CHARLESTON, SC -The Charleston Battery take on the Raleigh Express at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday night in the final A-League Group 5 US Open Cup qualifying game needing just one point (a win or a draw) to advance as group champions. Standing in the way of Open Cup qualification for the second straight year is improving Atlantic Division rival and nemesis the Raleigh Express. The Battery has failed to beat the Express since the 1998 season, a winless streak that stands at six games and dates back to May 1, 1999. The last Battery victory over Raleigh came on August 8, 1998 with a 2-1 decision at Stoney Field behind goals from Tony Siikala and Todd Miller. Raleigh was 4-0 versus the Battery in 1999, and has hung on for two draws so far in 2000, 3-3 at WRAL Stadium after coming back from a two-goal second half deficit and 1-1 last Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium. As an added incentive to break the "Raleigh curse" the Battery are hungry for pizza on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium for the annual "Pack the Park" night. Every fan attending the game will receive a free Papa Johns Pizza if the Battery beat the Raleigh Express in a promotion that has been dubbed by club officials as "more in the net, pizza you get!"
After starting the season 3-0 with back-to-back defeats of arch-rival Atlanta Silverbacks and a 2-1 overtime home win over the Richmond Kickers, Charleston have spluttered to 3-1-2 including two draws with the Raleigh Express. Despite out shooting the visiting Express last Saturday 20-8, the Battery could only manage a 1-1 tie. A result that dropped the Battery to third place in the competitive Atlantic Division and tightened up the pack in early going standings. A home win over the Express this Saturday will get the Battery back on track as they seek to live up to pre-season predictions of Atlantic Division favorites.
"We have to win home games to be successful this season," said Battery GM Buckley Andrews. " We dropped valuable points last weekend against Raleigh."
Charleston has not scored a goal at home this season in the first half, a trend that Battery coach Alan Dicks would like to see corrected this weekend.
"We must pick up our intensity right from the kick off," he commented.
"I expect us to come out and get right after teams. I want our home field (Blackbaud Stadium) to be our Citadel, a venue where visiting teams don't want to come and play," he added.
Battery Team News:
Polic Claimed as Discovery Pick by LA Galaxy
Battery midfielder Ivan Polic will sign a long-term contract with the LA Galaxy (MLS) it was reported today. Polic was claimed as a discovery pick by the Galaxy to replace former USC midfielder Clint Mathis who was traded to the NY/NJ Metrostars as part of obtaining an allocation for Mexican super star Luis Hernandez. Each MLS team has two discovery picks every year that they can use to obtain players that are not affiliated with them as part of the USL/MLS agreement. Polic is expected to leave Charleston on Thursday morning for LA after an agreement was reached with MLS for reimbursement of the transfer fee paid by the Battery for Polic to his former club Radnicki of the Yugoslavian First Division. Polic played four games for the Battery this season after his arrival on May 1, scoring the winner in the 2-1 overtime victory against Richmond on May 5 in his debut.
Battery defender Brent Sancho returns to action on Saturday after his week-long tour of duty for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team in a 1-1 tie versus Haiti in World Cup qualifying. The Trinidad FA requested for Sancho to stay for an upcoming friendly match versus Canada on Saturday May 27 before returning to Charleston, but the request was denied by the Battery who is not obligated by FIFA to release players for International friendlies. Trinidad advance to the next phase of World Cup qualifying in late July when they will face the likes of Mexico and Gold Cup Champions Canada in the Carribbean Group 3 of the CONCACAF region. Sancho has been subject to Major League interest over the last few weeks and was claimed as a discovery pick by two teams, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Columbus Crew. San Jose won the fight for him due to current MLS standings, prompting Columbus to pick up Raleigh Express midfielder Steve Armas. Armas, a former University of Maryland standout is the brother of US National Team midfielder Chris Armas and played for Raleigh at Blackbaud Stadium in last Saturdays 1-1 tied game. He departed for Columbus on Monday it was reported by Express GM Sean Kowalewski. Sancho has turned down the MLS offer and will remain with the Battery for the 2000 season. He has European clubs interested in him and is expected to sign abroad at the end of the A-League season.
Bulgarian striker Velko Iotov is expected to make his home debut this Saturday after recovering from a torn hamstring. Iotov injured his hamstring at practice two days before the home opener versus Atlanta on April 22. He scored the insurance goal in the season opening 2-0 road win over Atlanta on April 15 in his only appearance so far for the Battery. An experienced and talented forward, Iotov is expected to be a big part of the offensive make up of the Battery in 2000. He will add a different dimension to the Battery attack that already features two 1999 All A-League forwards in Paul Conway and Mac Cozier. Cozier is quickly regaining his sharpness after recovering from a hamstring injury of his own. He scored a hat trick (3 goals) in a 9-1 thrashing of the South Carolina Select team yesterday at Blackbaud Stadium in a closed-door reserve team practice game.
1999 leading scorer Paul Conway has tallied two goals in the last three games and is tied with four points with Jamaican International Dean Sewell in 2000 season Battery statistics. Conway missed the opening series with Atlanta due to suspension and a nagging thigh injury that slowed him during the pre-season.
What: Charleston Battery V Raleigh Express
US Open Cup qualifying game and A-League regular season action.
Where: Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC.
When: 7:30pm Saturday May 27,2000.
Battery Training Schedule:
Thursday May 25: 10:00am - 12:00 noon. Battery Daniel Island Training Ground.
Friday May 26: 6:00pm - 7:00pm. Blackbaud Stadium.
Promotion: "More in the net, Pizza you get!"
If the Battery win every fan in attendance will get a coupon for a free Papa Johns pizza.
Tickets are available in advance by calling 971-4625 or at Lloyds Sports in Mt.Pleasant.
The Blackbaud Stadium West Stand ticket window will be open on Saturday May 27 from 12:00 noon to game time for advance purchases. Gates will open at 6:30 pm for the event.
