Battery topples MLS power Houston in overtime

This time, the Charleston Battery wasn't going to settle for a shootout against a Major League Soccer opponent. Stephen Armstrong made sure of that.

Armstrong scored on a rebound off his own penalty kick in the second overtime period as Charleston beat the Houston Dynamo, the defending MLS champion, 1-0, in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in front of 2,569 fans at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Battery will host its second straight MLS opponent, Dallas FC, a winner over USL First Division Atlanta on penalty kicks, on Aug. 7 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

The next matchup will give the Battery a chance to avenge last year's loss to Dallas FC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. Dallas eliminated the Battery on penalty kicks.

Armstrong wasn't about to let history repeat itself this time.

After 108 minutes of scoreless soccer, Houston defender Eddie Robinson was called for a foul on Charleston midfielder Ian Bennett inside the 18-yard box. Robinson, a veteran of six seasons in MLS, spun Bennett to the ground, giving referee Shane Moody no choice but to award the Battery a penalty kick.

"They were holding us all night long," Bennett said. "I wasn't sure we'd get a call like that against an MLS team, but (Moody) had called a pretty even game up to that point."

Armstrong took a low, hard shot that Houston keeper Zak Wells stopped on a diving save. But the ball bounced up and started to spin toward the net. Armstrong jumped on the rebound and knocked it in for the score.

"I changed my mind at the last second and I shouldn't have," Armstrong said. "I was going somewhere else, but (Wells) guessed right and made a good save. I thought the ball might spin back into the net, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I knew I needed to get there and put it in."

The Battery controlled the action throughout the match against a Dynamo squad that featured just three full-time starters. Houston star midfielder Dwayne De Rossario and forward Brian Ching, a member of the U.S. national team, did not travel to the Lowcountry.

The Battery outshot the Dynamo 18-17, and nearly doubled Houston on quality scoring chances.

"We played like we could tonight," Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser said. "We came out strong, we moved the ball, and we defended very well. Everyone stepped it up a notch, and that's what you have to do against an MLS team.

"I know that (Houston) didn't have all of their players here, but that doesn't matter. No matter who you're playing against, you still have to create the chances. It's the Open Cup and we're moving on to the next round."

It was a much different effort from a Battery team that looked uninterested during a 0-0 draw in Saturday night's USL First Division match against Puerto Rico.

"It's like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock said. "The performance we gave tonight was fantastic. We played well, not only defensively, but with the ball. Louie (Rolko) was fantastic for us in the back tonight. The number of quality balls he sent in was unbelievable. I thought we played very well with the ball and without it."

The Battery nearly scored in the fourth minute of the match. Striker Jordan Hughes stole the ball from Houston defender Pat Ianni just outside the 18-yard box. Hughes took two dribbles into the box and tried to slide the ball past Wells. But Wells got enough of the ball to deflect it wide of the goal.

Houston came back in the 42nd minute when midfielder Stuart Holden took a shot from about 25 yards. Hudock had to stretch to punch the ball over the goal.

Charleston nearly scored in the 54th minute when midfielder Michael Richardson crossed the ball into the 18-yard box to Gordon Chin. Chin trapped the ball about 10 yards out, pivoted and took a strong shot, but it was right into the belly of Wells for the save.

Charleston had another excellent chance in the 82nd minute. Rolko served a long ball to striker Aaron King, who got the ball to Armstrong in the 18-yard box. Armstrong dropped the ball off to Chin, who got a strong shot on goal. But Wells again made a diving save to end the threat.

Headers

Charleston striker Byron Alvarez missed the game with a sore neck. Alvarez leads the team with six goals.

Midfielder Michael Richardson was back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension Saturday night. Richardson was suspended for the game against the Islanders for receiving a red card on July 4 against Atlanta.

Midfielder Ian Fuller (hamstring) and defenders Kevin Nylen (foot) and Brandon Curran (concussion) missed the game.

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com.