cup title in 1976, winning 1-0 against New York Inter-Giuliana. Just a couple of years later in the late 1970s, CF Croatia of Sacramento also made an early U.S. Open Cup run, but were knocked out of Greek Americans AC from San Francisco, who went on to win the U.S. Open Cup in 1984.
Prior to the establishment of the modern professional era of soccer in 1995, Northern California Teams dominated the U.S. Open Cup in the early 90s, with the San Jose Oaks winning in 1992, followed by San Francisco CD Mexico in 1993 and then Greek-American AC in 1994.
In all, 15 U.S. Open Cup championships have been won by clubs from California, more than any other state apart from New York, which has 26 titles. Amateur clubs have won all 15 of California’s U.S. Open Cup titles to-date. Five of the titles were won by Northern California teams, namely C.D. Mexico, San Francisco I.A.C., San Jose Oaks and Greek-American AC, which has won two titles.
In the modern U.S. Open Cup, Sacramento and Northern California teams continue to make an impact in the tournament. Before Republic FC made their first U.S. Open Cup appearance in 2014, Sacramento Gold FC (NPSL) made their first-ever appearance in the U.S. Open Cup in 2013, falling 2-3 to Portland Timbers U-23 in the First Round of the tournament.
On May 20, 2015, Republic FC set at Second Round single-match attendance record when 10,386 attended Republic FC’s match against Sonoma County Sol (NPSL). In the same match, forward Thomas Stewart became the first player from Northern Ireland to score a hat trick in the U.S. Open Cup in Republic FC’s 4-2 win.
In this year’s tournament, fellow Sacramento team Sacramento Gold FC made history of own. The NPSL side earned their first U.S. Open Cup victory in club history on May 11, 2016, claiming a 3-1 comeback victory against Burlingame Dragons FC (PDL) in the First Round of the tournament on May 11, 2016.
Although the Gold were knocked out in the subsequent round of the tournament, this year was the first year in tournament history Sacramento was represented in the U.S. Open Cup at both the professional and open division levels, a bright indicator of the tournament’s future here in the Indomitable City.
Republic FC will return to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play when the take on the Kitsap Pumas (PDL) on Wednesday, June 1. Kickoff is 8 p.m. at Bonney Field. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Prior to the establishment of the modern professional era of soccer in 1995, Northern California Teams dominated the U.S. Open Cup in the early 90s, with the San Jose Oaks winning in 1992, followed by San Francisco CD Mexico in 1993 and then Greek-American AC in 1994.
In all, 15 U.S. Open Cup championships have been won by clubs from California, more than any other state apart from New York, which has 26 titles. Amateur clubs have won all 15 of California’s U.S. Open Cup titles to-date. Five of the titles were won by Northern California teams, namely C.D. Mexico, San Francisco I.A.C., San Jose Oaks and Greek-American AC, which has won two titles.
In the modern U.S. Open Cup, Sacramento and Northern California teams continue to make an impact in the tournament. Before Republic FC made their first U.S. Open Cup appearance in 2014, Sacramento Gold FC (NPSL) made their first-ever appearance in the U.S. Open Cup in 2013, falling 2-3 to Portland Timbers U-23 in the First Round of the tournament.
On May 20, 2015, Republic FC set at Second Round single-match attendance record when 10,386 attended Republic FC’s match against Sonoma County Sol (NPSL). In the same match, forward Thomas Stewart became the first player from Northern Ireland to score a hat trick in the U.S. Open Cup in Republic FC’s 4-2 win.
In this year’s tournament, fellow Sacramento team Sacramento Gold FC made history of own. The NPSL side earned their first U.S. Open Cup victory in club history on May 11, 2016, claiming a 3-1 comeback victory against Burlingame Dragons FC (PDL) in the First Round of the tournament on May 11, 2016.
Although the Gold were knocked out in the subsequent round of the tournament, this year was the first year in tournament history Sacramento was represented in the U.S. Open Cup at both the professional and open division levels, a bright indicator of the tournament’s future here in the Indomitable City.
Republic FC will return to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play when the take on the Kitsap Pumas (PDL) on Wednesday, June 1. Kickoff is 8 p.m. at Bonney Field. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
