They spent 93 minutes toiling in a relentless heat, the frustration growing with every chance that missed the mark.
So it was fitting that substitute forward Jamil Walker notched the go-ahead goal for D.C. United just three minutes into the first overtime period of Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup fourth round game against Columbus. Anyone who started the game at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown had long since run out of gas.
Walker, who entered the contest in the 67th minute, flicked a free kick by teammate Christian Gomez into the Columbus net in the 93rd minute as United held on for a 2-1 victory.
With the win, D.C. advances to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, a 90-year-old single-elimination tournament open to all affiliated amateur and professional soccer teams in the country. United hosts the winner of tonight’s fourth round game between Wilmington and the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 23 at RFK Stadium.
“We had plenty of chances all game,” Walked said. “But I’m glad I was the one to put one away and give our guys a break. That would have been a tough game to lose.”
D.C. fell behind 1-0 after a goal by Crew defender Chad Marshall in the 18th minute. But forward Jaime Moreno slipped a corner kick by Gomez past Columbus keeper Bill Gaudette in the 22nd minute to tie the score at 1. United dominated from there, outshooting Columbus 32-10 overall.
