BOYDS, Md. – Rookie Antoine Hoppenot played hero on Tuesday night, scoring in the first frame of extra time to send the Philadelphia Union past D.C. United 2-1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex and into the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.
A second-half sub, Hoppenot found the winner in just the second minute of the extra frame when Emiliano Dudar failed to clear Freddy Adu’s through ball. The Union rookie was happy to pick up the loose ball a crisply finished past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
The strike was neither the first nor the last in a series of fireworks in Tuesday’s fourth-round USOC matchup. Both sides traded goals in first-half stoppage time that saw the first half close with a frenzy.
From out of nowhere, Philadelphia’s Brian Carroll launched an effort towards goal that seemed innocent once it left his foot. But it took a big deflection past Hamid for the 1-0 Union lead.
But the advantage lasted seconds, as D.C. found an immediate equalizer. Andy Najar’s cross from the right found Nick DeLeon at the far post, and the former Louisville midfielder headed back across the goal for veteran Josh Wolff to volley home.
The match closed with a scuffle in the second extra time that saw United defender Brandon McDonald and Union defender Carlos Valdés pick up red cards.
Philadelphia now advance to the quarterfinals, where they’ll host the Harrisburg City Islanders at PPL Park on June 26.
