Boyzzz Khumalo

2009 Semifinals: DC United still has Rochester’s number, advance to Open Cup Final

July 21, 2009 by

Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, Md.
Match Reports: DC United | Rochester | Washington Post | Democrat & Chronicle
MLSnet.com Matchtracker

	1	FT	2
Tai Atieno (Unassisted) 68’				41’ Jamie Moreno (PK) 82’ Boyzzz Khumalo (Unassisted)

Defending US Open Cup champion DC United, who had to qualify just to get into the 2009 tournament, is one win away from defending their title after a 2-1 Semifinal victory over the Rochester Rhinos. Boyzzz Khumalo’s 82nd minute goal spoiled the Rhinos’ attempt to return to the Open Cup Final for the first time since their historic title run in 1999 and earned DC a chance to win their second straight championship on their home field.

DC United will host the Seattle Sounders at RFK Stadium on September 2. For United it is their fourth Final appearance and will host the championship game for the third time. In the two previous title games at RFK, they have won both of them (1996, 2008).

United held the majority of the possession in the first half and was awarded a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Rhinos defender Ty Harden was called for a handball in the box and Jaime Moreno stepped up to score his 12th career Open Cup goal, which moved him into a tie with current Rhino Johnny Menyongar for the most goals in the Professional Era (1995-present).

With DC continuing to put on the pressure, Rochester fought back and tied the game up in the 68th minute when Tai Atieno put the ball into the back of the net after the ball pinballed around the box after a Rochester free kick from the right wing.

The home team would find the game-winner in the 82nd minute when Chris Pontius, who replaced Moreno as a sub in the second half, found himself on a breakaway with the Rochester goalkeeper. Mella saved Pontius’ attempt, but the ball fell to Khumalo, who put the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the tournament.

Rochester’s struggles with DC United in the Open Cup continue with their fourth loss in as many tries. DC has also defeated them in the 1996 Final as well as the Third Round of the 2000 and 2008 tournaments. DC United are the first club since the Chicago Fire in 2004 to make back-to-back appearance in the Final, and like the Fire failed to do in 2004, losing to Kansas City, they will try to repeat as Open Cup champions. There has not been a back-to-back champion of the tournament since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won the 1982 and 1983 titles.

2009 Quarterfinals: DC United gets revenge, survives battle from shorthanded City Islanders

July 7, 2009 by

Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, Md.
Match Reports: DC United | Washington Post | Patriot-News

	2	FT	1
Boyzzz Khumalo (McTavish) 8’ Andrew Jacobsen (Fred) 18’				50’ Mo Odour – SENT OFF 65’ Nicki Paterson (Unassisted)

MLS Eastern Conference leaders and US Open Cup holders DC United took a step closer to repeating as champions by defeating USL-2 front runners Harrisburg City Islanders in a closely contested Quarterfinal matchup seen by over 2000 fans at the Maryland Soccerplex.

DC, trying to avoid a repeat of the 2007 match between the two clubs that saw Harrisburg eliminate them 1-0, took an early lead in the game through an 8th minute goal by Boyzzz Khumalo. Devon McTavish served up the cross from the right side and the South Africa native headed it home.

Ten minutes later, United added some insurance when Andrew Jacobson repeated the feat with his head off a corner kick delivered by Fred. DC would hang on to the two-goal advantage into halftime.

The second half should have been smooth sailing with the sending off of Harrisburg’s Mo Oduor nine minutes in, but the City Islanders put up a fight and kept the hosts on the defensive. Even with a man down, Harrisburg got on the board in the 64th minute thanks to Nicki Paterson’s shot after recovering a loose ball in the box.

With Harrisburg having the momentum and the pressure mounting for DC, play intensified. The City Islanders continued to create chances while drawing two late cautions by Ange N’Silu and Christian Gomez. DC fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief as the equalizer was not realized when regulation ended 2-1 in favor of United who now face the Rochester Rhinos in the Semifinals.

History is on the defending champions’ side as they have beaten the Rhinos all three times they have played them in Open Cup play, including the 1996 Open Cup Final.

2008 First Round: Riverhounds get first win of year vs. AAC Eagles

June 10, 2008 by

Twos were wild for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Tuesday night. The ’Hounds got two first-half goals and two more in the closing stages of the match as they posted a 4-0 win over USASA Region II side AAC Eagles in Lisle, Ill. Pittsburgh got goals from four different players, in all, eight players got on the scoresheet for the Riverhounds, who are in last place in the USL Second Division with a 0-6-3 record.

The win also snaps a three-game US Open Cup losing streak for Pittsburgh who hadn’t won a game in the tournament since 2001 when they were a member of the A-League. It was also the first win in three tries (1-2) against amateur opposition.

Nathan Salsi opened the scoring in the first half, while Thabiso “Boyzz” Khumalo, drafted by the nearby Chicago Fire in the 2005 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, set up Leon Browne’s goal before halftime. Jean Robens Jerome and Travis MacKenzie added a goal each in the second half to earn themselves a meeting with the USL First Division’s Rochester Rhinos in the Second Round.