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Dube leads Revolution over D.C. United and into final U.S. Open Cup qualifier

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Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

BOYDS, Md. – With an efficient attack and a defense that bent a bunch and broke just enough times, the New England Revolution kept its hopes of making the U.S. Open Cup field of 40 alive.

Kheli Dube scored twice and rookie Alan Koger added the eventual game-winner as the Revolution withstood a late barrage to defeat D.C. United, 3-2, in an Open Cup qualifying match at the Maryland SoccerPlex Tuesday night.

New England will meet Sporting Kansas City in a final qualifying game next month, with the winner claiming one of Major League Soccer's two play-in spots in the tournament proper.

The Revolution looked to have wrapped the match up in the 69th minute when Koger, the final selection of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, finished off a series of failed clearances to put New England ahead, 3-0.

With the Revolution conceding possession and putting as many as nine defenders behind the ball, D.C. took advantage and chipped away over the course of the final 20 minutes.

D.C. Designated Player Branko Boskovic struck twice in a nine-minute span, scoring in the 73rd and 82nd minutes to tally his first two first-team goals since signing with the club last summer.

"Boskovic was very good, very sharp, dictated the game," D.C. coach Ben Olsen said. "These aren’t always easy games to play in when you are a European international, but he comes and plays hard."

After being denied on two 20-yard free kicks, once on a diving save by Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth and once by the right post, Boskovic broke through by finishing inside the area after a lay-off pass from substitute Charlie Davies.

Moments later, Boskovic brought United within one off a strike from about 23 yards to set up a wild last eight minutes.

He ended up on the wrong end of a Koger challenge in the 86th minute, though, and was forced off the field with what team officials deemed a knee contusion. D.C. had already exhausted its allotment of substitutes, so the team played through the final whistle a man down.

United's best chance to equalize came when Andy Najar put on a dazzling dribbling display, weaving his way in and out of Revolution defenders and into the penalty area where he took a tumble but was not granted a penalty.

"I think we did a good job of bending but not totally breaking," Revolution defender Ryan Cochrane said. "I think they were pretty much on top of us the last 20 to 30 minutes of the game there, but that’s just sometimes the way it goes when you’re playing with a lead and a team is kind of desperate to push everybody forward."

D.C. outshot New England, 17-9, and had 11 corner kicks to the Revolution's one, but it was the visitors who made the most of their opportunities.

"When you’re three up, you don’t expect to lose the game," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "It was tight, but in the end I think we deserved it."

The Revs opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when Ousmane Dabo, making his debut with the team, sprung Kenny Mansally with a well-weighted ball down the right. Mansally carried toward the penalty area before squaring for Dube, who beat Pat Onstad on a first-time shot.

Dube scored again just two minutes into the second half, putting home a bouncing feed from Koger from just inside the box to give the Revs a 2-0 edge.

"I like to score, and you’ve got to make sure you use every chance you get," said Dube, who has only appeared in one league match for the Revs this season. "When there’s a chance, you try to prove yourself, and hopefully it works out."

With the result, the Revolution handed D.C. it's first-ever loss in Open Cup qualifying. United hadn't been excluded from the U.S. Open Cup field since 2002 and had reached at least the semifinals of the tournament in each of the last three seasons.

Instead it's the Revolution continuing on, hoping to match its 2007 feat of lifting the trophy.

NOTES

Revolution Homegrown Player Diego Fagundez made his senior-team debut, replacing Dabo in the 76th minute. … Michael Augustine also made his debut for the Revolution, replacing Otto Loewy, who exited in stoppage time with an injury. … Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph and Matt Reis were among those on the Revolution who didn't make the trip to Maryland. … Boskovic, who didn't think his injury was serious, confirmed that he'll be getting an MRI. "On the field I feel pain, and I think this guy’s broke my leg, but now it’s better," he said.

LINEUPS

D.C. United – Pat Onstad, Brandon Barklage, Rodrigo Brasesco (Dax McCarty, 79), Ethan White, Daniel Woolard, Andy Najar, Branko Boskovic, Kurt Morsink, Santino Quaranta, Blake Brettschneider (Chris Pontius, 64), Joseph Ngwenya (Charlie Davies, 68).

Unused subs: Bill Hamid, Conor Shanosky, Perry Kitchen, Stephen King.

New England Revolution – Bobby Shuttleworth, Darrius Barnes, Ryan Cochrane, Otto Loewy (Michael Augustine 90+), Chris Tierney, Ryan Kinne, Stephen McCarthy, Ousmane Dabo (Diego Fagundez, 76), Sainey Nyassi, Kenny Mansally (Alan Koger, 45), Kheli Dube.

Unused subs: Tim Murray, Zack Schilawski.

Comments

  1. Do you think a guy using the handle “Johnny Ramone” is from Baltimore??? Geez, learn both your soccer AND music history.

    Reply
  2. NASL …BALTIMORE BAYS.

    Please learn your Amercan soccer history.

    Soccer in the US did NOT begin with Marco Etcheverry’s mullet…shocking, I realize.

    Reply
  3. Um…as someone who watched the game, I’d say DCU didn’t look that bad for a team that lost 0-4. But DC’s left back, whoever that is, was abused all night, and Davies was completely absent. The idea that DCU controlled the game is absurd.

    Reply
  4. Why would DC want to move to a city like Baltimore? No soccer history outside of MISL. No real cultural claim to fame other than being the perfect location to shoot the WIRE. You guys even lost one of the preeminent franchises in NFL history – the Colts – once because it’s just not that cool of a town.

    DC – nations capital. Great tradition. Great fans. Sh*t stadium situation. But which is the better long term play? Which location is going to be iconic 30 years from now? Not Baltimore. If DC has to go, I’d rather see the franchise in Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco (Bay area could use 2 teams), Atlanta or even Detroit. DC = top 10 DMA. Baltimore = #26.

    Reply
  5. I wish I would’ve known this game was on. I wish all teams would take this competition seriously. I really like this tournament. We as fans need to invest more into this tournament.

    Reply
  6. Re:

    “DCU controlled the game but just blew coverage in the final 6. Also controlled the game 2nd half against the Revs. Everyone knew this team would need some time to come together…”

    Hey ,man, excuses are like A-holes. Everyone’s got ’em & they all stink.

    Just like DC.

    Reply
  7. I thought Davies should have come on a few minutes earlier, when Ponyius went in. Other than that, i’m OK with the way Olsen handled it.

    Reply
  8. you probably didn’t watch either game. Sure they lost and aren’t 100% yet, and it may seem odd to say, but I think even some RBNY fans (like their players/coach) would agree that DCU controlled the game but just blew coverage in the final 6. Also controlled the game 2nd half against the Revs. Everyone knew this team would need some time to come together. You just wait!

    Reply
  9. DC’s last two games (this one and the league game against RBNY0 reveal them to be the 2nd rate team I expected them to be. When Charlie “Wheels” Davies isn’t being guifted PKs, they are a team that struggles both to score and prevent scoring.

    Onward to Baltimore!

    Reply
  10. Fact, guys need to rest and unfortunately the US Open Cup is the time to do it. Charlie is leading the league in goals, sure, but I’m glad Brettschneider got a shot, that kid killed it in the preseason. Ngwenya I’m not big on.

    Reply
  11. And by using your star players every game, your days as an all-knowing coach would be short lived.

    We don’t need to be in the Open Cup this season. We’re rebuilding and I’d rather see our resources placed firmly on the league. We don’t have depth to compete.

    And to be honest, we should of won the game. We had good possession and attack, just wasn’t our day.

    The thing we need to invest in is defense. Our defense is terrible and hope to see that fixed this summer.

    Gutted with the result but I’m fine with it.

    Reply
  12. (1) Who’s going to risk injuries in a cup game at this stage of the season? (2) Even the big teams like Man United play second team players in the early cup games. (3) These are competitive athletes from competitive organizations – at least when it’s game time, I have to believe they want to win (cue the speech from Herman Edwards “You play to win the game.”) (4) That said, keeping your job in this league – at least for the coaches – depends more on what you do in the regular season and playoff games. Cup is a nice bonus, but someone else mentioned priorities – priority, job-wise, is definitely on the side of the regular season games. So yeah they’re going to save players for those.

    Reply
  13. there is real money in making the play-offs.

    the financial gain in playing a couple more games at maryland sports complex is not great.

    Reply
  14. What’s odd, or maybe just something worth noting is that of those four prizes, how many MLS teams can legitimately win them?

    Supporters shield (2-3 teams, RSL, LA, NYRB)
    Champions League (1-2 RSL, maybe NYRB)
    MLS Cup (Colorado last year messes with this number but maybe 3-6 teams?)

    So why aren’t the rest of teams giving it a real go? I know it’s not this simple but still.

    Reply
  15. Well, it should be taken seriously in the same way that all games should be taken seriously.
    But in terms of “things an MLS team can win” it is certainly a distant fourth behind the MLS Cup, Supporters Shield, and Champions League.
    No big deal, just let the Sounders have it again so they can feel like they accomplished something.

    Reply
  16. I think it has to do with some coaches not giving too much of a Sh*t about the US Open cup for whatever reason. I disagree and think it should be taken seriously, but obviously many in the league feel otherwise.

    Reply
  17. You start the game with the MLS leading scorer on the bench, and surprise surprise he gets an assist 6 minutes after you bring him on the pitch.

    God, I feel like I could coach some of these MLS teams with my eyes closed. That certainly goes for De Los Cobos in Chicago.

    Reply

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