Some of you know I’ve only recently moved to Charleston and this was to be my third match at Blackbaud Stadium. I have witnessed a thorough drugging of the Carolina Dynamo and an inexplicable loss to the Indiana Blast, but have been very entertained and have thought each time I leave that I can’t believe this is in Charleston, South Carolina and how lucky we are to have a great team and organization in our proverbial backyards. Last night as I left the stadium (after spending a couple hours in the Three Lions pub) I wondering how anyone could not fall in love with this team.
With a thrilling 4-1 defeat of the Metros in front of 4,097, the magic of the U.S. Open Cup came alive.
The first thirty minutes or so were all Metro, controlling two-thirds of the field with crisp one-two passes but not really making any threats to the Charleston goal except for a shot by Metro midfielder Tab Ramos which goal keeper Dusty Hudock made a spectacular dive to tip the ball over the net.
In the final minute of the first half, Charleston penetrated the Metro defense and nearly scored off a Paul Conway half bicycle scissors kick that would have made Jackie Chan proud.
After a 0-0 first half, the Battery came out after the half and took the lead when Gilbert Jean-Baptiste soundly struck the ball past two Metro defenders into the net in the 47th min.
Blackbaud stadium came alive and a buzz of energy came over the crowd (or maybe the dollar beers were kicking in). According to some seasoned veterans it was one of the loudest crowds in the stadiums history.
The Battery seemed to control a majority of the ball spurred on by the crowd and in the 70th minute Conway scored on Metro keeper Tim Howard after the ball was crossed into the penalty area by John Ball taking the Battery up 2-0.
It was then the Metros seem to lose any drive or ambition to win this match. The Battery continued to test Howard in the net and was rewarded when Brian Piesner beat a defender and drove a cannon ball past Howard and gave the Battery a 3-0 lead in the 77th min (and giving everyone in the stadium a free pretzel in the process.)
Two minutes later, Mac Cozier beat the Metro offside trap and slotted a well placed ball pass Howard to make the score 4-0.
Daniel Hernandez scored for the Metrostars on a free kick in the 90th minute of play but the result would remain the same; the Charleston Battery would advance to play the New England Revolution and the Metrostars would continue their long road trip of away games without a victory.
And as for the magic of the cup, I’m beginning to think the Battery doesn’t need any to take it all the way to the final.
