Jeff Wendt

The Republic | azcentral.com

It's not very often that a lower-level soccer team gets a chance to play the big boys.

That is exactly what will happen Wednesday night as Arizona United SC gets that opportunity, facing Major League Soccer giant Los Angeles Galaxy in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the Peoria Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m.

"I think it's phenomenal. I think it's great just that the LA Galaxy is coming here," Arizona United coach Michael Dellorusso said. "We put the team together about a month before the season, and now we're hosting an MLS team, and one of the most renowned MLS teams."

Arizona United got a boost to their confidence Saturday when they ended a five-game winless streak in USL Pro play with a 1-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos.

"We're going to take what the game gives us," Dellorusso said. "It's been a team that's been able to adapt a little bit more. I don't think we're going to start with two men pushing up high, but we'll see.

"We're going to try to dictate our play right away, even though we're playing them, and go from there and see what our guys can put out there."

The Galaxy come into the match seventh in the MLS Western Conference standings, with a 4-3-5 record and just 16 goals in those 12 matches. Ten of the team's 16 goals are from midfielder Robbie Keane (seven goals) and midfielder/forward Landon Donovan (three goals).

"I know their system very well, I know their personnel; it's just a matter of who they bring, and I think we match up pretty well with them," Dellorusso said.

Arizona United will be without midfielder Joey Dillon, who was red-carded in the third-round match against Oklahoma City Energy FC, and without four of their regulars (Jonathan Top, Schillo Tshuma, Jalen Robinson and Bryan Gallego) due to MLS commitments in the Open Cup.

LA will be without Keane, as he returns from international duty with Ireland, playing in friendlies against teams playing in the World Cup last week, as well as Omar Gonzalez, who is with the U.S. National Team. Coach Bruce Arena told reporters Monday "he hadn't decided" if Donovan would make the trip to Arizona.

Tonight's winner will travel to face the North American Soccer League's Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday in the fifth round. Carolina advanced by defeating MLS squad Chivas USA in penalty kicks Saturday.

Arizona United hopes to have success similar to what some of the lower-division teams have had so far in the fourth round as MLS teams enter the competition. MLS squads Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls have also gone down to defeat so far in the fourth round.

"We have them coming in here, and it's tough for an MLS team to go away and go into a lower-league team's place because they're extremely motivated," Dellorusso said. "We go into the game, we have very little to lose. And honestly, they have everything to lose."

Wednesday night's match

Los Angeles Galaxy at Arizona United SC

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Peoria Sports Complex.

TV: Cox 7.

Arizona United SC update: Won their last match 1-0 over Rochester Saturday night, ending five-game winless streak in USL Pro league play. ... Defeated the Portland Timbers U-23's 3-2 and Oklahoma City Energy FC 2-1 in extra time to advance to tonight's fourth round. ... Four of their five goals in Cup play have come in the 80th minute or later.

LA Galaxy update: LA comes in on a four-game unbeaten string in MLS play, but have drawn their last two matches, 1-1 with Chicago on June 1 and 1-1 with Chivas USA on June 8. ... MF Robbie Keane leads the team with seven goals, and MF/F Landon Donovan has three goals. ... D A.J. DeLaGarza played with Arizona United coach Michael Dellorusso at Maryland in 2005, and they won a national championship together. ... ... The Galaxy won the U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and 2005.