Charleston Battery one win away from facing Atlanta United | Sports

Charleston Battery coach Ben Pirmann doesn’t want to look too far ahead when it comes to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Battery will open this year’s US Open Cup against South Georgia Tormenta FC, a USL League One club, on May 8 in the round of 16 at Patriots Point.

Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.

A win over Tormenta, a team the Battery faced during the preseason, and the Battery would face the winner of Charlotte Independence-Atlanta United FC in two weeks at Patriots Point. Atlanta United, which averages more than 47,000 fans for home matches, has one of the largest followings in Major League Soccer.

“It’s a historic competition,” Pirmann said. “I love the US Open Cup, I played there as a player, I coached an amateur team there and I coached two USL teams there. Whenever you’re in a cup competition, it’s the little moments that count. It’s about getting our minds and bodies in order and keeping our foot on the gas.

Charleston (7-0-3) is undefeated in its first 10 matches of the season and has scored the most goals (25) so far in the USL Championship.

“Tormenta is a very talented team,” Pirmann said. “They have a perfect record against USL Championship teams in the Open Cup, so we know we will have to do our best to have a chance against them. No League One team has qualified for the knockout stages, so there is plenty of incentive for Tormenta to play well.

Charleston will look to add another chapter to its Open Cup success story, particularly against MLS clubs.

The Battery advanced to the 2008 US Open Cup final, defeating Houston Dynamo FC and FC Dallas along the way, before losing 2–1 in the championship match to DC United.

The Battery also defeated Chicago Fire, Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes in the tournament.