Battery Advances to Semifinal with First-half Comeback over Islanders

The Charleston Battery have done it again, advancing to the league Semifinals with a stylish comeback victory over the Harrisburg City Islanders.  Last Saturday, the fans at Blackbaud experienced the full gamut of sporting emotions as they watched Charleston fall behind early, tie the match with a dramatic penalty, and then take the lead, all before the end of the first half.  

The story began in the 15th minute when Harrisburg's Brian Ombiji, easily one of the most dynamic forwards in USL this year, caught the Charleston defense napping, stroking home a goal on the back post.  And while the Islanders had their tails up for sure, that was to be the end of their scoring exploits on the evening and for the 2012 season for that matter.  Recovering quickly from the sucker-punch goal, the Battery seized possession and began turning the screw.  Our Low-country boys were rewarded about five minutes before the half.  Nicki Paterson fed Tony Donatelli who clanged a brilliant shot off the upright, resulting in a free-for-all inside the eighteen yard box.  The officials sighted a Harrisburg handball it was none other than Paterson who took the spot.  Hammering the ball low into the left corner of the net, Charleston were back on terms and the comeback was underway.  Donatelli and Jose Cuevas shredded their way through the Islanders defense using impressive one-two passing with Cuevas supplying the insightful through ball allowing Donatelli to lift the Battery with another goal just before the whistle.

Harrisburg went into the break reeling from the whirlwind first half but emerged stronger than before.  The Islanders tested Charleston's defense in every possible way, but under the Captaincy of the fiery Colin Falvey, the Battery's backline were miserly in the second period.  Nearly adding to the total in the final minutes of play, defender Mark Wiltse erupted in a landmark run streaking half the distance of the field in a sparkling individual effort.  In the end his shot trickled inches wide but the result was good enough to move on to the next round.

Here a look at the best of the action from last Saturday's playoff tie:

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Friday night Charleston face the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester with the winner playing for the USL PRO Championship match.  Remember, not three weeks ago the Battery traveled north handing the Rhinos a 4-0 shellacking at Sahlen's with former Rhino Tony Donatelli leading the charge.  While Rochester will be eager to avenge that embarrassing defeat, the Battery can take the field with confidence in their history against the Northern foe.  Orlando City hosts the Wilmington Hammerheads Friday night...and Wilmington are the only team to defeat the Lions in regular season play.  If the Hammerheads manage the upset, and Charleston have their way with Rochester, that means the Battery would play host to the Championship game!!!  So lets dream big, go out and CRUSH the Rhinos!!! 

BE SURE you catch the game, Friday night August 31, on UNATION

Battery Roll in Home Win, Charleston 3-1 Harrisburg City

The Charleston Battery are firing on all cylinders as evidenced by their big win Saturday night over the Harrisburg City Islanders.  A bumper crowd of 4,634 filled Blackbaud Stadium on a warm evening in the Lowcountry.  The win gives Charleston nine on the season and further solidifies a second-place berth in the USLPRO standings.

The Black and Yellow looked like scoring from the opening whistle but were foiled in their early attempts.  Jose Cuevas slung a fiery shot goalwards but his effort was extinguished by Harrisburg's Nick Noble, who had his hands full defending against Charleston's fifteen shots throughout the match.  Navion Boyd had a good chance or two but couldn't convert.  Further provoking the Islander's defense, Sanyang whipped a cross into John Wilson, whose header was only just scuffed off the line.  While it was far from one-way traffic, the Battery spent most of the half behind the ball.  And just as it seemed the sides would enter the break on level pegging, Nicki Paterson delivered a ball to Boyd on the right.  In a lunging effort, the Jamaican offered up a pass to the onrushing Cuevas.  Collecting the turbulent ball, Charleston's "Chiva" struck a fine volley from the bounce, stunning Noble and his Harrisburg compatriots.  The stands erupted and the Battery finished the first half a goal to the good but more importantly, they'd earned a decisive psychological edge.

Charleston were all business at the restart and secured their second goal within five minutes.  A splitting through pass was played upfield for Bundu who placed the ball perfectly for Boyd at the far post.  Tapping in from short range, he notched his first goal for the Battery!  Responding immediately, Harrisburg found the net minutes later after they turned the tables and placed Charleston under pressure.  From the flurry of players inside the area, the Islander's Drew Yates rifled a shot which somehow found its mark.  I'm not entirely sure what happened...it seemed that Dykstra got a hand on the shot, it popped back out, only to be slammed again, striking the arm of a Battery defender.  My guess is that it was ruled a goal from the first shot since Yates was credited with the tally.  Regardless, the game opened up and the ball was dashing from one end to the next.  Harrisburg forced an important game-changing save from Dykstra at 68 minutes.  Paterson and Sanyang both received cautions for reasons unbeknownst to me and the majority of those in attendance.  Somewhat balancing those decisions was the delivery of a second yellow to Harrisburg's Welker in the 83rd minute, and Charleston held a one-man advantage for the remainder of the match.  Assisted by Donatelli, Battery substitute Ryan Richter grabbed the go-ahead goal three minutes from time to seal the result.  With plenty of fresh legs on the field, the home side nearly bagged a few more goals in extra time.  Zach Prince had a fine shot and new signing Dino Williams very nearly scored in his Charleston debut.  While the match surely lacked the controversy and violence of our last few fixtures, it was never lacking in excitement or entertainment!!

The Battery will be cruising down to Antigua & Barbuda for a pair of matches against the Barracudas this Friday and Sunday at Sir Vivian Richards stadium.  Charleston have won 4-0 and 3-0 in their previous encounters this season at Blackbaud but can expect to work a bit more for their goals once in the Caribbean.  After this week's trip, they return for a home-and-away fixture with the Charlotte Eagles next weekend.

Let's keep up that incredible form and bring home six points from Antigua!!! UP THE BATTERY!!

Here are some first half-highlights from the match: