1st place CHARLESTON SC

[Frank Cunha]

tonight final of the Open Cup

CHARLESTON BATTERY
2008 OPEN CUP
• The Charleston Battery have survived five rounds to reach the Open Cup Final, the most of any team in the professional era (which began in 1996).

• In the first round, the Battery cruised to victory in the first round as a first-half hat trick from Darren Spicer (19, 27, 43) helped them see off USASA competition in the ASC New Stars (Aria Soccer Club, from south Texas) with a 3-0 victory.

• In the second round against USL-2 Charlotte Eagles, Spicer's 12th-minute goal put the home side into the lead. Charlotte midfielder Jorge Herrera leveled terms in the 67th, only to see Charleston claim victory with a final minute penalty kick converted by Osvaldo Alonso.

• In the quarterfinals, the Battery knocked the Houston Dynamo out of the Open Cup for the second successive year. A Marco Reda goal gave the Battery a 31st-minute lead, and after Charleston's Chris Corcoran was sent off in the 74th minute, Stephen Wondolowski hit for the equalizer in the 89th minute. Reda was sent off in extra time, but the Battery survived to a penalty shootout, which they won 4-3.

• The Battery then continued their magical run with another victory against an MLS team in the semifinals, defeating FC Dallas 3-1 at Pizza Hut Park. Lazo Alavanja gave the Battery a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute, then the game was halted for 70 minutes as thunderstorms rolled through the area. Four minutes after the restart, Ian Fuller doubled the Charleston lead, and Randi Patterson and Kenny Cooper each scored in stoppage time to provide the final 3-1 scoreline.

• Charleston then dispatched fellow USL1 side Seattle Sounders at Blackbaud Stadium to reach the final. The Sounders took the lead off an own goal,but Randi Patterson leveled terms in the 33rd minute. Again the match went to the penalty kick shootout, and Battery 'keeper Dusty Hudock turned aside Seattle's final attempt for the 4-3 win.

OPEN CUP HISTORY
• The Battery have gained a real giant-killing reputation in the Open Cup. Before this year, they had defeated MLS competition on four occasions - the win against D.C. United in 1999, and against Houston in 2007. The Battery also twice defeated the MetroStars, 4-1 in the second round in 2001, and 1-0 in the fourth round in 2004.

• They had reached as far as the semifinal stage on two prior occasions - 1999 and 2004.

FORM GUIDE
• Like D.C. United, the Battery come into the Open Cup Final off a scoreless tie, against the Puerto Rico Islanders on Fri., Aug. 28. The single point left the Battery still in third place in the USL First Division with 37 points, nine behind the Islanders and Vancouver Whitecaps, who are tied for first.

• Here's Mike Anhaeuser's team: Dusty Hudock, Kevin Nylen (Tim Velten 83), Marco Reda, Nelson Akwari, John Wilson, Chris Williams (Stephen Armstrong 72), Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Richardson (David Kenga 59), Ian Fuller (Chris Corcoran 86), Lazo Alavanja, Darren Spicer (Randi Patterson 65)