BOYDS, Md. – The New England Revolution’s 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run came to an end on Wednesday night following a 3-1 loss to D.C. United in a quarterfinal-round match at Maryland SoccerPlex.
Chris Pontius led the way with one goal and one assist for United, which will now visit the Chicago Fire in the Open Cup semifinals on August 7. The Revs – who twice hit the post through Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo – made their deepest run in the competition since reaching the semifinals in 2008, when they were also eliminated by D.C. United.
Pontius gave United a halftime lead and assisted on Dwayne De Rosario’s game-winning goal in the 69th minute, shortly after Juan Toja had leveled things for the Revolution. Lionard Pajoy converted a late penalty kick for United to seal the home side’s spot in the semifinals.
Fagundez – making his first Open Cup appearance of 2013 – came inches from putting the Revolution in front after 15 minutes. After bursting down the left side and cutting inside onto his right foot, Fagundez curled a shot through a maze of players but saw his effort hit the face of the far post.
Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis was called upon to make four stops in the opening half-hour, including a sprawling save low to his left on Nick DeLeon’s bouncing drive in the 29th minute. Ten minutes later Pontius broke through down the right channel, but his shot with the outside of his foot was well off target.
Pontius was much more accurate in the 44th minute when he found the back of the net to give United a 1-0 lead. After Revs midfielder Scott Caldwell blocked a cross, the ball popped free to Pontius, who lashed a shot from the right side of the box across the face of goal, off the inside of the far post and into the net.
It took the Revolution just eight minutes to equalize after the break as Toja capitalized on a set piece. Fagundez was clipped to set up a free-kick opportunity 25 yards from goal and Toja did the rest, curling a shot which hit both the underside of the crossbar and D.C. goalkeeper Joe Willis’ back before bouncing over the line.
United capitalized on a set piece of its own in the 69th minute, however, as the home side restored its lead at 2-1. A deep corner kick found De Rosario and the D.C. captain rose highest to loop a header which glanced off the underside of the crossbar before settling into the net.
New England’s best chance to find another equalizer arrived in the 85th minute when Agudelo wriggled free at the top of the box and guided a shot through a crowd, but his effort kicked off the inside of the left post and bounced across the face of goal before being cleared to safety.
Just two minutes later D.C. put the result beyond doubt when Pajoy was fouled by Jose Goncalves inside the box and converted the ensuing penalty kick himself.
The Revs will close out their two-game road trip this weekend as they’ll return to league action against Chivas USA on Saturday night. Kickoff from StubHub Center is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Quarterfinal
New England Revolution (MLS) at D.C. United (MLS)
June 26, 2013 – Maryland SoccerPlex (Boyds, Md.)
D.C. United 3, New England Revolution 1
Scoring Summary:
DC – Chris Pontius (unassisted) 44
NE – Juan Toja (unassisted) 53
DC – Dwayne De Rosario (Chris Pontius) 69
DC – Lionard Pajoy (penalty kick) 87
New England Revolution: Matt Reis, Darrius Barnes, Jose Goncalves, A.J. Soares, Andrew Farrell, Diego Fagundez (Juan Agudelo 76), Andy Dorman (Kelyn Rowe 61), Scott Caldwell, Juan Toja, Chad Barrett (Lee Nguyen 80), Dimitry Imbongo
Substitutes Not Used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Clyde Simms, Chris Tierney, Jerry Bengtson
STATS: Shots 5, Shots on Target 2, Corner Kicks 3, Saves 5, Fouls 12, Offsides 3
D.C. United: Joe Willis, Chris Korb, Conor Shanosky, Daniel Woolard, James Riley, Nick DeLeon, Perry Kitchen, John Thorrington, Kyle Porter (Casey Townsend 54), Dwayne De Rosario (Lionard Pajoy 83), Chris Pontius (Taylor Kemp 74)
Substitutes Not Used: Bill Hamid, Brandon McDonald, Marcelo Saragosa, Carlos Ruiz
STATS: Shots 15, Shots on Target 8, Corner Kicks 4, Saves 1, Fouls 12, Offsides 2
Misconduct Summary:
DC – Dwayne De Rosario (caution) 22
NE – Andy Dorman (caution) 48
DC – James Riley (caution) 52
NE – Matt Reis (caution) 87
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistant Referees: Matthew Kreitzer (AR1), TJ Zablocki (AR2)
Fourth Official: Mark Geiger
Weather: cloudy and 79 degrees
