U.S. Open Cup

Cephas nets pair to lead Richmond past D.C. United 2-1 in Round of 16.

RICHMOND, Va. (Wednesday, July 21, 2004) -- Rookie striker McColm Cephas scored once in each half leading the Richmond Kickers to a 2-1 triumph over D.C. United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 before 8,776 at University of Richmond Stadium tonight.

"You have to play to (Cephas') strength -- blazing speed," Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw told the Richmond Times-Disptach. "You saw it tonight. He was absolutely lightning. He's got a knack for the goal and he's unpredictable."

The Kickers became the fourth team from the second-tier A-League to eliminate a club from the first-division Major League Soccer in the Open Cup's fourth round. In other A-League victories yesterday, the Minnesota Thunder edged the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0, the Charleston Battery dropped the MetroStars 1-0 and the Rochester Raging Rhinos defeated the New England Revolution 3-1 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.

"This was a huge win because they're in a league above us, but we have so many players capable of being there, " Richmond defender Joey Worthen, who assisted Cephas' second tally, told the Times-Dispatch. "I think we could beat these guys on a regular basis."

While the Kickers advanced and will host MLS's Chicago Fire August 4 here in the quarterfinals, it was United's 15-year-old midfielder Freddy Adu who was largely responsible for drawing what was believed to be the largest attendance in Richmond's 12-year history. Adu played the second half as a reserve.

Cephas' hustle exploited a United defensive lapse to take the lead for good in the 33rd minute. Defender Mike Petke and goalkeeper Nick Rimando attempted to collect a long pass from the Kickers defense, but as both approached the ball, neither won possession. Instead it was Cephas, a Liberia native and high-scoring product of Richmond's Virginia Commonwealth University who won the ball and scored for a 1-0 advantage.

"He (Petke) was kind of slow on the ball and I knew I was going to beat him with my speed," Cephas, who is listed at 5-foot-6 and 155 pounds, told the Times-Dispatch.

In the 64th minute, Worthen played a give-and-go with midfielder Richie Williams, who played on three MLS Cup champion United teams. Worthen then sent a quality cross to Cephas who made it 2-0.

"We've been working all week on getting our crosses just in front of the defense on the ground," Worthen said. "It was how we drew it up."

Striker Nana Kuffour, who came off the bench to make his United debut five minutes earlier, headed home an Adu corner kick in the 82nd minute to narrow his club's deficit to 2-1.

"I'm extremely disappointed, no question," United coach Peter Nowak said. "We're going back to work tomorrow and we will work, because we didn't work tonight."

United opened the game as the aggressor with forwards Alecko Eskandarian and Jaime Moreno, and midfielder Josh Gros holding possession deep into Richmond's defensive third. After Eskandarian's restart nearly missed defender Ezra Hendrickson on a back-post run, the Kickers produced threatening shots by Worthen and forward Kevin Jeffrey.

Trailing 2-0, United midfielder Dema Kovalenko sent a blast just over the crossbar and Adu nailed the woodwork above keeper Ronnie Pascale. Adu later found Kovalenko, but the Ukrainian's six-yard bid was deflected just wide of goal frame before D.C. finally got on the scoreboard.

MLS (10): Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New England Revolution, MetroStars, San Jose Earthquakes
A-League (8): Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Syracuse Salty Dogs, Virginia Beach Mariners.
Pro Select League (6): Charlotte Eagles, New Hampshire Phantoms, San Diego Gauchos, Utah Blitzz, Western Massachusetts Pioneers, Wilmington Hammerheads.
Premier Development League (8): Boulder Rapids Reserves, Cape Cod Crusaders, Carolina Dynamo, Chicago Fire Reserves, Cocoa Expos, DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) Tornadoes, South Jersey Barons, Spokane Shadow
USASA (8): Allied FC (Baltimore), Azzurri (Dallas), Chico Rooks, Legends FC (Texas), Milwaukee Bavarians, N.Y. Greek-American-Atlas, SAC Wisla (Chicago), Sacramento Knights.