New York Pancyprian-Freedoms win National Amateur Cup

One of New York City’s most storied clubs are back atop the soccer landscape: The New York Pancyprian-Freedoms can now add National Amateur Cup champions to their resume after winning the century-old title on Saturday in Illinois. The team from Astoria beat FC Milwaukee Torrent, 6-0, in the final on the campus of Northern Illinois University.

As champions, the Pancyprian-Freedoms also became the first team to officially qualify for the 2025 Open Cup. This is the team’s eighth qualification since 1995, including a date with the 2020 tournament that was canceled by COVID.

Three-time US Open Cup champions

The tournament, run by the US Adult Soccer Association (USASA), crowns a national champion every year between the champions of four separate regions around the country. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the tournament whose history includes NYC champions such as Brooklyn DSC Germans (1936), German-Hungarian SC (1951), and the New York Greek Americans (2014).

Much like those teams of the past, the Pancyprian-Freedoms are a club defined by ethnic heritage. Founded in 1974 by Hellenic expats from the country of Cyprus in response to Turkey's invasion and occupation of the country, which continues to this day, the Pancyprians use soccer as a tool to unite people of their own culture in the city.

That has also come with plenty of success as a soccer program as well. The team are a three-time US Open Cup champion, winning titles in 1980, 1982, and 1983. For reference, that is the same number of US Open Cup titles as Major League Soccer’s DC United — only eight other teams in the country have more. In addition, the Pancyprian-Freedoms are nine-time champions of the historic NYC Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

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Pancyprian-Freedoms 6 - 0 Milwaukee Torrent

New York reached the national stage by winning the USASA Region I Amateur Cup. The northeast gauntlet included wins against Hoboken FC 1912, Newtown Pride FC, Providence City FC, and an eventual regional title win against Maryland juggernauts Christos FC.

After a dominating performance in the national semifinals over Tobacco Road FC of North Carolina, 5-1, the Freedoms had little issue against FC Milwaukee Torrent in the final.

Former Siena College forward Junior Rosero scored in the 7th minute, getting a pass from former New York Red Bulls II player Jordon Bailon in the box. Rosero got around Milwaukee’s diving keeper and punched in the eventual game-winning goal. Former Northeastern University forward Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo scored a brace within five minutes with goals in the 9th and 14th to make it 3-0.

The next goal came from former MLS SuperDraft pick and Houston Dynamo forward Joe Holland. Coming in from the left side, Restrepo sent a pass to Holland at the top of the box. The 31-year-old looked to pass to Junior Rosero on the right side, but instead sent a shot between the goalkeeper and left post to make it 4-0 in the 24th.

As a side note, Holland also plays for FC Motown, which was busy winning a national semifinal at home on Saturday. It's likely Holland will be back with Motown this coming weekend, which means he has a chance to win a second national title in two weeks when they play for the National Premier Soccer League national championship.

Back in Illinois, Rosero got his brace in the 43rd minute when the striker collected a clearance attempt in the box and sent a right-footed slice into the net. Rafael Bustamante ended the night’s scoring with a goal from a free kick in the 50th minute.

The Pancyprian-Freedoms went on a scoring binge in the tournament. Four New York players ended the National Amateur Cup tied for the Golden Boot with two others. Joe Holland, Junior Rosero Sebastian Ruiz Restrepo, and James Thristino all scored five goals during their team’s six-game run to a national championship.