Naples United FC Bow Out of 2025 U.S. Open Cup in Loss to Pro Side Miami FC

By Kartik Krishnaiyer/NPSL.com

Two late first-half goals from Francisco Bonfiglio paced a 4-1 Miami FC victory over a spirited Naples United FC club in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup First Round at FIU Soccer Stadium.  

Jorge Moreno scored Naples historic first-ever U.S. Open Cup goal in the 83rd minute, capping a good spell of possession for Naples.  This was Naples United FC’s first-ever Open Cup match. The club had previously qualified for the competition in 2020 but that year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Over 50 fans and supporters of Naples United FC traveled to Miami to be part of this historical moment for the club.

The matchup

Naples United FC finished atop of the table in the NPSL Gulf Coast Sunshine Conference a year ago which gave the club automatic qualification to this season’s U.S. Open Cup. Naples’ opponent, Miami FC of the USL Championship, entered the match having lost ten successive competitive matches going back to last September in USL Championship play.  Because of this long losing streak, Miami FC played a first choice side, similar to what they field in league competition. 

A rivalry renewed

This matchup was the renewal of a rivalry.  Naples United FC and Miami FC have played multiple competitive matches in the past.  The two were NPSL Sunshine Conference rivals in 2018 and 2019 – in both seasons Miami FC won the NPSL National Championship but Naples United FC were a side that pushed them to the limit in every match they played.  The two sides also contested highly entertaining preseason friendlies in 2021 and 2022. 

First half

Early on in the match, Naples United FC created multiple scoring chances.  The best opportunity came courtesy of Lauturo Furione in the 27th minute.  Furione got a hold of a loose ball off a set piece in the area and just missed wide.  Minutes earlier, Miami goalkeeper and NPSL alum Bill Hamid had made a save on an opportunity from Pablo Marisi. 

Given Miami FC’s apparent urgency to snap its long losing run, Naples’ performance in the first 35 minutes was particularly impressive.  But oftentimes when an amateur side faces a professional club, fitness issues and the fact that the USL Championship season has already begun while NPSL is still a month away from kicking off, makes all the difference. 

Naples’ possession play was fluid early on, and the side remained well-organized and disciplined in their challenges.  Miami FC’s chances were far and few between until about the 35th minute, when the match began to decisively swing in the home team’s favor. 

Naples United’s midfield was able to control the tempo of play throughout much of the first half. While Miami controlled possession for much of the half, Naples was able to spring multiple counter-attacking opportunities.  Particularly influential in midfield were Diego Luengo and Rafel Calderon. 

Second half

The second half started relatively well for Naples United FC with Mario Martinez and Luengo controlling the pace in midfield and helping to keep the midfield shape.  Miami FC decisively took control of the match in the 66th minute when Allen Gavalinas scored Miami’s third goal. 

After a fourth Miami goal a few minutes later, Naples reasserted themselves, controlling possession for much of the last 15 minutes of the match.  In this spell came Moreno’s goal, a historic first for Naples United FC.  

Photo Credit: Kartik Krishnaiyer/NPSL.com