Farr Out!!!!

Teammates mob Jordan Farr after he stopped his 4th of 5 PKs to clinch DC's win

DC United advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, defeating Charlotte FC on penalties last night (May 21) at Audi Field.

It was an exciting game on a rainy night, and the penalty shootout was equally exciting. DC missed their last 3 penalties, but fortunately DC goalkeeper Jordan Farr (who had not played a minute all year until tonight, and was brought in just for the shootout) stopped FOUR of Charlotte's five penalties! There were more goals during the game (6) than during the penalty shootout (3). Farr is mobbed by his teammates after the winning stop in the first photo above.

First, the obligatory lineup. DC started

Kim Joon-Hong in goal (I have been calling him "Kim" since usually in Korea the last name is given first, but his jersey says Joon-Hong, so I will start going with that)

Schnegg, Rowles, Bartlett, Tubbs, Herrera in defense

Peglow, Enow, Servania, Kijima in midfield

Murrell at forward

Subs: Stroud for Peglow (halftime), Hopkins for Enow (62nd), Peltola for Bartlett (62nd), Kristian Fletcher for Murrell (69th), Leal for Kijima (69th), Jordan Farr for Joon-Hong (119th).

DC started well. Kijima had a good shot saved in the 3rd minute, and Peglow almost scored off a Charlotte goalkeeper David Bingham error in the 6th minute. DC finally broke through in the 17th minute, as Schnegg took a cross from Herrera and ripped a left-footed half-volley into the upper left corner. It was 1-0 DC at halftime.

DC was playing well and seemed in little danger, but in the 58th minute Charlotte's Patrick Agyemang nutmegged a DC defender and scored to the far post, tying the game at 1-1. Three minutes later, Charlotte's Bill Tuiloma scored an unmarked header off a corner kick and just like that, Charlotte was ahead 2-1.

Charlotte had other good chances and hit the crossbar, but the score stayed 2-1. Still, things looked grim. However, in the 87th minute Leal crossed to Tubbs, who scored to tie the game at 2-2. It stayed that way through the rest of regulation.

In extra time, Charlotte's Tyger Smalls tapped in an easy goal after a great cross from Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. DC was behind again, but they tied it up again in the 104th minute when Hopkins converted a rebound from a very tight angle on the left. Extra time ended with the score 3-3. Farr was brought on in the 119th minute for the penalty shootout. This was premeditated according to DC coach Troy Lesesne as Farr has a history of being good in penalty shootouts. That would certainly be the case on this night.

Time for penalties. DC went first. Herrera: score. Malanda for Charlotte: SAVED. Hopkins for DC: score. Biel for Charlotte: SAVE. Looking real good!

But not so fast. Stroud for DC: SAVE. Bronico for Charlotte: score. Fletcher for DC: SAVE. The edge had evaporated.

Tavares for Charlotte, to even the shootout: SAVE. Amazing! All Peltola had to do was score for DC and it was over, but no: SAVE. Decent penalty actually, but great save from Bingham.

Then Abada for Charlotte to send it to extra penalties, surely Farr can't save 4! But: SAVE!!!!! DC wins. I've been watching games for decades and can't remember a goalie making 4 saves in 1 shootout. 3, yes; 4, no. And every one of them was necessary.

DC's quarterfinal match will be on July 8 in Nashville. Back in the MLS regular season, DC plays again in just two days: Saturday May 24 at 730pm vs the New York Red Bulls at Audi Field. There will be some tired legs, but New York also went 120 minutes in defeating FC Dallas on penalties in their Open Cup match last night, so the teams should be even fatigue-wise.

Final note: the roof on the West Stand at Audi Field leaks a LOT (see photo below from last night). And the stadium is less than 7 years old...

Yes, those streams of water are coming down from leaks in the West Stand roof