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U.S. Open Cup final coming to RFK after United defeat of Revolution

12 Aug, 2008

By Chris Hummer, Potomac Soccer Wire Editor

DC United was back in action Tuesday night, barely 48 hours after their embarrassing road loss to the New York Red Bulls in NJ Sunday night. The result was different tonight though, with United prevailing 3-1 to advance to their first U.S. Open Cup final since 1997.

United will now face the Charleston Battery on September 4rd at RFK Stadium after the USL-1 team downed fellow USL side Seattle Sounders in the other Semifinal match. Charleston's appearance in the final will be just the 3rd time a USL team has made it this far in the Open Cup since MLS came into existence in 1996.

This will be United's third appearance in the Open Cup final. Their previous two were in 1996, which they won against the Rochester Raging Rhinos of USL, and again in 1997, which they lost to then Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) in Penalties after a scoreless draw.

For the first time, the 95th edition of this famous tournament has a new incentive attached to winning the trophy; the winner earns an automatic berth into the 2009/10 edition of the newly formed CONCACAF Champions League. That tournament, modeled after the UEFA Champions League in Europe, is about to kick off for the first time in just over a month with 16 qualifying professional teams from all over North and Central American and the Caribbean.

Tonight's match started much the same as Sunday's in New Jersey with DC on the attack, and looking sharp. They got the first goal on the night as well, this time on an even prettier sequence than the one that ended in Jaime Moreno's MLS leading 120th career goal on Sunday.

In the 4th minute, Bryan Namoff worked a great one-two with Santino Quaranta down the right before hitting a perfect cross to the only player within 25 yards of the front of New England's goal. Normally crosses with only one player in the box don't end well, but when that player is Lucian Emilio, the result is often a positive one. The Brazilian did not disappoint most of the 6,797 in attendance, calmly redirecting the ball with a simple header past former United backup Doug Warren.

After the goal, United kept up the pressure for all of five minutes, then inexplicably began rushing things and turning the ball over in midfield. The turnovers often came off the foot of Quaranta, who was playing in central midfield for the still injured Marcelo Gallardo. It was his first start in several weeks after suffering from injury himself, but he was far from the only culprit. His hard work and desire where more than apparent as well, and would pay off soon enough.

Before things got better however, they got worse. In the 34th minute, New England happily obliged United's repeated invitations to keep them in the game, when Joe Germanese converted from close range after a scramble on the right side of the box to pull the match even at 1-1, bringing back memories of Sunday once more.

The bad news nearly turned to disaster in the 38th minute but Namoff once again delivered good things with a goal-saving tackle in the left side of the box. It would be the last real chance of the game for the Revolution however, as the Black and Red were able to get into half time and regroup.

The 2nd half started much like the first, with a sharp United team looking to score early. Their efforts were rewarded almost immediately when Quaranta made a perfect surging run out of midfield that was iced with a even more perfect chip over New England's defense from Moreno. As Warren charged, Quaranta found his composure and expertly side-footed the ball over the keeper and into the empty net from 18 yards.

The goal seemed to simultaneously release pressure from both Quaranta and the United team, and there was no looking back. New England rarely threatened again, while United continued to press, missing several chances to put the game away. Then disaster struck the MLS league leaders when Wells Thomson received his 2nd caution in the 71st minute and was shown the door.

With just three field player subs on the bench for New England it was only a matter of time before D.C. put the game away for good. Once again Emilio did the honors, slotting home a left footed strike in the 81st minute, after deftly preparing his finish with a first touch in traffic from a sharp ground service from Ivan Guerrero.

Before their date with Charleston however on September third, United will try to find their winning ways again in MLS play. They hit the road for two tough games against Chicago and New England. Then they're back at RFK on August 23rd and 30th against Colorado and New York respectively. Tickets for the Open Cup Final go on sale Thursday.

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