Battery has chance to avenge crushing U.S. Open Cup loss

Charleston Battery midfielder Lazo Alavanja doesn't remember much about last year's U.S. Open Cup soccer match against FC Dallas.

But the one thing the former Indiana University star does recall about Charleston's loss to the Major League Soccer club is that it was a game the Battery very easily could have won.

"I remember it was a pretty wide-open game and it went back-and-forth pretty much the whole night," said Alavanja, who played for the Dallas Burn in 1999 and 2000. "I remember we had chances to put the game away and we didn't get it done. It's one of those games that got away from us, but that can happen against an MLS team. It's too bad we didn't come out on top because we played well enough to win.

"Losing any game like that is frustrating, but to come so close against an MLS team makes it that much tougher. You don't

get many chances to beat a MLS team, so you've got to take advantage of them when the opportunity comes around."

The Battery, which is one of three USL First Division teams still remaining in the U.S. Open Cup, will get a chance to avenge last year's defeat when it takes on FC Dallas tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium.

Charleston appeared to have won last year's matchup when Luke Harrington scored with six minutes left in the second overtime period to give the Battery a 3-2 advantage. But Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, who had all three goals for Dallas, scored in stoppage time to send the game into penalty kicks. Dallas eventually took the match, outscoring the Battery, 5-3, in penalty kicks.

"We were a couple of minutes away from advancing to the next round," said Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser. "We got a little tired in overtime and Cooper finished his chance when he got it there in the end. It was a great game, but certainly a game where we had plenty of chances to win."

The Battery has already defeated one MLS opponent during this year's U.S. Open Cup, downing defending MLS champion Houston, 1-0, back in July.

"We played a really solid match against Houston," Alavanja said. "We were organized on defense and we created plenty of chances offensively. I think that should give us a lot of confidence headed into this match."

However, unlike the Dynamo, which used mostly second-team players against the Battery, FC Dallas is scheduled to use most of its starters tonight. FC Dallas beat Colorado, 1-0, last Saturday night and does not play again until this Saturday's match with Columbus.

"I think we're going to see their top 11 guys," Anhaeuser said. "I don't think they're going to leave anyone at home. They don't have to play until Saturday, so I don't think they're going to sit guys out to save them for their league games."

With temperatures expected to be above 90 degrees at kickoff, the Battery must maintain possession of the ball as long as possible, Anhaeuser said.

"It's going to be one of the hottest days of the year," Anhaeuser said. "We've got to make sure we keep the ball as much as possible and make them work put them under pressure. If we can make them work, they've got a few older guys that don't want to be running around in 100-degree heat."

One of the most dangerous players for FC Dallas is MLS all-star midfielder Juan Toja, who leads the team with six goals on the season.

"He's an attacking midfielder and he's capable of scoring from just about anywhere in the attacking zone," Anhaeuser said. "He's certainly someone we're going to have to be aware of."

Veteran forward Carlos Ruiz will be another player the Battery will have to contend with.

"He's a very smart player and he always seems to be able to find open space to work with," Anhaeuser said.

One player the Battery won't have to worry about is Cooper, who broke his leg and will most likely miss the rest of the season.

The key for the Battery will be keeping its shape defensively, Anhaeuser said.

"You have to make sure defensively, you do your job. We did it for 120 minutes against Houston and we'll have to do the same thing against Dallas," Anhaeuser said. "We can't mistakes against them. We have to limit them to outside shots. You don't want to have a bunch of breakdowns and get beat on a lot of one on one situations. We want to keep them outside, so if they score it's going to be from 25 yards out on a quality shot."