Amateur
VE takes down Colonial SC in tense U.S. Open Cup qualifier
Vereinigung Erzgebirge got the better of Colonial SC in a tense U.S. Open Cup qualifier on Saturday afternoon in Warminster.
Justin Ruth scored early for VE, but Colonial responded with a penalty kick from Oliver Whitham soon after. The deadlock was
broken on a corner kick goal by Derek Antonini in the second half, which was enough for VE to clinch the 2-1 win and advance to the third qualifying round.
It was a rainy, overcast afternoon in Warminster on Saturday as Colonial SC made the short trip up the road to VE. The two United Soccer League of Pennsylvania clubs were drawn to face each other, with VE as the designated host. VE defeated Vidas United FC of the APSL in the previous round, and Colonial SC defeated Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals of the USL and NPSL 3-0 to advance.
VE started the match on the front foot and cashed in on their momentum early. A mazy run by VE number 10 Reed Sturza forced a save from Colonial SC keeper Gunner Hoffman, who could only parry the ball into the path of VE’s Justin Ruth. Ruth finished confidently, giving VE the advantage in the 9 th minute. Against the run of play, Colonial won the ball and played Matthew Hull over the top, beating VE goalkeeper Stephen Paul to the ball. Paul collided with Hull in the penalty area, and the referee gave a penalty. Colonial’s Oliver Whitham took the penalty and dispatched it, leveling the match at 1-1 in the 24 th minute.
The goal sparked life back into Colonial SC, putting the ball in the back of the net again only minutes later via a John Underwood header. However, the linesman’s flag went up, chalking off the goal for offside. A cagey finish to the first half saw countless fouls as both teams battled in the midfield, but the score remained 1-1 for the remainder of the half. VE winger Carter Houlihan was denied by a spectacular save from Hoffman just before halftime.
The second half began how the first half ended – a very cagey affair with plenty of fouls. The moment came in the 61st minute when VE big man Derek Antonini got on the end of a corner kick, turning the ball into the net with his right foot.
Despite a flurry of late Colonial SC chances, VE were able to hold on for a win.
After the match, Justin Ruth discussed the intensity between the two Philadelphia-based teams.
“I think it’s a local rivalry, so it’s always a close game back and forth,” Ruth told Philadelphia Soccer Now. “They’re a tough team.
They work hard, went up early, and then they got that goal. It kind of hurt us, but we ended up responding well and getting that late goal, thanks to Derek.”
Antonini talked about how VE created a lot of chances but struggled to put the match away.
“They made some really good saves,” Antonini said. “I thought Carter [Houlihan] had two or three really awesome chances… I didn’t feel snake bitten. I felt like we were going to get it done. But it honestly shocked me [that we scored] two. I thought we’d have three, four, or five.”
With West Chester United already qualified for the 2026 U.S. Open Cup via an auto-bid from winning the National Amateur Cup, VE has a chance now to carry the local mantle as they move closer to qualifying for the first time since 2024.
“We feel like a different team,” Antonini said. “I think we got a lot of young blood that can move and I feel like we feel pretty confident right now, especially because we have guys like Antoine [Hoppenot] coming in for the third match. We got a good squad.”
Hoppenot, a former Philadelphia Union forward who played with VE in their Open Cup appearance against Charlotte Independence in 2024, will be available for the next round of qualifiers., which will be held Nov. 1-2.
