At the same time over at the Chicago Academy Field, AAC Eagles grabbed their fourth Open Cup berth in the pro era with a 2-1 victory over the Des Moines Menace Reserves.

The results also set up an all-Illinois Region II final, with a spot in August’s USASA National Finals in Seattle on the line. That match -- a rematch of this spring’s Illinois State Cup final won by RWB Adria 4-1 -- likely will be played in the Chicago area rather than at the regional championships in Kentucky, according to RWB Adria coach Minos Vlamakis.

RWB Adria opened up an early lead on the Princeton-56ers, the two-time defending National Premier Soccer League Midwest Region champions, and got a shutout from goalkeeper Adnan Gazibara to collect its third Open Cup appearance.

Husidic latched onto a through ball from Awad Morad, then broke in alone and scored in the 27th minute. The advantage doubled just before halftime, with Mesanovic converting a penalty kick after Elmedin Zukic was adjudged to have been fouled on the right side of the box.

"I’m very happy, and thankfully, knock on wood so far, we’ll have a much better team in the actual Lamar Hunt game than we did last year," said Vlamakis, whose team dropped a 4-1 decision to the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division in the first round of the Open Cup last year. "Last year, I had an older group, but I’ve been focusing more on the younger guys this time around and it’s been paying off so far."

Both Chicago clubs will be looking for their first Open Cup victory in the pro era in the first round -- AAC Eagles won the 1990 U.S. Open Cup before the pro era.