BY MATT GAJTKA
Getting ready for kickoff …
Match: Riverhounds vs. D.C. United, 7 p.m., U.S. Open Cup, fourth round, Highmark Stadium
Video: USL YouTube
Online: Live stats / Multimedia / Media notes
And if you missed it this morning, this was my preview of this match.
Pregame notes 5 p.m.: The Riverhounds’ coaching staff faced a scouting challenge over the past three days. Even though D.C. United played at Orlando City on Sunday night, it’s likely that the visitors start a drastically different lineup on short rest. Coach Mark Steffens said that, in U.S. Open Cup matches, MLS teams will usually field lineups consisting of “half starters and half guys who are dying to get in there.” … This is the fourth round of the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament, but the first that includes MLS teams. Fifteen of the 16 matches this week feature MLS clubs taking on lower-division foes, including 12 MLS-vs.-USL battles. USL teams went 0-7 last night in the Cup, although two losses were in the penalty-kick shootout. … The Riverhounds’ six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions ended Saturday in a 2-1 road loss to Charlotte. Although his club wasted an excellent strike from Lebo Moloto in first-half stoppage time, Steffens was impressed by how his team pushed back in the final 20 minutes – despite playing with just 10 men after midfielder Danny Earls‘ red card. “In the first half, we were poor, but when we played a man down, we played our best, because we had some urgency.” … Moloto, who has three goals and four assists in his first USL season, will miss the game with a hamstring strain, as will creative wing back Matt Dallman (hip flexor). Those absences compromise a Riverhounds team determined to play aggressively, but Earls maintained the company line: “The manager doesn’t want us to sit back, especially at home. You want to please the fans, you want to get goals.” … One of the most decorated clubs in MLS, United has won the U.S. Open Cup three times, most recently in 2013; only the Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire have more, with four each. United has also claimed four regular-season MLS championships and four league playoff titles in its 20 years.
4:33: Calle Brown will start in goal for the Riverhounds.
Mike Green defends the Charlotte attack in the 2-1 loss Saturday. — RIVERHOUNDS
June 17, 2015
Final: D.C. United 3, Riverhounds 1, OT
27by Matt Gajtka • Game previews • Riverhounds
BY MATT GAJTKA
Getting ready for kickoff …
Match: Riverhounds vs. D.C. United, 7 p.m., U.S. Open Cup, fourth round, Highmark Stadium
Video: USL YouTube
Online: Live stats / Multimedia / Media notes
And if you missed it this morning, this was my preview of this match.
Pregame notes 5 p.m.: The Riverhounds’ coaching staff faced a scouting challenge over the past three days. Even though D.C. United played at Orlando City on Sunday night, it’s likely that the visitors start a drastically different lineup on short rest. Coach Mark Steffens said that, in U.S. Open Cup matches, MLS teams will usually field lineups consisting of “half starters and half guys who are dying to get in there.” … This is the fourth round of the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament, but the first that includes MLS teams. Fifteen of the 16 matches this week feature MLS clubs taking on lower-division foes, including 12 MLS-vs.-USL battles. USL teams went 0-7 last night in the Cup, although two losses were in the penalty-kick shootout. … The Riverhounds’ six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions ended Saturday in a 2-1 road loss to Charlotte. Although his club wasted an excellent strike from Lebo Moloto in first-half stoppage time, Steffens was impressed by how his team pushed back in the final 20 minutes – despite playing with just 10 men after midfielder Danny Earls‘ red card. “In the first half, we were poor, but when we played a man down, we played our best, because we had some urgency.” … Moloto, who has three goals and four assists in his first USL season, will miss the game with a hamstring strain, as will creative wing back Matt Dallman (hip flexor). Those absences compromise a Riverhounds team determined to play aggressively, but Earls maintained the company line: “The manager doesn’t want us to sit back, especially at home. You want to please the fans, you want to get goals.” … One of the most decorated clubs in MLS, United has won the U.S. Open Cup three times, most recently in 2013; only the Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire have more, with four each. United has also claimed four regular-season MLS championships and four league playoff titles in its 20 years.
4:33: Calle Brown will start in goal for the Riverhounds.
Mike Green defends the Charlotte attack in the 2-1 loss Saturday. — RIVERHOUNDS
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