Ozzie Alsonso scored from the spot in the 90th minute to book the Battery a place in the third round of the Open Cup
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Match Summary
Half 1
Half 2
OT 1
OT 2
Final
Charleston Battery
1
1
0
0
2
Charlotte Eagles
0
1
0
0
1
Referee: Skye Arthur Banning Assistant Referees: Eric Proctor, Jou Nattes Attendance: 1,411 Weather: Clear, 90 Blackbaud Player of the Game: Osvaldo Alonso
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - Charleston, SC Alonso scores late PK to lift Battery into third round of U.S. Open Cup Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery defeated the Charlotte Eagles by a score of two goals to one Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 1,470. Osvaldo Alonso scored the winning goal from the penalty-spot in the 90th minute. The win lifts the Battery into the third round of the U.S. Open Cup; Charleston will face the current MLS champions, the Houston Dynamo in the next round at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 1.
Charleston opened the scoring in the 12th minute following a scramble in the box involving Aaron King. The ball came out to King who hit a shot first time at the goal. Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Boss parried the shot but the clearance landed at the feet of Darren Spicer who volleyed home from the right side of the penalty-area. The goal was Spicer’s fourth of the 2008 tournament.
In the 20th minute Charlotte came close after earning a free-kick twenty yards out. Midfielder Jorge Herrera whipped in a shot but Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans dove across and made the save at the near post.
In the 23rd minute Battery midfielder Osvaldo Alonso played an excellent pass down the right side for Darren Spicer. Spicer caught up with the ball at the bye-line and crossed to the back of the box. Winger Mike Richardson ran onto the pass but his headed attempt was saved by Boss.
Charlotte enjoyed the majority of possession after half-time and were rewarded for their efforts in the 66th minute with a goal. Midfielder Ben Johnson hurled a long-throw into the box to Jorge Herrera who snapped his header past Wiggans into the goal.
The game appeared to beheaded to overtime but turned in Charleston’s favor in the 90th minute after Randi Patterson was brought down in the box. The referee awarded Charleston a penalty-kick and Osvaldo Alonso slotted past Boss to give Charleston the win.
The Battery will face MLS’s Houston Dynamo in the next round of the Cup; the game will be played at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 1, kick off is set for 7:30 PM ($10 - $18, 971-GOAL / charlestonbattery.com).
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Charleston Battery
Spicer
12
Charlotte Eagles
Herrera (Johnson)
67
Charleston Battery
Alonso (PK)
90
Team Summary
Charleston Battery
Players
Keith Wiggans, Kevin Nylen (Tim Velten 67), Marco Reda (Brandon Curran 59), Nelson Akwari, Chris Corcoran, Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Richardson (Dominic Cianciarulo 89), Stephen Armstrong, Darren Spicer, Randi Patterson, Aaron King (Lazo Alavanja 59)
Players Not Used - Dusty Hudock, Lester More, Louie Rolko
Players
Terry Boss, Josh Rife, Steve Shak, Ben Johnson, Brady Bryant, Joe Kabwe, Darren Toby (Worteh Sampson 89), Jorge Herrera, Jonah Long (Ben Page 89), Dustin Swinehart, Rob Ssejjemba
Players Not Used - Kevin Trapp, Chris Klotz, Dan Harvey, Chad Smith, Taurai Daka
