Haris Kruskic

2017 US Open Cup Round 4: After delay, Atlanta United rallies to edge Charleston Battery in debut

June 15, 2017 by Haris Kruskic

Brandon Vasquez and Mikey Ambrose of Atlanta United celebrate the team's go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute against the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup Fourth Round. Photo: Atlanta United — Brandon Vasquez and Mikey Ambrose of Atlanta United celebrate the team’s go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute against the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup Fourth Round. Photo: Atlanta United

As host Atlanta United and USL affiliate Charleston Battery took the pitch to the tune of the US Open Cup’s theme song on Wednesday night, the PA system announced a lightning delay that would require the Fifth/Third Bank Stadium to be evacuated. A match that was scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff did not start until 10:10, concluding just after midnight.

Most of the crowd waited out the storm under the stadium roof, and greeted the new kickoff time with cheering. The supporters had a 10-minute turnaround to re-enter the gates, while the teams went through warm-ups.

It didn’t take long for the opening goal, as Charleston center back Forrest Lasso flicked in a long throw-in from O’Brian Woodbine in the fourth minute, Lasso’s second goal of the 2017 US Open Cup and sixth in all competitions. The Battery have utilized Lasso’s 6-foot-5-inch height on set piece situations to their advantage throughout the season.

Atlanta United leveled in the 30th minute, as a scramble inside the penalty area following a corner kick fell to Kevin Kratz, who finished at the back post for his first goal with the club.

Seconds later, a shot from Dante Marini deflected off Atlanta rookie Miles Robinson past Alec Kann to restore the Battery’s lead. At the time of the goal, the PA announcer was still reporting United’s earlier equalizer.

There was drama late in the first half, as a penalty was awarded to Charleston, Woodbine sending his shot over the crossbar.

The miss would haunt the Battery, as Atlanta United rallied for a 3-2 victory before a 9,458 crowd.

The Fourth Round US Open Cup game between the Charleston Battery and Atlanta United was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but because of the lightning delay, the game didn't get off until 10:10 p.m. Photo: Atlanta United — The Fourth Round US Open Cup game between the Charleston Battery and Atlanta United was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. but because of the lightning delay, the game didn’t get off until 10:10 p.m. Photo: Atlanta United

In the 48th minute, a rising Josef Martinez finished Brandon Vazquez’s cross for his first goal since missing 10 matches due to a torn quad.

Atlanta United finished their comeback, as Mikey Ambrose’s inch-perfect cross found the 18-year-old Vazquez for a simple finish in the 72nd minute.

Miggy ➡️ Mikey ➡️ Brandon

To put #ATLUTD on top pic.twitter.com/NxHklzTF8y

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 15, 2017

The home crowd’s collective heartbeat nearly stopped in the 88th minute, as Charleston players crowded Kann while the ball was in the air, and managed to force a bobble, before Lasso buried a shot, the goal disallowed for goalkeeper interference.

“The positive was we found a way to get through it,” Atlanta coach Tata Martino said. “As a team, we didn’t play very well, but we were able to win due to our perseverance.”

Atlanta United, which was making its US Open Cup debut, will visit Miami FC in a fifth-round match July 28.

The Battery play at Cincinnati FC in a USL match at 7 p.m. Saturday at 7 p.m.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Charleston Battery win 12th straight USOC opener, 2-1 over Atlanta Silverbacks

May 19, 2017 by Haris Kruskic

The Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Dave Williamson | Atlanta Silverbacks

A steamy day in Atlanta gave way to a barn burner of a match, as the traveling Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Battery took the lead in the 19th minute, as Ryan Arambula’s perfect free kick found a towering Forrest Lasso for a point blank header. Arambula made it painfully obvious that he was aiming for Lasso, pointing and talking to him before the ref called for the kick to be taken. However, even with the entire stadium knowing Charleston’s plan, the Silverbacks had no answer for the 6’5 center back.

A lack of shots made for a pretty dull rest of the half, until the 44th minute when Jeffrey Otoo, on loan from Atlanta United of MLS, tapped in a Ricky Garbanzo cross for his first professional goal and a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Silverbacks didn’t have their first shot on target until the 55th minute, when Abraham Lansana’s header fell safely into the hands of Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper.

Atlanta finally found a breakthrough in the 73rd minute, as Lansana was brought down in the box for a penalty. Alex Nyarko-Harlley converted from the spot to bring the Silverbacks within one.

They nearly found the equalizer just three minutes later, as Joao Johanning hit the crossbar from 20 yards out. That was ultimately Atlanta’s last opportunity to tie the match, as the NPSL side’s comeback attempt fell short.

The Battery have now won 12 straight tournament openers, the second longest streak of the Modern Era (Rochester Rhinos have 15, which is still an active streak).

This is not the same Atlanta Silverbacks team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Open Cup, beating Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids in the process. The NASL’s inability to find new ownership for the club before the 2016 season kept them out of the league this year. This resulted in the NASL suspending the Atlanta franchise, forcing the Silverbacks to drop down to the NPSL and lose sources of revenue in the process.

The Battery will take on the NASL’s Jacksonville Armada in the Third Round on May 31. The winner of that game will travel to Atlanta to take on Major League Soccer’s newest franchise, Atlanta United in Round 4.