The Charleston Battery lost to the Richmond Kickers tonight (Sunday, September 15, 2002) by a score of three goals to one in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The defeat combined with the Battery’s 2-1 win in the fir...
The Charleston Battery lost to the Richmond Kickers tonight (Sunday, September 15, 2002) by a score of three goals to one in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The defeat combined with the Battery’s 2-1 win in the first match knocks Charleston out of the 2002 playoffs. Richmond advances to the Conference Finals where it will meet the defending A-League Champions, the Rochester Raging Rhinos. |
Things started brightly for the Battery, scoring a go-ahead goal in the 3rd minute of the match. Midfielder, Ryan Trout, whipped a free kick into the penalty area from the near flank. Forward, Mac Cozier made a sharp run into the box and met the cross with a diving header that flew into the goal. |
In the 8th minute Richmond responded with a goal from forward, Josh Henderson. Henderson drilled home from the edge of the 6-yard box after his strike partner; Kevin Jeffrey had headed the ball on to him. |
In the 18th minute, Battery Head Coach, Chris Ramsey was forced to make changes after center-half, Mark Watson’s knee injury forced him to leave the game. Watson was doubtful to start the match but with injuries to defenders, Linval Dixon (hamstring) and Steve Klein (broken collarbone) he decided to risk playing. |
Four minutes later Richmond scored its second goal to take a 2-1 lead on the night and level the aggregate scores at 3-3. This time it was Kevin Jeffrey who snapped a header into the goal at the back post following a cross from midfielder, David Hayes. |
More adjustments were necessary midway through the half as Seamus Donnelly was also forced to leave the game after aggravating an existing injury. Donnelly missed the entire regular season with a strained knee ligament. |
In the 37th minute Richmond scored the decisive third goal. Henderson looped a ball over the Battery defense. Hayes controlled the pass at the apex of the 18-yard box, then struck a half-volley past Battery goalkeeper, Dusty Hudock. |
At half-time Coach Ramsey added a third striker, Chris Bagley and switched the formation to an all out attack oriented 3-4-3. The change altered the tempo of the game as the Battery enjoyed long spells of possession outshooting the Kickers 9-2 in the second period. |
Paul Conway shot just too high in the 64th minute after Chris Bagley had sent a good ball into him. Moments later, Bagley had a hard shot blocked that also crept over the cross bar. |
Substitute forward, Raul Diaz Arce added more weight to the Charleston attack as the game became more and more one sided. In the end however, the Richmond defense held firm as the Battery failed to convert. |
The match was the sixth of the 2002 season between the two Southeast Division rivals. This was the only loss suffered by Charleston of the six games played, the Battery had previously won four and tied once. |
Article from wayback machine. |