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Battery Hand Red Bulls II Second Loss of Season

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 07/23/16, 6:19PM EDT

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Chang has goal and assist as Charleston wins 3-2, extends undefeated streak to six


Photo courtesy New York Red Bulls II

WHIPPANY, N.J. – The Charleston Battery handed the New York Red Bulls II just their second defeat of the season with a 3-2 victory at Red Bull Park on Saturday afternoon. The Battery took the lead in the ninth minute, as O’Brian Woodbine’s long throw-in from the left was headed home at the near post by Maikel Chang. Woodbine was again involved as the Battery doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark as he played Romario Williams into the left channel, and the Jamaican scored with a low shot to the right corner. New York halved the deficit 10 minutes into the second half when Florian Valot’s low cross found substitute Stefano Bonomo for a close-range finish, and Anatole Abang almost equalized three minutes later with a turning shot that just missed. The Red Bulls II got a nice slice of luck to pull level just past the hour-mark when Kevin O’Toole’s cross from the left eluded everyone, and found the right side of the net to make it 2-2. The Battery regained the lead five minutes later when substitute Heviel Cordoves had an immediate impact with a near-post finish from Maikel Chang’s cross from the right, and that proved enough to claim a big road victory.

Scoring:
9’ – CHS – Maikel Chang (O’Brian Woodbine)
29’ – CHS – Romario Williams (O’Brian Woodbine)
55’ – NY – Stefano Bonomo (Florian Valot)
61’ – NY – Kevin O’Toole
66’ – CHS – Heviel Cordoves (Maikel Chang)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. After back-to-back draws entering Saturday’s game, the Battery took the initiative well on the road against the Red Bulls II to take a two-goal lead at halftime with some smart off-the-ball movement and the ability of O’Brian Woodbine to make the decisive pass. The fullback’s long throw-in found Maikel Chang’s near-post run perfectly as Charleston’s effectiveness from set pieces continued to manifest itself, and then Woodbine weighted a great pass to open up a chance for Romario Williams that turned into the Jamaican’s eighth goal of the season.

  • 2. After Wednesday night’s comeback victory against Cincinnati on the road, it was no surprise when the Red Bulls II came back early in the second half to get back on level terms. A great tick-tack-toe passing move set up Stefano Bonomo for the first, and while Kevin O’Toole’s first professional goal may have been a touch fortunate, it resulted thanks to the pressure New York was able to apply. After falling behind again, it was only a great save by Battery goalkeeper Alex Tambakis that denied O’Toole his second, and some great scrambling defense that allowed Charleston to hold on late.

  • 3. Saturday was the first occasion this season the Red Bulls II conceded three goals in a game, as the Battery were able to use some good, direct play to find pockets of space in behind the defense and break down New York’s pressing game. At the center of that attacking spark was Maikel Chang, who stepped up in a major way with a goal and assist in the absence of Justin Portillo and Ricky Garbanzo as the Battery recorded their biggest road win of the season so far.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery – Chang had a goal and assist to lead the Battery to a big win on the road that ensured they would remain in the top four in the Eastern Conference following this weekend’s action.

Upcoming Games:

New York Red Bulls II at Richmond Kickers – July 30, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium

Charleston Battery at FC Cincinnati – July 30, 7 p.m. ET, FNB Field

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