Nick DeLeon #18 of D.C. United
The U.S. Open Cup, with a record-high participation of 68 clubs this season, has heated up after Major League Soccer clubs jumped right in to the third round of the tournament.
D.C. United faced their USL PRO affiliate team from Virginia, the Richmond Kickers at City stadium. After 120 goalless minutes, the match headed to penalty kicks. Joe Willis made the first two saves on soft tries from Sascha Gorres and Joseph Ngwenya. While, De Rosario, Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon and James Riley scored all their chances with powerful high kicks, knocking the Kickers out of the Cup and crushing the affiliate team’s dream of repeating their 2011 success, when they advanced to the quarterfinals.
DC United started the match trying to score through set pieces, but the Kickers back- line was well-organized and cleared all the attempts from the capital club. The hosts had their first shot in the 18th minute, Yeisley giving goalie Willis his first time to shine in the game. Then Colombia international Lionard Pajoy handled the ball for United, which provided the hosts a free kick that missed the target.
In the second-half, United picked up the tempo as Chris Pontious entered in the 58th minute to occupy the left-wing replacing Brazilian Raphael Augusto. The substitution gave more energy to the Black-and-Red, who won plenty of corners but did not capitalize from any of them.
The match ended in a scoreless draw as neither club produced too many chances throughout the first 90 minutes, with a total of nine shots on goal between them.
During overtime, fatigue reached both sides of the pitch making it easier for the back lines to clear out any attempts. United’s reckless attitude saw the side awarded with two red cards.
Referee Eric Weisbrod ejected Chris Korb in the 113th minute after showing him a second yellow card as the defender stopped a Kickers counter-attack. And in the 117th minute, it was time for Carlos Ruiz, who entered in the 80th minute of the second-half, to receive a straight red card after a late challenge.
Now the Black-and-Red will host the Philadelphia Union at Maryland Soccerplex on June 12th in the fourth round. Before they meet, United will be on the road for two MLS matches. First versus the Chicago Fire this Saturday and then the New England Revolution in two weeks. United have managed one win, nine loses and four draws in 12 league games, which puts them in last place on the Eastern Conference does not help to boost their low stamina after tonight.
Coach Ben Olsen will need to come up with a new line-up to replace Korkb and Ruiz for the Cup fourth round in case United want to repeat their 2008 triumph.
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