US Open Cup 2012: Union Defeat Harrisburg To Advance To Semifinals
The Philadelphia Union was favored to take care of business against the surprising and scrappy Harrisburg City Islanders, and did so in impressive fashion.
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The Philadelphia Union will continue their run in the 2012 US Open Cup Tuesday, as they host the USL Pro Division's Harrisburg City Islanders at PPL Park (7:30 p.m. ET). The winner will advance to the tournament's semifinal round to player either the MLS' Sporting Kansas City or USLP's Dayton Dutch Lions on July 10 or 11th.
Despite playing in a league rated lower than the MLS, the Dutch Lions have made a living of defeating seemingly superior opponents as they have already eliminated the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution. Already this season, Harrisburg defeated the Union 3-2 in a friendly on June 12 at Hersheypark Stadium.
If the Union earn a victory Tuesday, they will move onto the Final Four which would feature another home match. The Union have never won a US Open Championship nor advanced this far in the annual event.
For more on the Union, please be sure to check out our blog Brotherly Game and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.
The Philadelphia Union defeated the Rochester Rhinos, 3-0, during a rain delayed 2012 U.S. Open Cup third round matchup at PPL Park. Play was suspended in the 22nd minute with the Union up 1-0. Play resumed at 8:50 p.m. ET and Philadelphia went on to an easy victory to advance to the fourth round where they will take on D.C. United on June 5.
Josue Martinez deflected a Freddy Adu corner kick into the bottom corner of the net to give the Union a 1-0 lead at the five-minute mark. Martinez returned the favor for Adu at the 29-minute mark, setting up a header to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. Adu scored on a penalty kick at the 73-minute mark to cap the Union's scoring and give himself two goals for the game.
The win was the Union's first ever in their history of participating in the U.S. Open Cup. They lost 2-1 to United last year on penalty kicks.
For more on the Union, please be sure to check out our blog Brotherly Game and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.
The Philadelphia Union will host a U.S. Open Cup match Tuesday night for the first time in franchise history. Though the Union's meeting with the USL's Rochester Rhinos will not be televised, it can be viewed online at PhiladelphiaUnion.com where the Union will post live streaming of the event beginning at 7:35 p.m.
The U.S. Open Cup expanded this year to include all 64 United States professional soccer clubs, leaving all Major League Soccer teams with a bye into the third round. That's how the Union find themselves hosting the third round despite never having won a single match in the tournament.
The Union failed to register a win in either of their first two trips to the U.S. Open Cup. They lost to the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in 2010 and fell 2-1 to DC United last year in penalty kicks.
For more on the Union, please be sure to check out our blog Brotherly Game and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.
