D.C. United coughs up a two-goal lead and exits the U.S. Open Cup

Washington Post

3 days ago

D.C. United's deepest run in the U.S. Open Cup since 2013 — and its best hope of winning a trophy this year — ended Wednesday when it botched a two-goal lead and was blown away in the second half by Nashville SC, 5-2, at Geodis Park in Tennessee.
Seeking a massive upset against MLS's hottest team, United went ahead in the fifth minute on Gabriel Pirani's sensational goal and welcomed an own goal in the 24th. But Nashville took advantage of a D.C. gaffe a minute later and tied it early in the second half on a penalty kick.
Sam Surridge, MLS's scoring leader, then broke the tie in the 72nd minute with his second goal of the match. In the last 10 minutes, former D.C. star Andy Najar scored on a spectacular shot from long distance and substitute Walker Zimmerman added a close-range header as Nashville extended its club-record unbeaten streak in all competitions to 15.
It will play the Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls in the semifinals Sept. 16 or 17. That quarterfinal Wednesday was postponed until Aug. 13 because of a thunderstorm in Chester, Pennsylvania. In the other semifinal, Minnesota will host Austin, with the winner hosting the Oct. 1 final.
Founded in 1914 and modeled after the English FA Cup, the U.S. Open Cup involves teams from all levels of American soccer, from amateurs to the first-division pros in MLS. The winner will collect $600,000, the runner-up $250,000.
United, a three-time tournament champion, was seeking to ease the pain of a 4-10-7 regular season by keeping alive its hopes of its first trophy since 2013.
Coach Troy Lesesne stuck with Kim Joon Hong, the backup goalkeeper in league play, as his cup starter. Christian Benteke started for the second time in five days after recovering from a sprained ankle. United welcomed back right back Aaron Herrera, who last week returned from Guatemalan duty at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Pirani was also back in the lineup after serving an MLS suspension Saturday against Atlanta. It took him just five minutes to make an emphatic imprint on the match.
After collecting Boris Enow's pass, Pirani seized on a central seam and ripped a 24-yard, left-footed shot that kissed the underside of the crossbar for his third goal in all competitions this year.
It was a stunning shot by Pirani and a surprising goal by United, which has not scored in three consecutive league matches.
The lead grew in the 24th minute. David Schnegg drove a low cross into the box. With Benteke lurking, defender Jack Maher's sliding block pushed the ball into the net for an own goal.
As messy as that was, United topped it with a messy sequence a minute later. Under pressure, Herrera took a dangerous path into D.C.'s box before intending to whack the ball downfield. Instead, it struck teammate Lucas Bartlett on the back and caromed to Jonathan Pérez for a one-timer past Kim.
Nashville drew even in the 53rd minute on Surridge's penalty kick — awarded when referee Greg Dopka ruled a sliding Herrera had blocked Daniel Lovitz's cross with his arm.
Still building back his fitness, Benteke departed in the 67th minute. His replacement, Dominique Badji, almost broke the tie moments later with a clever shot that missed the top near corner.
Surridge then scored his second goal on a tap-in after Pérez wheeled past Schnegg. Najar smashed a 28-yard one-timer on a bouncing ball and Zimmerman, who just returned from U.S. national team duty at the Gold Cup, added another goal.