The longest running preseason tournament in MLS will get some new blood this year, with expansion clubs New York City FC and Orlando City SC joining the Houston Dynamo and hosts Charleston Battery of USL at the 12th annual Carolina Challenge Cup.
Each team will play three games at the round-robin tournament, with matches taking place on February 21, 25, and 28 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.
The tournament’s most intriguing match will come on its first day, when NYCFC and OCSC will face off in a preview of their MLS opener against each other on March 8 in Orlando.
All six Carolina Challenge Cup games will be streamed live on the Charleston Battery’s YouTube channel. The complete schedule is below (all times ET), and the full slate of preseason games, results and highlights can be found here.
Day 1: Saturday, Feb. 21
Game 1, 5:00 pm: Charleston Battery vs. Houston Dynamo
Game 2, 7:30 pm: New York City FC vs. Orlando City SC
Day 2: Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1, 5:00 pm: Houston Dynamo vs. New York City FC
Game 2, 7:30 pm: Charleston Battery vs. Orlando City SC
Day 3: Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 1, 5:00 pm: Orlando City SC vs. Houston Dynamo
Game 2, 7:30 pm: Charleston Battery vs. New York City FC
Tickets to the tournament can be found at CharlestonBattery.com, though both Day 1 matches have already sold out.
THE TEAMS
Club |
Synopsis |
<img alt="Charleston Battery" src="http://charlestonbattery.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/battery-logo.png" style="height: 49px; width: 50px;"> |
<p>Despite always being a tough out for MLS clubs in the US Open Cup, the Battery have never won the Carolina Challenge Cup, finishing second just twice in the previous 11 iterations of their tournament. They’ll look to change that this year, though the 2014 USL quarterfinalists will have a tough draw against talented MLS teams farther ahead in their preseason. </p> |
<img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1897_200x200.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;"> |
<p>After nine years under Dominic Kinnear, the Dynamo are entering a new era in 2015, with English head coach Owen Coyle set to take the reins. With Coyle comes a host of new players, including Mexican DP <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/erick-torres" target="_blank">Cubo Torres</a>, who may end his loan to Chivas de Guadalajara early to join Houston ahead of schedule. The folks at BBVA Compass Stadium are hoping the infusion of new blood will lead to improved results from 2014, when the Dynamo missed the playoffs for just the second time in club history. </p> |
<img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/NYCFC_Badge.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;"> |
<p>After spending time in Jacksonville, Florida and jetting across the pond to train at sister club Manchester City, Jason Kreis and Co. will put the finishing touches on their first preseason in Charleston. Kreis and several other members of NYCFC’s Real Salt Lake contingent have good experience at the Carolina Challenge Cup, winning the tournament in 2009, the same year they lifted MLS Cup. </p> |
<img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/6900.png" style="height: 50px; width: 50px;"> |
<p>Like their expansion brethren NYCFC, Orlando City SC will close out its first preseason in MLS in Charleston. The trip will be a good measuring stick for the Lions, who have built a very strong roster featuring <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kaka" target="_blank">Kaka</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/brek-shea" target="_blank">Brek Shea</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/amobi-okugo" target="_blank">Amobi Okugo</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/aurelien-collin" target="_blank">Aurelien Collin</a>, Honduran DP <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/bryan-rochez" target="_blank">Bryan Rochez</a> and a host of other talented players. </p> |
