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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery defeats Houston in US Open Cup

July 10, 2007 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, SC-The Charleston Battery (USL1) topped the Houston Dynamo 1-0 in extra time Tuesday night in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Battery's Stephen Armstrong netted a 108th minute penalty to push the Battery through to the quarterfinals against F.C. Dallas.

Ian Bennett won the penalty kick after turning Mike Chabala twelve yards for goal. Contact between the players was made and Bennett went to ground.

Dynamo goalkeeper Zach Wells made the initial save on the penalty kick, diving to his left and deflecting the ball off the post and back into play. Armstrong slammed home the ball from close range for the game winner.

Played in oppressive heat and humidity that neared 100 degrees at kickoff, both teams started out slow. But it was the Battery, with an extra day's rest that looked the stronger team in the opening minutes of the game, pushing the attack-albeit slowly-on the Dynamo.

Armstrong nearly put the Battery in front in the fourth minute after a defensive gaffe by the Dynamo allowed him to saunter into the Houston penalty area untouched. Dynamo goalkeeper Zach Wells made his first of many important saves on the night, cutting off Armstrong's angle and pushing his shot to the far post wide for a corner kick.

Wells came up big again in the 37th minute off a Mike Richardson blast from 20 yards. Diving to his right, Wells got two hands behind the ball, but could not hold the shot but had little difficulty falling on the rebound.

Looking for a spark-and to relieve some fatiguing legs-Kinnear inserted Stuart Holden into the match in the 33rd minute. He made an immediate impact, taking control of an otherwise unorganized Dynamo midfield, and nearly scoring in the 42nd minute from 25 yards out. Holden's right-footed drive from the middle of the field was spectacularly tipped over the crossbar by Hudock, keeping the score level.

The Dynamo took control of the match in the waning minutes of the first half. Several shots just missed their mark, and Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock came up big, saving on Nick Hatzke from point blank in the 44th minute, and on Corey Ashe from 20 in added time. Ashe was carried off the field in the 62nd minute after a rough tackle with a sprained ankle. He is doubtful for Thursday's game at Chicago.

Refreshed from a 15 minute air-conditoned respite, both teams came out looking to score in the second half. Both Wells and Hudock made several saves to keep the score level. Twice Wells saved at the feet of Battery attackers as they ran through a weary Dynamo back line. At the other end of the field, Hudock robbed Eddie Robinson's header off a Hatzke freekick.

The goalkeeping duel sent the game into extra time. The game had slowed to a crawl, with both teams effectively playing for penalty kicks, until Bennett turned Chabala in the box and went to the ground. The referee immediately blew the penalty kick despite the objections of the Dynamo defenders.

Armstong stepped up and hit the spot kick to Well's right. Wells got a piece of the ball, putting it off the post and back into play. He had little chance on the follow-up, however.

Houston had a final chance in the 110th minute. Paul Danlglish, who went all 120 minutes, smacked a ball on frame from 12 yards out, but it wasn't enough to beat Hudock, who dived to his left and parried the ball to the relative safety of a corner kick.

The Battery will face F.C. Dallas August 7 at Blackbaud Stadium in the quarterfinals.

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USL First Division Stories from July 10, 2007


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