It was a time where a Democrat in the White House was besieged by Republicans in Congress, with government shut downs the result of the two sides' inability to come to agreement on the big policy issues of the day. The year, 1996. MLS was in its inaugural season, and its 10 teams found themselves entered into an outside tournament, the oldest in America, providing teams two opportunities to lift hardware that first year.
Of course, only one club would lift anything, as D.C. United brought home both the U.S. Open Cup just 10 days after claiming the inaugural MLS Cup. Times have changed - a new set of Republicans in Congress, a new Democratic president, a new shutdown crisis, and the Black-and-Red certainly won't be lifting MLS Cup this year - but United will play Real Salt Lake tomorrow in Sandy, Utah for the 100th Open Cup.
It would be los Capitalinos third Open Cup crown and record-breaking 13th trophy since the club's founding in 1996. Get fired up for it with the highlights of that first double-clinching win, and share your favorite Open Cup memories in the comments.
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