The Columbus Crew dispatched the Charleston Battery 3-0, ending the USL-2 club’s underdog run. Emilio Renteria, Steven Lenhart, and Eddie Gavin all hit the net for the Crew.
The Crew controlled play through the first half, but needed a hard tackle from Charleston’s Stephen Armstrong in the box to capitalize. Armstrong, who played for the Crew in 2005, fouled Steven Lenhart in minute 37, setting up a Renteria penalty kick. Emilio sent the ball past Tim Melia, snapping the goalkeeper’s 187 minute Open Cup scoreless streak. Columbus kept attacking, but were frustrated by missed opportunities through an hour of play.
Lenhart, the hero of the Crew’s Third Round win over Rochester, once again stepped up and delivered at 70′. Emmanuel Ekpo fed the ball to a waiting Duncan Oughton, as Lenhart took the pass and sent it through to seal the game for Columbus. Ekpo got into the action again at 87′ taking a pass from sub Leandre Griffit and taping it to another sub, Eddie Gaven, to drive the last nail into the Battery’s Open Cup season.
Columbus awaits the winner of July 21st’s Harrisburg City Islanders/DC United match. That semifinal match will either be August 31st at home against Harrisburg, or September 1st at DC.
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Emilio Renteria (penalty kick) 38’
CLB – Steven Lenhart (Duncan Oughton) 70’
CLB – Eddie Gaven (Emmanuel Ekpo) 87’
Misconduct Summary:
CLB – Jed Zayner (caution: reckless tackle) 24’
CHA – Ian Fuller (caution: dissent) 37’
CLB – Steven Lenhart (caution: unsporting behavior) 42’
CHA – O’Brian Woodbine (caution: reckless tackle) 64’
Lineups:
Charleston – Tim Melia; O’Brian Woodbine, Colin Falvey, John Wilson, Nigel Marples; Brandon Massie (John Gruenewald, 70’), Alioune Gueye, Ian Fuller (Kevin Jackson, 82’), Stephen Armstrong (Amaury Nunes 72’); Lamar Neagle, Tom Heinemann.
Columbus – Andy Gruenebaum; Jed Zayner, Chad Marshall, Eric Brunner, Shaun Francis; Duncan Oughton, Danny O’Rourke, Dilly Duka (Eddie Gaven 61’), Emilio Renteria (Leandre Griffit 76’), Emmanuel Ekpo; Steven Lenhart (Jason Garey88’).
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee’s Assistants: John Safar, Pierre Saintil Francillon
4th Official: Rizal Millikan
Weather: 90 and sunny
Attendance: 1,847