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Dallas Surprises D.C.
with U.S. Open Cup Victory in Indy

After 120 minutes of hard-fought, goalless soccer, the Dallas Burn claimed their first major trophy with a 5-3 penalty kick triumph over D.C. United in front of 9,776 at the U.S. Open Cup Final in Indianapolis. The attendance was the highest ever for a U.S. Open Cup Final.

Jorge Rodriguez clinched the victory with the Burn's fifth consecutive penalty kick tally. Raul Diaz Arce missed D.C. United's second attempt to provide the margin of victory.

"I'm really proud to be a part of this team," said Snickers Most Valuable Player Mark Dodd, who finished with five saves in goal for Dallas. "The key to the game tonight was heart. It was a long game and we fought hard after being off for two weeks. We believed in ourselves and the extra motivation let us to the win and I'm very proud of these guys. They all deserve it."

The victory by Dallas ended D.C. United's hopes of adding a second double to their trophy coffers. In just two years of existence, United has already won two MLS Cup crowns and were the defending U.S. Open Cup champions.

"It was a great game, in the first half we took it too them," said Burn head coach Dave Dir. "As the game wore on they lost their legs. We hit the post on our best opportunity and they were unlucky on that offside call. It s good to beat them, because they have been playing so well and because they are MLS champs. It's good to be Open Cup champs."

This year's final marked the return of the Dewar Cup, the Open Cup championship's original trophy, which was presented to Burn head coach Dave Dir and his victorious club at the conclusion of the match. The Dewar Cup, which was first presented in 1914 before being retired in 1979, was refurbished by the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association earlier this year.

Open to all amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is an 84-year-old single- elimination tournament in which 32 finalists had been competing for up to $150,000 in prize money.

US Soccer Association 1997 US Open Cup Recap

U.S. OPEN CUP FINALS -- IUPUI - INDIANAPOLIS
BURN 1, UNITED 0 (PK)
OCTOBER 29, 1997

INDIANAPOLIS -- Stuffing D.C. United's attempt at a "double double," the Dallas Burn converted on five of five penalty kicks to win the U.S. Open Cup title before a crowd of 9,776 at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

Neither team could find the back of the net in regulation and two sudden-death overtime periods, but Dallas couldn't miss in the penalty kick round, beating D.C. 5-3 to win the match.

Damian, Jason Kreis, Alain Sutter, Daniel Peinado and Jorge Rodriguez all converted their penalty kicks against United 'keeper Tom Presthus, the team's shootout specialist who was inserted near the end of the second overtime period for Scott Garlick.

The lone miss in the penalty kick round was by D.C. forward Raul Diaz Arce, whose shot sailed high over the crossbar in the second frame. Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno and Ben Iroha each converted their attempts for United.

The scoreless game was not devoid of action, as several players blasted shots off the posts and just wide of the goal. The overtime periods featured end-to-end action, as both teams fought to come up with a golden goal. 

Dallas had three good chances in OT -- Dante Washington was stopped by Scott Garlick's diving save in the 97th minute; Damian shot wide in the 113th minute and Wade Webber hit the post in the 114th minute. Diaz Arce scored in the 29th minute for D.C. United, but the goal was nullified by an
offside.

The 84-year-old U.S.Open Cup tournament allows any team registered with the U.S. Soccer Federation (professional or amateur) to compete for the championship and title of best team in the USA. For winning, the Burn receives the Dewer Cup trophy, $100,000 and the right to represent the USA in next year's CONCACAF Cup.

Official Box Score