The Villages SC pulled one of the big upsets of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round, but there are some possible issues with the eligibility of one of their players.
Forward Paulo Vaz started for The Villages in last night's win. However, Vaz previously played for Boca Raton FC.
Vaz featured in a Boca Raton Round Two Qualifying Match on November 22 against Uruguay Kendall FC.
15' great build up starting in the defense with Gabe Taboada who passes to Colby who finds a wide open Paulo Vaz who misses just wide.
— Boca Raton FC (@BocaRatonFC) November 22, 2015
100' Vaz passes the ball to a wide open Gabe who dribbles one and blasts on to the keeper who defended it. Still 1-1 #USOC2016
— Boca Raton FC (@BocaRatonFC) November 22, 2015
The official match report for that round shows Vaz in the starting lineup.
After leaving Boca Raton FC, Vaz signed with The Villages SC and came on as a 86th minute substitute in their First Round match last week against Kraze United. He then started against the Charleston Battery on Wednesday night.
This could be a huge problem for The Villages after what happened in the First Round with the Ventura County Fusion.
As reported by Josh Hakala at TheCup.us, Ventura County played a player who was deemed to be ineligible for participating with another club in the Qualifying Round. The Los Angeles Wolves protested the match, their protest was upheld by the U.S. Open Cup Committee, and Ventura County was forced to forfeit the match.
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Ventura County appealed the decision, on the grounds that US Soccer approves the rosters before each Round. Their appeal was eventually denied and the Wolves went on to to the Second Round (and an upset win over the Orange County Blues last night).
Both the Charleston Battery and The Villages SC declined to comment on the matter.