Charlotte Eagles News Release -- www.charlotteeagles.com
Friday, April 29, 2011
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles took an early lead, but came up short as they fell 2-1 to rival the Charleston Battery in USL PRO on Friday night. Josh Rife scored first in the 21st minute, but Charleston answered with Seedy Bah scoring in the 32nd minute and Nikki Paterson in first-half stoppage time.
It was the second meeting between the two sides this season, the 19th season of the one of the longest rivalries in USL. To mark the event, the teams met at beautiful Winthrop University in Rock Hill S.C.
The Battery opened the game sharply, putting the Eagles defense under pressure with some excellent crosses played into the penalty area, but the Eagles responded quickly with their first opportunity of the game as Sallieu Bundu headed a beautiful ball back to Josh Rife, who drilled a shot at goal, hitting the crossbar.
That same duo linked up to give the Eagles their first goal of the season, and the lead, in the 21st minute. After Bundu made a great move to beat his defender, he supplied a short cross into the six-yard box that found Rife, who headed it in.
The Battery answered in the 32nd minute, though, as Bah was able to fire in the ball in the midst of a congested penalty area.
Charleston then took the lead in first-half stoppage time from a free kick just outside the box. Nicki Paterson curled the ball around the wall, beating Reed for Charleston’s second goal.
The level of intensity increased from the start of the second half as both teams found opportunities to possess the ball, but the Eagles creating more chances in Battery’s penalty area.
In the 60th minute the Eagles had their best chance of the second half. Mark Bloom crossed the ball leading Rife to a one-on-one with Charleston goalkeeper Keith Wiggans, only for Rife to put the ball over the crossbar.
The Eagles continued to apply pressure until the final whistle, but despite carrying the game for much of the halff they came up short again.
The Eagles will now travel west for a pair of games in two weeks against the Los Angeles Blues, while the Battery will head home to face the Pittburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night.