Former MLS stars join amateur Des Moines Menace for U.S. Open Cup

Des Moines Menace — an amateur team competing in USL League Two — has captured attention by recruiting several former Major League Soccer (MLS) stars for the U.S. Open Cup tournament.

Sacha Kljestan — who now works as an MLS analyst for Apple TV — led the team by scoring two penalty goals in their 2-1 victory against Sporting Kansas City reserves in the first round.

The team features eight former professionals with MLS experience, including former All-Stars like Matt Hedges, Ozzie Alonso, Benny Feilhaber, Dax McCarty, and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

“We get one more chance to play a real game with some stakes on the line,” said Kljestan. “We are not paid at all.”

Coach Charlie Latshaw III faces unique challenges — players come from 15 different states and could only hold two full training sessions before their first match.

• Leroy Enzugusi – former Nashville SC draft pick
• Enzo Carvalho – recently graduated goalkeeper
• Yoshi Okawa – promising young talent
• Kyle Owen – regular team prospect
• Cade Hagan – local talent

Des Moines Menace will face Union Omaha in the second round — a match expected to draw 3,000 to 5,000 spectators. The winning team has a chance to compete for a $50,000 prize awarded to the lower-division team that advances furthest in the tournament.