Strikers Upset MLS Side D.C. United to Advance in U.S. Open Cup

June 16, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


BOYDS, Md. - History was made on Wednesday night at the Maryland Soccerplex as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers progressed to the Fifth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time with an upset victory over Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United on a penalty kick shootout after a scoreless 120 minutes of action.

Strikers goalkeeper Diego Restrepo once again was the hero in the shootout, saving D.C. United's fourth shot by Luciano Acosta. Ramon Nuñez atoned for an earlier miss by Maicon Santos to level the score at 3-3, before D.C. United struck the bar and Matheus Carvalho struck the winner with the Strikers fifth kick.

The win was a first-ever for the Strikers over an MLS opponent (1-0-2) W-T-L since 2012. It was a second penalty-shootout victory for the Strikers in the Open Cup this season following the dispatching of Richmond Kickers on penalties in the Third Round. Restrepo made three penalty kick saves in that match.

"It is an unbelievable achievement from the team and a well deserved win based on their performance tonight," said Head Coach and General Manager Caio Zanardi. "We showed that we should not be underestimated. I'm so proud of what our players and staff have accomplished. They played with their hearts on their sleeves tonight. It's a great mood in the locker room right now, but it's a long season and this is just one step: we need to keep progressing with hard work."

The Strikers held their own from the start, and lead the key statistical categories including possession, shots, and shots on goal at the halftime interval. Fort Lauderdale kept D.C. United from registering a shot until the 52nd minute of the match.

Two of the Strikers three shots in the first half came from former United striker, Maicon Santos, who's seventh-minute header went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Travis Worra. Santos would create space for another shot in the 29th minute after using speed and creativity from 20 yards out, only to see it be blocked en route to goal by an oncoming defender.

The second half was more evenly matched as D.C. United shifted gears. At the other end of the pitch, center back Gale Agbossoumonde put in a man-of-the-match performance at the heart of the Fort Lauderdale defense alongside former D.C. United man Julius James. Agbossoumonde made no fewer than four crucial tackles inside the penalty area to blank the MLS side.

Strikers goalkeeper Restrepo, coming off a successful Spring Season season, in which he played in the final six league games, going undefeated in his first five, was called into action on several occasions. His presence continued in net tonight, as he compiled double-digit saves.

"First of all, the guys in front of me were huge tonight," said Restrepo. "This was a team effort. We fought hard. The trip hasn't been easy, but it's good to bounce back from the defeat in Edmonton. Once again, credit to the guys: it was an incredible win."

Fort Lauderdale will discover their opponent for the Fifth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in a draw on Thursday, June 16. The match will take place on Wednesday, June 29.

On Sunday, Fort Lauderdale closed out the North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season with a 2-1 defeat away to FC Edmonton, wrapping up the 10-game season with a 4-3-3 (W-T-L) record and a 6th place finish. The 15 points tallied from the Spring Season are carried over into the Combined Standings as the Strikers look to finish the season as one of four teams competing in the NASL's four-team postseason tournament, The Championship.



North American Soccer League Stories from June 16, 2016


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