D.C. United Hosts Harrisburg City in U.S. Open Cup Match

Two years ago, D.C. United traveled to Landisville, Pa., to a high school football field for its U.S. Open Cup opener against the Harrisburg City Islanders, a team that competes in USL2, the third-tier of American professional soccer. United was upset, 1-0, in that 2007 match-up -- an example of the anything-can-happen allure of the 95-year-old tournament in which amateur and lower-tier teams compete with the country's top professional teams.

Last week, D.C. narrowly avoided another upset, edging out the amateur Ocean City (N.J.) Barons, 2-0, after 70-plus minutes of scoreless play. That result set up a quarterfinal with Harrisburg, which upset MLS's New England Revolution, 2-1, in overtime last week. And players say they are prepared to face a team entering their biggest game of the season with everything to gain and nothing to lose.

"Matching their intensity I think is the biggest thing," said D.C. United midfielder Clyde Simms, who played all 90 minutes in the 2007 loss to Harrisburg. "And then I think the first goal also in these games means a lot. If they get a first goal it's going to be tough. I feel like it's a lot of pressure on us, I feel like they don't have a lot to lose going into the game."

-- Paul Tenorio