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USL Charleston Battery

Battery Draws Miami United for U.S. Open Cup 2nd Round, Could Host Fort Lauderdale in 3rd

May 14, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON -- Miami United FC punched its ticket to the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night in Miami Beach, earning a May 20th date with the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium.

And Thursday brought more Open Cup news: If the Battery can defeat Miami United next week in the second round, the Battery will host the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of NASL at Blackbaud Stadium the following week on Wednesday, May 27. A third-round match with the Strikers would raise the number matches on the Battery calendar for May to seven, making it by far the busiest month of the Lowcountry soccer year.

Tickets to the Battery's entry into the 102nd edition of this historic tournament start at $5 and can be purchased online or over the phone at 943.971.GOAL (4625). Battery season ticket holders will be provided tickets to the second round at no extra charge.

Miami, which competes in the semi-professional National Premier Soccer League, where it is 1-0-0 to start the 2015 season. The team claimed its dramatic 2-1 game winner through Manuel Abirached in the third minute of second half stoppage time, thrilling the hometown fans and defeating the SW Florida Adrenaline. The Adrenaline compete in the USL's Premier Development League.

The win was Miami United's first in the Open Cup. The Miami Beach-based club began play in 2013, and ran through the 2014 NPSL Sunshine Division regular season with an undefeated record, followed by two playoff wins to take the Division Championship. Miami United lost to Chattanooga FC in the NPSL Southern Regional Finals, but still earned a berth in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup.

The team plays at Flamingo Park and is coached by Miguel Mesa. It was joined in NPSL this season by expansion Miami Fusion FC, a well-financed and ambitious effort to revive the old Major League Soccer brand and climb the ladder toward national prominence. And that's just one rival for attention in the fractious South Florida soccer scene, which also boasts the Strikers and the on-again, off-again David Beckham-led effort to bring an MLS expansion team to Miami.

Fort Lauderdale (2-1-2) is currently fourth in the NASL table, trailing only the New York Cosmos and in-state rivals Jacksonville Armada and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Should Miami United defeat the Battery next week, the Strikers will host them on May 27.

Charleston's history in the Open Cup dates to 1999. The team has reached the quarterfinals three times, the semifinals twice, and lost to 2-1 to D.C. United in the 2008 Cup Final. Only two teams from outside MLS have reached the final during the MLS era, with the other team -- the Rochester Rhinos -- winning the title in 1999.

The Battery won its 2014 entry round 4-0 over the Panama City Beach Pirates last May. It was eliminated by another PDL team, the Orlando City SC U23s, in the third round. The match remained tied at 2-2 after 30 minutes of Added Extra Time, and ended in the longest shootout in Open Cup history.

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