PITTSBURGH 2, BATTERY 1
BY JOANNE K. HARROP
Special to The Post and Courier
PITTSBURGH - Charleston midfielder John Ball was ejected from Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with his team in the lead.
Ball's departure forced the Battery to play a man-down for the rest of the game. It also gave Pittsburgh a chance to get back in the game.
Seconds after Ball left, Pittsburgh tied the score and went on to defeat the Charleston Battery, 2-1, in the first of a two-game first-round A-League playoff game before 1,152 fans at Bethel Park Stadium. Pittsburgh, a No. 12 seed, and No. 5 Charleston were supposed to play on Sept. 12, but the game was delayed because of last week's terrorist attacks.
The second game of the series is 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Blackbaud Stadium. The team which scores the most total goals of the two games wins the series and advances to the second round to play defending A-League Champion Rochester.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Charleston coach Alan Dicks said. "Having John Ball get thrown out was a lack of control. Playing a man-down is always a problem."
A problem for the Battery became a solution for the Riverhounds. Pittsburgh midfielder Gary DePalma sent a shot past Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock in the extra time before the half to tie the score. Riverhounds forward Phil Karn scored the game-winner in the 86th minute off a pass from Welton. Karn kicked a ball that was deflected off Charleston defender Gilbert Jean Baptiste.
Charleston scored first on a goal by A-League scoring champion Paul Conway. Conway lofted a shot above Riverhounds goalkeeper Randy Dedini in the 38th minute. Baptiste had the assist.
"Paul showed why he is a goal scorer," Dicks said. "He took it in a very tight situation and scored. We get them on our own grass on Saturday so we can see if we can do the same to them. It is always tough to play a man down."
Ball was ejected after receiving his second yellow card. He got is first yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 36th minute after he pushed Riverhounds midfielder Henry Gutierrez. Ball got his second yellow card with a hard tackle of Riverhounds midfielder John Jones.
The Riverhounds came out strong in the second half, taking seven shots on goal. That wasn't easy because Charleston's played a pack-Battery's road woes continue it-in style defense in front of the Battery's goal. The Battery have struggled in their past six games on the road. They are 1-5 away from home.
The Riverhounds hadn't played that well at home. Going into last night's game. Pittsburgh was 2-3.
"The Riverhounds have a lot of experience, especially in the midfield, so we had to sit back and not let the ball get in back of us," Dicks said. "Welton is electric and we tried to keep him away from goal, but it is never easy when you have only 10 men."
The Riverhounds and Charleston players wore black arm bands in memory of those who lost their lives in last week's terrorist attacks. There also was a moment of silence.
