Open Cup GameThread: Columbus Crew At D.C. United

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

The Columbus Crew's goal for the season is to be the first team ever to win three straight Supporters' Shields. D.C. United has the goal of reclaiming the U.S. Open Cup. The two teams face each other twice this week. Can't we just work something out...?

Game Time: 7:30 pm

Television: The match will be streamed live on dcunited.com

Projected Starting Lineup: United rested many of their starters against Chivas USA in preparation for this match. The fans know that this is the most important match in the season to date, and the team seems to agree. So we will see Bill Hamid return to the net, and a backline consisting of the resurgent Marc Burch, Dejan Jakovic, Julius James, and Devon McTavish. Two players who didn't play on Sunday will line up at the top of the formation: the suddenly hot Danny Allsopp and Pablo Hernandez. Clyde Simms will look to wreak havoc in the midfield, and he may be joined by all three of United's talented wingers Andy Najar, Chris Pontius, and Santino Quaranta, although the coaching staff may give Stephen King another trot. Najar made a huge impact on the pace of the game in his short time on the field Sunday night - look for him to do it over 90 minutes tonight.

If you're going to the game, sing loud and help the team deliver us another Final appearance. This is your place for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game discussion.

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Starting lineup

Hamid
McTavish, James, Jakovic, Burch
Najar, Simms, King, Quaranta
Hernandez, Allsopp

I guess I was wrong on my hunch that Olsen would try to get all his best players on the field and start Pontius ahead of King

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

Knock on wood

Great to see the video player working properly on dcunited.com

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

Probably shouldn't show replays when action is going on, though.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait. Who actually takes penalties for DCU?

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 7:47 PM EDT reply actions

Beautiful penalty! Into the side netting

I was hoping for Najar to take it. But Hernandez was the right choice.

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Guess that answers that question.

Pablo Hernandez opens his account. (Although it’s a statement on the season that the guy who took the PK hadn’t scored a goal prior to said PK.)

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, fortunately the ref is consistent.

Oh wait.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

Second half subs

Allsopp doesn’t have it tonight. Najar has been ineffective - hasn’t gotten up quick enough in transition, and hasn’t helped that much defensively either.

How about Graye for Allsopp, with Najar moving to forward and McTavish moving to right wing?

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Can McTavish handle the right wing?

If he can, that sounds like it makes sense given how Najar’s playing so far.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Does Pontius fit in here somewhere?

I can also see a straight swap involving him, too.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Good call.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

If you guys really want to put your best players out there as per the discussion by Olsen

Pontius should probably come on at some stage.

by Nevtelen on Sep 1, 2025 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

Chad Marshall is having a rediculously good game

Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.

by Martin Shatzer on Sep 1, 2025 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

the Crew are looking a lot better this half

both of DC’s dangerous attacks have really been against the run of play

by Nevtelen on Sep 1, 2025 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

That was dirty all around.

Yellows to both Hernandez and O’Rourke, I’m okay with. But: what?

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

Um... wow.

As a neutral observer, I have to actually agree with the DC announcer. A red? For that?

by Nevtelen on Sep 1, 2025 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

I have to assume Hernandez was mouthing off to the ref pretty heavily.

Not sure I’d go straight red on that, but I’m not a huge fan of the way the game has been called - and I wasn’t a huge fan before that.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Sep 1, 2025 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I was watching from the dugout

Hernandez made a little punch at O’Rourke, and I knew he was in trouble. The red seemed strong, but not surprising. What was shocking to me though was how much O’Rourke was standing over Hernandez while he was down, yelling at him, pointing his finger, and getting in his face. I’ve never seen anyone yell that tenaciously at a prone player. Total thug move, but it worked. If we have a full strength team, we don’t lose this game.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 1, 2025 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions