In a match where emotions ran high, the 2020 Finals of the quadrennial USA Cup saw team Blue defeat team Red 6-4. The contest was marred by a standard of soccer officiating never before witnessed on the pitch. It was also marred by a degree of foul play by Blue team players which, in civil society, would satisfy the legal definition of assault.
The lose was all the more surprising seeing that going into the match team Red, led by their brazen coach Ronald Drum, had been on a winning streak for most of the season. Despite being beleaguered by an unfair press and unfair playing conditions, Drum's Red team had persevered and achieved many season goals. Drum's dedication to supporting USA soccer earned him the loyalty and devotion of Red fans across the United States.
On the other hand, team Blue's road to the final was wrought with abnormalities. They started off struggling by losing their first 4 in a row. Then, suddenly and miraculously the team went on a winning streak and surged to the head of the standings. However, just before team Blue was scheduled to face tougher opponents, the season was mysteriously called by league officials. The fortunate circumstances of the abbreviated season and team Blue's position in the standings led many experts to believe that team Blue's final appearance was preordained.
Preparations leading up to the final match couldn't have been more disparate. Seasoned experts expected the contest to be decided based on a few key positions: center-back, right-midfielder and left-wing striker. Knowing this, team Red's regular practice sessions concentrated heavily on play over these positions. In practice sessions under the leadership of coach Drum, team Red exuded determination and gusto. This enthusiasm extended to the Red team's fan base. Loyal to the cause, Red fans showed their support by getting involved in promoting their team. Consequently, as the Cup Finals drew near the number of Red fans increased. With solid leadership, a thorough preparation and a solid fan base, team Red looked poised for a comfortable victory.
In contrast, team Blue's preparation looked sketchy. The lack of training sessions and overall absence of team Blue's coach, Stu Billings, left experts wondering if the USA Cup Finals would end in a lopsided affair. Many insiders wondered if coach Billings was up to the task of leading the team. They openly conjectured about his reliance on the assistant coach. There was doubt as to whether coach Billings was really in charge. Some claimed there was an unnamed mastermind behind the scenes who was pulling the strings. The major consolation on Blue's side was the unwavering support of the media, heavily vested sponsors, league functionaries, rules committee members and the union of league officials. Despite a mediocre season performance and a scraggy pre-match preparation many Blue team players openly predicted victory.
In what now seems to have been a premeditated move, a week before the match team Blue lobbied the rules committee to change the rules to allow center-backs and left-wingers to use their hands. The Red team protested vigorously. But the rules committee, who was openly partisan to the Blue side, did as expected, and upheld the rule changes. As later surfaced, team Blue had been secretly counting on these new rules as part of their game plan. Special plays had been designed where Blue center-backs and left-wingers made widespread use of their hands.
In the first half team Red got off to a fast start when in the 5th minute striker Canton McArthur made it 1-0 by directing a centered ball into the back of the net. Then in the 21st minute the Reds extended their lead to 2-0 when middle-back Thomas Wheeling crossed into the box and beat the Blue keeper with a laser shot into the top right corner. Blue got on the board in the 37th minute when midfielder Troy Maspeth curled in a free kick from 30 yards. In the 44th minute Red opened up a commanding 3-1 lead when Perry Naples headed a flanked ball in behind an out of position defense. Red's first-half dominance was seen as evidence of their good form. The paltry performance of team Blue made sense given their short season and lacking preparation.
The strangeness started in the second half. Two minutes in, Blue strikers Cary Clayton and Floyd Stafford positioned themselves on either side of the box in front of the Red goalie, an off sides position. After receiving a long pass from a Blue defender, Clayton passed to Stafford, got it back, and shot into the Red goal. Although the Blue strikers were clearly off-sides, the line referees didn't raise their flags. The Red coach and fans protested. The head referee, however, said he didn't want to get involved with line calls and wouldn't re-consider the call of the line referees. Red 3 - Blue 2.
In the 50th minute, the well guarded Blue left-wing striker Kenosha dribbled up the left side to within 20 feet of the Red goal. Then, he picked up the ball with both hands, pushed his way through the Red defenders and threw the ball into the goal. After none of the officials indicated a penalty the Red side erupted in protest. Amazingly, the referees remained mute. Red 3 - Blue 3. Team Blue realizing that it was onto something scored their next “goal” two minutes later in exactly the same way. This time, though, it was right-wing striker Ajo Mesa who threw the ball into the goal. Although there was more protest from side Red, the referees, as before, met protest with silence. Red 3 – Blue 4.
Showing its mettle, the Red squad fought back in the 79th minute, when Eden McCamey, on a largely individual effort, dribbled past 2 Blue defenders and banked one off the left goal post. Red 4 – Blue 4. The strangeness continued in the 85st minute when the referee awarded a penalty shot to the Blues for no apparent reason. Red coach, players and fans were angered and confused. Blue midfielder Jefferson Darby converted. Red 4 – Blue 5. As if that wasn't enough, the scene repeated itself in the 87th minute, when the referee awarded another penalty shot to the Blue team. As before, no reason was given. Red's anger and frustration passed over to despair as Blue defender Griffin McRae capitalized. Red 4 – Blue 6. In spite of what was happening on the pitch, Red players played by the rules and Red fans restrained themselves. Then, with 2 minutes left in the game, a small group of Red fans broke through security and ran out onto the field. Stadium security quickly regrouped, subdued the interlopers and after a few minutes delay, the match continued to its conclusion. Final score: Red 4 – Blue 6.
During the course of the match Blue team players committed more flagrant fouls than ever recorded in a USA Cup final. Blue's defense unfairly blocked Red players from entering the box. Blue players tackled from behind, held on breakaways and tripped Red players regardless if they had the ball or not. If that was not bad enough, there were several instances of Blue player head-butting and even one grotesque incident of biting. Yet not a single penalty card was given against the marauding Blue squad. A plethora of video evidence clearly demonstrated Blue's egregious play but, in the end, both game referees and rules committee members refused to look at even a single video replay. All in all, one of the ugliest games in USA Cup history.
The fans of the Blue team were no better than their players. Blue hooligans rioted in the stands. They set fires to stadium seats, threw home-made fire bombs at spectators and violently attacked concessionaires. They stampeded trampling fans and security personnel alike. During the entire match spectators and vendors were relentlessly subjected to their abuse and savagery. League functionaries, rules committee officials, and other dignitaries watched from the tribune. Law enforcement and stadium security did nothing to intervene.
The wrongdoings of the Blue fans have largely been ignored. In fact, despite significant human casualties and property damage estimated in the millions, league prosecutors have decided not pursue any legal action against the Blue hooligans. They are not facing the consequences of their actions. On the other hand, the same league functionaries, rules committee members and the union of league officials have called for the most stringent legal consequences for the small group of disrupting Red fans. The group has been condemned with the strongest rhetoric and demagoguery. Some league functionaries and game sponsors have even blamed Red team's coach, Ronald Drum, for the incident. Even Red fan talk radio broadcasters have joined in the chorus of condemnations.
At the awards ceremony, Blue team coach Stu Billings accepted the USA Cup Championship trophy without reservation. Apparently he sees himself and his team as rightful victors of the 2020 USA Cup. He even said that the ugliness during the match was water under the bridge and expressed a willingness that Red and Blue players and fans “unite going forward”.
As for Ronald Drum, he is now out as coach of the Red team. His contributions to USA soccer earned him love and respect from Red fans. His struggles have laid bare the corruption of the USA Cup. The question is: given the depravity of the USA Cup, will Red fans support it in the future?
