DC United down Charleston in Open Cup
The Coffee Pot Cup remains in the Capital despite Battery's decent performance
The Coffee Pot Cup is staying home.
One of the most unique rivalry trophies in American soccer has been reclaimed by DC United after Tuesday’s 2-0 extra time win over the Charleston Battery. Here’s three takeaways from the Open Cup match, one for each of DC’s competitive wins in the series:
1. Close, but not close enough
The gameplan was there for Charleston as it has been throughout the early stages of 2025. Win the possession battle (they did so with a 57% share of the ball), send in passes over the top, and allow your playmakers to get their backs to goal and make something happen.
Only problem is, the ball has to end up in the net. The Battery just couldn’t get that part down.
There were chances, sure. MD Myers put one home in the 3rd minute, but he was offside. Rubio Rubin tapped home a great pass from Houssou Landry in the 57th, but he was even further in an offside position.
Arturo Rodriguez made space and sent a curling shot just wide. Emilio Ycaza glanced a shot off the post. Myers chested a pass just a bit too far in front of himself to produce a quality chance. To beat an MLS team, even one not at full strength, requires near perfection.
Charleston came into the night averaging 2.11 goals per game in 2025. Tonight, the chances were there, but they just couldn’t find the final touch to create something dangerous.
2. A Tale of Two Benches
DC United made six changes to their lineup from Saturday’s win over Colorado, while Charleston’s starting lineup looked much closer to a full-strength side. But the game was won in the substitutions.
“Their subs changed it,” said Battery coach Ben Pirmann after the match. Costa Rican international Randall Leal came on after halftime and had the assist on both goals. Jared Stroud, who came on in the 82nd, scored the second goal on a breakaway counterattack to seal the win.
United’s fresh legs helped them to maintain a little more possession in the 2nd half and far better shot quality.
Charleston, however, never quite adjusted to these substitutions and had a bit of difficulty adjusting to their own. The attack didn’t look quite as lethal once Cal Jennings replaced Rubin, which feels counterintuitive to say about the current USL golden boot leader.
It’s the reality of these MLS/USL matchups: MLS benches are nearly always deeper. DC never even utilized Christian Benteke, last year’s MLS golden boot winner. There wasn’t a need.
That’s not to say Charleston were doomed from the start, but once these games stretch past 90 minutes, the deeper bench has a dramatic advantage.
3. Zamudio is a lot of fun to watch
There’s something fun about a slightly manic keeper in the style of a Manuel Neuer. While Luis Zamudio might not be a pure sweeper keeper, his style is a combination of excitement, frustration, and nerve-wracking delight rolled into one.
And without his efforts, the game may have never made it to extra time at all.
Zamudio had 4 saves on the night, but those stats don’t account for punched clearances of a few dangerous looking crosses. Or the scrambling one on one slide tackle yards outside his box.
Without captain Leland Archer available, the Battery defense has been a bit of a plug and play operation. Michael Edwards, who arrived on loan from Colorado just this week, was the newest center back to try and fill Archer’s boots. While he had a respectable showing, it was Zamudio who kept the Battery alive in the waning minutes of regular time.
Was he slightly out of position on Stroud’s goal? Possibly, but the Battery had committed numbers forward to try to tie the game. There was nothing he could have done to stop Jacob Murrell’s goal. Despite the goals he allowed, it was the goals he didn’t that gave Charleston a chance all night.
Up next:
DC United will host Charlotte FC in the Open Cup Round of 16 on May 20th or 21st.
Charleston will head to Tampa Bay on Saturday, May 10th for another rivalry trophy matchup: The No Quarter Derby.