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July 8, 2008
CHARLESTON HAMMERS HOOPS 3-1
Loss ends FCD quest for U.S. Open Cup title
By Phil Stephens
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Kenny Cooper pulled Dallas out of a shutout with this stoppage time goal, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 3-1 defeat to Baltimore in U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal play Tuesday at Pizza Hut Park.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
FRISCO, TX--Kenny Cooper sent in a late stoppage time goal for FC Dallas Tuesday night, but it had absolutely no affect on this game, a thorough 3-1 whipping of FCD by the visiting Charleston Battery.
The win, the first by Charleston over Dallas in three straight years of U.S. Open Cup play, sends the South Carolina visitors back home to Blackbaud Stadium, to host a semifinal game against the Seattle Sounders.
Seattle knocked the Kansas City Wizards out of the competition a 6-5 PK shootout after a 0-0 regulation tie tonight. The Battery’s win was its second in a row over an MLS foe in the Cup play. Last week, Charleston eliminated the Houston Dynamo, just as it did Dallas tonight.
The Battery got everything it needed (and deserved) Tuesday by playing a suffocating, high-pressure defense that choked off the Dallas attack and rushed the FCD defense into crucial mistakes. Charleston’s first goal was a perfect example of how the pressure tactics victimized Dallas missteps.
Blake Wagner, who until this time, had looked pretty good at left back, was overwhelmed by Charleston’s Lazo Alevanjo barreling down the right channel and taking the ball away before Wagner could get a kick off. Dallas goalie Dario Sala had pushed up to cover the play but couldn't get to the Battery player and was easily chipped by Alevanjo (who played for Dallas from 1999-2000) from just inside the 18-yard box in the 29th minute.
Until the score, Dallas enjoyed some early success. Toja had a shot, though weak, in the fourth minute. In less than a minute, Cooper had raced to reach a ball headed over the end line and turned it to the left, a brilliant cross in front of the net. Toja shot, then Thompson nearly reached the rebound.
In the 12th minute, Cooper got the ball to Rocha, who fired a weak right-footed shot from just outside the box. Pablo Richetti took one of the best Dallas chances five minutes later, firing a 30-yard dipping shot that was a little too high, going over the right top of the net.
The unrelenting pressure defense by Charleston began to take over the game and take the Hoops out of their game plan.
A brief flurry by Dallas died down. Then, a thunderstorm with lightning moved over Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, delaying the last six and one-half minutes of the first half for nearly 45 minutes.
When play resumed, both teams tried to get back into the flow of play and Dallas nearly got the equalizer when Abe Thompson centered a ball from the right end line to Arturo Alvarez coming down the left side. He lashed a shot across the goal and off the right post. But the Battery turned the tables around in a quick counter attack.
Charleston’s Ian Fuller got by Dallas’ Davino at the top of the box, loped into the left side of the penalty area and roofed a ball over Sala in the 43rd minute, who didn’t have a chance as the defense collapsed in front of him. That goal sent the Battery into intermission with momentum and confidence that gave them no reason they couldn’t get more of the same after the half. It was the turning point of the game.
It was easily the poorest performance by Dallas since new coach Schellas Hyndman came on board. He didn’t hide his feelings, but likely toned his feelings down in making a statement at the end of the game.
On his thoughts about the game: “First of all, disappointing,” Hyndman said. “I think that it started out ok, maybe the first 15-20 minutes we had a game plan, and we didn’t get the goal we wanted. At the same time, we’re at home. We wanted a little bit more energy, we wanted to be able to get forward and make some crosses.”
“It’s a huge disappointment for us to be eliminated, because it was a goal for us to compete for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy; so it was a huge disappointment,” Hyndman said.
The second half wasn’t as brutal as the first half, but more boring as Charleston’s chances dwindled but Dallas couldn’t really form a dangerous attack. Once subs were made (Eric Avila for Alvarez in the 65th minute, Brek Shea for Andre Rocha in the 70th minute and Dax McCarty for Wagner in the 82nd minute) Dallas made some threatening runs but couldn’t finish off its buildup.
Space in the penalty area was at a premium for the now comfortable Battery defense and there was always a Charleston player on top of or beside Dallas attackers. Of course, it had been that way for most of the game.
Charleston never let off the throttle, furnishing a perfect example of how to finish off an opponent.
Right after stoppage time started, Charleston’s leading scorer Randi Patterson blew past a tired Davino with a head fake after the pair engaged in a few seconds of staring each other down at the top of the box. Then it was just a few big steps to the right and a quick shot to beat Sala, sending the ball to the right corner of the net in the 91st minute.
To his credit, Dallas leading scorer Kenny Cooper didn’t go quietly into the night. He jumped in front of a long ball by Toja, firing from down the right flank. The ball was probably headed to Shea, parked at the far post, but Cooper took the initiative and headed back it into the net just inside the far post.
Statistics were deceivingly even for the teams, with Charleston owning five shots on goal to four for Dallas, but both teams took a total of 10 shots. Dallas had six corner kicks to just two for Charleston. Sala had two saves to three for the Battery’s Dusty Hudock.
Scoring:
CHR -- Lazo Alavanja (unassisted) 28
CHR -- Ian Fuller (Stephen Armstrong) 43
CHR -- Randi Patterson (unassisted) 91+
DAL -- Kenny Cooper (Eric Avila 1) 94+
FC DALLAS (3-4-1-2): Dario Sala (GK), Drew Moor, Duilio Davino, Blake Wagner (Dax McCarty 82), Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha (Brek Shea 70), Pablo Ricchetti, Arturo Alvarez (Eric Avila 65), Juan Toja, Kenny Cooper, Abe Thompson.
Subs Not Used: Ray Burse (GK), Michael Dello-Russo, Anthony Wallace, Aaron Pitchkolan.
Shots – 10; Shots on Goal – 4; Total Saves – 2; Fouls – 8; Offsides – 3; Corner Kicks – 6
CHARLESTON BATTERY: Dusty Hudock (GK), John Wilson, Kevin Nylen, Nelson Akwari, Tim Velton, Osvaldo Alonso, Chris Williams (Darren Spicer 80), Stephen Armstrong, Ian Fuller, Lazo Alavanja (Aaron King 71), Randi Patterson.
Subs Not Used: Keith Wiggans (GK), Brandon Curran, Dominic Cianciarulo, Michael Richardson, Lester More.
Shots – 10; Shots on Goal – 5; Total Saves – 3; Fouls – 14; Offsides – 3; Corner Kicks – 2
Misconduct Summary:
CHR – Lazo Alavanja (ejection) 74
CHR – Aaron King (caution) 77
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