Three Eastern Conference MLS teams hoping for newfound success in 2011 take to the pitch in Charleston, S.C., as the Carolina Challenge Cup kicks off at Blackbaud Stadium.
The opening match features the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC and is slated for 5 p.m. It will be streamed live on the Fire's Web site and Toronto FC's site.
The nightcap features D.C. United and the Charleston Battery, a 2011 USL-PRO side and annual tournament host. Charlie Davies has rejoined D.C. after going to France to collect his belongings and is available for selection for tonight's match, which will be streamed live on DCUnited.com at 7 p.m.
If you will be watching either match — or both — please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.
Well, while you’d prefer a win over a loss in these things (preseason cups against other preseason teams) it’s also worth noting that DC United won the Carolina Cup last year as well so it’s important to view these more from a development perspective rather than “we won so we must be great” perspective.
This ref must have been in a garage band with half the Batteries lineup.
Excited to see DC for the first time. Liked what Dax and Zayner did in the first half – both very active. Of course, looking forward to seeing Davies….
nice DC 🙂
Finally real competition for United!
Vamos United!
Fire win 1-0. Defense looked solid again and limited dangerous attacks from Toronto after going down to 10 men.
Halftime switch:
Segares for Anibaba
Maric for Puerari not Davis.
Starting XI for Chicago:
Puerari Chaves
Davis Pause Pappa Husidic Ristic
Milkulic Gibbs Anibaba
Pause with a red card so Davis was subbed for Maric.
I was just about to say that Chicago was having a promising start. Until that straight red to Pause.
Ferrari is trialing with the Fire and the word is that he’s gonna make the final 30.
That is Ferrari.
My mistake, Ferrari is not starting. I mixed the names Puerari and Ferrari up.
That’s not Gabriel Ferrari. He’s playing in the Swiss league right now.
I thought TFC was supposed to be like Ajax now or something? Have to say watching them this preseason makes me feel REAL good about being a Fire fan. I don’t think we’re in for nearly the disaster season that we could have been.
Good for him. So the Fire lost him and CJ Brown! I don’t even know is back there. Where is Nyarko? And more importantly…where is Dwayne DeRosario?
Conde is in Mexico with Atlas
Goal! Pappa! Gabriel Ferrari is getting the start.
1-0 10th min.
That was quick. So this is the 3-5-2 formation they’ve been working on. Does the first still have Conde?
17 year old Pineda should get some minutes. I’ll be interested to see him along with new players: Gaston Puerari and Diego Cháves.
I’ve said it earlier and I’ll say it again, The Fire are gonna surprise alot of people this year. Nyarko will be the number one “Cap him now” chant heard on SBI.