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Chivas USA entered the 2014 U.S. Open Cup with expectations that maybe they could make a deep run this year in the tournament. They exit the competition altogether in the fourth round (and their first game) after a 1-1 result against the NASL's Carolina RailHawks on Saturday, going out after losing the penalty shootout 3-2 after seven rounds.
The hosting RailHawks opened the scoring in the 29th minute through Zack Schilawski before Ryan Finley scored his first competitive goal for Chivas in the 40th minute off a diving header following a long lob into the box from Tony Lochhead. In the second half, Chivas had the better chances, but couldn't get a good enough shot to beat Carolina goalkeeper Scott Goodwin. The same sentiment prevailed in extra time.
Then things got very wild in the penalty shootout. It's worth going through the whole sequence:
- Agustin Pelletieri started matters on the right foot by converting his shot in the first round (1-0)
- Nazmi Albadawi then missed the goal for Carolina on the RailHawks' first shot (1-0)
- Erick Torres, who only came off the bench in the 77th minute, then converted Chivas' second PK. (2-0)
- Meanwhile, Connor Tobin made Carolina's second spot kick. (2-1)
- Eriq Zavaleta missed the Goats' 3rd try (2-1)
- Then came the pivotal stretch of the shootout. Dan Kennedy saved Kupono Low's shot (2-1), and then Kennedy stepped up to take Chivas' fourth PK, which would have been the clincher, and it was saved by Goodwin (2-1). Then Schilawski tied up the shootout with Carolina's fourth PK (2-2).
- Goodwin saved Eric Avila's PK in the fifth round (2-2), putting the RailHawks on the front foot, but Enzo Martinez missed the goal on Carolina's first clincher (2-2).
- Kristopher Tyrpak missed in round 6 (2-2), and Kennedy regrouped to save Aaron King's chance at clinching for Carolina (2-2)
- Marky Delgado's kick in the seventh round was saved by Goodwin (2-2), and substitute Daniel Jackson put everybody out of their misery by finally clinching for the RailHawks on the third attempt to make 2-3 through seven rounds.
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