USL United Soccer League Championship

Battery Earn Victory Against Dynamo Reserves

May 20, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


HOUSTON - The Charleston Battery got a first-half goal by Dane Kelly to take a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo Reserves at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday morning. The victory lifted the Battery into second place in the USL PRO standings, and handed the Dynamo Reserves their first defeat of the season.

The Battery had a pair of early chances from corner kicks, Amadou Sanyang and Taylor Mueller both going close with headers. Houston's Brian Ownby also had a chance, trying to flick home a header at the near post from a corner, and the Battery again went close in the 15th minute as a curling shot went wide of the net.

The Battery had a good opportunity to take the lead a couple of minutes later after Ownby and Dynamo Reserves goalkeeper Erich Marscheider collided going for a through ball, Jose Cuevas sending his shot after the ball came loose just wide of the net. Nicki Paterson also went close, hitting a shot over the crossbar after a good cross-field pass put him in on the right side, as did Jared van Schaik after Paterson played him in on the left, shooting wide of the right post.

The chances continued to arrive for the Battery, Cuevas beating the offside trap in the 29th minute, only to curl his shot just over the crossbar. Kelly gave the Battery the lead six minutes later, however, as he volleyed home a cross by Emmanual Adjetey from the left after a short free kick had freed the full back.

The Dynamo came out more aggressively to start the second half, and the Battery had to scramble to clear a free kick from their penalty area just before the hour mark. Mike Azira had a long-range effort well saved by Marscheider in the 71st minute for the Battery, and second-half substitute Haviel Cordoves also had a good chance saved five minutes later, the young goalkeeper getting a foot to the Cuban's low finish.

Houston went close with 11 minutes to go, Ownby cutting in from the right and shooting from 15 yards, but Charleston defender Colin Falvey was able to head the ball away to safety. The Dynamo continued to press late, but the Battery were able to hold out to claim victory.

TUESDAY

CHARLOTTE 1, CHARLESTON 0: Sean Francis' second-half free kick allowed the Charlotte Eagles to remain undefeated, earning his side victory against the Charleston Battery at Queens Sports Complex. The defeat snapped the Battery's five-game winning streak.

In a tight contest, the best opportunity of the first half came to the Battery, Emmanuel Adjetey curling a shot just wide of the post after advancing up the left side of the field. The Eagles took more control after the break, but were unable to create many scoring opportunities, and it was the Battery who again went close on the hour-mark, Zach Prince creating space for a cross only for Charlotte's Fejiro Okiomah to clear a dangerous ball into the penalty area.

Six minutes later the Eagles took the lead as they were awarded a free kick in a central position 25 yards from goal. Francis stepped up and curled a fine finish into the left corner of the net. The Battery had a pair of opportunities to find an equalizer in the final 15 minutes, but Austin Savage and Dane Kelly were both unable to hit the target with their efforts, allowing the Eagles to close out the victory.

FRIDAY

HARRISBURG 2, ORLANDO 2: The Harrisburg City Islanders took a first-half lead, and then got a second-half equalizer, as they earned a draw with Orlando City at Skyline Sports Complex. Dom Dwyer scored both goals for the Lions, setting a new single-season franchise record as he scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season.

Orlando had an early goal disallowed as it pressed forward early, but Harrisburg was able to settle and start to earn some good spells of possession in the opening 15 minutes. The City Islanders were able to grab the lead in the 16th minute as a good pass down the left found Don Anding, and his low cross was put home by Sainey Touray for his fifth goal of the season.

The Lions were able to get back on even terms six minutes later as Dwyer curled home a beautiful left-footed free kick from 25 yards into the bottom right corner of the net. Touray came close to restoring the City Islanders' lead in the 27th minute, only for his shot to go just over the crossbar, and the sides remained tied at the halftime break.

Orlando took the lead in the 55th minute, Bryan Burke making a strong run down the right side, and his cross came to Dwyer, who finished from close range after the cross was deflected to him on the way through the penalty area. Kevin Molino almost added to the Lions' lead 15 minutes later, shooting over the crossbar from 15 yards.

Harrisburg pulled level in the 72nd minute on an outstanding individual effort by Yann Ekra, who stole possession in midfield and then held off three challenges before firing a low shot into the right corner of the net. Orlando came close to regaining the lead with four minutes remaining, Long Tan firing a shot from 10 yards straight at Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble, but despite late attacks from both sides, the honors finished even as the Lions' lead at the top of the league standings remained at four points.

RICHMOND 1, LOS ANGELES 1: Juan Perez scored a late equalizer as the Los Angeles Blues earned a draw with the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium. The Kickers remained undefeated this season, but were unable to hold on late after taking a first-half lead through Joseph Ngwenya.

The Kickers opened the game on the front foot, and went close to taking the lead in the fifth minute as Nate Robinson fired a shot from 20 yards just wide of the right post. Richmond had much the better of the opening 25 minutes, but Los Angeles was also dangerous on the counter-attack, Chris Cortez having a good effort blocked by William Yomby.

Richmond came close to taking the lead in the 34th minute, Steve Gonzalez making a last-gasp save after Robinson ran onto a half-blocked shot by Michael Seaton, only for the Blues' goalkeeper to scramble to tip his effort over the crossbar. Three minutes later, though, the Kickers took the lead as Ngwenya shot home from the top of the penalty area for his sixth goal of the season.

Los Angeles created a good opportunity early in the second half, George Davis IV curling a shot over the crossbar, and the Blues were able to put pressure on the Kickers' defense for the opening 10 minutes after the break. Los Angeles also forced a good save from Andrew Dykstra from a free kick just past the hour-mark as it pressed for an equalizer.

Richmond came close to doubling its lead in the 69th minute as a cross by Robinson found Joseph Haboush at the far post, only for his volley to go just over the crossbar. Los Angeles had chances late to tie the game, Dykstra saving well from Perez before Allan Russell drove a volley over the cross from the ensuing corner.

Perez was able to make the Blues' late pressure tell with two minutes to go, however, gathering a pass from Chris Cortez in the penalty area before firing home. Cortez had a chance in stoppage time to grab a game-winner for the Blues, but Dykstra was able to save, leaving the game to finish tied.

SATURDAY

PITTSBURGH 2, DAYTON 2: The Dayton Dutch Lions rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium. Gibson Bardsley and Tjeerd Westdijk scored in the final 25 minutes to keep the Dutch Lions three points clear of the Riverhounds in eighth place in the USL PRO standings.

The Riverhounds were able to take an early lead, Jhonny Arteaga scoring his first goal of the season as Matt Dallman's back-post cross from the right was headed back across goal into the right side of the net by the former New York Red Bulls striker. Rob Vincent came close to doubling the lead on the half-hour mark, only for his curling shot to go just wide of the right post.

The Dutch Lions had some chances, Bardsley volleying wide shortly before the halftime break, but the Riverhounds were able to make it 2-0 six minutes into the second half. Dallman was again the creator, sending in a cross for Jose Angulo to head home his fourth goal of the season. All of Angulo's goals this season have come at Highmark Stadium.

Dayton hit back 15 minutes later, Bardsley scoring with a spectacular strike from 25 yards that dipped just under the crossbar and in. Dayton came close to tying the game five minutes later, Hunter Gilstrap having to make an excellent save to keep his side on top from Bardsley's curling effort from the top of the penalty area.

Pittsburgh came close to adding to its lead with 15 minutes to go, Kevin Kerr being played in by Arteaga, only for his shot to go just wide of the left post. Arteaga was then denied from a corner, Matt Williams saving his point-blank header well.

The Dutch Lions were able to grab an equalizer with six minutes to go, Westdijk scoring his first goal for the club with a fine shot from the top of the penalty area into the left corner of the net. Neither side was able to find a winner in the remaining time as the Riverhounds tied their fourth game this season.

ORLANDO 1, ROCHESTER 0: Erik Ustruck's first goal of the season gave a 10-man Orlando City victory against the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium. Orlando had been reduced to 10 men in the first half, but was able to score with five minutes to go to take victory. The game proved the last in charge for Rhinos coach Jesse Myers, who was relieved of his duties on Sunday and replaced by Pat Ercoli.

The game opened evenly in the opening 20 minutes, with neither side able to gain the upper hand. Rochester was dangerous on set pieces, Mike Reidy delivering good crosses into the penalty area, but it was Orlando's Dennis Chin who had the first big opportunity, Dennis Chin getting in behind the Rhinos defense, only to be denied by Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht.

Orlando was reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute, Jean Alexandre being sent off for his second yellow card of the night, and the Rhinos came close to taking advantage before the halftime break. Tyler Rosenlund had a chance charged down after some good interplay by Reidy and Matt Horth, with the Lions managing to hold on until the halftime break.

Rochester continued to press with the man-advantage in the second half, and Miguel Gallardo had to make a good save in the Lions' goal to deny Tam McManus.

The Rhinos carried much of the play in the second half, but the Lions almost grabbed the lead with 10 minutes to go as Yann Songo'o was able to get on the end of a corner, only for George Kyriazis to clear off the line and keep the game scoreless. JC Banks also went close late on for the Rhinos, pulling a shot wide of the left post from just outside the penalty area, but Orlando grabbed the late winner as Ustruck was able to head home from Kevin Molino's cross with five minutes to play.

WILMINGTON 2, LOS ANGELES 1: The Wilmington Hammerheads snapped a five-game losing streak as they took victory against the Los Angeles Blues on Saturday night at Legion Stadium. Jamel Wallace and Daniel Steres scored first-half goals as the Hammerheads won for the first time since their opening game of the season.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes, the Hammerheads took the lead as Wallace was able to finish from a set piece in the 16th minute for his second goal of the season. Wilmington again went close in the 25th minute, only for Los Angeles goalkeeper Steve Gonzalez to make the save.

The Hammerheads were able to take advantage of another set piece five minutes before the halftime break, Daniel finishing from Tom Parratt's delivery to make it 2-0. Los Angeles was able to hit back with four minutes to go, Allan Russell converting from the penalty spot after a handball in the Hammerheads' penalty area, but Wilmington was able to hang on late to claim all three points.

STANDINGS (Through May 19)

Team GP W L T GF GA GD Points

Orlando 10 7 1 2 26 10 +16 23

Charleston 8 6 2 0 15 8 +7 18

Harrisburg 7 5 1 1 17 7 +10 16

Richmond 7 4 0 3 18 7 +11 15

Los Angeles 11 4 5 2 19 15 +4 15

Tampa Bay 7 4 3 0 11 7 +4 12

Charlotte 6 3 0 3 9 4 +5 12

Dayton 6 3 2 1 9 11 -2 10

Phoenix 9 2 5 2 11 16 -5 8

Pittsburgh 9 1 4 4 7 12 -5 7

Wilmington 7 2 5 0 7 15 -8 6

Rochester 8 1 6 1 4 17 -13 4

Antigua 7 0 7 0 4 26 -22 0

RESULTS

Tuesday, May 14

Charlotte 1, Charleston 0

Friday, May 17

Harrisburg 2, Orlando 2

Richmond 1, Los Angeles 1

Saturday, May 18

Pittsburgh 2, Dayton 2

Orlando 1, Rochester 0

Wilmington 2, Los Angeles 1

Sunday, May 19

Charleston 1, Houston Reserves 0

SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 24

Charlotte at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. ET

Friday, May 24

Antigua at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET

Harrisburg at Richmond, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 25

Rochester at Charleston, 7:30 p.m. ET

Wilmington at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET

Charlotte at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 26

Antigua at Dayton, 6:30 p.m. ET

Wilmington at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. ET

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