Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
FRISCO, TX -- The Charleston Battery knocked Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night with a convincing 3-1 win. The Battery advances to the semifinal of the competition for the third time in the franchise’s 16 year history. Lazo Alavanja, Ian Fuller and Randi Patterson supplied the goals in an event-filled encounter.
Charleston started slowly and Dallas had two chances in the first five minutes. The first was a long range effort that goalkeeper Dusty Hudock blocked down. The second was more threatening as the Battery labored to clear the ball following a scramble in the box.
The Battery came to life after the opening quarter of an hour and their efforts paid off in the 28th minute as Lazo Alavanja opened the scoring. Alavanja blocked a clearance at the edge of the box and as FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala approached he lobbed the ball home.
The first half was interrupted in the 39th minute due to lightning and after a one hour and ten minute delay Dallas almost leveled. The ball was played sharply to the back of the box but Arturo Alvarez’s shot cannoned back off the post.
Charleston responded with a quick counter-attack as the ball was worked to the left for Stephen Armstrong to control. Armstrong picked out Ian Fuller at the edge of the box who spun past his defender and lashed the ball home at the near-post.
The second half featured resolute defending by the Battery with captain Nelson Akwari leading the way with an outstanding performance. Despite the pressure from FC Dallas the Hoops rarely looked like scoring.
Forward Randi Patterson put the game beyond doubt in the 90th minute running from the half-way line with the ball, rounding the last defender and slotting neatly home for the third goal.
Dallas scored a consolation goal with seconds remaining as the Battery thoughts turned to the semifinal.
Charleston will host the next game in the tournament on Tuesday, August 12; Charleston plays the winner of the Seattle Sounders vs Kansas City Wizards fixture.
The other semifinal will feature DC United vs New England Revolution, that game will also take place on Tuesday, August 12.
The Battery is back at Blackbaud Stadium Saturday night for a 7:30 PM match versus the Puerto Rico Islanders; gates open at 3 PM for the Clash of the Carolinas High School Soccer games, the Battery kick off is set for 7:30 PM.
