It's official! D.C. United will host North Carolina FC in the fourth round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup at the Maryland SoccerPlex, with the match date and kickoff time to be confirmed.
North Carolina, ranked 15 in the USL with a 2-4-2 record, beat PDL side Ocean City Nor’easters 4-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park on Tuesday night to secure their spot in the Open Cup's fourth round—the stage of the competition where all Major League Soccer teams enter the field. This will be the first time the Black-and-Red take on North Carolina. While United are pursuing their fourth Open Cup championship, North Carolina will be looking to take home their first-ever Cup. The Black-and-Red's last Open Cup title came in 2013 with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium.
With United selected as the host side in the Open Cup's draw, the D.C.-North Carolina matchup will take place at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland, where United held their first Home Away from Home match this year. They drew the Houston Dynamo 2-2 on March 17 at the Plex, with Luciano Acosta scoring the latest goal in club history in the 97th minute to level the score.
United also hosted the fourth round of the Open Cup last year at the SoccerPlex with a 4-1 victory over amateur side Christos FC. Stay tuned to dcunited.com for match date, kickoff time, and ticketing details.
