The New England Revolution welcomed the Philadelphia Union to Jordan Field in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
New England threatens early on
Despite some good early passing from Philadelphia, New England would be the first to get an opportunity at goal when Kei Kamara threw himself at a Steve Neumann cross, despite being surrounded by a number of Philadelphia defenders, who cleared the ensuing deflection.
New England would again find themselves on the front foot in the 8th minute of play when Kelyn Rowe faked a shot on the edge of the box, found space and let one rip but Andre Blake was up to it and claimed the shot with ease.
Philadelphia respond
Philadelphia would, however, break the pressure in the 13th minute when Ilsinho played a one-two with Tranquillo Barnetta before playing C.J. Sapong into goal who was taken down on the edge of the box by Samba. Roland Alberg's ensuing free kick would, however, hit Ken Tribbett and trickle out for a goal kick.
The Union would continue to pressure the New England defense as Fabinho floated a cross into the box in the 16th minute but Ilsinho's header would be blocked by Jose Goncalves.
Diego Fagundez would acrobatically find the feet of Kamara, who tried to shoot from short range, but Blake closed the angle and saved the shot with ease in the 28th minute.
Despite a lull in the action, the match would burst to life late in the first half when Ray Gaddis launched a dangerous low cross into the box but no one managed to get a foot on it, the subsequent fast break saw Kei Kamara burst down the field, but he put his shot agonizingly wide of goal in the 36th minute.
New England breaks the deadlock
The Union would shoot themselves in the foot late in the first half as Diego Fagundez found Je-Vaughn Watson in acres of space, unmarked on the left side of the box following a corner and the Jamaican slotted home with no opposition making it 1-0 to the home side right before halftime.
New England would nearly add a second goal just a minute later when Kelyn Rowe's shot was spilled by Blake, but Kamara fouled Ken Tribbett in the box before he could get to the rebound as the half ended in favor of New England.
A quick start for Philadelphia
Philadelphia would be out of the gates quickly at the start of the second half, earning a free kick just a minute into play as Alberg found the head of Barnetta, but Brad Knighton caught the header with ease.
End to end but no end product
New England would respond just minutes later as Kei Kamara met their own corner, only to head it wide of goal in the 48th minute.
The attacking pressure continued for the Revolution in the 51st minute when Kamara found himself with time and space on the edge of the box, but Tribbett positioned himself well to block the shot as New England continued their search for their second goal amidst shouts for a handball.
Ilsinho would nearly equalize just a minute later, dribbling through several defenders in the New England box, but Watson came across goal just in time to tackle the ball off of the Brazilian before he got his shot off.
There would be a last minute defensive heroics from New England when Ilsinho dribbled down the right side, cut in and passed the ball off to Alberg, but Scott Caldwell would make the last-gasp block from point blank range.
The Revolution would nearly add a second goal in the 69th minute when a long ball found the feet of Kamara but once again Blake was up to the challenge, saving Kamara's shot dramatically.
Lee Nguyen found himself in acres of space in the closing minutes of the second half, but the U.S. international skied his shot well high and wide of goal.
As the clock ticked toward full time it looked more and more likely that the Union would be knocked out, but in true Philadelphia fashion, they came roaring back through the super sub, Fabian Herbers who struck on the stroke of the 90th minute to send the match into extra time.
The action continues
The first major opportunity of extra time fell to Philadelphia. Following some intricate dribbling from Ilsinho, the ball fall to the feet of Leo Fernandes who let a shot rip in the heart of the penalty area but Brad Knighton claimed it with vigor to keep the score level.
Ilsinho would again be the danger man, dribbling and launching a rocket of a shot toward goal in the 13th minute of extra but his shot would just skim the bar and go out for a goal kick.
The dramatics continued right on the stroke of extra time half time as Andre Blake made a spectacular three saves within the space of seconds to keep Philadelphia in the match.
Kelyn Rowe nearly found the winner in the penultimate minute of extra but his effort would curl just above goal.
While the Eastern conference foes would exchange chances in the second period of extra time, neither found the back of the net as the match went to penalties.
Lee Nguyen would step up first for New England converting past Blake to make the shootout 1-0. Sebastian Le Toux would then step up for Philadelphia, but his penalty would be palmed away by a triumphant Knighton. Chris Tierney made it 2-0 for New England followed by Ilsinho who made it 2-1. Scott Caldwell would miss and Sapong would have his penalty saved by Knighton as it remained 2-1 but was then increased to 3-1 by Jose Goncalves while Fabian Herbers pulled it back to 3-2 but to no avail, as Watson stepped up to convert the winning penalties, amidst cries of improper conduct on the penalty on his part.
Regardless of the controversy. the shootout victory means that New England advance to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals to face the Chicago Fire.