U.S. Open Cup final: DCU vs. Charleston Battery

09/03/2008 9:45 AM by Kyle Sheldon

Tonight, United has a chance to add its twelfth major title to the trophy case that sits outside the D.C. United offices when it takes on the Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup final at RFK Stadium. The club has prided itself on a championship tradition from the very beginning and tonight provides an opportunity to further distance United as the winningest team in American soccer history.

Though the team has captured the Supporters' Shield in each of the last two seasons, tonight is the first time United will play for a cup championship since 2004's MLS Cup win over the Kansas City Wizards. It will be just the third time in club history that fans will have a chance to see United lift a trophy at home (the others being the '97 MLS Cup and the '98 CONCACAF Champions' Cup).

Charleston is likely a relative unknown to most United fans, though the two teams have played a number of pre-season exhibitions over the last several years and three former members of D.C. - Stephen Armstrong, Lazo Alavanja and John Wilson - are all now important parts of the Battery.

Here's what folks are writing in advance of tonight's contest:

Steve Goff writes that the team is taking tonight's match very seriously, in the Washington Post.
In the Washington Examiner, Craig Stouffer writes that the Open Cup is more important than ever before.
Charlie Boehm writes the team is in search of its 12th trophy on dcunited.com.
ussoccer.com has a ton of notes and nuggets about the 95th edition of the tournament.
usopencup.com has a ridiculously impressive preview with notes, history and more.
In Charleston, the Post & Courier interviews John Wilson about tonight's historic match.
The Capital Weather Gang says (for what seems to be the third time all year) that tonight's weather should be great for soccer, with no rain in sight!

Did I miss anything?

We'll take predicitions in the comments section. Given that tonight's match is a special one, we'll award a special prize to the winner (winner is randomly picked from the folks who correctly guess the score). The score predicition winner from tonight's game will receive not only two tickets to an upcoming game, but also an autographed player card from their player of their choice.

If you don't make it to RFK for tonight's game, you are not a true supporter. I mean that. Don't take any chances and get out here for the big game.

43 Comments

U.S. Open Cup

Comments

43 Comments

09/03/2008 10:14 AM by dcuoffside

Final score, DCU 3, Charleston 1. Benny gets the second goal.
09/03/2008 10:22 AM by Joe

4-1 DCU
09/03/2008 10:30 AM by Amanda

Sorry, Kyle, I live in Texas. Guess I fail the fan test.
09/03/2008 10:31 AM by Comulles

2-1 DC United.

Goals: Santino and Clyde Simms
09/03/2008 10:31 AM by TCompton

2 - 0 to United.
09/03/2008 10:33 AM by Kyle Sheldon

Ha! Amanda! I suppose I should have written "if you are within 200 miles of RFK Stadium and do not make it..."

But, really, couldn't you have booked a flight and hotel? :)
09/03/2008 10:36 AM by Section 130

3-1 DC, 2 of the goals scored by returning starters. Mark it zero smokey.
09/03/2008 10:49 AM by UnitedTerp

2-0 DC
09/03/2008 11:03 AM by Amanda

I did that for MLS Cup, but y'all never showed!
09/03/2008 11:03 AM by Amanda

I did that for MLS Cup, but y'all never showed!
09/03/2008 11:07 AM by Kyle Sheldon

Thanks for telling us twice!
09/03/2008 11:07 AM by Kendall

3-0 DC
09/03/2008 11:37 AM by HarkesyRules

2-0, DC

Crayton keeps a clean sheet despite giving Soehn a heart attack on the sidelines as he comes out against their forwards on multiple occasions!
09/03/2008 12:09 PM by nairbsod

Vamos United! Should be a heck of a game, brownie!

Prediction:

2-1 DC UNITED

Goals for DC: Moreno, Gallardo
Goals for Battery: Alavanja
09/03/2008 12:11 PM by soccermom

3-1 DC and Burch scores a brilliant one!
09/03/2008 12:12 PM by Amanda

Old computer, sorry!
09/03/2008 12:32 PM by EmilioMorenoFred

United 3 Battery 0
09/03/2008 12:57 PM by La Barra Blonde

2-1 DCU in overtime. (I seriously hope not but I'm thinking we'll be tied 1-1 after 90 and have to go over.)
09/03/2008 12:58 PM by dozerman

2-1 DC over Charleston
09/03/2008 1:08 PM by ancris

Let's go UNITED!!!!

Prediction: DC United 2 - Charleston 1
If Luci plays tonight, one goal for him and another for Santino.

ANIMO CHICOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
09/03/2008 1:14 PM by Orby Jr

2-0 DC
09/03/2008 1:15 PM by KellyE

3-0 dc!
09/03/2008 1:34 PM by keltick

1-0 DC over Charleston with the score from a Moreno penalty kick...but I hope Kendall or Joe are right.

Sorry Kyle, I am going to fall the test too but I am going to try to find someone/somewhere with power and FSC to watch the game here in New Orleans, so that should count for something.
09/03/2008 2:17 PM by mvhokie99

2-1 United
09/03/2008 2:19 PM by DC_DURSK

DC: 4
CH: 1

DC (Quaranta 2, Moreno 1, Gallardo 1)
CH:(Alavanja 1)
09/03/2008 2:19 PM by DC_DURSK

i change my scoreline ---

DC:4
CH:2
09/03/2008 2:27 PM by Cashous4United

It would seem that I too, being a United fan from the "wings down" logo period fail to be a true fan because I live 3000 miles (Hollywood).

Kyle, you may want to rethink you test.

DCU 3
Charleston 1

True fans DVR!!!
09/03/2008 2:34 PM by jgildea

85 - 0 DCU
book it!
09/03/2008 2:34 PM by stewartdc8

3-0 DC!!!
09/03/2008 3:03 PM by dogboy

DC 3 Battery 2.

Battery comes out, gets a quick goal, but we fight back to tie it. Battery goes in the lead, second half, then we tie. 90th minute, PK, Moreno scores.

:)
09/03/2008 3:41 PM by sredpath7

2-1 Charleston on Randi Patterson's overtime winner.
09/03/2008 3:47 PM by palmer

3-0 DCU yea yeab
09/03/2008 3:50 PM by alga460

Dc United will win 4-0 its no match that dc United will win with not even a sweat on them
09/03/2008 3:57 PM by Kyle Sheldon

I made an addendum to my original "test!"

Those of you who are 200 or more miles away are off the hook!

-Kyle
09/03/2008 4:17 PM by Sarah

Those of you who are 200 or more miles away are off the hook!
Good, because this Michigan-based fan can't afford to make it to DC (even if I could get the time off).

Sadly, I don't get FSC. We'll see if I can watch it using alternative methods.
09/03/2008 5:33 PM by jayemzee

wish i could be there...
2-0 dc!!
09/03/2008 5:38 PM by UnitedFanInTX

United 2-1 Charleston. Charleston will battle defensively the way they did against the Sounders to make it into the championship game, but we'll get the game winner past them before the final whistle -- and then hoist the Cup! I can't wait.
09/03/2008 5:41 PM by uknative

2-1
Emilio, Moreno
With Benny Olsen coming in for the second half.
09/03/2008 5:46 PM by Pseudonym

4-0 United. Welcome back, Gallardo.
09/03/2008 5:58 PM by kris

3-1 dcu
09/03/2008 8:53 PM by Nerroth

"If you don't make it to RFK for tonight's game, you are not a true supporter. I mean that. Don't take any chances and get out here for the big game."

Shame a little thing like, I dunno, immigrating to Canada from Ireland can get in the way of being a 'true' supporter...

...but then, considering that most of my countrymen neither know nor care who D.C. United are, at least I'm ahead of your average Irishman in that regard.
09/03/2008 8:56 PM by Nerroth

*reads Kyle's addendum*

Fine, then.

*still grumbles that long-range fans were so quickly snubbed in the first place...*
09/04/2008 2:31 AM by Kyle Sheldon

Nerroth -

Just trying to issue a little challenge to our local fans to get out to RFK. Sorry you made the wrong decision in moving to Canada...

... I kid!

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