USL Charleston Battery

Battery down Cosmos 3-0 in first-ever meeting

March 19, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston Battery Advances the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
Charleston Battery Advances the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
(Charleston Battery, Credit: Kim Morgan Gregory)

CHARLESTON - Midfielder Maikel Chang and forward Ricky Garbanzo connected twice for goals in each half as the Battery ran away with their final preseason match against NASL side New York Cosmos Saturday night.

Outside midfielder Dante Marini added a third to make the final score at MUSC Health Stadium 3-0.

"They're a very good team," said Battery Coach Mike Anhaeuser. "(But) you could see defensively we were very good. It's going to take a lot to break us down.

"The good thing was you saw a few goals. You saw Ricky Garbanzo getting two, great balls in by (Maikel) Chang on both of them. If we play like that it's great, but we can't really count on this because it's still preseason. We want to come out here and get a 3-0 win next week (against USL opponent FC Cincinnati) when the points count."

It took 15 minutes for the Battery to find its footing. Charleston's attack came to life following a half-chance created when forward Heviel Cordoves got on the end of a long ball forward from newcomer Ataullah Guerra. A flurry of decent scoring opportunities came the Battery's way in the minutes after Cordoves' near miss.

Third-year man Ricky Garbanzo made the most of the first opportunity that fell his way. Garbanzo's first goal of the night came after good link-up play through midfield and a great serve to the back post by outside back O'Brian "Obi" Woodbine. Midfielder Maikel Chang got on the end of Woodbine's deep cross and nodded the ball back across the face of goal, where Garbanzo headed it in to the open net.

The Cosmos got perhaps their best chance of the night two minutes after Garbanzo's goal in the 34th minute. Outside midfielder Sebastien Guenzatti, who was New York's most dangerous player all night, tricked his way through the Battery defense to the end line. He found center forward Jairo Arrieta, who turned his shot towards goal. Battery goalkeeper Alex Tambakis stood tall and denied Arrieta's attempt.

Tambakis put in a fine 90-minute performance in goal and ended the night with six saves and a shutout. The Atlanta United FC loanee looked confident and showed sure hands throughout .

The teams split possession and traded chances through the first twenty minutes of the second half, but both teams' defenses kept the other attack at bay. Eventually the Battery broke through in the 73rd minute when Garbanzo got on the end of another cross from Chang.

Midfielder Justin Portillo started the move, playing the ball wide to Chang on the left flank. Chang's serve found an unmarked Garbanzo on the back post, where he headed the ball back across Cosmos' goalkeeper James Maurer for his second of the night.

"The first one, the game was real close and all I saw was Ricky at the near post," Chang said. "So I hit the ball to him and it just worked out. And the second goal, i had the ball and I saw the line of four in a straight line, and I saw Ricky making a diagonal run, so I just picked up my head and put it in the box."

The Battery's third goal was scored by substitute Dante Marini in the 80th minute. Center back Taylor Mueller started the attack this time, with a long ball out of the back down the left side in Chang's direction. Chang chased down the loose ball, but saw his cross deflected. Marini jumped on the ball at the top of the box and volleyed it in off the back post to seal the victory for Charleston.

For Garbanzo, it was the perfect start to the season.

"(This) was the first actual real test for us and I wanted to show everyone that the Battery is really good and we can compete against the team that won the NASL," Garbanzo said. "So this is exactly the way I wanted to start my season."

The goals came from "just picking the right moments. It's actually coming from the training ground, working on the crossing and finishing. And I've known Chang for so long and he knows me, it's like a mind thing where he just looks up and he knows I'll be in that spot."

Charleston returns to MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday, March 26, for the USL Season Opener against FC Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased online or over the phone at 843.971.GOAL.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics




Images from this story

Charleston Battery Defend vs. a New York Cosmos Shot
Charleston Battery Defend vs. a New York Cosmos Shot
(Kim Morgan Gregory)		 Charleston Battery Create Pressure vs. the New York Cosmos
Charleston Battery Create Pressure vs. the New York Cosmos
(Kim Morgan Gregory)		 Charleston Battery Race to the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
Charleston Battery Race to the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
(Kim Morgan Gregory)
Charleston Battery vs. the New York Cosmos
Charleston Battery vs. the New York Cosmos
(Kim Morgan Gregory)		 Charleston Battery Advances the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
Charleston Battery Advances the Ball vs. the New York Cosmos
(Kim Morgan Gregory)		  



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 19, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central