Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery are set to make their entrance into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the Third Round against South Georgia Tormenta FC on Tues., April 15. Kickoff at Patriots Point is 7:30 p.m. ET and the match will stream on Paramount+.
Tormenta compete in the third-tier USL League One, making Tuesday’s duel the first meeting between Charleston and Tormenta this year. The sides are set to clash again in the USL Jägermeister Cup on June 28 in Georgia.
Charleston enter the Third Round after receiving a bye in the first two rounds, which they earned after their exceptional finish in the Championship’s regular season standings in 2024. There were 15 other Championship clubs who also placed directly into the Third Round. In league play, the Battery’s record is 3W-2L-0D and they sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Tormenta’s journey to the Third Round included wins over semi-pro clubs Harbor City FC in the First Round and FORO SC in the Second Round. The Georgia club escaped a Cupset against FORO after the game was 2-2 in stoppage time following FORO’s late equalizer. However, Tormenta scored the winner in the dying minutes of the match via Sebastian Vivas to punch their ticket to the Third Round.
The winner of Tuesday’s tie will advance to the Round of 32, where the 16 participating MLS clubs will enter. A draw to determine matchups and locations will take place after the Wednesday Third Round games conclude.
Storylines of the Match
Familiar Open Cup Fixture – Tuesday’s match will be the third time in four years that Charleston and Tormenta will meet in the Open Cup. Tormenta got the better of Charleston in 2022 and the Battery knocked out Tormenta in 2024. MD Myers marked his first appearance in the Open Cup with a hat trick, scoring the winning goal in extra time, just before the match would have been sent to penalties. Historically, the Battery hold a 2W-1L-0D record over Tormenta in the tournament, dating back to 2018.
Second Game in Four Days – Both Charleston and Tormenta will be playing on busy schedules. Each team will go from a Saturday night league match to the Tuesday night Open Cup tie, making for two matches in a span of just 96 hours. Given the packed slate, both teams may utilize their depth at Patriots Point.
Saturday Victories – Both Charleston and Tormenta will look to ride the momentum from their league wins on Saturday. The Battery defeated Pittsburgh, 2-1, at home and Tormenta were victorious, 2-1, over Portland Hearts of Pine.
Segbers’ Season Debut – There was a welcome return to action on Saturday for Charleston’s Mark Segbers, who made his 2025 debut off the bench to see out the win over Pittsburgh.
A Familiar Face Returns – The Tuesday tie could see Handwalla Bwana face the Battery for the first time as a member of Tormenta. Handwalla was off to a strong start with Charleston in the 2023 preseason before an injury ended his campaign before it could officially begin. The attacking midfielder joined Tormenta ahead of the 2025 season.
Single-Elimination Format – Unlike the Jägermeister Cup, there is no group stage in the Open Cup and it’s win or go home. A victory sends the winner to the Round of 32, while a defeat spells an exit from the tournament. Charleston will hope to advance past their first Open Cup match for a third consecutive year.
110th Edition – The 2025 Open Cup is the 110th edition of the tournament. It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States and first began in 1914, then known as the National Challenge Cup.
Past Open Cup Success – The Battery will look to add another chapter to their storied history in the Open Cup. Charleston have had a knack for upsetting MLS sides in the tournament were 2008 Open Cup finalists, defeating Houston Dynamo FC and FC Dallas along the way, and have also taken down Chicago Fire, Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes in the tournament since then.
Houssou Unavailable – Houssou Landry will be serving a one-match yellow card accumulation suspension for the cautions he received in last year’s Open Cup as a member of New Mexico United.
MATCH INFO
Charleston Battery vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round
Tuesday, April 15 – 7:30 p.m. ET Kickoff
Patriots Point
HOW TO WATCH:
Tuesday’s match will stream exclusively on Paramount+.
Tickets for Tuesday start at $15 and are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider. Season Members can claim tickets for the match for free via their Member portal on SeatGeek.
