Wednesday, June 12, 2013
SANDY, Utah -- The Charleston Battery saw a two goal lead slip as they lost 5-2 after extra time to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. Dane Kelly and Nicki Paterson scored first-half goals as the Battery jumped out to a two-goal halftime lead, but RSL fought back to take the game into extra time, where the MLS side scored three unanswered goals to jump past Charleston into the quarterfinals.
Kelly opened the scoring in the 16th minute, tucking the ball past RSL goalkeeper Josh Saunders after an excellent through-ball from defender John Wilson. The hosts appeared shell-shocked to have gone behind, and the Battery doubled their lead two minutes later after Quinton Griffith smacked a shot off the post. The ball bounced into the path of Paterson, who finished from close range with a right-foot volley.
Charleston held the lead until the 66th minute when Devon Sandoval headed RSL back into contention. Ten minutes later Salt Lake were level after substitute forward Joao Plata converted a penalty kick after being brought down in the area.
The Battery withstood sustained pressure to take the game into extra time but any thoughts of victory were swept aside as RSL scored three times in the first 15 minute period. Sandoval headed the home side in front in the 97th minute and then Khari Stephenson added a fourth goal in the 104th minute. Javier Morales put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time at the end of the first half of extra time, converting a penalty-kick.
The Battery return to USL PRO action on Saturday night as they visit the the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff (Sports Radio 1450 AM WQNT/www.uslnation.com).