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Darren Spicer hit the post twice as the Battery dominated but lost
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8/7/2008 11:28:02 PM
Late PK thwarts Battery
Blaine, MN. The Charleston Battery lost to the Minnesota Thunder by a score of two goals to one Thursday night at the National Sports Center. After conceding an early goal the Battery had fought to level terms with a second half goal from midfielder Osvaldo Alonso but a late penalty denied the Battery a share of the points.
The Battery (10-7-4, 34 points) remains atop the USL First Division despite the loss.
Minnesota took the lead in the 7th minute after the ball was played diagonally to the back of the Battery box then quickly crossed to the middle. Thunder forward Rico Sanchez latched onto the pass and blasted home from the edge of the six-yard box.
In the 16th minute forward Lazo Alavanja earned a free-kick twenty yards out. Alavanja took the kick himself but his curling attempt was smothered on the goal line by Thunder goalkeeper Nick Platter.
The Battery almost scored at the stroke of half-time. Osvaldo Alonso held off a defender at the edge of the box then played a shot pass to Stephen Armstrong as he broke forward. Armstrong ran onto the pass but his hard left-footed shot flew wide of the far post.
Charleston dominated the second half and created chance after chance as the Thunder defended.
Second-half substitute Darren Spicer was denied by the post twice, the first time with a slotted shot and the second, minutes later, with a superb header that cannoned back into play.
The pressure finally told in the 77th minute after Minnesota failed to clear from a Stephen Armstrong free-kick. The ball bobbled across the face of the goal and Alonso reacted first lashing the ball into the back of the net.
The game turned in the 81st minute after the referee awarded Minnesota a penalty for a hand-ball in the box by defender Marco Reda. Reda protested the decision claiming it was unintentional contact but to no avail, and forward Alen Marcina coolly converted to give Minnesota the lead.
The Battery continued to pile on the pressure in the waning moments but could not break through before the final whistle.
Charleston travels to Portland OR, Saturday night for a 10 PM match versus the Portland Timbers.
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