Charleston, SC. The Charleston Battery's Open Cup dream ended tonight at Blackbaud Stadium with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat at the hands of the number one seed in the tournament, D.C. United. 3,627 Battery fans came out to the park with hopes that Charleston could emulate their performance of a year ago when they downed D.C. 4-3 in a thrilling encounter, that was decided in overtime. History was not to be repeated however, and the Battery faithful were left disappointed watching their team struggle against a very in-form opponent.
The game started well enough for Charleston and they had several opportunities in the first half that could have changed the face of the game. In the 7th minute, Charleston won a corner after some delightful attacking play down the right flank. Temoc Suarez, the local Bishop England High School product, whipped it into the box. Mac Cozier rose above his defender and snapped a header down towards the bottom right-hand corner. For a moment it looked like the Battery had a one-goal lead, but standing on the post was D.C. defender Ritchie Williams, who managed to deflect the ball away and it skidded off for another corner.
The next goal-scoring chance fell to United. In the 20th minute the Battery weathered several D.C. corner-kicks in a row. The Bolivian International, Marco Etcheverry, drove each corner-kick into the box with increasing accuracy and purpose. D.C. defender, Carey Talley managed to get free in the box and he flicked a header towards the net. Battery veteran Paul Conway read the play beautifully though, and he saved a certain goal with a well-timed clearance.
It ended 0-0 at half time and despite a couple more chances that D.C. missed, notably Raul Diaz Arce from 2 yards out in the 40th minute, the game was there for the taking. The second half proved to be a different story though, with D.C. United giving a potent display of the form that has brought them 4 championships in five years and one US Open Cup title.
The first goal came in the 62nd minute. Some craft interplay between, Jaime Moreno and Marco Etcheverry, resulted in Moreno finding himself clear 10 yards out. He picked his spot and calmly stoked it past Charleston keeper, Dusty Hudock. The next three goals were all netted by the same man, the El Salvadorian national team regular, Raul Diaz Arce. The first came in the 67th minute when he combined with Moreno, got free in the box and tucked it neatly past Hudock.
There was a glimmer of hope for Charleston in the 68th minute when the Battery were awarded a direct free-kick just outside the box on the left side. Expecting a cross, D.C. keeper, Tom Presthus, was caught unawares when Saurez rifled a swerving shot towards goal. It missed the target though, and ended up in the side netting.
From that point on it was all D.C. Diaz Arce got his second of the night in the 78th minute, again the assist was Moreno's and the finish was clinical from 10 yards out. In the 86th minute Diaz Arce completed his hat-trick nodding home a cross after an enterprising run from substitute A.J. Wood.
At 4-0 there was no life left in the obviously disappointed Charleston players. On the night, they were defeated by a solid D.C. United side, whose mixture of patient well organized defending and lethal attacking play was too much for Charleston. The Battery must now concentrate their efforts on the A-League. Saturday June 17th they host division rival, The Hampton Roads Mariners. The 7:30 pm game vs the Mariners will likely decide who controls the top-spot in the Eastern Conference of the Atlantic Division.
Line Ups:
Battery: Hudock, Scott (Woods 77), Jean-Baptiste, Sancho, Miller, Spooner, Suarez, Cozier (Ilarianov 65), Cloutier, Akin (Brownell 65), Conway.
D.C. United: Presthus, Talley, Cooks, Agoos, Pope (Llamosa 45), Etcheverry (Aunger 78), Olsen, Williams (Wood, 78), Albright, Moreno, Diaz-Arce.
Shots: Battery 7, United 12.
Saves: Battery (Hudock) 3, United (Presthus) 3.
Fouls: Battery 22, United 14.
Offsides: Battery 12, United 7.
Corners: Battery 4, United 15.
Cautions: Battery. Baptiste (35), Spooner (47, 90), Scott (70), United. Williams (59).
Ejections: Battery. Spooner (90).
