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The Battery fell to Puerto Rico in a back and forth battle Sunday evening in Bayoman
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7/15/2007 9:30:05 PM
Battery drops second straight to Islanders
Bayoman, Puerto Rico. The Charleston Battery squandered the lead twice Sunday evening in a wild game that saw them lose to the Puerto Rico Islanders be a score of four goals to three. It’s the second straight loss for the Battery (5-8-5, 20 points), both at the hands of the Islanders; Charleston drops into 8th position in the USL First Division
“Giving up seven goals in two games on the road is unacceptable,” said Charleston Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser. “Our individual and collective defending was not up to the high standards that it needs to be to be successful in this league.”
Charleston started the game well and took an early lead in the 21st minute after a long diagonal through ball from midfielder Lazo Alavanja. Forward Byron Alvarez sprinted onto the pass and drove a right-footed volley past Puerto Rico goalkeeper Joshua Saunders.
Puerto Rico leveled the score in the 40th minute with a headed goal at the back post from forward Taiwo Atiemi. The Battery responded immediately winning a corner on the right side. Defender Brandon Curran controlled the ball as it came across the box and hammered a shot past Saunders into the goal.
The Battery held onto the lead for less than two minutes. Puerto Rico broke down the right side and midfielder Victor Hannam fired a cross towards the back post. Defender Jay Needham turned the ball back into the middle where it was redirected home by forward Fabrice Noel.
It looked like the teams would head into the locker rooms at half time tied at two goals apiece but with time running out Puerto Rico scored again, this time from the penalty-spot. Curran tugged Noel’s jersey as he sprinted toward goal and the ensuing spot-kick was drilled into the bottom right corner by Alejandro Gonzales to make it 3-2.
After the break Charleston defended for the first twenty minutes as Puerto Rico piled on the pressure. Dusty Hudock saved brilliantly in the 50th minute denying Atiemi from point-blank range.
With thirty minutes remaining the Battery scored again to bring the game back level at 3-3. Lazo Alavanja dribbled in from the half-way line, rounded the last defender and slotted the ball past a diving Josh Saunders into the left side of the goal.
The Battery celebrations were short-lived however as Puerto Rico scored what would prove to be the winning goal in the 62nd minute. Atiemi fired past Hudock from close-range after the Battery failed to clear the ball as it was launched deep into the penalty-area.
The Charleston Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium this Sunday (July 22) for a game versus the Portland Timbers; gates open at 5 PM with kick off set for 6 PM ($8 - $15, 971-GOAL / www.charlestonbattery.com).
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Don't let an injury hurt your game
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Official Yoga Teacher of the Battery ~
Sign up for Yoga
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Official Dentist of the Charleston Battery
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