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Zach Wells

2008 Quarterfinals: DC United finally puts out the Fire; Blanco gets tossed for punch

July 8, 2008 by

For the first time in franchise history, DC United eliminated the Chicago Fire in a knockout competition, winning 2-1 after extra time in Tuesday’s US Open Cup Quarterfinal match.

The Fire, winners of four Open Cup titles, looked to be on their way to continue their quest for a fifth when Daniel Woolard opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Woolard caught the DC defense out of position after receiving the ball from Logan Pause, and he put it past United goalkeeper Zach Wells to make it 1-0.

The early going was shaky for DC, prompting some changes in the second half. It turned out to be the subs that helped make the difference for United. Jaime Moreno and Francis Doe with fresh legs combined for a 77th minute goal to even things up.

The second half saw the sides more aggressive with five cautions being issued, though the score remained even at full time. The MLS rivals determined to knock each other out of the competition did not hold back with all four substitutions being used by both squads.

The decider occurred nine minutes into the first overtime period when Bryan Namoff headed in a Jaime Moreno corner kick. Soon after, Moreno left the game with an injury but by then, his deeds were done, as the veteran earned two assists for his forty minutes of play. Mexican international Cuautemoc Blanco also saw action in the overtime period but it was to be short lived when after fifteen minutes he found himself ejected for trying to punch United midfielder Clyde Simms. Marc Burch was also shown a red card for retaliating against Blanco. (UPDATE: Blanco given 2-year Open Cup ban)

The second overtime was 10 v 10 with United clinging to their precious lead and outlasting the Fire on their way to the Open Cup Semifinals. DC will make their sixth final four appearance, and their first since 2006, when they lost to the Chicago Fire.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2008 Quarterfinals, Bryan Namoff, Chicago Fire MLS, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Daniel Woolard, DC United, Francis Doe, Jaime Moreno, Jon Busch, Marc Burch, Zach Wells

2008 Third Round: Marc Burch’s left foot gives DC United another win over Rochester

July 1, 2008 by

A pair of Marc Burch free kicks were the difference as DC United defeated the Rochester Rhinos 2-0 in the Third Round of the tournament on Tuesday. It was the third all-time meeting between these clubs (1996, 2000), with United earning 3-0 shutouts in each of the last two.

In their 11th US Open Cup, this marks the eighth trip to the Quarterfinals for the Black-and-Red. With the victory, DC earns a home date with the Chicago Fire next week at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Md.

Burch, starting at center back for United, used his left foot to score both goals on low driving shots that found the back of the net in the 78th and 85th minutes.

Lineups

Rochester Rhinos — Scott Vallow, Nate Craft, Tenywa Bonseu (Rey Angel Martinez 86), Scott Palguta, John Ball, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Danny Earls (Hamed Diallo 82), Tiger Fitzpatrick, John Menyonger (Matthew Delicate 59), Ze Roberto, Mauricio Salles

Substitutes Not Used: Harrison Chase, Alfonso Loera, Juan Pablo Reyes

D.C. United — Zach Wells, Pat Carroll (Domenic Mediate 78), Gonzalo Martinez (Craig Thompson 46), Devon McTavish, Marc Burch, Quavas Kirk, Rod Dyachenko, Dan Stratford (Clyde Simms 46), Ryan Cordeiro, Francis Doe, Luciano Emilio (Fred 46)

Substitutes Not Used: Dane Murphy, James Thorpe, Mike Zaher

D.C. United  Rochester Rhinos
total shots:  11  (Rod Dyachenko 3)  7  (Luke Kreamalmeyer 2, Mauricio Salles 2)
shots on goal:  7  (Rod Dyachenko 3)  1  (John Menyonger 1)
fouls:  7  (Dan Stratford 2)  15  (3 tied with 3)
offsides:  5  (5 tied with 1)  1  (Danny Earls 1)
corner kicks:  7  (Marc Burch 6)  0  
saves:  1  (Zach Wells 1)  5  (Scott Vallow 5)

Misconduct Summary:
ROC — Tenywa Bonseu (caution; Pushing, Holding) 79
ROC — Tiger Fitzpatrick (caution; Tackle from Behind) 84
ROC — Mauricio Salles (caution; Dissent) 90

Referee: Mark Kadlecik
Referee’s Assistants: Jason Callum; Rob Fereday
4th official: John Schmitz
time of game: 1:51
attendance: 2,752
weather: Clear -and- 75 degrees

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2008 Third Round, DC United, Marc Burch, Rochester Rhinos, Zach Wells

2007 Third Round: Battery upset Dynamo on PK rebound in extra time

July 10, 2007 by

In a hard-fought match at Blackbaud Stadium, the Charleston Battery eliminated the Houston Dynamo 1-0 with a goal in extra time by Stephen Armstrong.

Houston goalkeeper Zach Wells, who bailed out the Dynamo on several occasions, saved the penalty kick by Armstrong in the 106th minute, but Armstrong crashed the net and buried the rebound. It was the fourth win by the Battery over an MLS team in their franchise history (1999 – DC United, 2001 – Metrostars, 2004 – Metrostars).

With the win, the Battery will host FC Dallas for the second year in a row, this time in the Quarterfinals. The game will be a rematch of the thrilling Fourth Round game from last season where Kenny Cooper scored the equalizer, his third goal of the game, in the final minute of extra time to send the 3-3 game into penalties. Dallas would prevail in the shootout, 5-3.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2007 Third Round, Charleston Battery, Dusty Hudock, Houston Dynamo, Ian Bennett, Stephen Armstrong, Zach Wells

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