Riverhounds knocked out of U.S. Open Cup by cross-state nemesis Philadelphia

CHESTER — Along the banks of the Delaware River on Wednesday, a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and host Philadelphia Union unfolded. The location itself, Subaru Park in Chester, would have made George Washington nod in approval of this first matchup between the state’s two biggest professional soccer clubs.

But the Riverhounds lost 4-1 to Philadelphia of the MLS. The Union didn’t start their normal 11, allowing 15-year-old Cavin Sullivan to begin the game. Sullivan will move to England and play for Manchester City when he turns 18.

Both teams played cautiously in the first 10 minutes until the first break of the game went the hosts’ way.

In the 14th minute, Philadelphia made it 1-0 on a PK from Bruno Damiani after a handball in the box by Riverhounds defender Guillaume Vactor. Damiani buried a shot over the outstretched arms of Hounds goalie Eric Dick, giving the Union a lead they would not relinquish.

In the 42nd minute, the Riverhounds had their best chance of the first half. After a series of back-and-forth battles with Philadelphia, Danny Griffin came free with a ball above the box, 25 feet away. His right foot shot found clear space, but Union keeper Andrew Rick made the save.

The Union scored their second goal just seconds from the stoppage time whistle when Quinn Sullivan found Indiana Vassilev open in front of the Riverhounds net. He easily slipped the ball past Dick, giving the Union a 2-0 advantage. Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said the stoppage-time goal was huge.

“I came into the locker and said ‘great half,’ ” Lilley said. “We can’t give up that goal in stoppage. But I felt like we were in it. Let’s keep playing. We have to keep them at 2.”

In the second half, both teams slogged their way through play until the 53rd minute, when Danley Jean Jacques buried a shot behind Dick, extending the Union lead to 3-0.

The Riverhounds’ Jorge Garcia countered, firing in a hard shot from 20 yards cut the lead to 3-1 in the 63rd minute. Garcia had entered the game moments before the goal, which was his first in U.S. Open Cup play and second of the season.

Riverhounds defender Sean Suber got the last good shot on goal of the night for the visitors in the 82nd minute when his header off a cross from Griffin was on target. Union keeper Rick made a clean save.

The Union made it 4-1 just 4 minutes later when Jovan Lukic scored off a deflection.

The win put Philadelphia into the quarterfinals, which will resume in early July.

Lilley said he was pleased with the team’s play against a solid MLS club.

“I hope we can feel good about tonight. I felt we played very well. I thought it was a very even game for about 70 minutes,” he said. “I don’t agree with the penalty call in the 14th minute. To me, it’s never a penalty. I don’t think it’s a fair shake on those. Philadelphia is a class team. They’re dynamic in attack.”

Their U.S. Open cup run over, the Riverhounds turn their full focus to USL Championship conference play as they begin a home-and-home series with Rhode Island beginning Saturday in Providence. Kickoff is set for just after 4 p.m.