Islanders Exit U.S. Open Cup After Loss to D.C. United
Published on July 9, 2009 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
The City Islanders' exciting run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ended on Tuesday, July 7th, with a 2-1 loss in the Quarter Finals. The defeat came at the hands of the defending U.S. Open Cup Champions, and the squad currently in first place in Major League Soccer: D.C. United.
Tuesday's match was the second time Harrisburg played D.C. United in the Open Cup. However, the last time the two teams met, the Islanders upset D.C. 1-0 in the third round. For the second time in the last three years, the Islanders were one of the last 8 teams standing in the Quarter Finals of the nationwide Open Cup.
The Islanders kicked off their Open Cup run with a 4-1 defeat of the PDL's Reading Rage at home on June 9th. That victory allowed the Islanders to host the Second Round of the Open Cup where they defeated the Western Mass Pioneers in sudden death penalty kicks after 120 minutes of scoreless play. The Islander's Third Round match also went into extra time, this time it was on the road against another Major League Squad, the New England Revolution. Harrisburg won that match 2-1 and advanced to play D.C. United. Both of the MLS squads The Islanders faced this year were former U.S. Open Cup Champions.
Although Tuesday's game against D.C. United was played at the Maryland Soccer Complex in Boyds, MD the match attracted quite a few Harrisburg fans dressed varying shades of blue. Harrisburg went down 2-0 in the first 18 minutes of the first half before settling into a rhythm and holding their own against their Major League competition for the rest of the half.
Five minutes into the second half, Islander Captain, Mo Oduor was shown a red card, and was ejected from the match. Despite playing a man down, the Islanders had their best possession chances of the evening in the second half. In the 65th minute a Tiyi Shipalane shot was deflected by D.C. keeper Milos Kocic and Islander Nicki Paterson stuck the loose ball in the back of the net to make the score 2-1. Despite keeping their MLS competition on their heels for the rest of the evening, the Islanders were sent out of the Open Cup with a 2-1
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 9, 2009
- Kickers Host Free Youth Night August 1st - Richmond Kickers
- Crystal Palace Look to Reversal of Fortune Friday Night - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Eagles Host Western Mass Saturday Night - Charlotte Eagles
- Islanders Exit U.S. Open Cup After Loss to D.C. United - Penn FC
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