Carolina Challenge Cup 2012

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D.C. United Returns To Charleston
Will try to win third consecutive Challenge Cup


Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Major League Soccer’s D.C. United will return to defend its Carolina Challenge Cup title in 2012. D.C. United claimed the 2011 tournament title with wins against the Chicago Fire, the Charleston Battery and a tie versus Toronto F.C. The 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup will be hosted by the Charleston Battery from Feb. 25 – March 3, 2012 and feature the Battery, D.C. United plus two additional teams from Major League Soccer.

The Carolina Challenge Cup is the premier preseason tournament in the United States. Each year the Battery is joined by three teams from Major League Soccer for the round-robin competition. Beginning in 2011 the tournament also featured a youth element as the MLS teams brought their USSF Academy sides to Charleston for a parallel USSF Academy tournament.

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DC United to "get on same page" at Carolina tournament

United in Charleston
The Black-and-Red are in SC for the Carolina Challenge Cup

The Carolina Challenge Cup is far from a foreign experience for D.C. United. The club that has taken part in the annual preseason tournament in six of the last eight years.

The familiar setting at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C., will provide a chance for a number of players to get to know each other after a frenzied few weeks of personnel movement. Seven players officially on the senior roster were not with D.C. last season, and a few of the trialists with the club are closing in on deals as well.

"This next two to three weeks is very crucial for us as a group to get on the same page," D.C. head coach Ben Olsen said.

The next step in that process is at the Carolina Challenge Cup, where D.C. will play against the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew and USL Pro side and host Charleston Battery over the course of eight days, kicking things off against the Fire Saturday night.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/24/dc-united-get-same-page-carolina-tournament


CLICK HERE for full schedule.
www.mlssoccer.com/preseason/2012/tournaments#carolina

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RECAP: DC 1 - Chicago 0

Hamdi Salihi burns Chicago Fire for United's first preseason win

On a cool night in Charleston, newly acquired Designated Player Hamdi Salihi notched the lone goal as D.C. United topped the Chicago Fire in the opening match of the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdMdRdvqdSI&feature=player_embedded

Under pressure from the opening whistle, United gave up a penalty kick in the fifth minute when Dejan Jakovic took down Fire striker Patrick Nyarko in the box. Facing a momentum-killing early deficit, second-year keeper Joe Willis saved the Black-and-Red, diving to his right before pushing away Pavel Pardo's effort from the spot.

www.dcunited.com/news/2012/02/preseason-match-5-united-vs-chicago-fire

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United's final preseason test washed out in Charleston[/COLOR]

Heavy rain in the Charleston area washed out the finale of the Carolina Challenge Cup[/B]

With six points through two matches, United sits atop the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup table. Should tonight's second game be cancelled, D.C. would claim the preseason tournament title for the third straight season

www.dcunited.com/news/2012/03/uniteds-final-preseason-test-washed-out-in-charleston