Thank you very much for reading these US Open Cup stories from the past as the New York Red Bulls once again will face Sporting Kansas City for the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday, September 20th.
The next story is about the man who is the manager of the USL Red Bulls in Metro/RBNY legend John Wolyniec. As most of you already know, this man has scored many goals for this club being in the right place in the right time.
Everytime I have discussed John Wolyniec in the past, the Staten Island Native has always found ways to get that big equalizer or that big game winning goal to put the club ahead and earn any form of points.
But this time around he was the one that got the Metro into their first US Open Cup final and of course their first US Cup final of any kind in the 2003 season. Bob Bradley was the head coach of the club as he wanted his club to perform at the highest level.
After defeating the New England Revolution in the Quarterfinals in Golden Goal extra time, DC United were the next opponents at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University and Clint Mathis had to serve a suspension.
Wolyniec would get the nod to start that match. “I had some good feelings playing at Rutgers with some good crowds there, the Quarterfinals was an exciting game.” said Wolyniec, “A great performance by the club and we felt we were a good team, DC was also a good challenge and I remember being ready to play that one.”
The MetroStars led two goals to one at half time and that meant either try to add a third to put some distance against your opponents, or try to hold on to that one goal lead, sadly Ronald Cerritos decided to level the match at two in the 76th minute.
There was Amado Guevara who wanted to get that third, but as the clock kept ticking inside second half of regulation time, questions were about to be asked if this match was going into Golden Goal extra time like the Quarters were against the Revolution.
With two minutes left in regulation time here are the thoughts of John Wolyniec as he ripped the rebound home and defeated their biggest rivals. “It’s been so long since we played that match but I do remember scoring that goal. I do remember the feelings that I had and I do remember a bit what happened.
I think the ball popped loose from Ricardo [Clark] and I knew he shot well from distance and the deflection came to my feet and just as usual just get it on frame and I don’t remember hitting the net but I do remember the celebration afterwards. Certainly one of the most exciting moments in my career as a member of the MetroStars.”
That was the moment back in that day where when you thought as a supporter this was going to be the greatest day in the clubs history as they finally got to a cup final in US Soccer.
You saw your side knock off their biggest rival in an important cup competition in the US Open Cup as the winning goal sent the MetroStars to the final and host the Chicago Fire at Giants Stadium.
As we all know John Wolyniec is in his third full season as the head coach of the USL side Red Bulls 2, he has already earned to championships last season winning the USL Shield and the USL cup that were both won at Red Bull Arena.
But the best thing about Wolyniec as a player was that no matter where he was on the field either as a starter or a substitute, he was always in the right place at the right time. The late winning goal put the club into a special place.