Union, Dynamo reach US Open final
Burke at the double
NEW YORK, Aug 9, (AFP): The US Open Cup will have a first-time champion this year. The Philadelphia Union, who lost in both of their previous appearances in the US Open Cup final, and the Houston Dynamo, who never previously made the title game, both advanced with semifinal wins Wednesday.
Behind three second-half goals, the Union beat the Chicago Fire 3-0 in Chester, Pa. Cory Burke scored in the 59th and 77th minutes, and C.J. Sapong sealed the result with an 86thminute goal.
The Dynamo and Los Angeles FC played to a 3-3 tie in Houston, but the hosts pulled out a 7-6 win in a penalty shootout. Joe Willis’ save on Latif Blessing’s attempt in the eighth round of the shootout clinched the victory.
Houston will play host to the 105th US Open Cup title match on Sept 26.
The Union dropped the US Open Cup final to the Seattle Sounders in 2014 and to Sporting Kansas City in 2015, both times in Chester.
Alejandro Bedoya assisted on both of Burke’s goals, and Sapong had an assist in addition to his goal. Union goalie Andre Blake was called upon to make just one save in the shutout win.
Dynamo prevailed despite a second-half collapse. Houston led 3-1 before LAFC’s Diego Rossi completed a hat trick by scoring in the 78th minute and then the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. That forced the contest to extra time and ultimate penalty kicks.
Andrew Wenger, Mauro Manotas and Memo Rodriguez scored in regulation for Houston. Rossi had opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
The US Open Cup winner automatically qualifies for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.
A late own goal by the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Doneil Henry created a 2-2 tie with Toronto FC in the first leg of the national final at Vancouver, British Columbia.
The second leg will be played Aug 15 in Toronto, where TFC will be looking for its third consecutive national title. The Canadian Championship winner advances to the CONCACAF Champions League. With seconds remaining in the announced minimum of five minutes of second-half stoppage time, Toronto’s Michael Bradley delivered a long ball to teammate Jozy Altidore near the top of the Vancouver 18-yard box. Altidore flicked the ball near the penalty spot, where Henry, defending in front of TFC’s Tosaint Ricketts, stooped and headed the ball straight past Whitecaps goalie Stefan Marinovic. Vancouver had moved ahead 2-1 on Erik Hurtado’s 84thminute goal.