Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Saturday, March 1, 2014
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Major League Soccer's D.C. United won the 2014 Carolina Challenge Cup on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,630, taking the tournament trophy with a 2-2 draw against Seattle Sounders FC. United have now won the Carolina Challenge Cup a record four times with previous victories in 2010, 2011 & 2012.
Needing a win or a draw to claim the title, United got off to a fast start scoring the opening goal in the ninth minute via a Fabian Espindola penalty kick.
Kenny Cooper leveled it for Seattle in the 25th minute with a bundled header, but United responded aa Perry Kitchen scored a second goal for D.C. as he volleyed home from an Espindola corner in the 53rd minute.
Marco Pappa leveled for Seattle in the 63rd minute and momentum seemed to swing in the Sounders favor after D.C.'s Christian Fernandez was sent off for a reckless challenge in the 76th minute. Seattle threw numbers forward looking for a winning goal but United hung on and defended resolutely to preserve the scoreline and win the tournament.
In the second game of the evening the Charleston Battery lost 2-0 to Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo. After a scoreless first half, Tony Cascio broke the deadlock in the 54th minute heading home a Ricardo Clarke cross.
The Dynamo added a second goal 10 minutes later with Giles Barnes tapping in from close-range after some good build-up play down the right flank.
The Charleston Battery kick off their USL PRO campaign on Saturday, March 22 at Blackbaud Stadium with a 7:30 p.m. match versus Orlando City. For tickets or more information please visit www.charlestonbattery.com or call (843) 971-GOAL (4625).