CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery registered a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in the Carolina Challenge Cup finale at Blackbaud Stadium. Battery substitute Austin Savage's 76th-minute header was the game-winner as the Dynamo completed their preseason schedule ahead of their March 2 home opener against D.C. United.
The Dynamo opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Boniek Garcia chipped a clever ball to the penalty spot, where it was settled by Cam Weaver and laid off for Giles Barnes, who slotted his shot from 15 yards for a 1-0 lead.
Just two minutes later the Battery answered with a tying goal. Forward Dane Kelly hit a shot from 25 yards that travelled through a group of players and found the net for an equalizing goal.
TICKETS: Reserve your seats for the 2013 season opener on March 2 vs. D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Charleston goalkeeper Odishel Cooper kept the score 1-1 with several excellent saves near the end of the first half. First, he stopped a penalty kick from Brad Davis with a dive to his left. Six minutes later, Cooper made another huge save on a volley from Will Bruin.
The Battery took the lead in the 74th minute. Zach Prince drove a corner kick to the back post, where it was headed in by Savage from close range for a 2-1 Battery lead.
Substitute forward Jason Johnson nearly equalized for Houston in the 83rd minute, but his tight-angle shot stayed outside the near post for a close miss.
The Dynamo have now completed their preseason schedule and will have a final week of training before they begin the 2013 MLS season on Saturday, March 2 against D.C. United at 7 p.m. CT at BBVA Compass Stadium. It is a rematch of the 2012 Eastern Conference Championship and tickets are available here.
Houston Dynamo vs. Charleston Battery
Carolina Challenge Cup
February 23, 2013 – Blackbaud Stadium
Preseason
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Giles Barnes (Cam Weaver, Boniek Garcia) 16
CHS – Dane Kelly (Quinton Griffith) 18
CHS – Austin Savage (Zach Prince) 74
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie (Warren Creavalle 78), Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor, Corey Ashe (Mike Chabala* 46);
Boniek Garcia (Alex Dixon 78), Giles Barnes (Luiz Camargo 71), Adam Moffat (Ricardo Clark 61), Brad Davis (Brian Ownby 80); Will
Bruin (Jason Johnson 78), Cam Weaver (Brian Ching 68)
Charleston Battery: Odisnel Cooper, Quinton Griffith, Colin Falvey (Sean Ferguson 69), Cody Ellison, John Wilson, Michael Azira (Zach Prince 69), Amadon Sanyang (Taylor Mueller 58), Jarad Van Schaik (Austin Savage 72), Nicki Paterson, Jose Cuevas (Heviel Cordeves 69), Dane Kelly (Ralphy Lundy 72)
Misconduct Summary:
CHS – Jose Cuevas (caution) 35
HOU – Brian Ownby (caution) 82
*Trialist
