Battery, United Reach Open Cup Final

D.C. United will be representing Major League Soccer in this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final, earning the honor after dispatching a less-than-full-strength New England Revolution squad on Tuesday night by a score of 3-1. A pair of goals from reigning MVP Luciano Emilio sandwiched Santino Quaranta's game-winner, while Joe Germanese tallied the lone goal for New England.
Also on Tuesday, the Charleston Battery prevailed in a battle of USL-1 powerhouses, reaching the final by defeating the Seattle Sounders in penalty kicks. Seattle jumped ahead early thanks to an Osvaldo Alonso own-goal in the 20th minute, but could only hold the lead for a quarter of an hour, as Charleston leveled the game in the 33rd minute through a goal from Randi Patterson. Following regulation and extra-time, the Battery won the game in PKs, 4-3, to advance to the championship game against D.C.

It is the first Open Cup final appearance for Charleston, while their Major League counterparts have been there twice before, winning the tournament in 1996 and finishing runners-up a year later. Charleston becomes the first non-MLS team to reach the final since 1999, when the Rochester Rhinos upset the Colorado Rapids 2-0 to be crowned champions.