Philadelphia Daily News John Smallwood column
By John Smallwood, Philadelphia Daily News | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
In the end, the script became all too familiar -- heartbreak as another team celebrated a championship at
For more than 100 minutes, U.S. national team star
But like all great players, he needed only one moment to make his presence felt.
Dempsey's strike in the 101st minute proved to be the difference as the Seattle Sounders won their fourth Open Cup in 6 years by beating the Union, 3-1, in extra time at
Playing for the first trophy in franchise history, the Union might have deserved a better result, but, ultimately, the team was like the Flyers in 2010, the Phillies in 2009, Eagles in 2004 and
The Open Cup isn't the ultimate prize in U.S. professional soccer.
The Union still has a good shot at making the MLS playoffs and having a run at the MLS Cup.
That quest will continue on Saturday when the Union hosts the
But the Open Cup was a big prize to play for. The winner is the club champion of
The atmosphere at PPL was intense, as Union fans came out strong in an effort to spur the 5-year-old franchise to its first trophy.
"We want the Cup, gotta have that Cup" was chanted around the stadium throughout the 90 minutes of regulation and much of the two 15-minute extra-time periods.
The realization that things were not to be did not sink in until
Thousands of miles from home, the Sounders were still able to celebrate with a group of fans who had packed into a section at PPL.
It was an especially disappointing night for Union interim manager
In the days leading up to the final, Curtin, 35, spoke of the pressure he felt at not wanting to let his city down in the quest for a championship.
Curtin was only 4 when the
When you are playing for the first championship in franchise history, nothing is too small in the quest for even the slightest edge.
The Union tried to get the gods of soccer to give a slight smile of approval by paying homage to the region's great tradition, acknowledging prior Open Cup winners
When the championship trophy was rolled onto the field, it was accompanied by the Rev.
And to its credit, the Union took play right to
But
Less than 3 minutes into the second half,
If there was a curse on
But considering how many combined seasons the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies and
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