This time it was for real. Apparently, that did not matter for D.C. United.

The United, coming off a 1-0 loss Sunday in Houston and looking ahead to a game Saturday at Dallas, sent a team filled mostly of reserves to face the Harrisburg City Islanders at Hempfield Wednesday night. And it was the Islanders, behind a Steve Fisher goal in the 44th minute, who defeated those reserves, 1-0, in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

The win earns the City Islanders a quarterfinal match with New England Aug. 7.

Despite the mostly reserve team, the City Islanders were not expecting a walkover.

"This was an opportunity for us," said Harrisburg midfielder Mo Oduor. "We lost to them every time before. … We knew coming in it would be tough."

"We talked in the locker room before the game about making sure we came out hard and didn't let them get the momentum early," said Harrisburg head coach Bill Becher. "We wanted to make sure we got a solid start."

It was not a bad start for Harrisburg, although early on it appeared as if the United were just a faster, more physical team. But once the Harrisburg defense and goalkeeper Matt Nelson dodged a couple early bullets, things started to come together for the City Islanders.

"We knew we had to play hard tonight," said Harrisburg forward Brian Ombiji. "When we came and saw their lineup, we knew we had to come strong and keep fighting to the end."

The City Islanders finally broke through on a corner kick late late in the first half. Midfielder David Schofield took the corner from the left side of the field and played a ball to the far post. Fisher headed the ball into the back of the net.

"We had a few corners early when we went near post or right to the keeper," Becher said. "(Schofield) took that one and went deep and got it past the keeper, and Fisher just drilled it. It was a great finish."

"I think it's (the corner) one of my strengths," said Schofield. "I put it right where I wanted it, and Fisher did a good job putting it in the back of the net."

The goal was Fisher's second goal of the Open Cup and came on one of the City Islanders' only quality chances of the night.

"I think their keeper (Jay Nolly) misplayed it a little bit, and I was there at the far post to get up for it," said Fisher, a Hershey native. "Sometimes you only get one chance a game and we capitalized."

Fisher picked up a yellow card on the celebration following the goal, but it was likely worth it — he had scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal and with it made the City Islanders the first United Soccer League Second Division team to upset the United.

"This is a great win for our franchise," said Fisher. "Being a fourth-year club and this, our first Open Cup, to beat an MLS team, it really speaks well about not only our players but the front office."

"The win establishes us, makes us a little more legit," said Becher. "Now I think people will say 'hey, they are a pretty legitimate team — they can go out and play with D.C. United and get a result."

And the City Islanders enjoyed the Hempfield experience as a the standing-room only crowd of 5,219 was decisively pro-City Islanders.

"It was nice to come to Hempfield," said Becher. "They (Hempfield Soccer Club) did a great job getting this organized. It's a great complex and they filled the stands. You can't ask for anything more."

E-mail: wwelliver@lnpnews.com