USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery faces two-match road test

August 5, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery heads to Minnesota Thursday night for an 8:05 PM match versus the Minnesota Thunder (REAL 1340 AM). The Battery then travels to Portland, OR, for a Saturday night fixture versus the Portland Timbers (10:00 PM, USLLive.com). Charleston is coming off a 2-0 win versus the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday that saw the Battery regain first place in the USL First Division.

Charleston defeated Vancouver behind two goals from Cuban midfielder Osvaldo Alonso. Alonso scored the first in the 10th minute slotting home from an acute angle after a first-time pass from Stephen Armstrong. Alonso's second was from the penalty-spot in the 61st minute after forward Randi Patterson was bundled over in the box.

Charleston (10-6-4, 34 points) has only two home league fixtures remaining (August 29 vs Puerto Rico & September 19 vs Carolina) and faces a tough series of road matches through the last six weeks of the season.

Wednesday's match versus Minnesota is the second between the Club's this year; Charleston tied 1-1 with the Thunder in a game played at Blackbaud Stadium on June 20.

The Thunder (5-9-6, 21 points) enter the match in 9th position in the USL First Division; head coach, Amos Magee resigned in late July, his assistant Donny Gramenz has been named interim head coach. Minnesota tied the Portland Timbers 2-2 on Sunday in a game played in Minnesota.

The Thunder offense is led by forward Melvin Tarley who has scored six goals in eighteen games played.

Saturday night Charleston takes on the Portland Timbers in a 10 PM kick off; the game will not be available locally on radio however will be broadcast live via USLLive.com.

Charleston defeated the Timbers 2-0 in a game played at Blackbaud Stadium on July 19; the Battery will visit Portland again on September 11 for the final regular season meeting between the sides.

Alonso and Akwari named to USL First Division Team of the Week

Osvaldo Alonso and Nelson Akwari have both been named to the USL First Division team of the Week following strong performances in Sunday's win versus the Vancouver Whitecaps. Alonso scored both Battery goals in the 2-0 victory including a second-half penalty. Akwari, the Battery captain, marshaled his defense to its sixth shut-out of the year.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



USL First Division Stories from August 5, 2008


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