For leading struggling MLS side DC United to a 3-1 victory over nearby rival Philadelphia Union in the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup with a hat-trick, Dwayne De Rosario was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
The victory was the club’s first since their second league match of the season on March 2. The winless run was at 0-10-3 in league play with the addition of their Third Round scoreless draw against their USL Pro affiliate Richmond Kickers making the skid 14 games in total. The match was also the first in which DC scored three goals.
Though he is a former league MVP, the three-goal performance was a stunner as De Rosario came into the match with only one goal and one assist on the season through 12 appearances. The hat-trick may have marked the rekindling of the Canadian’s scoring prowess as he also netted over the weekend in a 2-1 loss in league play against Toronto.
Though De Rosario became the third DC United player to score a hat-trick in Open Cup play (Raul Diaz Arce 2000, Abdul Thompson Conteh 2001), he became the first Canadian to record three or more goals in a match during the Modern Professional Era (1995-present).
TheCup.us honors are voted on by the site’s editorial staff and select members of the North American Soccer Reporters. Other leading contenders in the voting were Ty Shipalane of the Carolina RailHawks and goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo of Orlando City.
2013 TheCup.us Player of the Round Honors
Fourth Round: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
Third Round: Frederic Piquionne (Portland Timbers)
Second Round: Brandon Fricke (Des Moines Menace)
First Round: David Geno (Seattle Sounders U23)
Preliminary Round: Gustavo Villalobos (FC Hasental)
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