http://charlestonbattery.com/matches_previews.asp?cid=417 Battery braces for Islanders Fireworks & a free T-shirt for the first 500 children Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery squares off against the Puerto Rico Islanders this Thursday night at Blackbaud Stadium in a nationally televised game with kick of set for 8 PM (gates 6:30 PM). The match is the third straight between the two USL-1 rivals; the Islanders defeated the Battery twice last weekend in Bayoman, Puerto Rico and in the process leap-frogged Charleston into first place in the USL-1 tables. The Battery conceded a 90th minute goal in the first game against the Islanders played last Thursday night. Defender John Krause poked home the winner after collecting a rebound inside the six-yard box. In the second match played on Saturday night the game was decided by a second-half strike from forward Nicholas Addlery who headed past goalkeeper Keith Wiggans in the 55th minute. The two defeats were Charleston’s first of the season in all competitions. The Battery had posted a 14-game unbeaten run to start the season including two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victories. Charleston remains unbeaten at Blackbaud Stadium heading into this week’s game. Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser should have several more players available for selection Thursday with the return to fitness of midfielders Stephen Armstrong and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake. Ian Fuller will not be available for selection as he recovers from an injury sustained in the Battery’s 1-0 win versus Miami in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup. The Islanders have enjoyed tremendous success over the past 18 months advancing to the 2008 USL1 Championship game but losing 2-1 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Puerto Rico followed up their strong run in the league with an even more impressive run in the CONCACAF Champions League that saw them go all the way to the semifinals. Puerto Rico is led by third year head coach Colin Clarke, a native of Northern Ireland who has previously coached the Richmond Kickers and Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas. Clarke is also the coach of the Puerto Rico men’s national team. Tickets, Fireworks & a free T-shirt for the first 500 children Tickets for this Thursday’s match versus the Puerto Rico Islanders are available starting at just $10; to purchase tickets, for directions or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com. The game will be broadcast live nationally on FOX Soccer Channel and immediately following the game there will be a spectacular FIREWORKS display. The first 500 children through the turnstiles will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of avVenta and there is free admission for all military personnel and their families. Battery mourns loss of Chief Operating Office Betsy McAdams Charleston Battery Chief Operating Officer Betsy McAdams passed away last Thursday morning after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Betsy was an original employee of the Charleston Battery since it’s inception in 1993. The Charleston Battery will observe a moment of silence before Thursday’s match with the Puerto Rico Islanders in her honor.
good to hear both Armstong and Yoshi are fit. How bad is Fuller injury? I hope we see a hungry team on thursday night. We had to expect the lossses were going to come and now that the way we can get back to the business of winning. The players should be fairly well rested not having a match since Saturday and since the USOC match vs. Chivas isnt until Tuesday, Auggie shouldnt have to worry too much about player fitness and fatigue. I expect the Battery to come out alot more offensively than the first match in Bayamon last week. Even lossing two matches over the weekend, we still are in second but a couple teams have a game in hand over us. and we still have the lowest Goals Against in the league. Looking forward to a good match Up the Battery!
Battery havent given up two goals in a single match this season, and from what I saw of the games in Bayamon, I dont expect Puerto Rico will be able to get two. Ill say Battery 2-0
Everything depends on which lineup Clarke uses. The one we used on Thursday was defensive, that's why it went down to a last kick. The one on Saturday, which we dominated a little more, was offensive, with two forwars up front and no Domenic Mediate. So this is my real prediction (didn't know you guys hadn't allowed 2 or more in a match) If Domenic Mediate starts: 2-0 Battery If he is subbed on later in the match 1-1 If he doesn't play 1-0 Islanders
we were missing what I would call three of our starters in PR. Armstong, Yoshi, and Fuller, our more "offensive" midfielders. Armstrong and Yoshi are supposed to be ready to go. fuller will miss the match so it will be interesting to see how that changes the game The Battery also played a very defensive game down there. Between league play and USOC games, Coach Auggie was looking toward the US open cup match on Tueday next week against Chivas USA. So I take it you dont rate Mediate?
Mediate....so many things to say. He doesn't fight for the ball, avoids contact, runs the opposite way of the play, gets the ball and passes it in 2 seconds, and was the one that led to Cruz Azul's second goal when he slipped. Also in that game he missed a clear goal on a cross. Visual evidence: http://hiapr.org/yabb/Attachments/New_IMG_4864.jpg http://hiapr.org/yabb/Attachments/New_IMG_4775.jpg
Fuller snapped his hamstring in Miami, Auggie said that would take a full month to heal. And he was still a little worried about so many players playing in all of the last 3 away matches. You'd think they'd have time to recover but traveling can also be tiring and it dehydrates you. But PR is traveling too for this 3rd one so that part should be even. I think it'll be 1-0 either way or 1-1.
They flew back to Miami, then boarded their bus for the 10 hour trip home. The open cup game messed up their travel plans bad last week.
Charleston 2 Rico - 0 Home form has always been our strength for us and with Armstrong and Yoshi probably getting some kind of nod has to bode well for us
armstrong in, but looks like Yoshi still out http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jun/25/battery_looking_end_skid87243/
Good match, 1-0 Battery. Left Patterson unmarked, some lucky saves by Huddock, awful finishing from the Islanders, Battery defense withheld lots of constant attacks.
God damn solid defense its as hard to score with as a preechers daughter! If it was any other team in the league we would have scored 4 goals on that! To me it smells like Blabbery vs Islanders in the finals!
Naw, we will knock you out in the first round again Good match I was nervous as hell for the last 15-20 min of the game. dusty had a great save late in the game that kept the shut out
Three straight 1-0 matches with the home team the winner, that's as even as it gets. I still can't understand why we let Nigel go, he's solid. Good match and a good thursday night crowd. Except for the little dust up at the end, well played all around. USL at its best.
here is the article from the local Post and Courier http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jun/26/pattersons_goal_lifts_charleston87350/
If we finish first/you guys do, you won't be able to knock us out in the 1st round. Damn defense thought the goal was a virgin, didn't let any ball in or any attempt rather.
Nothing like beating a team you hate, finally having the players come over to the fan section to cheer with you, get into it with the other players, get confused on the refs arguing with each other over calls....ahh the joys of USL 1 Up the Battery!!
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