A pub league team from Baltimore sponsored by a discount liquor store had their storybook US Open Cup run ended with a 4-1 loss to DC United on Tuesday, but not before giving their top-flight opponent a mighty scare.
Christos FC, the last amateur team standing in the knockout competition, struck first in the 22nd minute when Mamadou Kansaye pounded a free kick into the back of the net to stun the Major League Soccer side and the crowd of 5,286 at Maryland SoccerPlex.
DC United, who fielded a mostly reserve side, equalized 10 minutes later through midfielder Julian Buescher, but the score remained level through 80 minutes.
That’s when fatigue hit Christos FC, a club without a regular training schedule whose roster includes a loan officer, a plumber and an x-ray technician. Ultimately, United’s Lloyd Sam broke through with an 81st goal from outside the area before insurance goals from Buescher (90th) and Ian Harkes (92nd) accounted for the final tally.
“These guys [United] train every day,” co-coach Bryan Bugarin told the Washington Post. “You can just tell we had tired legs at the end. We knew we could play, soccer-wise. It was, ‘Hey, how long can we last, fitness-wise?’”
DC United go through to the fifth round of the 103-year-old competition, which includes clubs from every level of the American soccer pyramid and amateur teams who qualify through their leagues. They advance to face the winner of Wednesday’s match between the Philadelphia Union and the Harrisburg City Islanders.
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