Gabe Valencia headed home the goal that propels Charleston to the Open Cup semi-final
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Match Summary
Half 1
Half 2
OT 1
OT 2
Final
Rochester Rhinos
0
0
0
0
0
Charleston Battery
1
0
0
0
1
Referee: Augusto Silva Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, Jeffrey Mellen Attendance: 7,016 Weather: Cool Blackbaud Players of the Game: Gabe Valencia, Mark Watson
Wednesday, August 4, 2004 - Rochester, NY Charleston Defeats Rochester to Advance to Open Cup Semi-final Rochester, NY. The Charleston Battery defeated the Rochester Raging Rhinos by a score of one goal to none tonight at Frontier Field in front of 7,016. The game was a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarter-final and Charleston now advances to face Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in an August 25, semi-final match-up in Chicago.
The Battery, currently in last position in the A-League Eastern Conference, scored its first ever win versus the Rhinos at Frontier Field in nine attempts. Midfielder, Gabe Valencia headed home the lone goal in the 6th minute as Charleston advanced to the final-four of US Soccer's National Championship for only the second time in its history.
Goalkeeper Dusty Hudock made three saves as he preserved his third consecutive Open Cup shut-out. The Battery has yet to concede a goal in this year's competition.
Rochester posted the first chance of the game in the 5th minute. Former Battery defender John Wilson played a neat ball through the Battery defense to forward Chris Carrieri. Carrieri controlled the pass well but his shot was smothered by Battery goalkeeper, Dusty Hudock.
Charleston snapped the deadlock one minute later. Midfielder Justin Evans won the ball wide on the left, midway inside the Rochester half. He swept a cross out to the back of the box for forward Gabe Valencia to attack. Rochester goalkeeper Theo Zagar reacted slowly to the danger and Valencia met the cross with a header that looped over Zagar and into the net.
Following the goal Rochester attacked with more purpose and were rewarded in the 15th minute with a free-kick twenty yards out. Forward Chris Carrieri curled the ball around the wall but Hudock dove to his right and managed to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
Carrieri came close again two minutes later, this time denied by the cross-bar. He received a pass inside the box but his first-time shot cannoned back off the bar.
Late in the half Valencia had a second opportunity. Rookie forward Jesus Martinez headed the ball into the path of Valencia just outside the box. Valencia broke a tackle but his left-footed attempt was saved by Rochester goalkeeper, Theo Zagar.
In the 75th minute Rochester worked the ball through to Carrieri just inside the box. Carrieri spun to shoot but the ball flew just wide of the right-upright.
In stoppage time at the end of the game substitute Battery midfielder Jason Kutney was played through on the right side. He surged forward and rounded Zagar just inside the box. His momentum carried him to an acute angle to the right of the goal and his shot narrowly missed the target.
The Battery returns home to Blackbaud Stadium Friday night for a 7:30 PM match versus the Richmond Kickers.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Charleston Battery
Valencia (Evans)
6
Team Summary
Rochester Rhinos
Players
Theo Zagar, Craig Demmin, Carlos Mendes (Carlos Semedo 58, Doug Miller 78), David Wright, John Wilson, Shaun Tsakiris (Pato Aguil 62), Ryan Trout, Corey Woolfolk (Yari Allnutt 53), Kirk Wilson, Chris Carrieri, Ian Fuller
Players Not Used - Soren Johnson, Noah Delgado, Lenin Steenkamp
Players
Dusty Hudock, Nigel Henry, Mark Watson, Rick Titus, Henrik Jensen (Jason Kutney 80), Gabe Valencia, Justin Evans, Steve Klein, Ted Chronopoulos (Greg Simmonds 50), Paul Conway, Jesus Martinez (Chris Goos 78)
Players Not Used - Chris Doyle, Kelvin Jones, Kevin Jackson
