U.S. Open Cup title rematch on tap tonight

For 50 minutes the dream of winning a national championship was very real for the Charleston Battery.

For 50 minutes the Battery and Major League Soccer's D.C. United had gone toe-to-toe in the U.S. Open Cup at RFK Stadium.

Then with a flick of his right foot, Helbert Frederico Carrerio Da Silva ended any hopes of the Battery becoming only the second USL First Division team to win the U.S. Open Cup in the tournament's 94-year history.

Carrerio Da Silva, better known to MLS fans around the league as Fred, gave D.C. United a 2-1 lead with his goal in the 50th minute. It would be a lead which they would not relinquish.

Fred and his D.C. United teammates will take on Charleston tonight for the first time since their epic match last September in the U.S. Open Cup championship game. It is the final game of the Carolina Challenge Cup, which is set to begin at 7:15 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium. Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake, both undefeated in the event, will determine the tournament's champion beginning at 5 p.m.

The dynamic and creative Brazilian midfielder still has vivid memories of his game-winning goal against the Battery.

"A big goal for me, a big goal for the club," Fred said. "Anytime you're in a Cup final and you get a goal, it's a big goal. I didn't think it would win the game, but obviously I'm glad it did. It was a great night for the club."

Fred's goal ensured D.C. United a spot in this year's CONCACAF Champions League and gave the franchise its first U.S. Open Cup title since 1996 in an otherwise disappointing season for the four-time MLS champion.

"We didn't have the kind of season we would have liked last year, but winning the U.S. Open Cup made up for a lot of that," Fred said. "When you get to that point of a tournament, a Cup final, it doesn't matter who you're playing or what you're playing for, you want to add some hardware to the trophy case."

Charleston defender John Wilson had seen Fred play before and knew what the talented midfielder was capable of once he entered the game in 40th minute.

"He's a guy that normally starts for them," Wilson said. "He's got a lot of pace and he's very creative. There are not many guys in the league like Fred, so he's someone that you've always got to keep an eye on."

D.C. United's goal was set up by a beautiful cross-field pass from Clyde Simms. Simms played a long ball down the right flank. Rod Dyachenko drew two Charleston defenders to him as Fred slipped behind the Battery defensive wall.

Fred appeared to be off side on the play, but no flag from the linesmen went up. Fred took two dribbles and beat Charleston goalie Dusty Hudock for the score.

"Maybe I was a little off side," Fred said with a smile. "But when I didn't hear the whistle, I knew I was in."

D.C. United coach Tom Soehn said the game was worthy of a Cup final.

"I thought Charleston had a great team last year and did a fantastic job getting as far as they did," Soehn said. "They played us evenly in our stadium, so you've got to give them a lot of credit."

It was a tough loss for Charleston to swallow, but most of the players who were there that night have put it in the past.

"Any loss is tough to take, especially in a Cup final," said Charleston midfielder Ian Fuller, who scored the Battery's only goal. "For sure, we'd like to beat D.C. this time around, but I don't think there's any revenge on anyone's mind. It's a different year, two different teams and we're only a week-and-a-half into our preseason."

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