Insider info key vs. MLS

Charleston Battery defenders Nelson Akwari, Marco Reda and John Wilson have a combined 118 games and 7,606 minutes of experience in Major League Soccer.

The three former MLS defenders will need to call on all of their prior MLS knowledge when the Battery takes on the Houston Dynamo in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup today beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium.

Houston, the two-time defending MLS champion, has one of the league's most lethal attacks.

"Houston probably has the best forward combination in the MLS in (Brian) Ching and (Dwayne) De Rosario," said Wilson, who played in 31 games for D.C. United in 2006 and 2007.

"De Rosario is pretty creative with the ball and Ching is a big guy that can hold the ball. They play very well off of each other. They're not just a couple of individuals when they're on the field, and that's what makes them so dangerous."

Ching, who has 25 appearances for the United States national team over the past three seasons, leads the Dynamo with six goals, while De Rosario, a Canadian national team member, is second with four goals.

"They're both quality players and they both can score from pretty much anywhere on the field," said Akwari, who has 78 games of MLS experience under his belt. "De Rosario is a very skilled player, very smart, while Ching is very good in the air. It's going to be a challenge, but I think one we're looking forward to.

"I think it helps that John, Marco and I have played against them in the MLS. We kind of know what to expect, but all that experience won't mean a thing if we don't come out to play and match the effort that they're going to bring."

Reda, who played in eight games for Toronto FC last season, has played against De Rosario since childhood.

"I know Dwayne pretty well, I grew up playing with him and against him in Canada," Reda said. "He's a very tricky player. He's got some pace and he's very good with the ball. It's going to be a challenge for all three of us, but I think it's something that we're all looking forward to.

"Houston is just not Ching and De Rosario. They're a full team, a full squad. You can't concentrate on those two and expect to win. The reason they've won two championships is because they all play well together."

The Battery will also have to contend with midfielder Ricardo Clark, a former Furman standout who had seven appearances for the U.S. national team in 2007.

"They've got a lot of weapons," said Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser. "They play fast. They defend well. They are always organized. There's a reason why they've won back-to-back titles in the MLS."

Anhaeuser said the performance of Akwari, Reda and Wilson will be a key for the Battery.

"When you play against a team from an upper division, you have to defend properly against a quality team," Anhaeuser said. "Certainly Nelson, Marco and John have seen the kind of quality that Houston can put on the field, so there shouldn't be any surprises for them. We've got experience in the back and that should help."

In the past, most MLS teams have treated the U.S. Open Cup as an afterthought, a way to get younger players on the field for game experience.

A year ago, the Dynamo used only a handful of starters against the Battery in their third-round match. The strategy backfired as the Battery beat Houston, 1-0, on Stephen Armstrong's penalty kick in the 108th minute.

"That was a great win for the club," Anhaeuser said. "We've proven we can play with teams from the MLS in past competitions."

But this year most MLS teams are expected to use more of their normal starting lineup, with the winner of the U.S. Open Cup automatically getting a spot in next year's CONCACAF Champions League tournament. Another factor for the Dynamo will be their game with Real Salt Lake on Thursday.

"Some teams take the U.S. Open Cup more seriously than others," Anhaeuser said. "I think with the winner of the (U.S.) Open Cup going to the Champions League tournament, more teams are going to take it more seriously.

"I'm sure it will play a big difference in team selection. I think that Houston will play a majority of their starters. I don't expect to see their reserve team out there. We're going to be prepared for anything."

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com and check out the new Battery blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/battery/