Road to the final
The U.S. Open Cup is an annual American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of MLS. The 2013 tournament was the centennial edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States.
For the second consecutive season, all American-based MLS teams earned automatic qualification into the third round tournament proper. Previously, only eight teams from MLS could qualify for the tournament, six automatically based on the previous year's league results, and two more via a play-in tournament. [2]
D.C. United
Prior to 2013, D.C. United had won the U.S. Open Cup 2 times, in 1996 and 2008. They had played in 4 finals of the competition, with the last appearance being in 2009 when they lost 2–1 to Seattle Sounders FC.
In the 2013 third round, they faced the Richmond Kickers of the USL PRO at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia, on May 28, 2013. After a goalless draw after extra time, D.C. United won on penalties 4–2. [3] In the fourth round, they played at home against the Philadelphia Union of MLS in Boyds, Maryland, on June 12, 2013. D.C. United won 3–1. Dwayne De Rosario scored 3 goals for United. The first came in the 24th minute of the first half, followed by goals in the 75th and 85th minutes. The only goal scored by Philadelphia was by Jack McInerney in the 76th minute. [4]
In the quarterfinals, D.C. United played at home on June 26, 2013, against the New England Revolution. D.C. won 3–1 with goals from Chris Pontius, Dwayne De Rosario, and Lionard Pajoy in the 45th, 69th, and 87th minutes, respectively. [5]
In the semifinals, D.C. United played on the road against the Chicago Fire on August 7, 2013, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. The final score was 2–0 with goals from Dwayne De Rosario and Nick DeLeon, thus sealing United's place in the cup final. [6]
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake's best finish prior to the 2013 tournament was in 2011, when they reached the quarterfinals, losing 2–0 away to FC Dallas. On May 28, 2013, Real played in the third round at home versus the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL at Rio Tinto Stadium. The result was a 3–2 win in overtime. [7] In the fourth round, they played against the Charleston Battery of the USL PRO league on June 12, 2013. Real Salt Lake won 5–2 after extra time. [8]
In the quarterfinals, Real played against the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL on June 26, 2013. Salt Lake won 3–0 with goals from Tony Beltran in the 35th minute, Chris Wingert in the 51st minute, and Álvaro Saborío in the 86th minute. [9]
In the semifinals, Real played against the Portland Timbers of the MLS on August 7, 2013. The result was a 2–1 victory for Real with goals from Álvaro Saborío in the 7th minute and Joao Plata in the 78th minute. In the final minutes, Portland scored with a goal by Diego Valeri. [10]
