Editor’s Note: The header image for this post comes courtesy of the Chula Vista FC Facebook page.
If Chula Vista FC is Cinderella, then consider Sacramento the tougher, more-experienced step-sister who would stop at nothing to get ahead.
Chula Vista continues its fairy-tale run in the U.S. Open Cup this Wednesday night against Sacramento Republic FC, who currently sit at second place in the Western USL standings. The competition is the oldest continuous tournament in the United States and third oldest in the world. Being an open-format tournament, it’s conceivable that a team from the very lowest division could win it all. Conceivable. But not likely.
Thus far, Chula Vista has performed surprisingly well against senior opposition in Cup play. They opened their campaign with 2-1 win in extra time against PDL side, FC Tucson. Just over 100 miles north and a week later, third-division team Arizona United also fell to the amateur club from Southern California—this time by a more dramatic score line of three to zero. The second-year USL squad was thoroughly outplayed for the better part of 90 minutes. CV’s Alberto Diaz was named “TheCup.us Player of the Round” for his brace and assist on the night. All told, Chula Vista is two-for-two in U.S Open Cup play against teams in Arizona. From from watching Chula Vista play, it’s evident that this team has a passion for the game and a hunger to win. But who exactly is this diminutive club from just north of the Mexican border?
CVFC plays its football in what is considered the 5th tier of the American soccer pyramid—the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). A modest club by any measure, they even have a GoFundMe page set up to help compensate for travel costs. Founded in 1982 as a youth club, the organization has fielded an adult team since 2011. Along with PSA Elite, Chula Vista is the only other USASA club remaining in the historic competition. A win in Sacramento would be another massive milestone for the club. While surely the young team will be under pressure for such a significant match, they really have nothing to lose. The reigning USL champs, on the other hand, have it all to lose. The winner on Wednesday night gets the privilege of traveling to Avaya Stadium to face the San Jose Earthquakes. Sacramento are coming off a comfortable 4-2 win against Sonoma County Sol FC, of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), in the previous round.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm PST and the match can be streamed here.
