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USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery wins final game but Rhinos advance to the Semifinals

September 28, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery defeated the Rochester Rhinos 1-0 Sunday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the USL playoffs in front of 2,132 but the Rhinos advance to the Semifinal round. The game was the second of the two-match series, Rochester won the first match 2-0 so advance to face the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 on aggregate.

The second Semifinal will feature the Vancouver Whitecaps who will take on the Montreal Impact in an all Canadian series.

Coming into the game knowing they had to score twice to stay alive the Battery poured forward from the opening whistle. Striker Randi Patterson came close in the 9th minute after a good ball in from winger Stephen Armstrong. Patterson met the cross but his header was saved by goalkeeper Scott Vallow.

The Battery continued to press and were rewarded in the 12th minute with a breakthrough goal. Left-back John Wilson found some space to get forward on the near side and whipped a low cross into the middle. Cuban midfielder Osvaldo Alonso surged into the box and his deft header flew into the right corner.

For the remainder of the first period the Rhinos defended as the Battery continued to create chances. Just before half-time Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser was forced to make a change replacing the injured Kevin Nylen with midfielder Chris Williams.

As the game wore on Rochester began to push out from their defensive shell and had a couple of chances at the 80 minute mark. Luke Kreamalmeyer saw his shot deflect wide for a corner and then Johnny Menyongar lifted a shot high over the bar a minute later.

With time running out the Battery pressed on and Lazo Alavanja almost scored the crucial second goal in the 91st minute. After slipping past his defender Alavanja hammered a shot at goal but Vallow was well positioned to make the save.

The referee had added four minutes of stoppage time and with literally seconds remaining second-half substitute Darren Spicer found himself in space at the top of the box. Spicer took a quick touch to control the ball then drove a shot at the goal but watched in agony as it flew high of the target.

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