Utah Stuns Portland in Open Cup Qualifying; Eight One-Goal Matches A-League/D3 Pro League Play Over Weekend

CHICAGO (Monday, May 5, 2001) - U.S. Open Cup Qualifying continued over the weekend among the inter-league groups from the USL's A-League and D3 Pro League with 16 matches, eight of which were decided by one goal. In A-League action, the Connecticut Wolves battled the 1999 U.S. Open Cup

CHICAGO (Monday, May 5, 2001) - The weekend was not too kind to the D3 Pro League teams playing A-League sides in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification matches, however, Utah shocked A-League expansion Portland with an amazing come-from-behind victory on Saturday. With under a minute left to play and the Timbers leading 1-0, the Blitzz scored to tie and send the game to overtime. Late in the overtime session, Will Cummins tallied for Utah, completing the dramatic turn-around.

In other action, the Connecticut Wolves battled the 1999 U.S. Open Cup Champions Rochester Raging Rhinos to a 1-1 tie after regulation and sudden death overtime on Saturday, while in another match the Atlanta Silverbacks defeated the Nashville Metros 2-1. Also on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds topped the D3 Pro Reading Rage 2-1 in overtime, while in another A-League match-up the Minnesota Thunder blanked the Indiana Blast 4-0. On Sunday, the Blast suffered another defeat as they fell 3-1 to the Milwaukee Rampage of the A-League, while the undefeated El Paso Patriots shutout D3 Pro Arizona Sahuaros 3-0. Qualifying continues this week with 21 more matches across the nation.