Failure to finish chances dooms Oaklyn United in Open Cup win-and-in loss

If you put together a highlight reel with the end of Oaklyn United’s best attacking moments cut off in their U.S. Open Cup qualifier against SC Vistula Garfield on Sunday night at Rowan University you would probably think they won the game by multiple goals.

But instead of a convincing win, Oaklyn United was left shaking their heads wondering what could’ve been as SC Vistula celebrated with the “qualified” banner on the other side of the field.

Aldo Munoz was a big reason for the visitors’ celebration as the goalkeeper was there to deny the hosts multiple times on the doorstep of a breakthrough, which finally came in second half stoppage time on a Jade Mesias penalty kick. One last chance fell before the full time whistle blew on a shot in the box by Jason Mancuso that went agonizingly just wide of the far post.

“I think we were the better team through 90 minutes but just couldn’t finish it,” said Oaklyn United player-coach Matt Perella, who had a save in the first half but wasn’t really tested in goal after halftime. “We haven’t expected to consistently win in a while, and the fact that we expected to win and we’re disappointed by it is a good thing as a club.”

SC Vistula, a New Jersey club that dates back to 1952, qualified for the U.S. Open Cup proper for the first time in the modern era thanks to a first half brace from Emiland Elezaj, who was part of a successful qualifying campaign with NJ Alliance FC a year ago. Elezaj opened the scoring after drawing a penalty with a panenka and then curled in a shot in the box minutes later to make it 2-0. 

Oaklyn United made club history with their first ever win in Open Cup qualifying over Scots-American AC on October 12 after getting a first round bye and followed it up with a 3-1 win over Vereinigung Erzgebirge to get to the win-and-in fourth round.

With qualifying over, they’ll return to league play in the APSL next Friday against Jersey Shore Boca in Hammonton. They have work to do to get back into playoff contention after losing four out of their first six games but are on a two-game win streak.