Richmond's Revenge, Battery 1-2 Kickers

Having treated the Richmond Kickers to an opening day loss a week before, the Charleston Battery were dealt a similar hand Saturday evening in the second installment of the Pioneer Cup.  The big news coming from the midweek was the return of Andrew Dykstra on loan from DC United.  Dykstra played with the Battery for the 2011 season and will again play a vital role in the defense this year.   Its great to have Andrew back and I know his experience will be great for the two new keepers we recently signed.

The Battery controlled most of the match and gave all 4,729 fans plenty to cheer about.  Charleston struck first and it was Nicki Patterson who ripped open the net in the eighteenth minute.  Ryan Richter delivered up a square ball that allowed our resident Scot to one-touch the ball, burying the goal into the left corner of the net.

Despite the early lead, Richmond caught several breaks in the second half.  The Kickers were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box twenty minutes after the restart.  Stanley Nyazamba, who scored against the Battery a week ago, stepped up and converted the PK.  Then just as the game was ending, Richmond's Sacha Gorres took a pot-shot from a ways out.  The ball took a very unlucky bounce and ended up in the net.

Thats a really tough way to lose and its obvious that Coach Anhaeuser was disappointed with the final score.  And while a win or even draw would've been great, there's little time to mope.  The Battery head to Charlotte to face the Eagles at Winthrop's soccer complex this Tuesday.  With such a long history between the teams, this is always a great match and Charleston will be eager to return to winning ways.  The Regiment and several other Battery fans scattered across the state will be in attendance, so hopefully our boys will be well represented.  As always...Up the Battery!!!!

Battery Kicks Richmond 2-1 in Season Opener

The Charleston Battery started the USLPRO 2012 season with a bang, downing the Richmond Kickers in the inaugural edition of the Pioneer Cup.  Both teams are celebrating twenty years of football this season and to mark the anniversaries, the Battery and the Kickers donned retro jersey's reminiscent of their first ever tangle two decades ago.  Marking the long-standing rivalry between two of the oldest soccer clubs in continuous operation in the US, the Pioneer Cup is a home-and-away series celebrating the history of the Kickers and Battery.  The winner will claim the fan trophy, but bragging rights are definitely the prize of the tournament.  Winning 2-1, the Battery repeated the scoreline of their first encounter with the Kickers twenty years ago at Stoney Field in Charleston.

Entertaining a crowd of over 4,000, the game was worthy of its billing and made for a fantastic season opener.  It was an even contest between the two in the first half, but the Battery nudged ahead at forty one minutes.  Charleston's John Wilson threaded through the Richmond defense and found himself deep in Kicker's territory.  Crossing into the box, the defender's ball was headed home by Battery newcomer Jose Cuevas.  The lead was short-lived however, as Richmond found an equalizer just before the break.  Matt Delicate, one of the league's most talented frontmen, set up Stanley Nyazamba who curled home a shot from just inside the box.  

Wilson shreds the Richmond defense

The second half was end to end stuff as both sides fought for pride and points.  Charleston regained their lead at seventy-seven minutes.  It was Cuevas again who found the net, having volleyed a raging cross from Bundu in the corner.  Once again, Richmond pressed hard for the equalizing goal but the Charleston back line stood firm and the Kickers were nearly punished for their aggressiveness.  Nicki Patterson managed a late drive from a distance of thirty yards but Richmond GK Pascale recovered to keep Charleston at bay.  

Jose Cuevas was unquestionably the man of the match and his double on the day was certainly a bright start to his professional career.  The Battery defense also did a fine job of standing up the Kicker's attack.  Charleston looked sharp in the tie, earning points in a difficult road game.  The win was not only a fine kick off to the  20th anniversary season, but also a signal of intent to the rest of the league.  The Battery will look to sweep the series against the Kickers Saturday in their home opener at Blackbaud.

Oh yeah, here are highlights from the match!