Image by 20080903opencup.jpg

The Charleston Battery face one of their biggest tests and opportunities on Wednesday, the soccer team plays in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final in Washington, D.C. The Battery face D.C. United.

The game is Wednesday, September 3, at 7:30 p.m. It will be aired on Fox Soccer Channel, a premium channel.

ESPN has a solid pre-game story, an excerpt:
Charleston may belong to the second-tier sibling to MLS on domestic soccer's family tree, but the Battery holds one important psychological advantage: this match simply means a little more for manager Mike Anhaeuser's club than it does for D.C. United. USL teams typically hold the Open Cup in higher regard. Indeed, Anhaeuser called this match the most significant in club history, and humbly admitted on Friday, just hours before a USL-1 match, that it was difficult to focus on matters at hand with such a huge moment for his franchise pending.

Also head over to the U.S. Open Cup's Web site, where they have excellent background on the two teams' lead up to tonight's game.

The Post and Courier also has a pre-game write-up, in part they note some of the past ties between the D.C. United and The Battery. An excerpt:
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.

For extra credit, join in the argument if The Battery have a good shot again a Major League Soccer team.

If The Battery win they take home $100,000, if they lose, they get $50,000. A win will make The Battery the second-ever USL team to take the trophy.