DC United earned a berth in the US Open Cup Round of 16 with the effort, discipline, and amazing goal that will reverberate for a long, long time. In a contest decided only at extra time, the capital outfit defeated USL champion Charleston Battery 2-0 on a Jacob Murrell and Jared Stroud strikes.
With progression in the tournament, the club retained the Coffee Pot Cup, one of the most symbolic trophies in American soccer. The next fixture is against Charlotte FC.
Closely fought match, missed chances, and a spine-chilling 0-0
Over the course of 90 minutes of regulation, Charleston and DC United engaged in an even fight. During the first half, the schemes were clear. The visitors attempted to build along the flanks, using possession and crosses. DC United utilized quick counterattacks down the center. Effort existed during the game, but not a great deal of effectiveness. The first half ended without any sort of drama and the score still tied.
The second half saw the same trend, as Charleston tried more long balls, especially behind the back line of DC United. On one of those attempts, Nanan Houssou shot menacingly and scored, but it was disallowed for being offside. The deflection from an offside teammate negated what would have been the first goal. After that, the game opened up. DC United began to try out goalkeeper Luis Zamudio, who made game-saving stops and showed confidence.
With the clock near 90 minutes, tension was building. It was clear that an inspiration moment or a game-altering mistake would be needed for one to gain an edge. Because that did not happen in regulation, the winner was left up to extra time, as per the competition regulations.
Murrell scores with a rare shot
In stoppage time, the score was level until the end of the first half. That's when the greatest moment of the game occurred. Randall Leal picked out Jacob Murrell in a hole in the other team's defense around 35 yards from the goal. The young striker, chosen seventh overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, didn't wait. Rather than holding out for help, he shifted to his left foot and shot with bend. The ball just squeezed beyond the outstretched fingers of the goalkeeper and into the far corner. Stroud seals the win and qualification
As soon as Murrell's goal, Charleston had to push forward in trying to equal the scores. That left space in the back. DC United took advantage of it. Seven minutes after the first goal, Jared Stroud added the second. It was a quick and well-crafted play that took advantage of the other team's confusion at a moment when they were exposed. With a two-goal lead, the home team controlled the rest of the game until the final whistle.
With the win, DC United achieved its 36th US Open Cup victory in club history and tied with the seventh-most successful clubs in the tournament's modern era. Qualification capped a game in which patience and accuracy were the difference.