D.C. United Score Two Late Extra-Time Goals, Beat Union 2-1 In Open Cup
D.C. United Score Two Late Extra-Time Goals, Beat Union 2-1 In Open Cup
Two late extra-time goals saw D.C. United past the Philadelphia Union in the US Open Cup, 2-1.
On the brink of elimination from the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, a miraculous extra-time comeback helped D.C. United get past the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field 2-1. Anthony Fontana gave the visitors the lead in the 114th minute, but goals from Chris McCann in the 118th Wayne Rooney in the 120th helped United advance to the Round of 16.
McCann headed in a corner from Rooney for his first tally for the club, quickly equalizing after Fontana had put the Union ahead. Acosta then won a penalty in the 119th minute, being tripped up by Alejandro Bedoya. Rooney blasted the spot kick past Matt Freese for his first goal in the competition.
Ben Olsen fielded as many of his usual starting lineup as he could but was forced to make one unusual decision. Leonardo Jara started as a defensive midfielder, while Chris Odoi-Atsem was a late scratch at right back, replaced by Jalen Robinson. Joseph Mora, who missed the past two and a half months with a broken jaw, started at left back, and then was replaced by McCann in extra time.
Scoring chances were few and far between in the first half, with Fafa Picault going the closest, after skipping past Robinson in the box. But Chris Seitz, starting in place of Bill Hamid, got just enough of a touch on the shot to guide it wide of the goal.
In the second half, Ulises Segura couldn't convert a chance in the 46th minute after a nice play from the Black-and-Red to set up the Costa Rican. Frederic Brillant then hit the post with a header from Rooney's set-piece delivery in the 66th minute, the closest either team would come to scoring in regulation.
And after a mostly uneventful first extra time period, penalties seemed a certainty. But five minutes after coming on as a substitute, Fontana timed a run past United's back line to perfection and converted the opportunity when Jamiro Monteiro found him in the box.
But there was still time for United's late dramatics. Freese whiffed on Rooney's corner, allowing McCann to head in at the box post, before Rooney made no mistake from the spot.