CHESTER, Pa. -- Alejandro Bedoya scored in the fourth minute and the Union didn't look back, easily eliminating Orlando City SC, 1-0, the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday at Talen Energy Stadium.
With the win, the Union advance to their third semifinals appearance in five years, where they will face the winner of Louisville FC and Chicago Fire. The priority location draw for the semifinals and finals will take place on Thursday. The semifinals will begin on Aug. 8.
• Bedoya made it look easy. Off a short corner, Haris Medunjanin's cross was headed on goal by Fafa Picault. Earl Edwards Jr. made the initial save but it bounced out to the captain, who roofed it from the crease for the 1-0 Union lead and eventual win.
• Orlando City SC, which entered the match with nine loses in its last 10 MLS games, defeated D.C. United in penalty kicks to reach the quarterfinals. The Union topped the Richmond Kickers and New York Red Bulls on the way to Wednesday's match.
• Orlando looked like a team that had lost nine straight recently, though the Union couldn't put the struggling visitors away. The Union finished the match with 53.9 percent possession and 18 shots. Still, it was another game in which the club lacked killer instinct despite territorial domination, only resulting in one goal.
• That domination was powered by the play of Picault, who was the Union's offensive engine. Late in the second half, Picault beat his man in the box but placed his shot just wide of the right post. It was one of four shot attempts for Picault.
• Despite playing hero on Saturday against the Fire, David Accam struggled on Wednesday. He was active but had little effect, and was replaced in the 60th minute by Marcus Epps. Accam finished with one total shot.
• It should be noted that Mark McKenzie, a rookie, pocketed Orlando forward Dom Dwyer for the entire match. Dwyer, who couldn't gain an inch in possession, was forced into trying to draw calls. He was held without a shot attempt.
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• With the help of that effort from McKenzie, Andre Blake earned the four-save shutout. He wasn't tested much, but was good when he needed to be.
