D.C. United this week enters play in the semifinal round of the U.S. Open Cup soccer tournament, matched Tuesday night against the minor league Rochester Rhinos, the only remaining non-Major League Soccer team in the field.
Rochester beat the Columbus Crew and the lower-tier Wilmington Hammerheads in the most recent rounds to reach semifinal action. The Rhinos have also only allowed 15 goals total in their last 17 USL league games, according to D.C. United's site, foreshadowing a potentially tough struggle.
The Black and Red have not exactly breezed their way into the U.S. Opcen Cup final, fighting for late goals in a 2-0 win over the amateur Ocean City Barons and holding on late for a 2-1 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Again, DCU will be at less than full strength with Luciano Emilio a late scratch from the lineup. Off his triumphant 2nd half return last Saturday though, Jaime Moreno will be back for United.
Start time is set for 7:30 p.m. from United's alternate Maryland SoccerPlex home site. No video feed will be available due to the SoccerPlex's bandwidth limitations but DCU's radio broadcast will air via WZAA/1050 radio.______________________Labels: d.c. united, men's pro soccer, sports, u.s. open cup
