Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

CHARLESTON, SC -- The Charleston Battery defeated the Charlotte Eagles by a score of two goals to one Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 1,470. Osvaldo Alonso scored the winning goal from the penalty-spot in the 90th minute.

The win lifts the Battery into the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. Charleston will face the current MLS champions, the Houston Dynamo, in the next round at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 1.

Charleston opened the scoring in the 12th minute following a scramble in the box involving Aaron King. The ball came out to King who hit a shot first time at the goal. Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Boss parried the shot but the clearance landed at the feet of Darren Spicer who volleyed home from the right side of the penalty-area. The goal was Spicer’s fourth of the 2008 tournament.

In the 20th minute Charlotte came close after earning a free-kick twenty yards out. Midfielder Jorge Herrera whipped in a shot but Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans dove across and made the save at the near post.

In the 23rd minute Battery midfielder Osvaldo Alonso played an excellent pass down the right side for Darren Spicer. Spicer caught up with the ball at the bye-line and crossed to the back of the box. Winger Mike Richardson ran onto the pass but his headed attempt was saved by Boss.

Charlotte enjoyed the majority of possession after half-time and were rewarded for their efforts in the 66th minute with a goal. Midfielder Ben Johnson hurled a long-throw into the box to Jorge Herrera who snapped his header past Wiggans into the goal.

The game appeared to beheaded to overtime but turned in Charleston’s favor in the 90th minute after Randi Patterson was brought down in the box. The referee awarded Charleston a penalty-kick and Osvaldo Alonso slotted past Boss to give Charleston the win.

The Battery will face MLS’s Houston Dynamo in the next round of the Cup; the game will be played at Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 1, kick off is set for 7:30 PM ($10 - $18, 971-GOAL / charlestonbattery.com).

Referee: Skye Arthur Banning
Assistant Referees: Eric Proctor, Jou Nattes
Attendance: 1,411
Weather: Clear, 90

Scoring Summary Goal (Assist) Minute
Charleston Battery: Spicer 12
Charlotte Eagles: Herrera (Johnson) 67
Charleston Battery: Alonso (PK) 90

Charleston Battery: Keith Wiggans, Kevin Nylen (Tim Velten 67), Marco Reda (Brandon Curran 59), Nelson Akwari, Chris Corcoran, Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Richardson (Dominic Cianciarulo 89), Stephen Armstrong, Darren Spicer, Randi Patterson, Aaron King (Lazo Alavanja 59)

Players Not Used - Dusty Hudock, Lester More, Louie Rolko

SHOTS: 4; SAVES: 6 (Wiggans 6); FOULS: 15 (Patterson 3); CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 3; PENALTY KICKS: Alonso 90 (Goal); CAUTIONS: Nylen 54; EJECTIONS: (NONE)

Charlotte Eagles: Terry Boss, Josh Rife, Steve Shak, Ben Johnson, Brady Bryant, Joe Kabwe, Darren Toby (Worteh Sampson 89), Jorge Herrera, Jonah Long (Ben Page 89), Dustin Swinehart, Rob Ssejjemba

Players Not Used - Kevin Trapp, Chris Klotz, Dan Harvey, Chad Smith, Taurai Daka

SHOTS: 7 (Swinehart 3); SAVES: 2 (Boss 2); FOULS: 9 (Bryant 2); CORNER KICKS: 8; OFFSIDES: 4; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Bryant 35, Swinehart 84; EJECTIONS: (NONE)