D.C. United get back on the pitch Tuesday, June 5 for their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round matchup agaisnt United Soccer League (USL) side North Carolina FC. The Black-and-Red return to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland, for the second time this season looking to feed off the energy of their local fans and begin the quest for their fourth Open Cup championship in club history.
Here's what to know about United’s enemy on Tuesday.
No stranger to Open Cup upsets
United have never faced North Carolina in any competition, but NCFC have made it clear that they are not an opponent to take lightly in the U.S. Open Cup. In 2007, they made it all the way to the competition's semifinal round before narrowly falling to the New York Red Bulls in penalty kicks. Under the leadership of current boss Colin Clarke, NCFC have made a number of runs into the quarterfinals, including a stretch in which they routinely knocked off MLS sides.
In 2012, North Carolina handed the LA Galaxy a 2-1 loss in the third round of the competition. In 2013 and 2014, the team upset both the Galaxy and then-MLS side Chivas USA to move to the quarterfinal round of the tournament. The upset-minded club has reached the fourth round in each of the last two seasons, so they will be motivated to compete for another quarterfinal appearance against the Black-and-Red on Tuesday.
Players to watch
Austin da Luz has remained a fixture in the NCFC midfield for several years since his arrival in 2012, but he also boasts some MLS experience, including a stint with D.C. United. The Winston-Salem native made 14 appearances for the Black-and-Red in 2011 after playing for the New York Red Bulls the year prior. Leading the squad with 425 passes this season, da Luz is in solid Cup form, as he scored and recorded an assist in NCFC’s third-round 4-1 victory over the Ocean City Nor’easters. No player has made more appearances for North Carolina than da Luz. A da Luz goal in 2013 also helped take down the LA Galaxy in NCFC’s 2-0 Open Cup upset.
The Black-and-Red will also need to keep an eye on Daniel Rios, who leads NCFC in goals (5) and shots (17). The 23-year-old forward has impressed in his first season in the USL with his five finishes ranking him third in the Eastern Conference for goals scored. Born in Mexico City, Rios is on loan from Liga MX side Chivas Guadalajara.
In the midfield, Kyle Bekker has been NCFC’s primary creator so far this season. The Canadian has combined well with his teammates, leading the squad in assists (3) and key passes (12). Like da Luz, Bekker also brings MLS experience to the club, with spells at Toronto FC, FC Dallas, and the Montreal Impact prior to joining North Carolina. The midfielder has one goal on 10 shots this season, and will look to make his presence felt on Tuesday by driving the NCFC attack.
The Boss
NCFC is led by head coach Colin Clarke, a northern Irishman with experience as both a player and manager. As a forward, Clarke played professionally for seven English clubs and is the second-leading goalscorer in Northern Ireland’s history at the international level.
After his 13-year playing career ended, Clarke transitioned to coaching, with his first gig coming as manager of the USL’s Richmond Kickers in 1998. He later led FC Dallas for three seasons, then gained the respect of Puerto Rico during an impressive stretch coaching the national team from 2008-2011. Clarke has been at the helm of NCFC since the 2012 season. Although his side currently sits 12th in the USL’s Eastern Conference standings, Clarke has shown a tendency to motivate his sides to make deep Open Cup runs.
United's matchup against NCFC provides another opportunity for Black-and-Red fans to cheer on the club in the DMV ahead of their inaugural match at Audi Field on July 14. Tickets are available for purchase here.
