D.C. United will face the USL PRO’s Richmond Kickers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, following the Kickers 4-0 win over amateur side Aegean Hawks FC last night. The Kickers will host United at Richmond City Stadium next Tuesday, May 29, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET.
Should D.C. United defeat the Kickers, the club will host the winner of Philadelphia Union-Rochester Rhinos – who also play Tuesday evening – at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. The match would take place on either Tuesday, June 5 or Wednesday, June 6.
DC and Richmond have met four times prior in Open Cup play. In 2001, United got two goals from Abdul Thompson Conteh in a 2-1 quarterfinal win at RFK Stadium. In 2004, the eventual MLS Cup champions faltered in Richmond, as the home team got a goal on either side of halftime and defeated DC 2-1. The following year, two Christian Gomez goals and a tally from Freddy Adu were the difference, as United topped Richmond 3-1 in the fourth round of play. The teams’ only other meeting in the tournament came in 2010 when Jaime Moreno and Santino Quaranta got on the score sheet in a 2-0 win at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Also of note, D.C. United midfielder – and reigning League MVP – Dwayne De Rosario got his start in professional soccer in Richmond, when he signed with the second division side in 1999 at the age of 21. He had his breakthrough season in 2000, when he contributed 16 goals and six assists, leading the Kickers to a 20-7-1 record. The following year, he joined the San Jose Earthquakes and has since put together one of the finest careers in MLS history.
The U.S. Open Cup has crowned a champion for 98 consecutive years beginning in 1914, with D.C. United twice winning the title (1996, 2008). Open to amateur and professional sides alike, this year’s tournament includes a 64-team field – the most in the modern era (1995-present).
Tickets for next Tuesday’s contest are on sale now and available via richmondkickers.com
