In some ways, the New England Revolution entered its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third-round match against the Harrisburg City Islanders in a no-win situation. A win would have put the Revs through to the next round but added yet another midweek game to an already crowded July calendar. A loss would leave the depleted Revs with egg on their face after losing to a USL Second Division team.
"Whatever way you go, you lose," New England coach Steve Nicol said. Indeed, the team lost both on the field – as Harrisburg beat the Revs 2-1 in overtime – and in the training room as starlets Kheli Dube and Mike Videira both limped off the field during the second half. "We're already bare bones coming into the game," Revolution defender Chris Tierney said. "What did we have, 15 guys? We've had so many games. Guys are struggling with knocks and we just can't take risks. If someone pulls something, they have to come out. There's nothing we can do about it. We had to try to do our best and that was it."
Before Dube's injury, the Revolution looked set to advance. Jeff Larentowicz put his side ahead seven minutes before the break with a low free kick to the far post. Harrisburg saw little of the ball. But after Dube's injury reduced the Revs to 10 men, because Nicol had usedall his subs, the City Islanders leveled when Mo Oduor headed home Jason Pelletier's free kick. Videira later limped off injured, leaving the Revs with nine tired players on the field. Geoff Bloes corralled home the final blow when Revs keeper Brad Knighton struggled to cope with David Schofield's free kick as the first half of overtime wound to a close. By ousting New England, Harrisburg earned a trip to Boyds, Md. to face D.C. United in the quarterfinals.