D.C. United is set to face either the Pittsburgh Riverhounds or the Rochester Rhinos in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, July 1. The game, regardless of opponent, will take place at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Gaithersburg, MD with a kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are now available by visiting dcunited.com or calling United's offices at 202-587-5000.
Pittsburgh (United Soccer League's second division) and Rochester (USL-1) will play each other in Pittsburgh on June 24 for the right to face the Black-and-Red. D.C. has twice met Rochester in Open Cup play, capturing its only tournament title by defeating the Rhinos 3-0 in the final game in 1996. The two team's second meeting came in 2000 and saw United replicate a 3-0 scoreline in the third round win. United played the Riverhounds in Open Cup play during the 2003 tournament, when D.C. earned a 2-1 win at the SoccerPlex.
Individual tickets for the match are available for $25, while groups of 10 or more can purchase at the $22 price level, which includes parking. Season ticket holders will receive a special ticket discount and should contact D.C. United for additional information. Tickets can be purchased via dcunited.com or by calling United offices at 202-587-5000. Tickets will also be available at the Maryland SoccerPlex by calling 301-528-1480.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an annual national competition that is open to all amateur and professional soccer teams that are affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest tournament in the U.S., beginning in 1914 when Brooklyn Field Club took home the very first title. MLS teams were first included in the tournament in the inaugural 1996 season, with D.C. United taking home the title. The only non-MLS team to win the tournament since then was the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1999, when they defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the final.
The tournament bracket is formed by teams from the USL First Division, USL Second Division, USL Premier Development League, and United States Adult Soccer Association. Teams compete in single elimination play, adding MLS teams to the mix in the third round, and continue on towards the championship game. Last year, D.C. United ended their bid for the championship on July 11 with a 1-0 loss in the third round to the Harrisburg City Islanders.
