CHARLESTON, SC – “That’s more like it,” were Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser’s first words after the final whistle of Charleston’s comprehensive win over long-time rival Richmond Kickers Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium. The Battery picked up its third straight win, defeating the Kickers 2-0.
The two longest continuously operating clubs in American professional soccer used the first quarter of an hour of the match to feel each other out. The Battery put Richmond under pressure as the half wore on and broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through Taylor Mueller.
Mueller beat everyone to the near post and rose up to meet a Justin Portillo corner kick. The veteran center back flicked Portillo’s service to the back post, beating goalkeeper Charlie Horton for his third goal of the season. The goal was the Battery’s fifth from set pieces in the last four matches.
“We talked before the game together, we said, ‘Free kicks. That’s how you beat Richmond’” said Anhaeuser after the match.
Heviel Cordoves entered the match shortly after Mueller’s opening goal, replacing an injured Romario Williams. The substitute made his presence felt immediately and tallied his first goal of the season in the 39th minute. Outside back O’Brian Woodbine, who looked dangerous running the flanks all game, served in a pinpoint cross into Cordoves in the area who headed it past Horton to double the advantage for Charleston.
“We scored two great goals tonight,” said Anhaeuser. “Woodbine’s cross to Cordoves was fantastic, it’s always good to get our outside backs involved in the attacking third. It’s nice to get another shutout and it’s great to see us attacking as a unit again at home.”
Unhappy with his side’s performance, Richmond Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw made four of his allotted five changes at halftime. The Kickers created a few chances and struck a shot off the post in the early portion of the second half, but the Battery weathered the storm and escaped unscathed.
Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis earned his third straight shutout, despite playing behind nine men for the final 15 minutes of the match. Dante Marini was sent off in the 77th minute for a mistimed challenge in the middle third of the field. Tambakis was well-protected by his veteran back four for the majority of the match, but looked sure-handed when he was called into action. The Atlanta United loanee made a fantastic diving save in stoppage time of the second half to preserve the shutout.
The win improves Charleston’s record to 9-4-3 and moves the team to 30 points. The Battery remain in fourth place, one point behind FC Cincinnati who have a game in hand. Following Wednesday’s friendly with Rangers FC at MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston will head to Louisville to take on the league-leaders. Depending on Louisville’s result on Monday night, the Battery could move within two points of LouCity with a win at Slugger Field.
Box Score:
CHARLESTON: Alex Tambakis, Quinton Griffith, Taylor Mueller (goal, 29th), Shawn Ferguson, O’Brian Woodbine, Maikel Chang (Emmanuel Adjetey, 83rd), Justin Portillo, Ataulla Guerra (Neveal Hackshaw, 61st) , Zach Prince, Romario Williams (Heviel Cordoves, 28th; goal, 38th; Chris Tsonis, 90th), Ricky Garbanzo (Dante Marini, 75th; red card, 77th)
Unused subs: Odisnel Cooper, Forrest Lasso
RICHMOND: Charlie Horton, Hugh Roberts, William Yomby (Travis Pittman, 70th), Braeden Troyer, Luke Mishu, Samuel Asante (Luiz Fernando, 46th), Brian Ownby, Fred Sekyere Owusu (Anthony Grant, 46th), Yudai Imura, Lucas Paulini (Sascha Gorres, 46th), Jason Yeisley (Michael Callahan, 46th)
Unused subs: Sawyer Gaffney, Sunny Jane
Top Image: Woodbine picks out Cordoves with a perfect cross in the first half.
Kim Morgan Gregory photo
