Mark Watson and the Battery return to Blackbaud Sunday for the final game of the season
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Match Summary
Half 1
Half 2
OT 1
OT 2
Final
Chicago Fire
0
0
0
1
1
Charleston Battery
0
0
0
0
0
Referee: Michael Kennedy Assistant Referees: Robert Fereday, Greg Barkey Attendance: 1,877 Weather: Rain 70 Blackbaud Player of the Game: Justin Evans
Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - Chicago, IL Battery falls to Fire in double OT
Naperville, IL. - The Charleston Battery's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run ended tonight with a semifinal loss to Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in double OT at Benedetti-Werhli Stadium in front of 1,877. Substitute forward Dipsy Selolwane headed home the golden-goal winner in the 107th minute. Chicago advances to the final where they will face the Kansas City Wizards in Kansas City on September 22.
The game featured an hour weather delay after the first-half because of lightning and threat of tornado in the Naperville area.
The Battery created the first chance of the game in the 14th minute. Midfielder Ted Chronopoulos played a pass around the outside for forward Greg Simmonds to chase. Simmonds latched onto the ball just outside the box but his right-footed attempt crashed into the side netting.
Two minutes later Simmonds and Chronopoulos combined again this time leaving Chronopoulos in a scoring position at the left-hand side of the 18-yard box. Chronopoulos fired a shot on-goal but former USC goalkeeper Henry Ring was well positioned and made the save.
The Battery's best chance of the first-half fell to midfielder Gabe Valencia in the 24th minute. Valencia picked up the ball in space midway inside the Chicago half. He took two touches then whipped a dipping shot at the goal forcing a good one-handed save from Ring.
In the 35th minute the Fire's Jamaican international midfielder Andy Williams received a looping pass just inside the box. He hit an excellent first-time volley but Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock dropped to his right and turned the ball around the post for a corner.
In the 62nd minute Gabe Valencia was first to react to a goal-mouth scramble but his attempt from 5-yards was smothered by Ring.
The Battery were forced to swap goalkeepers late in the second-half after Dusty Hudock was injured contesting a cross.
The Battery had an opportunity to win the game in the 106th minute from a corner-kick. Substitute midfielder Chris Goos drove the ball into the middle of the goal but defender Steve Klein's snap header went straight to Ring at the near-post.
The Fire scored the winner in the second period of OT. Defender Orlando Perez whipped a ball into the middle from wide on the left. Dipsy Selolwane met the cross and directed a header past substitute goalkeeper Chris Doyle.
The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium Sunday for its final game of the A-League season as it hosts the Toronto Lynx; kick off is set for 6:00 PM.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Chicago Fire
Selolwane (Capano)
107
Team Summary
Chicago Fire
Players
Henry Ring, CJ Brown, Evan Whitfield (Craig Capano 106), Jim Curtin, Orlano Perez, Logan Pause, Andy Williams, Kelly Gray, Justin Mapp, Damani Ralph, Nate Jaqua (Dipsy Selolwane 79)
Players Not Used - DJ Countess, Leonard Griffin, Alex Boucicant, Scott Buette, Danny Clanton
Players
Dusty Hudock (Chris Doyle 78), Steve Klein, Mark Watson, Rick Titus, Jason Kutney, Kevin Jackson, Justin Evans, Gabe Valencia, Ted Chronopoulos (Chris Goos 86), Greg Simmonds (Paul Conway 90), Jesus Martinez
Players Not Used - Henrik Jensen, Nick Downing, Josh Smith, Nigel Henry
