The Charleston Battery got ahead early, then survived a scare as they took down the Carolina RailHawks at home 2-1 in the second round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Battery, who dropped down from the USL First Division to the Second Division voluntarily during the last offseason, took on their former league rivals to the north at Blackbaud Stadium.
Charleston used the home field to their advantage as they dominated the first half while taking the lead on a Rudolph Mayard goal off a header from Stephen Armstrong. Lamar Neagle doubled the lead 18 minutes later, firing into the left corner. Carolina got on the board in the second half, as Etienne Barbara fired a pass to Greg Shields, who converted to get the RailHawks back in the game. However, they would get no closer, as Charleston held on for the 2-1 win.
For Carolina, it was their first opening round exit in their franchise’s brief history, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in their inaugural season. The Battery have won at least two Open Cup games in four of the last five years, including a trip to the Open Cup championship game in 2008 where they lost 2-1 to DC United.
The Battery travel to Chicago to play the MLS’s Fire next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Central Time.