Josue Colman’s penalty kick sent Orlando City SC through to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup on an emotional night for the road team.
The Lions prevailed over D.C. United, 4-2, in a shootout after both teams played to a 1-1 stalemate after 120 minutes Wednesday night at a rain-soaked Maryland SoccerPlex.
Orlando, which played for the first time since Jason Kreis was let go late last week, will face the Philadelphia Union in the quarterfinals next month. Interim coach Bobby Murphy is unlikely to be at the helm for that one, but he did help his team prevail in a crucial match.
Following a 90-minute lightning delay six minutes after kickoff, Luciano Acosta opened the scoring for D.C. United in the 10th minute. Darren Mattocks dribbled along the endline before cutting back into the box where Acosta sliced through and pounced from 12 yards out.
Justin Meram leveled for Orlando seven minutes later, putting his shot in off Steve Clark along the slick surface.
D.C. United were reduced to 10 men in the 99th minute on Chris Durkin’s second bookable offense.
Colman put a chance on frame late in the first half of extra time, but Clark did well to parry it away for a corner. Colman would provide the clincher in the shootout, after Yamil Asad saw his attempt saved and Acosta hit the crossbar trying a panenka.
Goals
