D.C. United's 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run came to an end after playing to a 1-1 draw and eventually falling in penalty kicks 4-2 to Orlando City SC Wednesday night at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Luciano Acosta scored the lone goal for United in regulation while the game stretched to the full 120 minutes through stormy conditions.
Acosta opened the scoring nine minutes into the match when Darren Mattocks secured inside position along the goal line and centered a pass to Acosta who one-timed the ball into the back of the net. It was Acosta’s second goal at the SoccerPlex, with his first coming in league play against the Houston Dynamo on March 17.
Orlando City scored a 16th-minute equalizer as Justin Meram directed a shot on goal while in a crowd of Black-and-Red defenders. Meram’s shot on goal was stopped initially by United goalkeeper Steve Clark before the ball trickled through his arms and beyond the goal line.
In the 33rd minute, Mattocks chased down a pass that was chipped in and made a move to avoid the goalkeeper in a one-on-one chance. While Mattocks’ shot found the back of the net, the tally was negated when the offsides flag went up.
Following the opening 45 minutes, United’s first chance to score in the second half came from the head of defender Frédéric Brilliant, who was playing up on a free kick.
United came close to jumping ahead in the final 12 minutes of play with three straight scoring chances from Acosta. The first, in the 78th minute, was a powerful strike off his right foot— after volleying the ball to himself— that flew just wide. He threatened again when Mattocks found Acosta once again at the top of the box, but this time his shot hit the left post. Another chance for the Black-and-Red midfielder was saved by Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. at the center of the net.
After playing to a tie in 90 minutes and stoppage time, the two teams entered extra time to determine a winner. Both teams’ chances in extra time were saved by the opposing goalkeeper just in front of the goal line. In the 9th minute of extra time, Chris Durkin received his second yellow card of the game meaning that the Black-and-Red would play down a man the remainder of the contest.
A game-saving stop from Clark in the 105th minute preserved the tie for United and the two sides eventually played the final 15 minutes of extra time before entering into penalty kicks to decide a winner.
During the penalty kicks, the Lions converted in the first three rounds while Yamil Asad’s attempt was saved and Acosta’s chip attempt ricocheted off the cross bar. Ian Harkes and Patrick Mullins conversions in the third and fourth, along with a save by Clark in the fourth round, extended the match to the top half of the fifth round. Ultimately, Josué Colemán’s attempt flew past Clark to secure Orlando City’s spot in the quarterfinal round.
With the Black-and-Red now eliminated from the Open Cup, the team will shift their focus to their next league match against the New England Revolution on June 30. United will return home to the District for their inaugural match at Audi Field on July 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
