The Colorado Rapids were eliminated from the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night after losing 3-1 to Orlando City SC in the Third Round match played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Orlando's Bryan Burke put the home side up early but Colorado's Kamani Hill equalized to send the team even at the break. However the Lions' Dom Dwyer scored twice in the second - once after Rapids goalkeeper Stew Ceus was ejected - to advance the USL Pro side to the fourth round of the 100-year-old tournament.
It was a nightmare start for Colorado, which started a group that had plenty of MLS experience. In just the fourth minute the defense failed to clear a ball from danger and Orlando's Burke ripped a shot from 20 yards that was deflected by defender Anthony Wallace in the box and skipped past Ceus to put the home side up 1-0.
Colorado would equalize in the 18th minute when Kamani Hill picked off an Orlando pass and beat goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo on the breakaway.
Orlando's Dwyer nearly gave his side the lead in the 41st but the referee waived off the goal after ruling Dwyer was offside, sending the teams to the break tied 1-1.
Neither side made changes to start the second half, but it was Orlando which once again struck early. In just the 48th minute, Dwyer, on loan from Sporting KC, found himself unmarked at the far post and easily headed in a cross by Burke from right side to put the Lions up 2-1.
The game changed drastically less than 10 minutes later when Ceus was ejected for taking down Dwyer just outside the box. Dwyer got behind the Colorado defense and through on goal when Ceus came out to attempt to stop the play. Dwyer headed the ball past Ceus, but Rapids defender Shane O'Neill was able to chase the ball down and clear it off the line. The referee then confirmed with his assistant referee and ruled that Ceus had fouled Dwyer on the breakaway and showed the goalkeeper a red card.
Goalkeeper Clint Irwin came into the the match at the expense of winger Kevin Harbottle as the Rapids played the final 30 minutes a man down. Five minutes later, Dwyer sealed the game when he tapped in a cross from Long Tan from the right side to put Orlando up 3-1. It was Dwyer's 16th goal in all competions this year.
The win was Orlando's first-ever over an MLS side. They advance to the fourth round to meet Sporting KC. Now eliminated from the Open Cup, the Rapids return home to face FC Dallas in League play on June 1.
Scoring summary:
ORL - Bryan Burke 4'
COL - Kamani Hill 18'
ORL - Dom Dwyer 48'
ORL - Dom Dwyer 63'
Disciplinary Summary:
ORL - Anthony Pulis (caution) 33'
COL - Shane O'Neill (caution) 36'
COL - Stew Ceus (ejection) 56'
ORL - Adama Mbengue (caution) 65'
COL - Atiba Harris (caution) 82'
Colorado Rapids lineup: Stew Ceus, Marvell Wynne, Shane O'Neill, German Mera, Anthony Wallace, Nick LaBrocca (Atiba Harris 72'), Dillon Powers, Kevin Harbottle (Clint Irwin 58'), Tony Cascio, Kamani Hill (Deshorn Brown 66'), Danny Mwanga.
Subs not used: Brenton Griffiths, Kory Kindle, Nathan Sturgis, Chris Klute
Orlando City lineup: Miguel Gallardo, Yann Songo’o, Bryan Burke, Luke Boden, Rob Valentino, Anthony Pulis, James O’Connor, Kevin Molino, Adama Mbengue (Jamie Watson 67), Dom Dwyer, Long Tan (Dennis Chin 76)
Attendance: 4,128
