West Chester United advances to National Amateur Cup final

West Chester United will play for the National Amateur Cup tonight after defeating Florida club Kickers FC on Friday night in extra time in Wisconsin.

West Chester took the lead in the first half, capitalizing on a sustained period of possession with a goal off a set piece in the 35th minute. Matt Greer sent the free kick into the box and Chas Wilson was able to head it home.

Wilson and Andreas Bartosinski both had opportunities to extend the lead but both were denied to keep the lead 1-0 heading into halftime.

After the half, Kickers FC were able to regroup and put pressure on West Chester’s back line, ultimately earning a penalty kick they converted to level the score in the 55th minute.

The score held through regulation, forcing two 15-minute periods of extra time and as they did in the Region 1 final West Chester was able to come up with a goal to keep the game from going to penalties.

A strong run through the middle from Greer, a Philadelphia Union Academy grad, opened up the Kickers defense and set up an opportunity for second half substitute Jake Lister, who was able to fire home the go-ahead an eventual game-winning goal in the 96th minute.

The hosts, Bavarian SC, also needed extra time in the second semifinal to beat San Nicolas 2-1. Bavarian has won the competition four times, most recently three times in a row from 2001-2003 and will be in the final for the third straight year. They lost each of the last two years to teams from Region 1, falling to Landsdowne Bhoys FC in 2017 and Christos FC in 2016.

The last time a team from the Philadelphia area won the competition was when Philadelphia Inter won it for the second straight year in 1974.