Out of the Open Cup

DC United started strong but lost, 5-2 to Nashville (in Nashville) in a US Open Cup quarterfinal match last night (July 9).

DC started:

Joon-Hong in goal

Rowles, Bartlett, Peltola in defense

Schnegg, Enow, Servania, Herrera in midfield

Peglow, Benteke, Pirani at forward

Subs: Badji for Benteke (67th), Stroud for Schnegg (79th), Leal for Pirani (79th), Hopkins for Enow (84th).

Pirani scorched a shot from outside the box to put DC up 1-0 in the 5th minute. DC doubled their lead in the 24th minute as Schnegg crossed to the center of the box and Nashville's Jack Maher scored an own goal trying to prevent Benteke from getting the pass.

Unfortunately, the 2-0 lead only lasted a minute. Herrera tried to clear the ball from the right side of the box and only succeeded in hitting Bartlett. The ball bounced directly to Jonathan Perez in front of goal and he buried the chance to cut the lead to 2-1. The first half ended with that score.

DC was holding their ground until the 51st minute, when Herrera was called for a penalty. Replays showed that the ball hit his chest and not his arm, but VAR inexplicably did not overturn the call. Even the announcers were befuddled. Sam Surridge converted to tie the game at 2-2.

DC seemed to get worn down as the second half continued, and after Benteke was subbed out in the 67th minute it got worse. The dam broke in the 72nd minute. Perez penetrated the right side and crossed to Surridge for an easy tapin, and Nashville was ahead 3-2. That was pretty much it. DC's energy level dropped and Nashville tacked on 2 more goals: a wonder strike from about 30 yards by Andy Najar in the 81st minute, and an uncontested header by Walker Zimmerman in the 87th minute. Not an unexpected result with Nashville unbeaten in 14 straight games, in Supporters Shield contention, and playing at home, but disappointing in the way it played out.

DC stays on the road for the next week and a half. First they play at the LA Galaxy on Saturday (July 12) at 1030pm Eastern, and then they play at Charlotte on July 16 and at Columbus on July 19.