Former LaSalle captain Johnny Ciarlante’s stoppage-time header gave Vereinigung Erzgebirge a 2-1 win over a depleted Philadelphia Lone Star FC side in the opening round of U.S. Open Cup qualifying Sunday afternoon at the VE club in Warminster, PA. With the win, VE advances to the second round of qualifying to be taken place the weekend of October 15-16.
“We lost to them in a few cups the past few years,” Ciarlante said after the win, “so it feels good. We’ve got some younger guys in here that are helping us a lot.” Lone Star defeated VE 2-1 in extra time during last year’s Open Cup third-round qualifying and crashed out the next round to Brockton FC United, just one step away from entering the Open Cup proper.