Battery Beats Harrisburg 4-1
Published on June 27, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release
CHARLESTON -- Battery forward Dane Kelly opened the scoring in the second minute and extended the lead to 3-0 with a brilliant 25-yard blast in the second half to lead Charleston past Harrisburg 4-1 Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium.
Dane Kelly gets stripped in the first half. Vin Duffy photo.
The win lifted the Battery to 7-2-6 and shoved aside rival Richmond for second place in the Eastern Conference heading into Friday's showdown with undefeated, first-place Rochester.
Charleston also picked up goals from defender Taylor Mueller and forward Ricky Garbanzo in the first and second halves, respectively. Mueller volleyed in a deflected free kick from his spot near the right post in the 39th minute, and Garbanzo picked up his fourth league goal of 2015 in the 75th when Maikel Chang bounced a shot off the right post and the rebound fell to the rookie in front of an open net.
The City Islanders got on the scoreboard in the 89th minute after referee Neil Barbulescu awarded a Harrisburg penalty. Substitute forward Brett Jankouskas put it away to blemish what would have otherwise been the first clean sheet of Battery goalkeeper Kevin Corby's young USL career. The win was Corby's first in four starts, and featured five saves and solid play for 90 minutes.
But the star of the night was unquestionably Kelly. The Battery's leading scorer (six goals in USL) changed the game about 90 seconds into the contest when he got under a long clearing pass from Mueller, cut inside the fullback, froze the center back at the edge of the six-yard-box and put his shot under the defender's legs and past goalkeeper Nick Noble.
"That's always what I try to do," Kelly said of a night in which his speed, long runs, and finishing power left Harrisburg without answers. His second goal came in the 62nd minute, when he took a layoff from Zach Prince, touched it around at 25-yard range, and then torched the upper 90 at the left post. "I wasn't going to shoot it, but they left me open."
The City Islanders would have their chances -- including four consecutive corner kicks around the 11th minute -- but the Battery would find the eventual game-winner before the 40th minute. Again, it was Kelly who made the difference, drawing a foul on center back Shane Johnson just above the penalty. Midfielder Justin Portillo's free kick was deflected slightly as it came through traffic, and flew straight to Mueller for the calm finish.
Battery Coach Mike Anhaeuser was pleased with the result, but disappointed in the final minutes, which saw the controversial penalty kick, a silly red card on Quinton Griffith in the 85th minute, and an apparent injury to forward Heviel Cordoves in stoppage time.
"Dane got that early goal, and then we just sorta rode the wave," Anhaeuser said. "The way they were playing, they were trying to get passes. So we knew at the half they were going to give us breaks on the counter."
Despite seven yellow cards handed out in the first half and moments of confrontation, the game featured moments of beauty by both teams, including some excellent chances by Harrisburg midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin, who came on loan from Philadelphia Union on Saturday. Despite some quality shots, Harrisburg simply couldn't beat Corby.
Rookie Kevin Corby ended the night with credit for five saves. Vin Duffy photo.
"Kevin's a funny guy because he gets so amped up for every game he plays," Battery captain Jarad van Schaik said about the team's famously focused backup keeper. "I always say goalies are a little crazy. But he played great. I feel terrible for him that he didn't get the shutout. He deserved it."
Corby got the surprise start -- his second in a row, and second at Blackbaud Stadium -- when usual starter Odisnel Cooper's injured shoulder was deemed painful enough to put him on the bench. The rookie from Missouri credited practically everyone accept himself.
"It feels good to win," Corby said. "All the guys played great tonight. It's hard to lose when you score four goals. The crowd was incredible, like always. Just a great atmosphere around here tonight. "
Charleston hosts league-leading Rochester Rhinos at Blackbaud Stadium on Friday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m.
"Rochester's undefeated right now," said Anhaeuser. "They've done great all season. They're very organized defensively. We're going to really have to work on this week moving it around the outside, and with our pace."
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