Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com
Saturday, February 22, 2014
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery lost 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,195 during the first of three matchdays at the 2014 edition of the Carolina Challenge Cup, hosted by the Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. D.C. United beat the Houston Dynamo, 2-0 in the first match of the tournament.
Former Battery player and current Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso scored the opening goal of the match in the 25th minute. Alonso controlled a loose ball about 20 yards out and sent a screamer past Battery goalkeeper Andy Ramos into the top-left corner of the goal.
Charleston responded quickly though, as captain Colin Falvey pushed a shot past Seattle goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in the 28th minute. After a free kick was played into the penalty area, the ball was knocked down inside the box before Falvey was able to get a foot on it and shoot it past Hahnemann.
The match seemed to be heading for a draw before Seattle forward Sean Okoli made a run into the box and was pulled down for a penalty in the 89th minute. Sounders defender Brad Evans stepped up to the penalty spot and buried the shot into the back of the goal to secure the victory for Seattle.
D.C. United 2, Houston Dynamo 0: Despite not having any significant chances in the first half, D.C. United took the lead in the first match of the day in the 21st minute, when Houston defender David Horst headed a United cross past his own goalkeeper for an own goal.
Substitute forward Michael Seaton added to United’s lead in the 88th minute as he collected a rebound from a save made by Houston keeper Tyler Deric and found the back of the net with his shot from just inside the box.
Charleston will continue play in the 2014 Carolina Challenge Cup against D.C. United on Wednesday, February 26 at 7:15 p.m. ET. That match will be preceded by the Houston Dynamo against the Seattle Sounders at 5 p.m. ET. Tickets are available starting at $15, to purchase tickets or for more information please call 843-971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.