DC United Hoist US Open Cup

D.C. United withstood a strong challenge from the Charleston Battery on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium to claim the U.S. Open Cup by a score of 2-1, the second time in history that the club from the nation's capital has lifted the Dewar Trophy, having also won in 1996.

It didn't take long for the home side to pull ahead, with last year's MLS MVP Luciano Emilio striking just four minutes into the match. Using a crafty back-heel, Jaime Moreno sprung a sprinting Santino Quaranta on a run to the edge of the box, but a good challenge from a Battery defender stripped Quaranta of the ball, leaving it sitting at the top of penalty area. Emilio had been trailing the play and was able to get reach back and get a shot off unmolested that Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock was only able to deflect into the top corner of the net.

Just minutes later, however, Emilio would have to be substituted out, having had his groin problems flare up again.

Charleston kept their heads up, pushing for an equalizer, and would get it just moments later. A picture-perfect pass from the Battery backline got through the United defense, allowing Chris Williams to rush in on goal. Feeling the pressure of the recovering defender on his back, Williams keenly cut back across the face of goal before leaving the ball off for Ian Fuller, who blasted the ball at the near post to beat DC keeper Louis Crayton and level the game.

Shortly before halftime, DC head coach Tom Soehn would make another substitution, bringing on the Brazilian Fred for Joe Vide. It was a move that would pay almost immediate dividends.

In the beginning stages of the second half, Clyde Simms launched a ball from his own half that Rod Dyachenko dummied, allowing Fred to charge around a pair of Charleston defenders and fire low past the opposing keeper. That goal would prove to be the game-winner, giving D.C. United their 12th trophy in their already-storied club history."Getting a chance to run around with a trophy in front of our fans, who deserve it more than anybody, is a great feeling," said Soehn. "You remember that stuff... you want to taste that again. I hope they all got a great taste of it because there are other things that we still have to accomplish."

Scoring:
DCU - Luciano Emilio (unassisted) 4'
CHB - Ian Fuller 1 (Chris Williams) 10'
DCU - Fred (Clyde Simms) 50'

Attendance: 8,212