Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Charleston, SC Battery beats Rhinos to claim top spot
Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery defeated the Rochester Rhinos 3-1 Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,691; the win lifts the Battery into first position in the USL First Division. Charleston scored two unanswered goals in the first-half and added a third with ten minutes to go to secure the victory; the Rhinos played most of the game reduced to ten men after defender Alfonso Loera was ejected in the 41st minute.
The Battery opened the scoring with fine team goal in the 32nd minute. Defender Nelson Akwari started the move with a driven ball to Chris Williams at the half-way line. Williams played the ball forward for central-midfielder Chris Corcoran to run onto. Corcoran played the ball square to Lazo Alavanja at the top of the box who immediately slipped the ball out to Stephen Armstrong on the left side. Armstrong took the pass in stride and hammered a low shot into the far corner.
It was 2-0 less than two minutes later after forward Randi Patterson earned a free-kick on the left side. Osvaldo Alonso whipped the ball into the near post and Patterson beat his defender to the ball and finished with a neat flick past goalkeeper Scott Vallow.
Rochester were reduced to ten men just before half time after defender Alfonso Loera was ejected for a late tackle on Patterson just outside the box.
The Rhinos fought back following the red-card and at the stroke of half-time almost pulled a goal back. Forward Mauricio Salles escaped the attentions of Tim Velten on the left side but his hard left-footed shot flashed across the face of the goal and behind for a goal-kick.
With the man advantage Charleston continued to create chances and came close to scoring again in the 57th minute. The ball was played deep into the box from a corner and Chris Williams ran onto the cross unmarked. Williams attempted a first-time half-volley but missed wide of the right post.
Salles tested Dusty Hudock in the 71st minute forcing the Battery goalkeeper to parry a shot away.
Ten minutes before full-time substitute striker Aaron King found the net with a superb flicked finish from six yards out after Mike Richardson had played a driven cross into the near post. The goal put the game beyond doubt although Rochester showed its fighting spirit scoring a late goal to deny Hudock his shut-out.
The Battery is back at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday night as it takes on the current Major League Soccer Champions, the Houston Dynamo in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; gates open at 6:00 P.M. with kick off set for 7:30 P.M.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Charleston Battery
Armstrong (Alavanja)
32
Charleston Battery
Patterson (Alonso)
34
Charleston Battery
King (Richardson)
80
Rochester Rhinos
Roberto (Kreamalmeyer)
90
Team Summary
Charleston Battery
Players
Dusty Hudock, Tim Velten, Marco Reda (Kevin Nylen 74), Nelson Akwari, John Wilson, Chris Williams (Darren Spicer 77), Osvaldo Alonso, Stephen Armstrong (Mike Richardson 78), Chris Corcoran, Lazo Alavanja (Aaron King 70), Randi Patterson (Lester More 85)
Players Not Used - Keith Wiggans, Dominic Cianciarulo
Players
Scott Vallow, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Scott Palguta, Alfonso Loera, Danny Earls (JP Reyes 85), Steve Guppy, John Menyongar (Rey Martinez 85), Tiger Fitzpatrick, Ze Roberto, Evan Milward (Matt Delicate 51), Mauricio Salles (Leigh Sembaluk 85)
