Guys, it’s that time of year again. It’s time for the U.S. Open Cup, my favorite sporting event in the world.

D.C. United entered Open Cup play last night in Richmond, but before we get to that result, here’s a brief primer:

The U.S. Open Cup (officially, the Lamar Hunt United States Open Cup) is the oldest soccer tournament in the United States, and this year’s event is the centennial edition. Originally known as the National Challenge Cup, the USOC allows clubs from all corners of the American soccer landscape to compete against each other. Any club—so long as it’s affiliated with U.S. Soccer—can compete, whether an amateur, a lower-division professional club, or an MLS squad. The winner gets $250,000 and a berth in CONCACAF Champions League, which encompasses teams from North America and the Caribbean.

Much like the NCAA basketball tournaments, the Open Cup’s charm lies in the potential for upsets, which can sometimes be massive. Every year, without fail, several MLS clubs fall to much weaker opposition. It happened twice last night, when the San Jose Earthquakes lost to the Charleston Battery, a third-tier squad, and the Colorado Rapids were dispatched by Orlando City FC. To put that in perspective, it’d be like the Washington Nationals losing to, oh, the Potomac Nationals

The venue for each match is selected by coin toss, so MLS sides often end up playing in far more intimate (and often underdeveloped) venues, like high school fields. Watching an MLS team square off against a smaller opponent in a tiny, dilapidated stadium only adds to the USOC’s allure.

Last night’s matchup between the Richmond Kickers and D.C. United was no exception. The Kickers, a third-tier side, play their home matches at Richmond City Stadium, an 80-year-old venue that cost $80,000 to build. The atmosphere surrounding the match was less like a sporting event and more like a small-town carnival. Funnel cakes and cotton candy were in abundant supply, while the dulcet tones of “The Fender Benders” (a local cover band that’s likely available to play your wedding) drifted through the air. The team’s primary sponsor appeared to be a dentist (Dr. Babik, if I recall) and the team’s mascot, Kickeroo, appeared to be a kangaroo.

As for the action on the field, well, that was secondary. And it was pretty predictable as well. United possessed the ball well but played with the same general nonchalance and lack of flair that they’ve exhibited all year against MLS opponents. After a scoreless first half—though United did manage to hit the post twice, which is something of an improvement these days—the two teams ground through another 45 excruciatingly boring minutes and headed to added time.

The 30 minutes of extra time were no different, though things really devolved for United in the second 15 minutes, as both Chris Korb and Carlos Ruiz received red cards for careless challenges.

Last night’s match ended in a penalty shootout, not something you typically see in MLS (unless, of course, you’re talking about the playoffs.) United goalkeeper Joe Willis stopped Richmond’s first two attempts; his teammates converted all of theirs, and United avoided what would have been a very, very embarrassing loss. The shootout was made a bit more interesting by the fact that Richmond is actually United’s affiliate club—DCU sends players in need of developmental minutes down to the Kickers. Effectively, the game featured Willis squaring off against Richmond goalkeeper and sometimes teammate Andrew Dykstra, who often practices with United.

United advance to the next round of the Open Cup and will face the Philadelphia Union on June 12 at the 4,500 seat Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds. The game will be a rematch of last year, when the Union eliminated United from the Open Cup.

Here are some post-game comments from Olsen and Willis. Listen carefully to the Olsen clip and you’ll almost hear me get run over by a bus: