 The Union began the MLS regular season with only 3 wins in 16 games. Their head coach, John Hackworth, was fired and Jim Curtin was named as his interim replacement a week before the first Open Cup match against their lower-league affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders on June 17. A successful run in the Open Cup had the potential to salvage the season and Curtin said that the team was taking the home game "very seriously". Harrisburg plays in the USL Professional Division — the third division of American soccer — but Philadelphia still played several of its regular starters, and did not permit Harrisburg to use two previously loaned Union players. Philadelphia was almost eliminated, but Maurice Edu scored an equalizing goal in the 89th minute, and Andrew Wenger scored two more goals in extra time to advance the Union with a score of 3 – 1.
