Gil debuts, but another teen steals the glory
June, 2, 2010
6/02/10
7:24
PM PT
By Scott French | ESPNLosAngeles.com
Garden Grove's Luis Gil made his first-team debut for Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night, coming off the bench in overtime to play 30 minutes, but it was D.C. United's teen sensation who made the difference.
Andy Nahar, a 17-year-old Honduran winger who scored his first Major League Soccer goal in D.C.'s victory last weekend over Chivas USA, weaved through the RSL box to net an overtime goal that gave United a 2-1 victory and a third-round berth in the U.S. Open Cup.
Gil, 16, the subject of an ESPN Los Angeles story last month, was inserted for Jean Alexandre heading into overtime and delivered one dangerous cross that led to nothing.
D.C. joins seven other MLS clubs, including the Galaxy and Chivas USA, that will enter the U.S. Open Cup in the third round on June 29. The Open Cup is America's oldest soccer competition, dating to 1914. The Ventura County Fusion, of the Premier Development League, also is participating in the tournament and will face the Arizona Sahuaros (of the National Premier Soccer League) in a first-round match June 15 at Ventura College.
The New York Red Bills also advanced to the tournament through an MLS qualifying tournament, beating Colorado last week to claim its berth.
RSL's Will Johnson converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute six minutes after Luciano Emilio's PK sent D.C. ahead. Both spot kicks were awarded after hand balls.
D.C. defender Julius James was red-carded just before the final whistle after knocking down RSL forward Fabian Espindola.
Andy Nahar, a 17-year-old Honduran winger who scored his first Major League Soccer goal in D.C.'s victory last weekend over Chivas USA, weaved through the RSL box to net an overtime goal that gave United a 2-1 victory and a third-round berth in the U.S. Open Cup.
Gil, 16, the subject of an ESPN Los Angeles story last month, was inserted for Jean Alexandre heading into overtime and delivered one dangerous cross that led to nothing.
D.C. joins seven other MLS clubs, including the Galaxy and Chivas USA, that will enter the U.S. Open Cup in the third round on June 29. The Open Cup is America's oldest soccer competition, dating to 1914. The Ventura County Fusion, of the Premier Development League, also is participating in the tournament and will face the Arizona Sahuaros (of the National Premier Soccer League) in a first-round match June 15 at Ventura College.
The New York Red Bills also advanced to the tournament through an MLS qualifying tournament, beating Colorado last week to claim its berth.
RSL's Will Johnson converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute six minutes after Luciano Emilio's PK sent D.C. ahead. Both spot kicks were awarded after hand balls.
D.C. defender Julius James was red-carded just before the final whistle after knocking down RSL forward Fabian Espindola.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scott French
Orange County native Scott French has been writing about soccer for more than 30 years for dozens of publications and Web sites. He was senior editor at Soccer America and was managing editor of MajorLeagueSoccer Magazine from April 2007 until summer 2009. He has covered three World Cups for the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Los Angeles Daily News, two Women's World Cups for Soccer America, the Olympic Games, European Championship, nine MLS Cups and all five professional women's championships.
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