Battery down Timbers in Open Cup
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
CHARLESTON, SC -- The Charleston Battery defeated the Portland Timbers 3-1 Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium in a third round US Open Cup match. Charleston advances to face Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in a fourth round fixture at Blackbaud Stadium on Wednesday, August 2; kick off is set for 7:30 PM.
 The Battery came from behind to earn the win after the Timbers scored an early goal in the 5th minute. Winger Mumba Chisoni broke down the left flank, he played a ball across the box and it deflected to Luke Kraemelmeyer ten-yards out. Kraemelmeyer hit a first-time left-footed shot that flew in past Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock.
The Battery fought back and Ian Fuller almost scored from the half-way line in the 25th minute after spotting Portland goalkeeper Josh Saunders off his line. Fuller drove a long-range effort at the target but it dipped over the bar and landed on the top of the goal.
Charleston equalized ten minutes later after earning a corner on the right-side. Luke Vercollone swept a cross into the middle for Ben Hollingsworth who snapped a header past Saunders and into the goal.
After the break the Battery continued to enjoy long spells of possession and Hollingsworth came close to scoring a second in the 73rd minute. The ball was played into the penalty-area and Hollingsworth attempted a bicycle-kick at the edge of the six-yard box that Saunders just managed to turn around his post for a corner.
Charleston took the lead in the 78th minute as Fuller weighted a ball over the Portland back four. Gavin Glinton ran onto the pass and as Saunders approached he touched the ball past the goalkeeper into the empty net.
Charleston added a third late in the game after Vercollone was felled having rounded Saunders. Hollingsworth took the PK neatly slotting into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
The Battery and the Timbers play again on Friday night in a USL: First Division fixture at Blackbaud Stadium; kick off is set for 7:30 PM.
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