CHARLESTON: A short-handed Orlando City B team beat the Charleston Battery 2-1 at MUSC Health Stadium Saturday night.
Forward Michael Cox opened the scoring in the 16th minute after receiving the ball inside the Battery’s penalty area from Pierre da Silva. Cox was given space to turn and bent the ball around Odisnel Cooper towards the back post to give OCB and early lead.
The two teams traded chances back and forth following the opening goal until Conor Donovan doubled the visitors advantage in the 42nd minute. Da Silva was the provider again, serving a dangerous in-swinging ball into the box. Donovan cut across Cooper unmarked and headed it home at the near post.
Outside back Tyler Turner was sent off after a flurry of action and a scuffle in OCB’s penalty area during first half stoppage time. The Battery earned a penalty kick after Ricky Garbanzo was bowled over in the 18-yard box. Midfielder Justin Portillo converted the spot kick to cut Orlando’s lead in half right before the first half whistle blew. The goal was Portillo’s third of the year.
With the man-advantage, Charleston dominated the second half. The Battery outshot OCB 16-2 and created several dangerous scoring opportunities, but couldn’t convert.
Head Coach Michael Anhaeuser commented: “Story of the night was we didn’t really hit the target. You gotta hit the target and follow rebounds, especially when it’s hot. It’s difficult, but you have to get through it. We had plenty of chances in the second half to tie it up and I think if we did find an equalizer we would have gone on to win the game.”
The loss, which drops the Battery’s record to 6-4-3, was the team’s second straight at MUSC Health Stadium. Charleston will return home to take on the Harrisburg City Islanders on June 18th looking for its first win since the 29-game unbeaten streak was broken on June 4th.
Anhaeuser commented: “We need to keep our focus. We’ve got a home game next week and we need to get it going. We really need to jump out on a team early and we need to put them down. That’s when we have success. We don’t want to be a team that sits back and invites pressure. “
Box Score:
CHARLESTON BATTERY: Odisnel Cooper, Emmanuel Adjetey, Taylor Mueller, Forrest Lasso (Austin Savage, 81st), O’Brian Woodbine, Maikel Chang (yellow card, 12th) , Neveal Hackshaw (Ataulla Guerra, 45th), Justin Portillo, Zach Prince (yellow card, 21st) (Dante Marini, 59th), Ricky Garbanzo (Heviel Cordoves, 70th), Romario Williams
Unused subs: Alex Tambakis, Shwan Ferguson, Quinton Griffith
ORLANDO CITY B: Mark Ridgers, Tyler Turner (yellow card, 45th; red card, 45th), Mikey Ambrose, Devron Garcia (Kyle McFadden, 67th), Conor Donovan (goal, 42nd), Richie Layea (Zach Hayden, 45th) Andrew Ribeiro, Tony Rocha, Pierre da Silva (Johnny Mendoza, 64th), Lewis Neal (Antonio Matarazzo, 81st), Michael Cox (goal, 16th) (William Eyang, 78th)
Unused subs: Jake Fenkason, Marius Obekop
Top Image: Neveal Hackshaw shields the ball in the first half. Vin Duffy photo
