T.O.-based Cal F.C. upsets MLS' Timbers

Timbers forward Jorge Perlaza (right) takes control of the ball against Cal F.C.’s Hector Espinosa in a third-round match of the U.S.Open Cup at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore.

Artur Aghasyan chipped Troy Perkins on a breakaway in the 95th minute as Thousand Oaks-based Cal F.C. pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 99-year history of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night in Portland, Ore.

The local amateur side, which currently sits ninth in the 12-team Gran Liga de Oxnard, knocked off the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, 1-0 after extra time, in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup before 5,489 at Jeld-Wen Field.

It is the first time an amateur team from the fifth-tier of the American soccer pyramid has eliminated an MLS team before the penalty kick tiebreaker.

After a scoreless 90 minutes, Cal F.C. playmaker Danny Barrera, despite sprawled on the grass, played the ball forward to split the Timbers defense and set Aghasyan free.

The former Ventura County Fusion and Real Salt Lake forward calmly completed to tally the first goal scored by an U.S. Adult Soccer Association team against MLS opposition.

Coached by U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda, Cal F.C. advances to play two-time defending cup holders Seattle Sounders, who eased past the Atlanta Silverbacks 5-1 on Tuesday.

The upset, as well as Cal F.C.’s run, was backstopped by former Kitsap (Wash.) Pumas and Sounders goalkeeper Derby Carillo, who made 13 saves to extend his shutout streak in the competition to 300 minutes.

Carrillo also won an 80th-minute battle with Portland forward Kris Boyd, who sprayed a penalty kick over the crossbar one minute after a Cal F.C. player was whistled for a handball in the area.

Portland, which currently sit in seventh place in the MLS Western Conference, outshot Cal F.C. 43-9.

The Timbers were victimized by their own errant shooting.

Moments after coming on in the 65th minute, Portland substitute Brent Richards missed a pair of excellent chances a minute apart, shooting over and then heading over from eight yards.

Of course, the penalty kick flew over the bar, as did several chances during the overtime periods.

Behind the Barrera brothers, Danny (Westlake High) and Diego (Thousand Oaks High), the amateur club from the Gran Liga de Oxnard had eliminated defending Premier Development League champion Kitsap and the Wilmington (N.C.) Hammerheads of the United Soccer League’s Professional Division to reach the third round of the nation’s oldest soccer competition.

With a hand in almost all six goals, Danny Barrera had earned U.S. Open Cup Player of the Round honors in both matches.

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