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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Charleston Battery Knocks CD Chivas USA Out of U.S. Open Cup

June 30, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, SC-The Charleston Battery earned a berth into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium upsetting Major League Soccer's CD Chivas USA 3-1 behind a first half brace by Randi Patterson. Tsuyoshi Yoshitake sealed the victory with a second half injury time blast.

The Battery will host the winner of tomorrow night's Houston Dynamo-Austin Aztex fixture either next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Patterson put the Battery in the lead in the ninth minute heading home a long Kenji Treschuk throw-in, nodding in an missed clearance at the far post off the head of Chivas defender Jim Curtin.

"We know how dangerous Kenji's throw-ins can be," Patterson said. "I just wanted to get to the far post in case anything got through."

Chivas, despite being depleted by injury and the national team call-ups, took control of the game after twenty minutes creating several close opportunities before and unmarked Jesse Marsh equalized off a Sasha Victorine cross at the 28th minute mark from inside the penalty area.

Eleven minutes later a quick counter attack launched by John Wilson nearly put the Battery back in the lead. Wilson played a sublime ball up the left flank finding Darren Spicer at full stride. Spicer carried the ball into the Chivas penalty area forcing goalkeeper Lance Parker to make a last-minute kick-save to keep the score level.

Patterson put the Battery in the lead for the second time on the night moments before the halftime whistle running onto a ball played over the top of the pressing Chivas back line and bending his shot past Parker from inside the penalty area.

"Randi's second goal is what did it for us," Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser said. "That put them under pressure. If we go in one-one, that gives them confidence. If we go in two-one, it makes them have to chase the game even though they had most of the control of the run of play."

The goal was Patterson's third in USOC play and sixth in all competitions.

After withstanding pressure from Chivas for the entire second half, it looked like the second-best team in MLS had the break it needed when Dusty Hudock was whistled for bringing down second half substitute Maykel Galindo inside the penalty area. The referee's initially pointed directly to the penalty spot but changed his call after consulting with his assistant referee.

"I was just trying to get to the ball as quickly as I could," Hudock said. "I realized at the last minute I was not going to get there so all I could do was stretch for where I thought he was going to put it."

Hudock was cautioned on the play. The best the frustrated Chivas could do was put the resulting free kick into Hudock's hands.

Still nursing a hamstring injury, Yoshitake saw his first action in two matches coming on as a second half substitute. He netted his second goal in USOC play and third in all competitions to put the game out of reach two minutes into stoppage time with a spectacular half volley from Dan Antoniuk from 25 yards out.

The Battery will face either Houston next Tuesday night or Austin next Wednesday at Blackbaud Stadium. The two Texas-based clubs face off Wednesday night in Austin.

For tickets to the Battery's USOC quarterfinal fixture call 843-971-GOAL or go to www.charlestonbattery.com.

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USL First Division Stories from June 30, 2009


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