Lansdowne Yonkers were crowned USASA Region I Champions after trouncing Los Toros FC 3-0 at the Ukrainian American Sports Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania last Saturday night.
A third minute goal by the prolific Danú Kinsella Bishop got the Bhoys off to a perfect start against a dangerous Toros side from Great Falls, Virginia, that would ultimately unravel and finish the final with eight men.
Seamus Keogh [54th pen.] and Miguel Espinosa [81st] bagged the other goals, while the livewire Nico Vidal starred with a hand in all three goals. He had two assists and won the spot kick from which Keogh converted.
“Huge win,” team manager William McGrory summed up. “[We’re] back in the last four for the first time since 2021. Comfortable win against a good team who have been winning consistently this last year.”
McGrory noted how Toros, from the United Premier Soccer League [UPSL] eliminated defending USASA titlists West Chester United SC from this season’s competition.
“We look forward to finals in Milwaukee and going for our third amateur cup,” he added.
In addition to Lansdowne, the 2026 USASA National Amateur Cup Finals at the Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 24 and 25, will feature the three other regionals champions.
The Bhoys, as Region I titlists, represent the Northeast U.S.; Chicago House AC will travel to Milwaukee as Region II [Midwest] kings, and the Tar Devils SC as champions of Region III (South). The Region IV (West) champions are yet to be determined.
The winners in Milwaukee will lift the Fitz Marth Amateur Cup and qualify automatically to 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
BULLFIGHTERS
Bishop went into the Region I final having scored in every USASA National Cup match this year and with 21 goals in 17 matches for Lansdowne since joining the club last November.
Goal number 22 came before anyone had broken a sweat. The fleet-footed Vidal broke on the left wing and crossed to the far post where the onrushing Bishop, a former League of Ireland standout, tapped the ball home.
With Lansdowne bossing the action, the final was effectively over as a contest in the 33rd minute when Liam Salmon was hacked from behind by Aaron Uribe on another break, earning the Toros defender a straight red card.
It went from bad to worse for the “Bulls” in the 54th minute. That’s when Vidal was fouled in the box, earning the Bhoys a penalty and Toros another red card. Keogh slammed the ball home.
Espinosa sealed it nine minutes from time after an elaborate build up by Lansdowne ended with Vidal teeing him up. He scored from close range.
USASA national champions in 2017 and 2021, Lansdowne had reached the Region I final finals after seeing off Leros 2-1 in the semis; Loco Gunners 3-0 in the quarterfinals, and South Coast Union 4-0.
Toros beat VE Soccer Club 4-2 in the semi-finals, hitherto USASA cup holders West Chester United 3-0 in the quarterfinals; and Ristozi FC 3-0 in the Round of 16.
