Baltimore MD - The players of Crystal Palace USA are treating tomorrow’s US Open Cup quarter-final like any other match. The fact that their opponent is the 2007 US Open Cup champion New England Revolution - a team that currently holds the best record in Major League Soccer - doesn’t seem to faze them. After outplaying the New York Red Bulls last week in the round of sixteen, the Baltimore team knows that anything is possible.

“The intimidation factor is zero,” remarked Palace Co-Manager Jim Cherneski as the team arrived in Connecticut this afternoon. “Our players are blissfully ignorant of the Revs accomplishments. They really don't follow MLS.”

The New England team is coming off a 2-1 victory over the L.A. Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on July 4th. The Revolution earned their spot in the US Open Cup’s final eight three days earlier in a 3-0 dismantling of Palace’s league-mates, the Richmond Kickers. Cherneski pointed out that his players may have the edge in freshness: “We had a good week of training and we're well rested - we had no league activity over the weekend.”

The Red Bulls fielded several reserves in Tuesday night’s surprise loss, but Palace Co-Manager Pete Medd believes that won’t be the case with the Revolution: “The Revs are a top team. They have a history of taking the Open Cup seriously. I expect them to put out their first team - they normally do for this competition at this stage.” Medd smiled and added: “You see what happens when you don't put out your first team.”

Jim Cherneski voiced his respect for New England’s man in charge: “Steve Nicol has coached in the lower divisions in America so he appreciates the potential that can be found there.” On the question of tactics for this game, Cherneski stated: “We're going out to win, not just to hang in there. We’ll take the game to them.”

Palace captain and former New England defender, Ibrahim Kante, was sent off in the last round. “It stinks for him because he badly wanted to play his former team.” said Medd. “We'll miss him - especially his leadership and his free kicks.”

The Palace Co-Managers revealed to us that Brian Rowland will replace Matt Nelson in goal tomorrow night. The Canadian U-20 ‘keeper will also wear the captain’s armband in the absence of Kante and Baltimore native Mike Lookingland will take Kante’s place in the Palace back four. The rest of the lineup is expected to be the same as the one that produced Palace’s historic win in the third round.

Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 7:00pm at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut. Fans will be able to listen to live audio commentary courtesy of the Revolution at the following web address: www.revolutionsoccer.net/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=radio

The victor in New Britain earns a semi-final berth with the winner of the all-MLS clash between the Chicago Fire and DC United.

Founded in 1914, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is the oldest team competition in any sport in the United States and is among the oldest in the world. Similar to domestic cup competitions in Europe, South America and the rest of the world, the annual single-elimination tournament is, open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. More information on the tournament available at www.USOpenCup.com and on the US Soccer Federation website