D.C. United earned a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time since 1997 with a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution in the Semifinals. Luciano Emilio’s pair of goals earned him the TheCup.us Player of the Round award, edging out Charleston Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.
2008 Semifinals
2008 Semifinals: Battery beat Sounders in PKs to reach first Open Cup Final
The Charleston Battery earned a place in the US Open Cup Final for the first time in club history after winning a penalty kick shootout with the Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals. The Battery are the first non-MLS team to advance to the Final since the Rochester Raging Rhinos won the tournament in 1999.
2008 Semifinals: DC United knock off defending champs to reach Open Cup Final
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.