CHARLESTON, SC -The Charleston Battery where drawn against the tournament number one seed DC United of Major League Soccer today by US Soccer in the second round of the 2000 US Open Cup. The game will be a rematch of the August 4 1999 US Open Cup third round when the Battery stunned the soccer world beating DC (three time defending MLS Champion) 4-3 in overtime in a thrilling come from behind victory. The game ranks by US Soccer as the fourth best ever in the history of the Open Cup tournament that dates back to 1914.
Undoubtedly one of the marquee match ups in the US Open Cup second round draw conducted today in Chicago, the game features DC United, the most successful team in US Soccer in the 1990's with three MLS Championship titles and the Battery who are considered as one of the premier teams in the A-League (Division II of Pro soccer in the US). The game will be a rematch of the greatest victory ever in the history of the Charleston Battery and will give DC United a chance to avenge a loss which according to head coach Thomas Rungen inspired them to their third Major League title in four years. Unlike the 1999 game, DC will be at full strength, with all of their International players expected to be in Charleston. The United roster currently features no fewer than eight US National team players (Eddie Pope, Jeff Agoos, Carey Talley, Carlos Llamosa, Richie Williams, Ben Olsen and Chris Albright) as well as two Bolivians (Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno) and an El Salvadorian National team player (Raul Diaz Arce). Ben Olsen (1998 MLS Rookie of the Year) and Chris Albright are both starters for the US Olympic team squad that will compete in the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. US National Team defender Eddie Pope was the 1997 US Soccer Player of the Year and Marco Etcheverry was the 1998 MLS MVP. Forwards Jaime Moreno and Raul Diaz Arce both rank amoung the elite in MLS goal scoring history.
What: Charleston Battery V DC United.
US Open Cup Second Round.
When: 7:30pm, Wednesday June 14.
Where: Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC.
