The Battery will be riding the momentum of Saturday's key 1-0 league win at the Atlanta Silverbacks into its U.S. Open Cup second-round home match against MLS' MetroStars at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
New York/New Jersey comes to Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island off a 2-0 loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy in a Major League Soccer matchup on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The Battery (7-4-1) leads the A-League's Central Conference by four points over the Richmond Kickers.
Charleston went 5-1 in 2001 U.S. Open Cup qualifying matches. At home, the Battery was 3-0 in qualifiers and out- scored its opponents by a combined 10-0.
The MetroStars (6-5-3) are 0-4-2 in their last six league matches but still hold second in MLS' Eastern Conference, behind the Miami Fusion.
In 1999, the Battery went all the way to the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, defeating MLS powerhouse D.C. United on the way. The Battery eventually lost, 3-0, to MLS' Colorado Rapids. In 2000 Charleston lost in the second round, 4-0, to D.C. United.
The MetroStars lost in the semifinals of the 2000 U.S. Open Cup, 3-2, to the Miami Fusion and have reached the tournament semis three of the last four years.
• N.Y./N.J. midfielder Richie Williams is one of 13 MLS players named to the 22-man U.S. roster for its July 1 World Cup qualifying match at Mexico. The U.S. team is training through June 30 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but Williams is expected to fly to Charleston to play in Wednesday's Open Cup match.
• For tickets to Wednesday's game, call the Battery ticket hotline, 971-4625 (GOAL), or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
