Friday, May 31, 2013
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders took a 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery on Friday night at Blackbaud stadium in front of 2,913 fans. The Battery started well with a goal by Ben Fisk but conceded twice as Harrisburg came from behind to hand Charleston its first home loss of the season. The Battery drop to 6-3-1 and the loss moves them into tie for third place with the City Islanders (6-2-1) in the USL PRO standings.
“It’s a loss, it’s three points that they got and we didn’t and it’s tough right now but we’ll move forward and look onto next week,” said head coach Mike Anhaeuser.
Fisk tallied his second goal of the 2013 regular season with a nice touch in the 36th minute as the Battery took a first-half lead. Mike Azira had the assist as he slotted the ball back to Fisk from the right side of the penalty area, and the Canadian calmly placed it with a first-time finish into the open net.
Harrisburg was quick to respond, taking advantage of a misread by Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper. City Islanders forward Sainey Touray pounced on the loose ball and took it himself into the empty goal to tie things up at 1-1 in the 38th minute.
The City Islanders struck again in the 53rd minute when Cody Ellison was called for a foul inside the penalty area, conceding a penalty kick. Islanders defender Stephen Basso stepped up to take the penalty and buried it past Cooper into the top-left corner of the goal.
The Battery created some good scoring chances late in the game with opportunities coming from successive corners, but in the end Harrisburg was strong enough to withstand the late pressure and hang on for the win. The City Islanders' win evened the season series, with the Battery having taken a 2-1 win at Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg earlier this season.
The Battery will be back home on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Eagles; gates open at 6 p.m. with kick off set for 7:30 p.m. (1450 AM WQNT).