Dero hat-trick leads D.C. past Philly, United advance to Quarterfinal of U.S. Open Cup

Not much has gone right for D.C. United so far in 2013. United are currently in dead last in the MLS Eastern Conference and have only one win the entire season (1-10-3). Last night however former MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario gave fans of the Black-and-Red reason to cheer. Dero netted a hat-trick and helped D.C. defeat rival Philadelphia to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.



Washington D.C. (June 12, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that the club will host the New England Revolution in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will take place at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., on Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. D.C. United advanced to the quarterfinal round by defeating the Philadelphia Union 3-1, courtesy of a Dwayne De Rosario hat trick tonight. New England claimed victory over its fourth-round opponent the New York Red Bulls by a score of 4-2.

This contest will mark the fourth occasion in which the Black-and-Red will face New England in Open Cup competition. In the 2001 semifinals round, D.C. United fell 0-2 to New England. The two sides did not meet again until the 2008 semifinals where United defeated the Revolution 3-1 en route to claiming its second Open Cup title. The third meeting came in 2011, where United was downed 2-3 in second-round qualifying. D.C. United hosted New England in all three prior matches.

The cost of attending the quarterfinal match against the New England Revolution is $20 for general admission and $10 for D.C. United ticket-plan holders with an ID card. Youth ages 16 and under will be able to enter for free with a purchase of an adult ticket (must be one-for-one).

D.C. United has won the U.S. Open Cup twice in its 18-year history. In 1996, D.C. United pulled off the first ‘double’ in League history, winning both MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. The Black-and-Red beat the second division Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0 in the 1996 Open Cup final, on the strength of goals from Eddie Pope, Jaime Moreno and Raul Diaz Arce. In 2008, United captured its second Open Cup title when it beat the second division Charleston Battery 2-1, with goals from Fred and Luciano Emilio.

The 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the finals among clubs that have applied to host. The process, decided by a coin flip, gives participating teams with venues meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting its possible opponent. In years past, the two semifinal matches and the final were determined through a ‘sealed-bid’ process.

The 2013 tournament features 68 teams, an increase from the 64 that competed last year, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). This year also marks the second-consecutive year in which all U.S.-based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper: 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO. All Division II clubs and eight of the Division III sides entered the competition in the second round while Division I teams received a bye to the third round.