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August 12, 2008
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP
Semi final roundup
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Luciano Emilio scored twice for United in their 3-1 win over the New England Revolution Tuesday.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
D.C. UNITED 3, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Luciano Emilio and D.C. United made the best of their scoring opportunities to knock the New England Revolution out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 3-1 at R.F.K. Stadium Tuesday.
Emilio scored United’s first and third goals, sending the crowd of 6,797 into a frenzy both times, while ending New England’s hopes of defending their Open Cup crown.
Perhaps still reeling from Sunday's 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls, United went on the attack quickly and it paid off, just four minutes in. Bryan Namoff sent a looping pass into the penalty area, where an onrushing Emilio met it with a forceful header to give D.C. the 1-0 lead.
The Revolution equalized in the 34th minute. Adam Cristman made a run down the right side and sent a ball into the penalty area. Joe Germanese took a shot that was blocked, then poked in the rebound.
United again found the net quickly to open the second half. This time, Jaime Moreno short touched a ball in front of the Revs area to Santino Quaranta. Revs goalkeeper Doug Warren, getting his third straight Open Cup start, was slightly off his line, and the United midfielder chipped the ball over him.
United’s third goal, in the 81st minute, was a quick work of counterattacking. Ivan Guerrero made a slashing run into the penalty area and slipped the ball back to Emilio, who calmly put it under Warren.
CHARLESTON BATTERY 1, SEATTLE SOUNDERS 1 (4-3pks)
CHARLESTON, SC -- The Charleston Battery will travel to the nation's capital for its first-ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final after knocking off the Seattle Sounders in the tournament's semifinal at Blackbaud Stadium Tuesday.
An announced 3,798 fans saw the Battery advance after goalkeeper Dusty Hudock parried away the deciding kick in a penalty shootout. The game ended 1-1 after extra time, with the Battery edging fellow USL side Seattle 4-3 in the shootout.
The Sounders went ahead in the 20th minute on an own goal, when midfielder Josh Gardner sent a ball in from the left corner of the penalty box, which Battery defender John Wilson tried to defend by sticking out a foot. The shot deflected then past Hudock’s reach.
The Battery leveled it in the 33rd minute, when Charleston's Darren Spicer glanced a powerful header toward goal. Seattle 'keeper Chris Eylander could only parry the ball onto the feet of the onrunning Randi Patterson inside the six-yard box for an easy goal.
In the shootout, Stephen Armstrong and Osvaldo Alonso scored for the Battery, as did Taylor Graham for the Sounders. But when Hudock turned away Sebastien LeToux's effort, the advantage was with the Battery.
Eylander was up to the task and kept his side level with a save off Marco Reda. The Battery's Tim Velton and Nelson Akwari then sunk their efforts, and when Ciaran O'Brien found net with his penalty, it was down to Hudock to win the game with a save.
Seattle's Forrest Kevin sent his drive to the left. Hudock picked his spot correctly, sending Charleston to the US Open Cup final for the first time in its history. Charleston will play DC United at RFK stadium on September 3 on Fox Soccer Channel.
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