Oaklyn United advances in U.S. Open Cup qualifying with 2-0 win

Jason Mancuso scored in the first half and Austin Johnson cleaned up a a rebound off his own penalty kick in the second half to lead Oaklyn United to their first U.S. Open Cup qualifying victory with a 2-0 win over Scots-American Athletic Club.

Coming off three straight shutout losses in league play, Mancuso’s early goal was a lift for the hosts playing in drizzling rain and wind at Rowan University on Sunday night.

“We’ve been in tough form, it’s hard to get guys to travel and play every game like these guys I’m sure they had more guys who couldn’t make it,” said head coach Matt Perrella, who started in goal. “Most of the first half was played well and I think we finished well.”

Oaklyn United earned a first round bye so Sunday’s game was their first in Open Cup qualifying this year. They lost 4-3 last year to league rivals Alloy SC in their only other qualifier as a club.

Scots-American went down to 10 men in the second half on a straight red card after a shoving penalty was called in the box with the score still 1-0. Johnson’s kick was saved by Aldahir Cazun, who had several big stops in the match to deny the hosts.

“I was hoping we would’ve gotten a third or fourth,” Perrella said. “We put a lot of pressure on them in the first 20 minutes of the second half and obviously if you want to compete in the next rounds of this you have to score those chances.”

Despite being a man down, the famed club from Kearney, N.J. still had chances going the other way to get back into the game. Johnson slipped on one play that led to a chance for Dwight Ceballo, but the forward’s shot from distance was well off the mark. Richard Blancas also found the head of Jeffrey Barrenechea on a corner kick but the headed attempt went over the bar and Perella was able to come off his line to cut down a couple dangerous balls sent into the box for Ceballo.

“To pick up this win tonight is huge,” said Johnson. “Open Cup is everything and everyone wants to chase it and get a chance to play against a professional club potentially. I think we can make a run and this is a good step forward toward that.”

The third round of qualifying will be played Nov. 1 or 2. Warminster, Pa.-based Vereinigung Erzgebirge and Harrisburg, Pa.-based Capital City Islanders also will join Oaklyn United in the third round after winning their qualifier matches on Saturday.