U.S. Open Cup - DC United x New York Red Bulls
August 23, 2006
RFK Stadium
Washington, D.C.

Jamil Walker the Hero as DC United Moves on to US Open Cup Semifinals After defeating Arena’s Red Bulls 3-1

- By Joseph Schoenbauer, Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Two second-half goals from forward Jamil Walker propelled an under-strength DC United side into the semifinals of the US Open Cup Wednesday night, as they eventually ran out 3-1 victors over a full- strength New York Red Bulls in front of nearly 9,000 fans.

As expected, head coach Peter Nowak used the quarterfinal match up to rest several players, and to give an opportunity to players on the fringe of the first team.  Simms, Mediate, Dyachenko, Walker, and Rimando all started, while David Stokes and Matt Nickell were given minutes in the second half. 

As expected, DC United still had the quality to comfortably defeat a porous New York Red Bull side, whose star player, Amado Guevara, must be delirious from playing with a side lacking style, ability and structure for so long.

Josh Gros got DC United off the mark in minute 37 when Dyachenko rose highest to nod down a Mediate cross into his path.  Gros did well to pounce and get his sliding foot to the ball, just in front of an outstretched Tony Meola, and poke the ball into the corner of the net.

Just four minutes later New York fought back when Nick Rimando failed to properly deal with a long-range shot.  The rebound fell nicely to Guevara, who all alone, made no mistake in finishing to Rimando’s left.

DC United piled on the pressure in the second half, and was justly rewarded for their efforts in minute 61, when Jamil Walker nodded in a bouncing ball from 2 yards out to send DC United’s fans into raptures. 

Only moments before Walker gave DC the lead, Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno had been subbed on for the tiring Dyachenko and Mediate.  Olsen and Moreno proved to be a handful from the outset, and while they were not directly involved in the goal, the energy they brought to the field was there for all to see.

Ben Olsen was like a kid again as he reveled in the role of attacking center mid that is normally occupied by Christian Gomez.  With Carroll and Simms behind him, he had the freedom to join the attack, and he combined well on several occasions with Jaime Moreno.  One such occasion found him with the ball on the end line.  At high speed, he cleverly played the ball through Carlos Mendes’s legs before playing a deft ball across the goalmouth that Josh Gros just failed to steer home.  But it was inspired play from DC United’s #14.

Ben Olsen capped off his substitute performance with a well-placed pass in minute 84 that found Jamil Walker unmarked near the top of the 18.  With a rare calmness, perhaps afforded to him by the weak New York defense, Jamil Walker picked his spot and gave Meola no chance as he found the lower left corner of the net to give DC United the decisive 3-1 victory.

DC United faces the Chicago Fire in the semifinals on September 6, in Chicago.

Santino Quaranta Returns to RFK with LA Galaxy

Saturday August 26 marks Santino Quaranta’s first return to Washington DC as a member of the LA Galaxy.  After suffering years of injuries and a lack of first team opportunities, DC United and Santino parted ways 2 weeks ago.  In three games for the Galaxy, Quaranta has scored two brilliant goals, including the game winner in his debut.