Jägermeister Cup Quarterfinals Locked In | OneFootball

It was a wild-n-crazy final day of group stage games on Saturday. None of the six groups had a clinched side, making many of the final fixtures real nail-biters for supporters. Interestingly, two of the six group winners advancing to the quarterfinals come from the USL League 1, a great testament to the parity between the divisions.

Group 1

Winner: Sacramento Republic, 9 pts.

Sac needed a victory over Spokane to have a shot. Michelle Benítez’s 10th minute strike turned out to be the game winner, with the game surprisingly balanced. Each team shared 50% possession, 5 corner kicks and 4 shots on goal.

Other results from the group

Oakland Roots couldn’t capitalize on their superior possession and shots on frame, falling to Orange County 1 – 0. Bryce Jamison scored his first goal of the year with a precision shot at a tight angle, just beating Roots keeper Raphael Spiegel. AV Alta and Monterey Bay traded goals in the 8th and 9th minutes, before settling into a terse back-and-forth. French striker Adam Aoumaich broke the stalemate in the 73rd, giving the League One side a 2 – 1 victory.

Las Vegas could only watch as Sac leapfrogged them in the table, their head-to-head victory last week pipping the Lights’ superior goals scored tally.

Group 2

Winner: San Antonio FC, 10 pts.

None of the other games mattered. This group was all about San Antonio and New Mexico United. The hosts jumped out early and appeared to have the game wrapped up after Juan Agudelo’s brace. In a match that was more MMA than soccer (there were 12 yellow cards), New Mexico shocked SAFC by scoring twice in stoppage time to force a penalty shootout to decide the game AND group winner. Apparently this pressure was too much for New Mexico, who missed all three of their attempts.

Group 3

Winner: Indy Eleven, 11 pts.

The Indianapolis faithful showed up for their squad, putting over 9,000 butts in seats to watch the Eleven take down FC Tulsa and punch their Jägermeister quarterfinals ticket. Indy took a two goal lead from Lamar Batista’s 51st minute own goal, and despite a Giordano Colli strike for Tulsa in the 72nd minute held on for a 2 – 1 win.

Other results from the group

Birmingham Legion were still in the hunt for a group win, and hosted a resurging Forward Madison side who had won three of their last five. Birmingham played confidently, getting the lead off Ronaldo Demus’ 30th minute header. Madison equalized against the run of play when Isaac Angking (newly on loan from Rhode Island FC) found the far corner from a long shot. But the Legion rallied, peppering Madison’s goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley with shots. But it was substitute Sebastian Saucedo who delivered with a laser shot into the top netting in the 83rd that secured Birmingham’s win. While they didn’t win the group, their 10 points were enough to earn them one of the two coveted wild card spots.

Group 4

Winner: Rhode Island FC, 10 pts.

Right, this group was crackerjack. Let’s get the inconsequential scoreline out of the way: Portland Hearts of Pine took down Pittsburgh Riverhounds 5 – 4 in penalties after a 2 – 2 draw on Friday night.

Detroit City would need a big win PLUS some help from RIFC to even have a chance at a wildcard spot. They got the first part of the equation done, thumping Westchester SC 3 – 0, but the second was outside of their control.

That was the Rhode Island vs. Hartford game. El Clamico. And it looked good for the hosts when Hartford’s Beverly Makangila drew a red card in the 28th minute. But Hartford shocked with a stoppage time goal before halftime, and RIFC had to dig deep in the second half. It worked, and their 2 – 1 lead in the 80th minute looked enough to put them through as the group winner and give Detroit the second spot. But Adrián Diz had other plans, aiming a perfect sidefooter shot low and into the corner in the 83rd to draw the teams level. In the ensuing shootout, Hartford would edge Rhode Island 4 – 3. Those two points would be enough to catapult Hartford into the second wild card slot.

Group 5

Winner: Charlotte Independence, 10 pts.

Charlotte absolutely demolished fellow League One side Richmond Kickers 3 – 0, securing their top spot with two wins and two shootout wins. This left USL Championship top side Louisville City, and their 9 points, crying into their beer despite a 2 – 1 victory over rival Kentucky side Lexington.

Group 6

Winner: Greenville Triumph, 9 pts.

FC Naples scored in the second minute of the game to rock Greenville off-kilter. However, the home team recovered from this early surprise, plus a missed second half penalty kick, to eventually win 2 – 1. Happily for them, Charleston Battery finally won a game, taking down the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 – 1. And just like that, Greenville were the unexpected winner of the group.