A pair of goals from reigning Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player Luciano Emilio were enough to put DC United one win match away from their first championship in four years with a 3-1 victory over the defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution.
The 1996 Open Cup champions opened the scoring on four minutes with Emilio’s first tally, finishing off a Brian Namoff cross. The Revolution responded in the 34th minute on a goal from Joe Germanese, and the match went to halftime level at one.
Just three minutes into the second half, DC would regain the lead on a goal from Santino Quaranta, assisted by MLS’ all-time scoring leader Jamie Moreno. The match turned when Wells Thompson, playing out of position at right back, was dismissed in the 71st minute as the result of a second yellow card.
United put the match away ten minutes later, when Emilio slipped a cross from Ivan Guererro past Revolution backstop Doug Warren.
DC will now host the Charleston Battery at RFK Stadium on September 3 at 7:30 p.m.