Those that paid attention to the Twitter-verse during Tuesday night’s U.S. Open Cup first round might have seen the name Duka being bandied about in Icon FC’s 4-1 defeat of Brooklyn Italians.
No, Fire midfielder Dilly Duka isn’t moonlighting out east.
The Duka in question was actually his older brother Argjent who tallied a hat trick in the New Jersey-based side’s first round Open Cup win. The 27-year-old Duka scored in the 12th, 51st and 76th minute to push Icon past the NPSL side and into a second round matchup with the Richmond Kickers next Tuesday.
READ: Icon FC vs. Brooklyn Italians Match Report
Back in Chicago, Dilly forewent Twitter updates and found his own way to see the match.
“I actually watched the game through Facetime on my iPhone,” he joked. “I had my sister post up in the stands and kind of record it while I watched. I didn’t get a TV view of everything but I saw most of the plays.”
The younger Duka isn’t surprised by his brother or Icon’s success either.
“He’s quick, he’s technical and he obviously knows how to finish. It’s a good team and it’s a lot of guys I play with in the offseason so their chemistry is obviously better than some of the PDL or NPSL sides now.
“I’m excited for them. I think they can make it a little further.”
Duka also reacted to the news of the Fire’s potential third round opponents: the Charlotte Eagles or Seattle Sounders U-23s.
“These teams are going to be excited to play against us. They’re definitely going to change their formation and go more defensive. We have to go in focused and take it seriously.
READ: Fire to Enter in Third Round of USOC
“I was in Columbus the past three years – the first year we took it seriously and did okay but the second and third year we lost in our first game. Whoever we play, it’ll be the biggest game of the year for them.”
While Duka is a former Crew player, he knows well his current team’s history in the U.S. Open Cup.
“You come here and you know the Open Cup is important. I’m aware of that and I’m sure we’re going to try and live up to our name and history in the competition.”
