D.C. UNITED v COLUMBUS CREW
Tue., Aug. 1, Maryland Soccerplex, Boyds, Md. (7:30 p.m. ET)
D.C. United and the Columbus Crew have already completed their league series against each other - United winning three times with the fourth meeting a draw - and now they face one another in the Open Cup. It's United's bow this year; the Crew began their run with a win against the PDL Michigan Bucks in the third round.
D.C. UNITED
IN THE OPEN CUP: The first MLS winners of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, United has been a losing finalist and a twice semifinalist since, but haven't repeated the inaugural success. In 1996, they became the first club to complete the U.S. double, defeating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0 three days after winning the first MLS Cup against the Los Angeles Galaxy. ... The following year, United again reached the Open Cup Final after winning MLS Cup 1997, but lost on penalties to the Dallas Burn after a scoreless draw through 120 minutes. ... United in 2001 and 2003 reached the semifinals, losing to the New England Revolution 0-2 in '01, and to the MetroStars 2-3 in '03. ... United have been dumped out of the competition at the first time of asking on two occasions - the loss in both instances coming to lower-division opposition, in 1999 to the Charleston Battery and then in 2004 to the Richmond Kickers. ... After facing the Dallas Burn in the first two years of MLS history in the Open Cup (United winning a 1996 semifinal, but losing in the 1997 final), the two clubs haven't met in USOC play since. ... A year ago, United defeated the Richmond Kickers (USL1) 3-1 in the fourth round, but then lost to FC Dallas on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals after played to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at the Maryland Soccerplex.
LAST YEAR: United were defeated 4-1 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw with eventual finalist FC Dallas in the quarterfinals. United opened the scoring in the 47th minute when Dema Kovalenko set up Christian Gomez to roll a simple finish under Scott Garlick from close range. But Kovalenko was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 72nd minute, then four minutes deep into stoppage time Carlos Ruiz stroked a cool finish past Troy Perkins to level the match. Dallas had defeated United in the 1997 U.S. Open Cup Final on penalty kicks. ... In the fourth round, United gained some revenge for a loss to the Richmond Kickers from the year previous, defeating their near-neighbors 3-1 (McColm Cephas 68 - Freddy Adu 26, Christian Gomez 76 pen, 81).
COLUMBUS CREW
IN THE OPEN CUP
The only honor in Crew history came in the U.S. Open Cup, a 1-0 victory in the 2002 final at Crew Stadium against the Los Angeles Galaxy. After knocking off an A-League team in the Richmond Kickers in the third round, they had to overcome three consecutive MLS opponents to lift the Dewar Trophy. ... The Crew have reached the U.S. Open Cup Final on one other occasion - in 1998, the first year they played in the competition, falling in extra time to the Chicago Fire. ... They've lost to lower-division opposition just once as well, eliminated in the semifinals in 1999 by the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the then-A-League. ... The Crew have been dumped out at the first hurdle just twice, but it's happened both times in the last four years, and both times at home. In 2003, they lost 4-3 to the MetroStars in a fractious affair, then fell to FC Dallas last year.
LAST YEAR
The Crew lasted just one match in the Open Cup, falling 3-1 in extra time to FC Dallas at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus. Carey Talley (Dallas) and Kyle Martino (Columbus) traded goals in the first half before goals from Abe Thompson and Eddie Johnson three minutes in the second extra session put the game for the Hoops, after the Crew had both Danny Szetela and Frankie Hejduk sent off in extra time.
THIS YEAR
The Crew defeated the Michigan Bucks of the PDL (fourth tier) in the third round with a 4-1 victory in Rochester Hills, Mich. Ezra Hendrickson gave the Crew a 16th-minute lead, but the amateur side equalized just six minutes later through Doug Rice. Ivan Becerra put the Crew in front for good just before the hour mark; a Jacob Thomas long-range effort and an own goal rounded out the scoreline. ... Here's Sigi Schmid's lineup: Noah Palmer; Marcos Gonzalez, Ezra Hendrickson (Ritchie Kotschau 61), Chris Leitch (Chad Marshall 61); Tim Ward, Ivan Becerra, Brandon Moss, Sebastian Rozental, Eric Vasquez; Knox Cameron (Kei Kamara 79), Eddie Gaven (Jacob Thomas 71)
