Iowa, known for its corn, caucuses, and basketball star Caitlyn Clark, is unexpectedly in the spotlight of American soccer. All eyes in the soccer world will be on Des Moines this Wednesday as Des Moines Menace faces Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup Second Round. Typically, a second-round Open Cup match wouldn`t garner much attention, but the Menace are making waves in U.S. soccer. This lower division club has assembled a remarkable roster of former American national team and Major League Soccer icons, bringing significant star power and raising hopes for a deep tournament run against higher-level teams.
“We are definitely the underdogs every time we play,” stated Benny Feilhaber, Des Moines Menace midfielder and former USMNT player. “With an average age over 35, we are undoubtedly the amateurs in this situation, even with our past professional careers. This isn`t our full-time job anymore. The pressure is on our opponents, but we are here to win and, importantly, to enjoy playing together again with former teammates in front of our families.”
Remember Some Guys FC
USL League Two teams usually compete between May and July, primarily using NCAA college players. This structure created a challenge for the Menace when they qualified for the U.S. Open Cup, necessitating a quick team assembly. Enter the veterans. Spearheaded by Sacha Kljestan, former U.S. international and current MLS broadcaster on Apple TV, the Menace have become a real-life version of a ‘Remember some guys FC.’ The team boasts players like Dax McCarty, A.J. DeLaGarza, Benny Feilhaber, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, offering a wealth of international and top-tier experience. However, most of the team members are between 35 and 40 years old, balancing their daily work lives with their participation in these Open Cup matches.
This situation perfectly illustrates the magic of the U.S. Open Cup, where diverse team compositions and unique backstories are common. While amateur players like Leroy Enzugusi, Kyle Owen, and Enzo Carvalho remain part of the squad, this will essentially be only the second game this particular group has played together.
“[The lack of preparation time between games] is a major challenge, perhaps even bigger than age and fitness,” Feilhaber explained. “Soccer is a team sport, and we lack training time together. Before our first game, we had a light session with about half the roster a few days prior, and the full team only came together the day before the match. This time, we’ll only get one training session… maybe just a tactical walkthrough on game day. As a former player and coach, I understand the immense value of team practice time. It’s our biggest hurdle, and we’re adapting as we go.”
The Menace can draw on their first-round victory against Sporting Kansas City II for insights into team setup for this match, which should help in achieving better balance. However, the lack of shared training remains a significant obstacle. Conversely, Union Omaha also faces uncertainty, as they have limited information to prepare their strategy against this unique Menace team.
“Planning for a team that doesn’t play together regularly is a bit tricky,” said Union Omaha head coach Dominic Casiato. “But our game plan always focuses on maximizing our own performance while understanding the opponent`s potential threats and weaknesses. Des Moines’ single game together isn’t much to analyze, and they’ll likely add more players for this match. Therefore, concentrating on our own peak performance is the best strategy we can employ.”
Union Omaha, a team that plays together weekly, has had more structured preparation and is entering the match with momentum from two recent wins.
Notable Des Moines Menace Players
| Name | Nationality |
|---|---|
| Bradley Wright Phillips | England |
| Sacha Kljestan | United States |
| Dax McCarty | United States |
| Osvaldo Alonso | Cuba |
| Benny Feilhaber | United States |
| Justin Meram | Iraq |
| Victor Ulloa | Mexico |
| Matt Hedges | United States |
| A.J. DeLaGarza | United States |
Omaha: A Rising USL Force
Union Omaha, with a strong Open Cup history including a past victory over a similar Menace team, are familiar with success in this competition. Their 2022 run saw them defeat two MLS teams. Under Casiato, they are building a sustainable and successful team, translating Open Cup experience into strong league performance. Union Omaha is determined to continue their winning trajectory. Their championship experience fuels their desire for more titles and demonstrates a proven winning formula for important matches.
“Winning a championship together, our third title in two seasons after consecutive regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024, gives the team confidence in their ability to succeed in big games,” Casiato noted. “Consistent success, year after year, despite player turnover, instills a strong belief in the team`s ability to win regardless of circumstances, competition, or opponent.”
This consistent success is why Nebraska soccer continues to thrive. While Omaha will be the away team on Wednesday, April 2nd, their recent victory will boost their confidence as they face the experienced Menace. There’s also a connection through Feilhaber’s preseason coaching experience against Casiato with SKC II, highlighting the interconnectedness of the soccer world.
Even with the evolving Open Cup landscape, this match offers Feilhaber a chance to play in front of his family, something rare during his professional career. Casiato will test his team against seasoned professionals in a knockout competition.
“It’s like our own version of March Madness, where each round brings a higher level of competition. We played an MLS Next Pro team, now a USL League One team, and potentially a USL Championship team, and then possibly an MLS team. It’s a dream progression, and we’ll go as far as we can,” Feilhaber concluded.
Both teams share this ambition for Wednesday`s match, but only one will advance to the third round.
