GERMANTOWN, MD - Hristo Stoitchkov scored the game winner in the 97th minute as D.C. United defeated the Mariners 1-0 tonight in overtime to advance to the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup. D.C. will face the Wilmington Hammerheads (PSL) who beat the Dallas Burn, 4-1.
The early portion of the match was punctuated with five yellow cards in the first 16 minutes and a total of seven for the match - four to D.C. and three to the Mariners and a total of 40 fouls were called, 19 on the Mariners, 21 on D.C. United.
Both teams had difficulty mounting any offense. A total of seven shots on goal was recorded - 3 for the Mariners and 4 for D.C. United. United's best chance before the game winner came in the 19th minute, when Earnie Stewart controlled a ball just outside the box and unleashed a hard line drive on goal that was deflected by a Mariners' defender. The rebound came directly to Mike Petke but his shot from 12 yards out went sailing over the crossbar.
The Mariners nearly got on the board in the 62nd minute when Dante Washington forced his way into the left side of the box and ripped a 10-yard shot on goal that was saved by United keeper Doug Warren with a kick save. The Mariners continued to apply pressure and in the 67th minute, Roland Aguilera's shot from just outside the box crashed off the left post.
On the game-winning goal, Bryan Namoff sent a cross from the left side of the field. Stoitchkov beat the Mariners back line to the far right post and one touched a shot past Mariner keeper Matt Nelson for the game-winner.
D.C. United vs. Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners 0 0 0 0
D.C. United 0 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
DC - Stoitchkov (Namoff) 97
VIRGINIA BEACH - Matt Nelson; Russell Hutchinson, Stephen Danbusky, Richard Mahoney,
Kevin Knott; Hamisi Amani-Dove, Jeff Bilyk, Roland Aguilera, Jacob Fenger (Gary Williams, 80);
Dante Washington, Roy Lassiter (Capt., Carlos Garcia, 76).
Substitutes Not Used: Joe Larson, Daniel Alvarez, Cecil Lewis, Jeff Moore, Jamath Shoffner.
TOTAL SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 19; OFFSIDES: 7; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
D.C. UNITED - Doug Warren; David Stokes, Brandon Prideaux, Mike Petke (Capt.), Bryan Namoff;
Ben Olsen (Ali Curtis, 76), Jose Alegria (Ryan Nelsen, 66), Eliseo Quintanilla (Hristo Stoitchkov, 61),
Brian Carroll (Dema Kovalenko, 61); Earnie Stewart, Alecko Eskandarian.
Substitutes Not Used: Jorge Geddes, Nick Rimando, Galin Ivanov.
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 21; OFFSIDES: 3: CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 3
Misconduct Summary:
VB - Lassiter (caution) 12
D.C. - Petke (caution) 13
VB - Washington (caution) 15
VB - Bilyk (caution) 21
D.C. - Quintanilla (caution) 23
D.C. - Eskandarian (caution) 57
D.C. - Stokes (caution) 92+
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Referee's Assistants: Kenneth Kaplan, Tony Russo
4th Official: John Schmitz
Attendance: 2,870
Time of Game: 2:03
Weather: Clear and 81 degrees
