The Charleston Battery lost, 5-2, to New York Red Bulls II in their first away match of the season at Red Bull Arena Saturday afternoon.
Both teams had chances to open the scoring in the first half, but neither could capitalize until a New York penalty in the 44th minute opened the floodgates for the day.
New York pressed high in their attacking third and forced a turnover that led to the game’s opening goal. Brian White picked up a loose ball and played Ben Mines through. Mines drove into the penalty area and was tripped up by a Battery defender as he cut the ball back onto his favored right foot. White sent goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper the wrong way on the ensuing penalty kick and put his side up 1-0 minutes before the halftime whistle.
The Red Bulls continued to press the Battery high up the field following the halftime break and found a second goal in the 48th minute. White chased down a loose ball heading toward the endline and cut it back into the path Andrew Tinari who was darting into the penalty area. Tinari’s first-time shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in to double the host’s advantage.
Mines, who was impactful throughout the entire 90 minutes for the Red Bulls, created and scored the third goal. The 17-year old midfielder was fouled just outside the penalty area on the right flank. Tinari served the ensuing free kick, skipping it across the box and finding Mines who beat Cooper at the near post.
Tah Brian Anunga pulled one back for the Battery in the 56th minute, slotting a rebound from Ataulla Guerra’s initial shot into the open net to score his first goal of the season, but New York would answer almost immediately.
Amando Moreno capitalized on back-to-back defensive lapses to score New York’s fourth and fifth goals in quick succession just after the 60th minute. Anunga added his second of the match in the 78th minute, finishing a chance created by Taylor Mueller’s long ball over the top, but the three goal lead was too much to overcome and the Battery fell, 5-2, at Red Bull Arena.
The Battery will remain on the road for their next three matches, the first of which will come agaisint Bethlehem Steel FC next Sunday, April 8 at Goodman Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM. The Battery return home on April 28 to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
CHARLESTON: Odisnel Cooper, Quinton Griffith (Jay Bolt, 68), Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, Jarad van Schaik, Victor Mansaray, Tah Brian Anunga (goal, 56, 78), Neveal Hackshaw (Vincenzo Candela, 53), Gordon Wild, Ataulla Guerra, Ian Svantesson
Substitutes: Robert Beebe, Joe Kuzminsky, Angelo Kelly, Kotaro Higashi Ryan Arambula
NEW YORK: Evan Luro, Niko DeVera, Jordan Scarlett, Hassan Ndam, Ethan Kutler, Steve Echevarria, Cristian Casseres (yellow card, 41; Jose Aguinaga 65), Andrew Tinari (goal, 48), Amando Moreno (goal, 61, 66; Jarad Stroud, 79), Brian White (goal, 44; Stefano Bonomo, 74), Ben Mines (goal, 50)
Substitutes: Scott Levene, Kevin Politz, Wahab Ackwei, Chris Lema
