BY KEITH NAMM
Of The Post and Courier staff
On a night when its defense was not the sharpest, the Battery on Friday fell back on its status as the A-League's top-scoring team to overcome Cincinnati.
Charleston squandered a two-goal halftime lead before getting goals in the 73rd and 75th minutes for a 4-2 victory before 2,720 at rain-dampened Blackbaud Stadium.
The Battery (11-6-1, 50 points), led by Mac Cozier's two first-half goals, earned the maximum five points to bolster its hold on second place in the Central Conference. Charleston's second straight win also completed a four-game season-series sweep of the Central last-place Riverhawks (4-12-0, 18 points).
The game-winner was a 73rd-minute goal by defender Gilbert Jean-Baptiste, which followed Riverhawks strikes in the 47th and 66th minutes that produced some tense moments on Daniel Island.
But Jean-Baptiste's header and another header scored two minutes later by forward Greg Simmonds, on loan from the Miami Fusion of Major League Soccer, let Battery coach Alan Dicks breathe easier.
''The one thing that turns a game like this is goals,'' Dicks said. ''You score goals and it does two things: it depresses the other side and it lifts your side.''
The Battery outshot the Riverhawks by a dominating 26-11, including 17-5 in the first half. But, like in its 2-0 win over Cincinnati here on July 20, goalkeeper Brian O'Leary kept the Riverhawks in it with some spectacular saves. He had five of his seven saves in the first half.
''In these last two games we've played, he's stopped 10 good scoring chances, using every part of his body to block shots and keep us at bay.''
Cozier, who moved into second on the team with five goals, opened the scoring in the 35th minute. He converted a penalty kick after Simmonds was fouled in the box, driving his shot high to the right side as O'Leary guessed the other way. Remarkably, it was Charleston's first successful PK in five tries against Cincinnati on the season.
In the 41st minute, Cozier struck again, this time off a corner-kick chance. After a flurry of activity in front of O'Leary off Brian Piesner's corner, the Riverhawks' could only half-clear the ball and Cozier first-timed it home from close range.
''I headed it off the corner, then Brian (Alvero) had a shot that deflected out and it came straight to me,'' said Cozier, who has three goals in his last two games and four in last four appearances.
''Last time against Cincinnati, we were looking for the bonus points (for at least three goals) and didn't get it. In this game, we wanted to stress scoring goals and get that fifth point.''
Said Dicks, ''Mac's performance was probably his best of the season. He was very disciplined wherever he found himself and executed.''
The second half started badly for the Battery and keeper Todd Hoffard, who was filling in for flu-ridden starter Dusty Hudock. A Hoffard misplay in the 47th minute was pounced on by the Riverhawks' Scott Masturzo, a halftime substitute who got the ball on the left side of the box and needed just to line it into an unattended net.
In the 66th minute, the Riverhawks got numbers forward and came up with the equalizer, as backup forward R.J. Kaszuba tapped in a cross from Alessio Giacobone.
A Riverhawks foul near the right top of the box gave the Battery the free kick that let them re-take the lead 17 minutes from time. Piesner swung a cross into the box, and Jean-Baptiste moved forward near the 6 to nod it well out of O'Leary's reach.
''I made a pick for Paul (Conway) and was expecting it to go to the first post, but it came straight to me. It was a great ball; I just had to get my body down and keep my eyes open,'' Jean-Baptiste said of his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Simmonds, a tall Jamaican international, got into the act. Midfielder Jon Akin lofted a cross from wide on the right side into the box, where the former A-League Hershey star stood his ground and headed it firmly inside the left post.
Cincinnati, which forced Hoffard to make three saves, had any hopes of avoid a sixth straight loss effectively squelched in the 80th minute. Forward Mike Mucino was sent off after a tackle on Akin, reducing the Riverhawks to 10 men.
''We controlled much of the game, but Cincinnati battled. You can't fault their work-rate or effort,'' Dicks said.
The Battery, now five points back of first-place Richmond, is off until an Aug. 4 visit to the Central rival Nashville Metros.
Cincinnati 0 2-2
Charleston 2 2-4
Scoring summary: Chs, Cozier 35th, PK; Chs, Cozier 41st (unassisted); Cin, Masturzo (unassisted), 47th; Cin, Kaszuba 66th (Giacabone); Chs, Jean-Baptiste 73rd (Piesner); Chs, Simmonds 75th (Akin).
Shots: Cin 11, Chs 26; Saves: Cin, O'Leary 7; Chs, Hoffard 3; Fouls: Cin 15, Chs 19; Offsides: Cin 0, Chs 2; Corner Kicks: Cin 2, Chs 6; Cautions: Cin 1, Chs 2; Ejection: Mucino (80th). A: 2,720.
