PREVIEW | Battery vs. Strikers

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are set to play the Charleston Battery on Wednesday, May 27, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round. The match is the Strikers first in the 2015 edition of the Cup.

The Strikers are coming into the match off a 1-0 defeat to the Carolina RailHawks in regular season play. Last year, the Strikers fell in the third round of the tournament to Premier Development (PDL) side Laredo Heat by a score of 3-2. Fort Lauderdale holds a 1-1-3 record in the Open Cup since 2012.

Charleston comes into the third round of the Open Cup following a 1-1 draw on Saturday against the Charlotte Independence. Founded in 1993, the Battery is one of only two non-MLS teams to appear in the U.S. Open Cup Final since the inception of MLS in 1996. The Battery fell in a 2-1 defeat to D.C. United in 2008. Charleston advanced to the third round of the Open Cup with a 1-0 win over Miami United FC on May 20.

The winner of Wednesday’s match will move on to face Orlando City SC in the fourth round. Should the Strikers win, the team will travel to face Orlando at the Citrus Bowl on June 17.

INJURY REPORT

OUT:  GK Joe Nasco; D Karsten Smith
QUESTIONABLE: None
SUSPENDED: None