March 21, 2015 Charles Battery vs Toronto FC II match result (from charlestonbattery.com)
Mueller gives Battery dramatic 3-2 win CHARLESTON — Battery defender Taylor Mueller finished a rebounding block off a chaotic set piece in stoppage time to give Charleston an improbable 3-2 victory Saturday night over visiting Toronto FC II. Mueller’s clutch shot in the mixer capped a stirring three-goal rally from the 0-2 hole the Battery dug themselves in the first 15 minutes. “We knew at half-time we could come back, and win,” Mueller said, standing in front of a jubilant E-1 Supporters Section as children thronged around him on the field. A Dane Kelly goal off a Quinton Griffith assist in the 38th minute got the Battery back within striking distance, but Jordan Hamilton’s quality strike off a long ball that shocked the defense in the 8th minute, and Mo Babouli’s opportunistic finish in the 15th minute, left them a job of work in the second. “We talked about it at the half,” Coach Mike Anhaeuser said. “We told them it was going to be a battle. It really shows the character of this team.” The Battery came out looking more confident in possession in the second, with midfielders Maikel Chang and Justin Portillo combining well with overlapping fullbacks Griffith and Obi Woodbine. And in the 55th minute, an intense attacking series initiated by Woodbine ended with a Dane Kelly shot being blocked out for a corner. The contact on the play ended Kelly’s night, and after his replacement, Heviel Cordoves, entered the match, Battery defender Shawn Ferguson leveled the match in a manner eerily similar to Mueller’s game winner. in the 57th minute, after a block on the original shot off the corner kick, Ferguson pounced on the loose ball and blasted it up into the crossbar to ricochet into the net. Toronto would generate other chances — including a dangerous ball in the 67th minute that forced Cooper to clear a threat just beyond his penalty area with a sliding kick in front of a free-running Reds striker. But the rest of the night largely belong to the Battery’s attacking corps. Forward Ricky Garbanzo, a rookie making his first professional start, joined Chang and Cordoves in launching a series of threatening chances. Just moments into stoppage time, the Battery earned the team’s fifth corner kick of the night. As with Ferguson’s goal, Toronto stopped the initial effort, but was unable to clear its lines. Mueller’s finish left no doubt, and three minutes later Blackbaud Stadium erupted in joyous celebration. “We had the draw, and we knew that,” Mueller said. “But you never want to draw at home. I don’t think it was nerves early. We just made some mistakes. But at the end maybe there was a bit of pressure. We wanted the win.” Said Anhaeuser, “(this win) can be huge for our season. They did a tremendous job.” The Battery travel to Charlotte for their first-ever meeting with new USL club Charlotte Independence on March 27, then return to Charleston to face Harrisburg City Islanders on April 4. Tickets for the match start at $10 and can be ordered online or over the phone at 843.971.GOAL. BOX SCORE Referee: David Erbacher Assistants: Richard Rogers, J. Benjamin Jackson, fourth official Wayne Pavelischek Weather: Clear, 58 degrees Attendance: 4,536 CHARLESTON: Odisnel Cooper, Quinton Griffith (assist, 38'), Taylor Mueller (goal, 90+), Shawn Ferguson (goal 55, Zach Prince (yellow 78', Memo Rodriguez), Justin Portillo, Jarad van Schaik, Maikel Chang (yellow simulation 87', Sebastien Thuriere, 90+), Ricky Garbanzo (Austin Savage, 83'), Dane Kelly (goal, 38', Heviel Cordoves, 56'). Players not used: Kevin Corby, Forrest Lasso, Oumar Ballo, , TORONTO: Alex Bono, Ashton Morgan (yellow, 80'), Clemeent Simonin, Wesley Charpie, Daniel Fabrizi, Chris Mannella (Adam Bouchard 87'), Manuel Aparicio (Massimo Mirabelli 63'), Jay Chapman, Mo Babouli (goal 15'), Mark Anthony Kaye (Luca Uccello, 75'), Jordan Hamilton (goal 8'). Players not used, Robert Quillan, Nikola Stakic, Marcus Godinho,, Mark Serjeant. TOP IMAGE: Taylor Mueller (left) scores the match-winner in stoppage. Vin Duffy photo. This entry was posted in News on March 21, 2015 by Dan Conover.
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