Draft:Coffee Pot Cup

The Coffee Pot Cup is an trophy contested between Charleston Battery and D.C. United, two professional soccer teams in the United States. Established by supporters of both teams, the trophy has become a symbol of the spirited rivalry between Charleston Battery of the USL Championship and D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS), being one of the few interleague rivalries in the United States.

The rivalry's roots began during a post-match incident during the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, when the Battery defeated United in an upset 4–3 extra time victory. After the match, players on United were so upset with the outcome, that players removed showerheads from the locker room and smashed coffee pots in the locker rooms, dubbing the cup's namesake. The clubs would face off again in the 2000 U.S. Open Cup, and most notably in the 2008 U.S. Open Cup final, with United winning both occasions.

Throughout the 2000s into the mid 2010s, the two teams frequently played against one another in the Carolina Challenge Cup, with United having the overall edge over the Battery. Since then, the rivalry has been largely dormant, as the last time the two clubs played for the trophy was during the 2014 Carolina Challenge Cup.

History
The origins of the Coffee Pot Cup trace back to a postgame incident after the Third Round of the 1999 U.S. Open Cup. Charleston Battery achieved a shocking 4-3 extra-time upset over D.C. United at Blackbaud Stadium. In frustration over the loss, members of D.C. United reportedly vandalized the visitors' locker room by smashing coffee pots and removing showerheads. The incident gained attention, and the match was dubbed "one of the biggest upsets ever seen in American soccer history."

Inauguration of the Cup
Several years later, supporters of both teams decided to channel the competitive spirit into a friendly tradition. In the spirit of camaraderie, they established the Coffee Pot Cup as a symbolic trophy to be contested whenever the two teams faced each other, be it in the U.S. Open Cup or an arranged friendly. The inaugural winners of the Cup in 2004 were D.C. United, securing a 2–1 victory.

Tiebreakers
In 2005 and 2006, the matches between Charleston Battery and D.C. United ended in ties (2-2 and 1-1, respectively). In such cases, no team had to bear the cost of filling the Coffee Pot Cup with beer. Despite the ties, D.C. United maintained possession of the Cup, having been the previous year's champions.

Legacy
The Coffee Pot Cup has evolved into a rare example of an MLS-USL team rivalry, capturing the imaginations of soccer fans and supporters alike. The friendly tradition showcases the passion and camaraderie within the soccer community, turning a historical incident into a symbol of shared enthusiasm for the sport.

Trophy
The Coffee Pot Cup trophy is a stainless steel coffee percolator with the namesake of the trophy embedded on the cup. On the percolator trophy are metallic plaques that display the results of the matches between the two clubs. The trophy was conceived by members of the United and Battery fan bases and was first awarded to D.C. United after their 2004 victory in the 2004 Carolina Challenge Cup over the Battery. The trophy features retroactive scores between the two sides prior to 2004.