Dynamo, DC United To Return
Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC will make a first appearance in the 11th annual Carolina Challenge Cup, Feb. 22-March 1, 2014.
The Sounders will be joined by current U.S. Open Cup champions D.C. United, the Houston Dynamo from MLS and the USL PRO’s Charleston Battery.
[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’] Houston eliminated the top-seeded New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals and tied the eventual MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the Eastern Conference championship before being eliminated in the second leg.
The Battery will open the 2014 Carolina Challenge Cup against Seattle. D.C. United will open the competition against Houston. Each night of competition is a doubleheader format.
The Sounders recently made former Battery midfielder Osvaldo Alonso their newest Designated Player by signing him to a multi-year contract.
“Ozzie is the ultimate competitor who has given everything to Sounders FC,” said Sounders FC Owner and GM Adrian Hanauer. “His passion for the game of soccer and his drive to be the best are validated by being named team MVP four consecutive seasons by his teammates.
“Ozzie is a key building block for our club and we are happy to sign him to a long-term contract extension.”
Alonso, 28, signed with Sounders FC on Jan. 27, 2009 from the Charleston Battery. He is a three-time MLS All-Star.
Seattle has also signed U.S. MNT midfielder Brad Evans, 28, to a new contract. Evans has been capped 16 times by the U.S. National Team and is in the player pool for selection to the U.S. World Cup 2014 team.
Tickets for the 2014 Carolinas Challenge Cup are currently on sale through the Charleston Battery.
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