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Battery Earn Draw against Columbus

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 02/22/17, 8:54PM EST

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Lasso’s first-half goal leads to second consecutive 1-1 finish


Photo courtesy Charleston Battery

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery earned a second consecutive 1-1 draw in the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup on Wednesday night as they held Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC at MUSC Health Stadium. Forrest Lasso scored in the first half for the Battery, but an own goal in the second half left honors even.

Crew SC saw more of the ball in the first half, and earned a good spells of possession in the Battery’s defensive third. Charleston coped well with the pressure, keeping a clean sheet through the first 45 minutes.

“We created a lot of chances,” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “I think they had more of the possession, but we were dangerous in the attacking third and we defended well when we lost the ball”

The Battery broke the deadlock after Maikel Chang played Jeffery Otoo through down the left flank, and the Atlanta United FC loanee drove at the end line and swung a cross in that was knocked out for a corner. The 6-foot-5 Lasso rose above Columbus’ goalkeeper Brad Stuver and nodded Portillo’s in-swinging delivery in at the back post to put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute.

The Battery brought on five new players to start the second half, but despite the changes Charleston continued to knock the ball around well and create quality scoring chances. Columbus pulled level on an own goal, however, when Colu Nicolai Naess' free kick was turned into the Battery goal.

Charleston almost regained the lead immediately when a minute later Kotaro Higashi played Heviel Cordoves into the penalty area, and the Cuban forward beat goalkeeper Zack Steffan to the ball and turned one on frame, but it rang off the post.

With two draws against strong MLS opposition, however, Anhaeuser said he was satisfied with the way the Battery’s squad was coming together ahead of the upcoming USL season.

“Were getting a great test for all our players and were handling ourselves very well,” said Anhaeuser. “You have to come ready to play every night in this tournament. I’m incredibly pleased with our performances in the first two matches and were looking forward to closing things out on Saturday against Atlanta.”

Early Goals Lead Atlanta Past Seattle


Photo courtesy Seattle Sounders FC

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Josef Martinez scored a pair of goals, and Atlanta United FC scored twice in the opening three minutes on the way to a 4-2 victory against Seattle Sounders FC to take its first win at the 2017 Carolina Challenge Cup on Wednesday night at MUSC Health Stadium.

Martinez struck inside a minute when he capitalized on a giveaway by Quinton Griffith, who had suited up for the Sounders as a guest player from the tournament host Charleston Battery. Two minutes later Miguel Almiron made it 2-0 as he converted from the penalty spot after Seattle’s Darrius Barnes had committed a foul in the penalty area.

Atlanta added to its lead in the 21st minute when Hector Villalba got free on the right and curled a shot past Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith. Martinez notched his second of the night early in the second half when a chipped finish found the net.

The Sounders, who had rested many of their starters in Saturday’s opener, got back into the game in the final half-hour, with Henry Wingo finding the net in the 62nd minute after a pass by Will Bruin. The Sounders also had former Battery standout Osvaldo Alonso record his first minutes of preseason, while Bruin scored a goal of his own with 16 minutes to go.

That would be as close as the Sounders closed the deficit, however, as Atlanta moved a point behind Columbus Crew SC ahead of Saturday’s final round of games.

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