FC DALLAS vs. CHARLESTON BATTERY (USL1)
Tues., July 8, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas, 7:30 p.m. CT
For the third year in succession, FC Dallas and the Charleston Battery meet in the U.S. Open Cup. The teams met at this stage a year, where FC Dallas survived in extra time, in Charleston, on their way to the final. The Battery are coming off - for the second consecutive year - a win against the Houston Dynamo in the third round, while FC Dallas defeated USL1 Miami FC with a last-gasp goal to start their Open Cup run.
OPEN CUP HISTORY: This is now the third consecutive year the Charleston Battery and FC Dallas have met in the U.S. Open Cup - and each time, the Battery have taken FC Dallas to the limit. ... Last year, FC Dallas claimed a tense 2-1 victory in extra time in the quarterfinals at Blackbaud Stadium. A wonder goal from one-time MLS veteran Stephen Armstrong gave the home side a 17th-minute lead, but Clarence Goodson headed home a corner kick six minutes later to pull FCD level. Five minutes into the extra period, Arturo Alvarez cut in from the right and lashed home a shot inside the near post. ... In 2006, the Battery nearly added the Hoops to their list of successes in the competition, before FCD prevailed on penalty kicks. Kenny Cooper scored all three goals for FC Dallas, the third coming in the 119th minute, five minutes after the home side took the lead in extra time through Luc Harrington. Cooper's first, in the first half, gave FCD the lead, but Ben Hollingsworth converted a penalty kick after Clarence Goodson was sent off for a foul on Gavin Glinton in the box. The Battery then equalized in second-half stoppage time through another penalty (converted by Ian Fuller), after Cooper had scored his second in the 89th minute. FCD then won 5-3 on penalties as Dario Sala made one save.
FC DALLAS
2008 OPEN CUP: FC Dallas survived their third-round U.S. Open Cup tie with a last-gasp 2-1 win against Miami FC (USL1). ... Alex Afonso put the Blues ahead in the seventh minute, but Abe Thompson pulled FCD level just before halftime, then headed home a Drew Moor cross four minutes into second-half stoppage time for the winner. ... Here's Hyndman's team: Ray Burse (GK), Drew Moor, Aaron Pitchkolan, Blake Wagner, Andre Rocha (Michael Dello-Russo 64), Marcelo Saragosa, Anthony Wallace (Eric Avila 39), Chase Wileman, Juan Toja, Dominic Oduro (Kenny Cooper 46), Abe Thompson.
IN THE OPEN CUP: FC Dallas reached the final of the U.S. Open Cup for the third time in club history a year ago, but weren't able to add to their 1997 victory on penalty kicks against D.C. United. ... FCD also reached the final in 2005, but lost 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. ... The Hoops began their run a year ago with a penalty kick shootout win against the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL1) after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. After the quarterfinal win against the Charleston Battery, FC Dallas defeated the USL1 Seattle Sounders 2-1 at Qwest Field, with all three goals coming in extra time ... Throughout the club's history, Dallas has been full-value campaigners in the Open Cup, failing to reach at least the quarterfinals on just two occasions - in 2001 and 2003. ... On both occasions they lost to lower-division opposition, to Seattle Sounders Select (PDL) in 2001 and Wilmington Hammerheads (PSL) in 2003. ... The then-Dallas Burn also lost to the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 1999 quarterfinals, in extra time.
CHARLESTON BATTERY
IN THE OPEN CUP: Another club with a real giant-killing reputation in the Open Cup, the tie is a reprise of a year ago, when the Battery defeated the Dynamo 1-0 at Blackbaud Stadium in the third round, the lone goal coming from a penalty kick .... The Battery had defeated Central Florida Kraze and El Paso Patriots (both PDL) to reach the third round, before losing to FC Dallas 2-1 in extra time in the quarterfinals. ... It was the fourth time the Battery had defeated MLS competition. En route to a semifinal loss to Colorado in 1999, Charleston defeated D.C. United 4-3 in extra time in the third round. ... The Battery also twice defeated the MetroStars, 4-1 in the second round in 2001, and 1-0 in the fourth round in 2004.
THIS YEAR: 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.
FORM GUIDE: The Charleston Battery are currently on top of the USL First Division with 27 points from 14 matches, four ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps (who have a game in hand). ... The Battery are coming off a 2-0 home win against fellow Open Cup survivor Seattle Sounders at home at the weekend ... Randi Patterson is second in USL1 with seven goals on the season; Aaron King has four, tied for seventh in the league. ... Chris Evans and Michael Richardson have three assists each, tied for third in USL1.
