It almost wouldn’t be a D.C. United game in the U.S. Open Cup without things getting weird at the Maryland SoccerPlex, and that’s precisely what happened. Following 6 minutes of play, an 82-minute lightning delay, and then 114 more minutes of soccer, United and Orlando City headed to penalties before the Lions came out on top, advancing to the quarterfinals via the tiebreaker.
The game kicked off under pleasant skies, but the Plex’s lightning detection system can spot any strikes within a 10-mile radius. With 5:15 on the game clock, that’s exactly what happened, and an 82-minute delay ensued before the all-clear was given.