The Charleston Battery lost a pre-season exhibition tonight (Saturday, April 13, 2002) to Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, by a score of two goals to one. 3,717 Battery fans watched at Blackbaud Stadium as the Revolution just nip...
The Charleston Battery lost a pre-season exhibition tonight (Saturday, April 13, 2002) to Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, by a score of two goals to one. 3,717 Battery fans watched at Blackbaud Stadium as the Revolution just nipped the Battery, with a pair of goals from midfielder, Steve Ralston. The lone Charleston strike was a 55th minute penalty kick, by 2001 A-League MVP, Paul Conway. |
It was the Battery who started the game with more purpose. Forward, Paul Conway came close to scoring early on, but his driven shot, was well saved by Revolution goalkeeper, Adin Brown. Midfielder, Kevin Anderson also forced a save from Brown early in the game, his shot from outside the 18-yard box, nearly caught the keeper off guard. |
In the 19th minute New England broke the deadlock. Midfielder, Alex Pineda Chacon, last years MLS scoring champion, sent a perfectly flighted ball over the Battery defense. Steve Ralston ran onto the pass, and as the Charleston goalkeeper, Dusty Hudock, approached, he carefully lobbed the ball into the back of the net. |
After the break the Battery was reduced to ten men when midfielder, Morgan Zeba was ejected for a heavy challenge, on Revolution forward, Taylor Twellman. Despite being a man down, Charleston fought on, and in the 55th minute were rewarded with a penalty kick. The ball was handled in the area by a Revolution defender leaving the referee no choice. Paul Conway took the kick, slotting the ball past Brown to level the scores. |
In the 70th minute New England scored the decisive goal. Steve Ralston received the ball just outside the box, and with some neat footwork managed to squeeze through the Battery defense. As Hudock approached he rounded the Battery keeper and tapped the ball into the goal. |
Charleston applied pressure in the closing minutes and were unlucky not to score. Midfielder, Seamus Donnelly came close twice but couldn’t quite hit the target. The game ended, Charleston Battery 1 – New England Revolution 2. |
text taken from wayback machine |