United Quelch Revolution 3-1, Move On To Cup Final

The first half started as well as United could have imagined. A back and forth opening salvo ended with United's first chance, which striker Luciano Emilio slyly poked into the back of the onion bag. Emilio's header from a right wing cross off the boot of defender Bryan Namoff, soundly beat keeper Doug Warren to the far post, igniting the crowd. The United full backs pressed up the flanks relentlessly in the first twenty minutes, and mistakes from New England's wingers led to numerous counterattack chances.

New England's first half attack was mostly contained in the frame of 6'3" midfielder Shalrie Joseph, whose physical presence on set plays led to one or two opportunities at net — but the Revs' backs seemed cynically content to hock long balls into the United end for the majority of the opening 45. Their breakthrough, though, came on 34 minutes, when some sloppy defending led to winger Joe Germanese slamming in from five feet to equalize at one.

Whatever coach Tom Soehn said to the team at the half worked — United came out in the second half sharp and looking to take back the lead immediately. First, Quaranta's through ball led to an Emilio breakaway, which forced an impressive sprawling save from backup keeper Doug Warren. Then, a scant two minutes later, Quaranta had his own chance and took a pretty over-the-top ball from Moreno to chip a solid finish over Warren's misplayed position to notch United's second.

The intensity of the game rose, as New England's segue from long balled theory to dogged pursuit of an equalizer led to a shift to a 4-3-3 formation — and winger Wells Thompson's professional foul on Guerrero as he paced his way down the left flank in the 54th. With so many inexperienced rookies on the pitch, New England still could not penetrate the fluid United midfield. Their audacious pursuit of the ball cost them dearly in the 71st minute, when Thompson was sent off for a reckless sweep of Moreno's legs in the middle of the pitch.

Fred missed a chance to put the game away in the 76th minute, wasting a beautiful cross from Guerrero and slamming the ball high near the large black clock behind the net. Emilio, though, did not miss his chance to seal it a few minutes later. Catching the Revs too high in attack with sharp passes, Emilio then deftly maneuvered around three Revolution defenders and the keeper, slotting away his second of the night to all but put the game to sleep and book a place in the finals.

D.C. will host the final of the U.S. Open Cup on September 3 against the USL-1 squad Charleston Battery, who defeated the Seattle Sounders via penalties in the other semifinal last night. United will be looking to add their second Lamar Hunt Trophy to the trophy case — a success here would be a fine launching point for the MLS Playoffs, which begin shortly afterward. Additionally, a victory over Charleston will qualify D.C. for next year's CONCACAF Champions League — which is no certainty at this point. When asked about the satisfaction of the victory, Soehn summed it up thusly, "you take satisfaction when you win finals."