The third round of the U.S. Open Cup this Tuesday night, technically D.C. United's first match of the tournament, matches the aforementioned United against an amateur squad from South Jersey called the Ocean City Barons.
Composed primarily of collegiate players, the Barons were the only amateur team to advance to the third round of the Open Cup, having upset minor league squad Real Maryland to reach the matchup. While Ocean City will give maximum effort, D.C. United comes into the Open Cup as defending champions but plagued with the absences of five key players due to injury.
With MLS teams not traditionally at their best during such tournament play, the U.S. Open Cup has seen more than its fair share of minor league teams upsetting the fully professional squads over the past several years. For a fully amateur team to do so however, may be a huge stretch of the hand of fate.
Start time from D.C. United's alternate Maryland SoccerPlex home in Boyds, Md. is set for 7:30 p.m. with vidstreaming announced for USLLive.com and radio coverage on WZAA/1050.
______________________Labels: d.c. united, men's pro soccer, sports, u.s. open cup
