D.C. UNITED v NEW YORK RED BULLS
Wed., Aug. 23, RFK MEMORIAL STADIUM, Washington, D.C. (7:30 p.m. ET)
The I-95 rivals meet for just the second time ever in Open Cup play, but it is sure to be a heated match in Bruce Arena's first match back at the stadium where he led D.C. United to two MLS Cup titles (and one U.S. Open Cup) in three years at the helm.
THE MATCHUP: The Atlantic Cup rivals have met just once in Open Cup play. In 2003, the then-MetroStars defeated United 3-2 in the semifinals in Piscataway, N.J. United's Galin Ivanov headed home an early corner (18), but Amado Guevara scored twice before the half was out (20, 43), the second directly from a free kick. United then went a man down just before the hour when 'keeper Doug Warren was sent off, but still drew level through Ronald Cerritos (76). But John Wolyniec again provided late heroics, redirecting home a shot two minutes from time. ... The teams have met three times this season in league play. After the teams played to a 2-2 draw in the season opener at RFK Stadium (Eskandarian 55; Erpen 65 - Djorkaeff 15; Buddle 18), United claimed a 4-1 victory three weeks at Giants Stadium (Djorkaeff 86 - Eskandarian 41, 59; Erpen 71; Walker 88). The teams then played to a scoreless draw on Aug. 16 in E. Rutherford in Bruce Arena's first match in charge of the Red Bulls. ... Another connection between the clubs - Dema Kovalenko - won't figure in the match. The new Red Bulls acquisition is suspended after he was sent off in United's quarterfinal loss last year.
D.C. UNITED
2006 OPEN CUP: United passed their first U.S. Open Cup test this year, but it didn't come easy, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in extra time on Aug. 1 at the Maryland Soccerplex. ... Columbus grabbed the lead off a corner kick in the 18th minute, as Chad Marshall hammered home a powerful header ... But United quickly equalized off their own corner kick just four minutes later, as Gaudette was unable to handle Jaime Moreno's low, short-range effort and couldn't recover in time as the ball trickled over the line. ... Then minutes after the start of extra time, Christian Gomez flighted in a free kick that Jamil Walker headed home and sent United through to the quarterfinals. ... In league play before the Open Cup, United had won three of the four meetings, with the fourth match a draw. ... Here's Nowak's team: Nick Rimando, Bryan Namoff, Bobby Boswell, Facundo Erpen, Freddy Adu (Rod Dyachenko 88), Brian Carroll (Clyde Simms 76), Christian Gomez, Ben Olsen (Matt Nickell 98), Joshua Gros, Alecko Eskandarian (Jamil Walker 67), Jaime Moreno
IN THE OPEN CUP: A year ago, United defeated near-neighbors 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. ... 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.
NEW YORK RED BULLS
2006 OPEN CUP: The first was three days following the match in Houston, on Aug. 2, when
The Red Bulls survived a scare from USL Second Division (third tier) side Wilmington Hammerheads to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 victory on Aug. 2 in the North Carolina city. ... A thumping blast from Seth Stammler after just four minutes put the Red Bulls into the lead, but substitute Ryan Miller headed home a cross in the 85th minute to pull Wilmington level. Yet just four minutes later Danny O'Rourke got free down the right wing before putting in a cross that Jordan Cila knocked home to send the Red Bulls through. ... Here's Richie Williams's team: Tony Meola, Todd Dunivant (Elie Ikangu 46), Marvell Wynne (Steve Jolley 33), Danny O'Rourke, Carlos Mendes, Seth Stammler, Mike Magee, Edson Buddle (Taylor Graham 90), Chris Henderson, Jeff Parke, Jerrod Laventure (Jordan Cila 46)
IN THE OPEN CUP: This is the first time since 2003 - when they reached the first cup final in club history - New York won their opening match in the competition. ... A year ago, for the second year running, the MetroStars were dumped out of the Open Cup at the first hurdle by a second-tier club, losing 3-1 away to the Rochester Raging Rhinos. ... In 2004, they were eliminated for the second time by the Charleston Battery in their opening match, falling 1-0 in the fourth round. In 1999, they were hammered 4-1 by the Battery in a second-round loss. ... Three times the MetroStars have been semifinalists, in their first entrance into the competition in 1997 (losing 1-2 to Dallas Burn), 1998 (losing 0-1 to Columbus Crew) and 2000 (losing 2-3 to Miami Fusion). ... In 2003, the club reached its first cup final, though they lost to the Chicago Fire in the Open Cup Final through a Damani Ralph goal at Giants Stadium.
