Graphic by Harrison Huntley | @hhuntley17

CD Huateras and Virginia United squared off in a “Win & You’re In” match for the 2020 US Open Cup on Sunday, Nov. 24, in Woodbridge, VA. After giving up an early goal to CD Huateras, Virginia United stormed back on the strength of a hat trick from 20-year-old Christian Osorio to win the game, 3-1, and clinch a second straight US Open Cup berth.

With this matchup of two Woodbridge Soccer League (Va.) members, it assured that the three-year-old Asociacon Nacional Futbol en USA (ANFEEU) would have a representative in the 107th edition of the tournament.

Last year, Virginia United defeated Maryland-based power Christos FC in the third round of tournament qualifying. The team capitalized on this upset in the then-announced fourth round by beating World Class Premier Elite FC (Now the ‘Maryland Bobcats FC’) in a penalty kick shootout and qualified for its first US Open Cup.

Their path to their second straight trip to the US Open Cup didn’t look good early. CD Huateras’ Cristhyan Najar, the brother of former D.C. United player and 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar, opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

However, United answered just 10 minutes later when Martin Lopez sent a long ball from midfield that traveled over the backline and into the path of Christian Osorio. The CDH goalkeeper came off his line but the former D.C. United academy player beat him to the ball and chipped it over him to bring the game level.

In the 63rd minute, Eber Martinez set up to take a free kick and curled the ball to the far post where Osorio hit it with his upper thigh and put it into the back of the net to give Virginia the lead.

CD Huateras pushed for the equalizer but United would put the game away in second half stoppage time. Osorio received a one-two pass from Ramzey Hassan, and once he reached the penalty area Najar took him down and the referee pointed to the spot. The Huateras player was shown his second yellow card and was sent off which led to massive protest by the CD Huateras players that led to two additional red cards to Josue Mejia Ortiz and Oliver Funes Gusman.

Osorio would convert the penalty kick to complete his hat trick as Virginia United would see the rest of the game out against the 8-man CD Huateras.

On the day, Virginia’s defense stood tall, led by goalkeeper Javier Hernandez who made some impressive saves against a team that had won two of the last three Woodbridge Soccer League titles (Summer of 2018, Summer of 2019) and featured some talented offensive players including the Najar brothers (Cristhyan and Denis) and 39-year-old veteran Paolo Suarez, the older brother of Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez.

Virginia United, who last won a league title during the fall of 2018, are looking to improve on their inaugural cup run in 2019 where they lost 6-2 in the opening round to the Richmond Kickers of USL League One (Div. 3 pro). The 2020 US Open Cup will be the seventh tournament of the Modern Era (1995-present) that will include an Open Division Local team from the Washington D.C. / Virginia area.

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