BATTERY BEATS SILVERBACKS EVANS SCORES TWICE - GOLDEN GOAL WINNER IN OT

The Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks tonight (Friday, June 21) at Blackbaud Stadium with a golden goal winner from midfielder, Justin Evans in the 100th minute. 3,045 Battery fans watched as Charleston won its eighth straight. The win improves the Battery to 11-1-1, 49 points, first place in the A-League Southeastern Division. Atlanta drops to 9-5 41 points and second place in the Division. It was Atlanta’s third consecutive loss.

Both teams started the game briskly but Charleston had the better of the early exchanges. In the 5th minute Morgan Zeba met a cross at the edge of the 6-yard box, his header looked to be on target but careened off the cross bar and out of play.

The Battery out-shot the Silverbacks 11-5 in the first half and had nine corners to Atlanta’s one. Zeba hit the woodwork again in the 20th minute, this time after he chipped the keeper from just inside the box. Atlanta’s best chance came in the 38th minute when former Charleston striker, Velko Iotov had a shot blocked off the line.

The Silverbacks took the lead against the run of play in the 60th minute. Iotov followed up a Brian Piesner shot and buried the ball into the back of the net, from inside the 6-yard box.

Charleston tied it up in the 72nd minute. A sustained period of pressure resulted in a corner on the far side. Defender, Kyle Swords whipped the ball into the box towards the near post. Midfielder, Justin Evans beat his defender to the ball and directed it with a snap header, past the keeper.

With the scores tied after 90 minutes the game moved into overtime. The Battery continued to take the game to the Silverbacks and in the 100th minute scored the winner. Midfielder, Ryan Trout broke a tackle on the near side. He pulled the ball onto his right foot, glanced up, then swung a looping pass towards the back post. Anticipating the cross, Justin Evans timed his run perfectly and powered a header into the goal. The final score, Charleston Battery 2 – Atlanta Silverbacks 1

Text from the wayback machine.