Saturday, July 27, 2013
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery defeated the Los Angeles Blues 3-0 on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,613. Nicki Paterson, Dane Kelly and Heviel Cordoves all scored as Charleston won its third straight match and moved into sole possession of fourth position in the USL PRO standings.
Goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper faced eight shots but was not forced to make a save as he recorded his sixth shutout of the season.
The Battery opened the scoring in the 24th minute after defender Emmanuel Adjetey slipped a diagonal pass into the path of Nicki Paterson. The midfielder collected the ball at the edge of the box with a good first touch and then pushed the ball home past Los Angeles goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski.
The Battery doubled their advantage 10 minutes into the second half with a good piece of counter-attacking play. Jose Cuevas started the move as he picked out the run of Quinton Griffith on the left side. Griffith used his pace to get past the right back and then drilled the across the middle to forward Dane Kelly who finished clinically.
Los Angeles tried to reply and came close in the 76th minute, but defender James Turner saw his hard left-footed attempt just miss high of the Charleston goal.
The Battery put the game beyond doubt in the 89th minute after substitute winger Ben Fisk beat his defender to the goal line and crossed to Heviel Cordoves who tapped in at the back post.
The Battery take on the Wilmington Hammerheads next Friday night in Wilmington, N.C., before returning home on Saturday to face the Richmond Kickers (7:30 PM / Sports Radio 1450 AM).