USL PRO Game Report
Friday, May 2, 2014
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Charleston Battery claimed their first win of the season as they took a 4-0 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday night at Skyline Sports Complex. The Battery got goals from Omar Salgado, Zach Prince, Andre Lewis and Mamadou Diouf as they doubled their goal total for the season.
The Battery opened the scoring in the 25th minute as Vancouver Whitecaps loanee Omar Salgado scored his first goal for Charleston off an assist from Quinton Griffith, who sent a long ball over the Harrisburg defense that the former MLS SuperDraft No. 1 selection was able to run onto. Salgado's effort kissed the top of the crossbar and fell into the net just out of the reach of Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble.
Just before halftime, Charleston added another goal by Prince, who controlled a flicked header in the left side of the penalty area and shot low into the right corner of the net to put the Battery on top 2-0. The Battery's goals were a reflection of the flow of much of the half, as they outshot the City Islanders 7-1.
The City Islanders performed better in the second half, but were unable to find a way past Odisnel Cooper in the Battery goal. Charleston added to its lead in the 65th minute when Lewis scored off a feed from Diouf to extend the lead to 3-0. A comeback for Harrisburg was then dealt a further blow when a minute after the goal, defender Ethan White received a red card to reduce his side to 10 men.
Harrisburg's Clesio Bauque had a pair of attempts on goal toward the end of the second half, but it would be the Battery that wrapped up the scoring in second-half stoppage time as a late piece of pressure saw the ball come to Diouf in the penalty area for Charleston's fourth of the night.
The Battery will conclude their weekend road trip on Sunday as they visit the Dayton Dutch Lions at 7 p.m.ET. The City Islanders will return to Skyline Sports Complex for their next contest on Saturday, May 10th at 7 p.m. ET to take on Arizona United SC.