USL PRO Game Report
Sunday, May 4, 2014
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Charleston Battery claimed their second win of the weekend as they defeated the Dayton Dutch Lions 2-0 on Sunday night at Beavercreek Stadium. Forwards Haviel Cordoves and Omar Salgado supplied the goals, Salgado's being his second in as many games, as the Battery moved into fourth position in the USL PRO standings.
It was gritty performance by the Battery players who were playing a second match on the weekend after Friday's 4-0 win in Harrisburg. Despite the heavy legs Charleston was the stronger team and defended resolutely throughout. Goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper faced nine shots and recorded three saves to earn his third shutout of the season.
Charleston came close to scoring in the ninth minute when midfielder Aminu Abdallah clipped a weighted pass through the middle to forward Mamadou Diouf. Under pressure from the defender Diouf managed to get a shot away but the strike missed wide of the right post.
Cooper was called into action in the 23rd minute as Dayton swung a cross into the middle from the right side. Forward Aaron Schoenfeld met the cross but Cooper saved his headed attempt. Dayton came close again in the 34th minute when winger Eli Garner cut past Taylor Mueller onto his right foot 12 yards out. Garner drilled a shot at goal but Cooper dove to his left and tipped the ball around the post.
The Battery broke the deadlock three minutes later after Dayton tried to play a square pass 30 yards out. Cordoves read the pass and nicked the ball away and then dribbled in on goal, rounded Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams and slotted home from close range to give Charleston a 1-0 lead.
After the break Charleston continued to cause problems for Dayton with Abdallah and Jarad van Schaik controlling possession in the midfield. In the 77th minute Abdallah almost scored the Battery's second after Maikel Chang set the ball back to him at the edge of the penalty area. Abdallah lashed a shot at the goal but Williams just managed to turn it over the bar.
Salgado,brought on as a second-half substitute, put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute after he earned a corner kick. Zach Prince whipped the ball into the middle and Salgado snapped a header past Williams into the bottom corner of the goal.
The Battery return to Blackbaud Stadium for their next outing this Saturday night as they host the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Dutch Lions, meanwhile, will host the LA Galaxy II on Saturday as they open their new home at DOC Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.