Friday, May 4, 2012
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery defeated Antigua Barracuda FC 4-0 on Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 3,162 fans. Jose Cuevas opened up the scoring in the first half, while Nicki Paterson, Sallieu Bundu and Dane Kelly each added a goal as the Battery moved into first place in the USL PRO standings.
“You can see some of the guys are really starting to click,” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “What we have up front and out wide, we have some players that can do some damage and let me tell you it’s great to see.”
With just moments left in first-half stoppage time, Cuevas found the back of the net from the left side of the box. Midfielder Tony Donatelli played a clean ball to Cuevas who flicked his finish past advancing Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James and put the Battery ahead 1-0.
In the 74th minute the Battery doubled their lead as Bundu flicked the ball on to Paterson, who fired a volley past James. The two players went at it again just minutes later when Paterson cut a ball back behind the Antigua defense in the six-yard-box to Bundu, who placed the ball neatly away.
The Battery didn’t stop there, in stoppage time Dane Kelly, a second-half substitute, ripped a shot home from the top of the box to solidify the victory. Paterson was awarded with the assist.
The 4-0 win lifts the Battery (4-1-0) top in the USL PRO standings and gives them a third consecutive victory after wins against the Charlotte Eagles and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, on loan from Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, recorded his third consecutive shutout.
The Charleston Battery’s next game is Saturday, May 12th as they take on the Rochester Rhino’s home at Blackbaud Stadium, while the Barracudas return home for a pair of games against Orlando City on Friday, May 11 and Sunday, May 13 at the Sticky Wicket Stadium.