Valhalla FC 1-3 Chicago House AC: U.S. Open Cup 4th round qualifying - Going again

Chicago House Athletic Club booked their place in the U.S. Open Cup on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Valhalla FC 3-1 at Charity Lucas Soccer Stadium.

It was a classic competitive cup match, and the home side actually jumped in front past the half-hour mark. Chicago responded well, finding an equalizer before the end of the half. Overtime was seemingly on the way, but then the House grabbed a winner from a corner before adding a third goal at the end.

As a result, Chicago House will be a part of the Open Cup for a second straight year.

Story of the match

The opening chance fell to Valhalla within five minutes. A low cut-back picked out Fin Sallows, and his first-time shot went just wide of the far post.

There was an injury blow early on, as House midfielder Shannon Seymour was forced to come off.

It was an even affair throughout the first half. Both sides were sending numbers forward and creating chances, but neither could convert.

The home side jumped in front a bit before the break. A loose ball in the area fell to Andrej Novakovic in the area, and he capitalized on the fortunate break, slotting home from close range.

Chicago responded well, and managed to equalize at the end of the half. It was a mess in the penalty area, and in the end Alejandro Mentasti was on hand to bury the ball into the back of the net.

The pace of play continued into the second half. AR Smith slipped in Kiki Alvalos, but the latter got too close to the goalie, and his eventual shot was saved.

Things hit a screeching halt, though. The ball just sort of bounced around in midfield for most of the proceedings, and the amount of chances diminished. There was a lot of downtime as well due to injuries and substitutions.

Just as it seemed like we were set for overtime, the House jumped in front. A corner picked out Elias McCloud, and he finished it off beautifully, powering a header past the goalkeeper.

Valhalla sent everyone forward in search of a replay, but instead Chicago added a third to seal the result. They won a free-kick right on the edge of the area, and Pau Mateo Chacon stepped up before curling a shot into the bottom corner.

That proved to be the end of the action as the final whistle came soon after.

Notes and takeaways

Valhalla’s pregame atmosphere was a fitting one given their name, as they blasted some sort of hard rock music before kick-off.

There was effort put into the broadcast, with two commentators and an instant replay system, but the camera was too far away and was at a tough angle to watch.

Valhalla’s wastefulness in the final third will haunt them. They put up a really good fight, and at points they were better than the opposition. The Ohio side just didn’t take enough of their chances, and that’s what cost them. Who knows how differently things could’ve been.

This match really slowed down in the second half. At times it felt like a game wasn’t even happening, as the ball was out of play for extended stretches. It took the fun out of things, but it at least set up the grandstand finish.

The House just keep treading onwards, man. This wasn’t their best performance at all, and yet they still came away with the victory. They simply know what to do when it comes to these situations, and don’t be surprised if they make another run in the Open Cup when that time comes.

Tony Halterman is a big part of that. Chicago are lucky to have him back there, as he brings consistency and calmness to the defense, and they’ll know he’ll make the saves he needs to.

Jack Kramer is such a right-back.

Keep an eye on Jasper Waddington in the future. He’s been the starting center back for a bit now, and he’s only like 21 or something, which is ridiculous. The defender plays beyond his years, and he might be next when it comes to the “path to pro” initiative.

If Bukola Abdulwahab develops a little more he’s going to be a real threat on the wing going forward. He’s so fast, man.

Andrej Novakovic (not to be confused with former U.S. international Andrija Novakovich) was on the losing end, but he had a solid showing as well. He’s the complete package in the final third, able to set up teammates and go for goal himself. He could be a shrewd signing for someone down the line.

Man of the match - Elias McCloud

Big time players make big time plays, and Elias McCloud stepped up when it mattered most.

Nothing was going on in the game, and the two teams seemed set to end regulation level. However, McCloud provided the moment of magic that ended up being the matchwinning moment. He broke free from his marker on a corner, was first the aerial ball, and then headed home from close range to put the House in front.

The moment wasn’t too big for him at all, and he showcased that with his celebration, where he simply shrugged towards the sidelines.

He’s a very talented player, and hopefully, Chicago can keep him around until the Open Cup starts next year.