Battery fall to DC

by Mike Buytas, a-league.com Match Reporter

20.Mar.2004
DC United defeated the Charleston Battery by a score of 2-1 in front of a crowd of 4,350 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston on Saturday night.

The match also marked the professional debut of 14-year-old Freddy Adu and the Lowcountry's first look at the boy wonder.

Freddy's first impact on the game was like most rookies. It started with Adu bringing out the 5 gallon water container for the rest of the team and sitting the first half on the bench.

The match started with DC pressuring early with a header just wide of the mark from Ronnie Cerritos in the 6 minute.

The Battery defense lead by Mark Watson and marshaled by goalkeeper Dusty Hudock quickly adjusted and looked very impressive for a team that had only been in training for five days.

The offense had quickly gelled as well. New Battery signing Greg Simmonds broke out of the midfield with the ball and fired a 25 yard shot just over the bar in 15th minute.

Most the play settled into the middle of the field until around the 30 minute mark when DC started to push forward. Brian Carroll had a 30 yard shot saved by Dusty Hudock. Jamie Moreno had a break away a couple minutes later, but Hudock came up big and beat the United forward in a one on one keeping the score 0-0 at the halftime mark.

Both teams took advantage of the liberal substitutions with changes at the half. The Battery switched out defender Nigel Henry, who had had a great first half, for former MLS and A-league veteran, Michael Green. DC took off Ronnie Cerritos and put on the teenager most people where waiting for, Freddy Adu.

Still, it was Charleston that came out strong at the beginning of the second half with two early chances at goal. But it was Adu who broke the deadlock and scored his first professional goal. Most the hard work was done by Dema Kovalenko as he battled past defenders and sent a cross in from the left side. Adu, being at the right place at the right time, calmly controlled the ball and slotted a left-footed shot past the Battery goalkeeper, Hudock, giving the 20 or so DC supporters something to celebrate.

The Battery wouldn't lie down at the Altar of Adu yet. They continued to press forward, quickly counter attacking trying to get behind the United defense.

Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Chris Goos sent in a corner from the left to the far side of the 18-yard box to find Mark Watson. Watson headed the ball down to Battery forward Paul Conway who beat Ryan Nelsen and goalkeeper Doug Warren to level the score 1-1.

DC pushed forward with intentions on the win but the Battery weren't going to be satisfied with a draw either, but United were the ones to come out on top. Moments after a no call in front of the United goal on a Battery player, Adu was tackled form behind by Battery defender Andreas Bechman. Referee Ricardo Salazar quickly showed the red card, a call thought harsh by some. Freddy was quoted in the local paper as saying he didn't think it deserved a red and felt a yellow would have been fair. Regardless, the foul resulted in a free kick and Bobby Convey stepped up to deliver. He had worked hard the entire match and his Beckesque shot from 20 yards, around the Battery defense and past Dusty Hudock showed why he looks to take over the midfield general role in DC.

DC controlled the majority of remaining time and the match ended 2-1.

Freddy certainly looked like he could compete at this level, showing some great touches, good vision and an acceleration that is unmatched. But he wasn't the best player on the field. That would have to be Bobby Convey. Several Battery players also showed they were ready to go this season. Steve Klein, Mark Watson, Chris Goos, Nigel Henry, and Greg Simmonds all had good games and the Battery should only get better as the season approaches.

Photos of this match can be found at this link: http://www.ussocceruk.com/USsoccerUK_Forum/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=36