MLS' D.C. United stands in way of Battery's quest

John Wilson

Charleston Battery defender John Wilson has always been fond of playing at RFK Stadium.

The fan support and rowdy atmosphere have made RFK Stadium a favorite destination among Major League Soccer players over the years. For two seasons, Wilson enjoyed the support of the locals in Washington.

However, the fan support that Wilson enjoyed as a defender for D.C. United from 2005-07 will not be there tonight when the Charleston Battery takes on D.C. United in the final of the U.S. Open Cup beginning at 7:30 p.m. at RFK.

"They've got such great fan support at RFK Stadium," said Wilson, who played in 28 games for D.C. "It's a great place to play, especially when you're on the home side. The fans make it a very difficult place to play if you're with the visiting side, and that hostility always made it fun to go in there and play."

Unruly fans or not, Wilson said tonight's matchup is the biggest in the Battery's 16-year existence. Charleston won a USISL Pro League title in 1996, and Wilson was a fixture in the Battery's lineup during its

run at a USL A-League title in 2003.

Still, tonight's historic match outweighs even those league championships, Wilson said. Not only is a U.S. Open Cup title on the line, the winning team will get an automatic bid in next year's CONCACAF Champions League Cup, a tournament featuring some of the top clubs in North America. The Battery is trying to become the first USL team to win the U.S. Open Cup since Rochester beat Colorado in the 1999 final.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only for us, but the USL," Wilson said. "I played on the 2003 team that won the A-League title and that was a great season and a great accomplishment. But I've got believe that with everything that's on the line (tonight), this is a bigger match for this club.

"There are lot of guys that have played in the MLS that have never had an opportunity to win an MLS Cup or a U.S. Open Cup. With a CONCACAF Champions League berth on the line as well, it makes this match even more important. There's a lot on the line (tonight)."

Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock agreed, adding, however, that the team can't get caught up on the pregame hype.

"It's a huge game for us and a huge game for the club," Hudock said. "But you can't really focus on the enormity of the situation, because if you do, you'll be overwhelmed by it. You've got treat it and prepare for it like it's another game. Go out there and roll the dice and see what happens.

"The way I look at it is if there was more you could do to prepare for a game, to get better, then why haven't you been doing it before this week? I don't think you should change anything about what you've been doing."

Wilson isn't the only Battery player with ties to D.C. United. Midfielder Stephen Armstrong appeared in 15 games during the 2001 season, scoring three goals for D.C., while striker Lazo Alavanja played in 17 games in 2002.

"It's a great organization, one of the best in the MLS," Wilson said. "I have a lot of great memories playing for them. I've still got a lot of friends that still play for D.C. United. I want to play well against them because I want to win a U.S. Open Cup, but also because I want to show well against a side I used to play for."

Wilson already has some success against D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. In 1999, Wilson and Hudock helped lead the Battery past D.C. United, 4-3, in overtime during the third round of the tournament. Bulgarian Ivailo Ilarianov scored with three minutes left in regulation to send the game into extra time and added another goal 10 minutes later to win the match.

"One of the best games I've ever been a part of," Wilson said. "That was such a great win for the club. Hopefully, we can pull off another upset."

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