La Máquina is an American amateur football club, based out of the Santa Ana, California area, in central Orange County, competing in the United Premier Soccer League. The club takes its name and identity from Cruz Azul of Liga MX, and was formed as a branch of the Irvine Premier Soccer Club's FC Golden State, for competing in the UPSL.[1]
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| Nickname(s) | La Máquina | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | |
| Ground | Santa Ana Valley H.S. (UPSL) Lake Forest Sports Park (UPSL) Mater Dei (Training) Westminster High School (Open Cup) | |
| League | United Premier Soccer League | |
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U.S. Open Cup record
edit2016
editLa Máquina entered the 2016 U.S. Open Cup, in the first round against the Portland Timbers U-23 of the Premier Development League, and advanced to the second round by defeating the Timbers by a score of 2–0.[2] La Máquina qualified to the First Round of the 2016 U.S. Open Cup by defeating 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Chula Vista FC by a score of 4–0.[3]
La Máquina defeated the Sacramento Gold of the National Premier Soccer League by a score of 2–0 in the second round of the Open Cup on May 18, 2016 at Westminster High School in Westminster, California and advanced to face fellow UPSL side LA Wolves FC in a historic face off putting two new clubs and leagues in the third round. This was the first Open Cup for both teams.
On June 1, 2016, La Máquina defeated L.A. Wolves in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup and advanced to the following round to face the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on June 14, 2016.
La Máquina faced the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA and fell in extra time by a score of 4–1 on June 14, 2016, after a controversial goal was allowed by the referee in favor of the Galaxy.[4] The match commentators said that the final score was not reflective of how the match played out, given that La Máquina held the Galaxy to a 1–1 tie for 90 minutes. Although there were questionable calls in the match, La Máquina had a man advantage for about 70 minutes of regulation time, after Galaxy midfielder Rafael García was ejected from the game upon receiving a straight red card on a foul to La Máquina's midfielder Ramiro Zurdo Díaz. La Máquina were incapable of closing the game in regulation time.
| May 11, 2016 2016 First Round | Portland Timbers U23 (PDL) | 0–2 | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | Portland, Oregon |
| 7:00 pmPDT | USSF Report PTU23 Report |
Diaz Borboa |
Stadium: Providence Park |
| May 18, 2016 2016 Second Round | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | 2–0 | Sacramento Gold (NPSL) | Westminster, California |
| 7:00 pmPDT | Borboa Pérez |
Report | Stadium: Boswell Field at Westminster High School |
| June 1, 2016 2016 Third Round | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | 2–0 | LA Wolves FC (UPSL) | Westminster, California |
| 7:00 pmPDT | Borboa Borboa |
Report | Stadium: Boswell Field at Westminster High School |
| June 14, 2016 2016 Fourth Round | LA Galaxy (MLS) | 4–1 (a.e.t.) | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | Carson, California |
| 7:00 pmPDT | José Villareal Dave Romney Sebastian Lletget Sebastian Lletget |
[1] | Edwin Borboa |
Stadium: StubHub Center Referee: Ramón Hernández |
2016 Qualifying
editLa Máquina qualified to their first U.S. Open Cup in two qualifying rounds. There were to be three elimination rounds, but the U.S. Soccer Federation used its discretion to qualify the winners of the second qualifying rounds, due to the restructuring of the tournament that took place that year.
| 2016 First Qualifying Round | Strikers FC South Coast | 2–3 | La Máquina FC | Lake Forest, California |
| 2 | 3 | Stadium: Lake Forest Sports Park |
| 2016 Second Qualifying Round | Chula Vista FC | 0–4 | La Máquina FC | Chula Vista, California |
| 0 | 4 |
2017
editLa Máquina qualified to their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup, in two qualifying rounds, by defeating Orange County FC and Santa Ana Winds FC in late 2016. However, the club would not match the deep run they made the year prior, after being eliminated in the first round by Fresno Fuego of the Premier Development League.
| May 10, 2017 2017 First Round | Fresno Fuego (PDL) | 4–1 | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | Fresno, California |
| 4 | 1 | Stadium: Chukchansi Park |
2017 Qualifying
edit| 2017 First Qualifying Round | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | 3–0 | Orange County FC (So Cal Premier) | Jurupa, California |
| 3 | 0 | Stadium: Rancho Jurupa Regional Sports Park |
| 2017 Second Qualifying Round | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | 3–0 | Santa Ana Winds FC (UPSL) | Irvine, California |
| 3 | 0 | Stadium: Orange County Great Park |
2018
editLa Máquina qualified to their third consecutive U.S. Open Cup on November 19, 2017 by defeating Chula Vista FC of the So Cal Premier League by a score of 4–1. La Máquina defeated fellow UPSL club Bell Gardens FC in the first round and Las Vegas Mobsters in the second round by forfeit.
2018 Qualifying
edit| 2018 First Qualifying Round | Bell Gardens FC (UPSL) | 0–5 | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | Bell Gardens, California |
| 0 | 5 | Stadium: John Anson Ford Park |
| 2018 Second Qualifying Round | La Máquina FC (UPSL) | 1–0 (forfeit) | Las Vegas Mobsters (UPSL) | Santa Ana, California |
| 1 | 0 | Stadium: Santa Ana Valley Falcons Stadium |
| 2018 Third Qualifying Round | Chula Vista FC (So Cal Premier) | 1–4 | La Máquina (UPSL) | Chula Vista, California |
| 1 | 4 | Stadium: Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center |
Year by year
editLa Máquina was suspended from Spring 2016 UPSL play for being involved in a brawl with fellow league club San Nicolas FC in 2015, however, La Máquina returned to the UPSL after serving a six-game suspension.[5]
| Year | Division | League | Spring Season | Fall Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | UPSL | Combined | Champions | ||
| 2015 | 4 | UPSL (Southeast Conference) | Combined - 2nd (8-0-2) | Runner Up | ||
| 2016 | 4 | UPSL (Southeast Conference) | Suspended | 3rd (10-3-1) | Fourth round | |
| 2017 | 4 | UPSL (Western Conference) | 2nd Pro Premier-SoCal North (10-1-0) | 4th Pro Premier-SoCal North (8-3-2) | Spring: DNQ
Fall: Western Pro Premier Final |
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| 2018 | 4 | UPSL (Western Conference) | 4th Pro Premier-SoCal North (8-3-2) | Hiatus | Spring: Quarterfinals | |
| 2019 | ||||||
Squad
editThe following players formed La Máquina's 2016 U.S. Open Cup squad:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of June 7, 2016.[6]
References
edit- ^ "La Máquina (FC Golden State Orange County)". irvinepremiersoccer.com. Irvine Premier Soccer Club. 2016. Archived from the original on 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
- ^ "La Máquina at Portland Timbers". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. 2016.
- ^ "2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Former Chivas player helps La Máquina eliminate 2015 Chula Vista FC, 4–0 (video)". thecup.us. The Cup.US. 2016.
- ^ lagalaxy. "Match Report: LA Galaxy open U.S. Open Cup campaign with 4-1 extra time win over La Máquina | LA Galaxy". lagalaxy. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ^ "UPSL: La Máquina & San Nicolás Suspended". goalnation.com. Goal Nation. 2015.
- ^ "La Máquina – 2016 U.S. Open Cup Squad". twitter.com/LaMaquinaUPSL. Retrieved 8 June 2016.