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USL Charleston Battery

Battery Bury Panama City to Advance in Open Cup

May 14, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC- An early goal from Maikel Chang and a hat trick from Heviel Cordoves set the Charleston Battery on their way to a 4-0 victory over the Panama City Beach Pirates in the second round of the 2014 US Open Cup at Blackbaud Stadium on Wednesday night in front of a crowd of 1,801.

"The first 30 minutes we came out strong and did what we had to," Charleston head coach Mike Anheuser said after the match, "We had a great goal by Chang and a great goal by Cordoves on the corner kick. The only thing wrong was we gave them a couple of chances at the end of the first half but Eric Shannon got some chances to make some saves."

Chang opened the scoring early for the Battery and they never looked back. Midfielder Justin Portillo assisted the goal with a perfect cross that Chang knocked down and controlled before driving a left footed shot into the top corner to give Charleston the lead in the 4th minute.

Forward Haviel Cordoves scored two goals in the opening half to give the Battery a 3-0 advantage at halftime. Cordoves' first goal came in the 16th minute after midfielder Dante Marini played a through ball right onto Cordoves' right foot. Cordoves made one move to beat the keeper and tapped the ball in.

Cordoves added a second goal just 10 minutes later in the 26th minute when Portillo sent a corner kick to the near post and Cordoves headed the ball past the keeper. Cordoves had the opportunity for a first half hat-trick in stoppage time when Charleston was awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box by a Panama City defender but he sailed the subsequent penalty over the bar.

Cordoves completed his hat trick early in the second half before being subbed out of the game for forward Mamadou Diouf. Marini assisted Cordoves in the 50th minute with a pass from near midfield that Cordoves collected at the edge of the box. Cordoves turned quickly and beat two defenders before calming finishing.

Battery keeper Eric Shannon did not face many threats during the match but made two saves just prior to halftime to preserve a clean sheet. Those were the only two saves Shannon was forced to make in the entire game.

This win advances the Battery to the third round of the 2014 US Open Cup. Competition resumes on Wednesday, May 28th when Charleston hosts the Orlando City U-23 squad at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery will next face the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available starting at $10, to purchase tickets or for more information please call 843-971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

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