elm city express

2018 US Open Cup Round 3: One goal all Charleston Battery needs to eliminate NPSL champ Elm City Express

May 24, 2018 by Drew Bartow

Players from the Charleston Battery and the Elm City Express battle for the ball in a Third Round match in the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: Ross Almers Photography

The Charleston Battery’s starting XI was significantly different as they defeated the visiting Elm City Express 1-0 in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

As opposed to last Saturday’s lineup, coach Mike Anhaeuser kept the 3–4–2–1 formation, but made seven changes in the starting lineup in order rest up players for this Saturday’s match against Nashville SC. The change also marked the return of a familiar face at right back, Battery veteran defender O’Brian Woodbine.

The Battery started off slow, but where able to move the ball somewhat effectively against Elm City’s defense. The Battery had several chances to score, however they could not find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.

Anhaeuser substituted Ataulla Guerra in the 72nd minute in an attempt to drive the offense forward and refocus the attack. The veteran’s presence on the pitch was immediately felt. It would not take long as Guerra was able to get the ball forward on the right side to a charging Gordon Wild in the 84th. Wild was able to get the ball past the tackling defender, past the keeper and into the top left corner for the only goal of the night.

Second stunner from @gorwld this season!

This #CB93 goal was brought to you by @BakerRoofing #USOC2018 | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/BvcFT2Yi0d

— Charleston Battery (@Chas_Battery) May 24, 2018

It would be all the Battery would need to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games between USL and US Open Cup play, and move into round the Fourth Round against a MLS opponent.

“It’s very exciting to play an MLS team. You don’t really need motivation from the coach for a game like that,” said Battery midfielder Tah Brian Anunga. “It’s another chance for us to test ourselves against the best in this country, so we’re excited to move on.”

The Battery certainly won’t be overlooked by whoever their MLS opponent is. Charleston has eliminated nine MLS teams in its club history, which ranks only behind the Rochester Rhinos (10) among lower division teams in the Modern Era.

2018 US Open Cup Round 2: Elm City Express’ Shaq attack finishes Seacoast United Phantoms

May 17, 2018 by Tucker Moss

The Elm City Express extended their cup run to Round 3 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 defeat of Seacoast United Wednesday night. Two second half goals from Elm City winger Shaquille Saunchez were all the Express needed as Seacoast United could not find the breakthrough goal.

The game kicked off with a showcase of attacking movement from Elm City, but Seacoast was putting on a defensive clinic in the early moments of the match. As the first half begun to settle down into a back and forth affair, both teams began to get physical and the first yellow card of the game was shown to Elm City’s Tyler Carlos in only the 10th minute.

As the first half continued, the physical play from Elm City’s midfield allowed them to control the middle of the park and spread balls out to their flanks. This tactic exposed Seacoast’s back three and lead to several goalmouth scrambles. Only dropping further back to get behind the ball allowed Seacoast to get in at the half with the score line level at zero.

Most of the second half played out as it had in the first, with Elm City continuing to be a physical presence in the middle. The home side did carve out some possession in the final third and looked to threaten Elm City early in the second half but the Express back line, lead by Graciano Brito, defended well and limited Seacoast to a handful of chances.

There then followed a period of home team attack, forcing Seacoast United Keeper Mitch Steadman into several key saves to keep the match level. Elm City continued to pour forward and broke through with a Shaquille Saunchez shot from the top of the six yard box in the 81st minute.

Seacoast began to press, looking for an equalizer to force extra time but again the high press and physical play of the Elm City midfield proved to be too much for the Phantoms. After turning over the ball in the middle of the field, Express sprung a quick counter where Saunchez scored his second of the night.

From there, Elm City looked to close out the game, locking down their defensive third to all but guarantee a trip to the Third Round. Tempers began to get better of many the Seacoast players and they found themselves down to ten men in the final moments after a Daniel Bennett red card.

This win sends the Elm City Express down to South Carolina for a date with Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League.

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Asante picks GK’s pocket, scores game-winner for Elm City Express

May 11, 2018 by Ray Curren

Players from the Elm City Express and the Western Mass Pioneers battle for the ball in their 2018 US Open Cup match. Photo: David Henry | SweetDogPhotos.com

Anthony Asante knew on the second touch he might be in business. What followed was a goalkeeper’s worst nightmare: In the 82nd minute of an even match, Western Mass. goalkeeper Rafael Pereira received a routine backpass and figured rather than immediately clearing it, a hard-charging Asante would run right by him if he pulled the ball back.

Asante didn’t.

Instead, the Elm City Express striker poked the ball away with his toe and tapped it into the open goal from three yards out. It was the game-winner, as the defending NPSL national champions won their inaugural Lamar Hunt Open Cup match 2-1 over the Pioneers in front of about 800 people at historic Lusitano Stadium Wednesday night.

“When the goalie made the second touch, I knew he was going to cut back,” Asante said. “I could see it. I was just gambling, but then I saw that touch and I was able to get a toepoke on it and that’s all I needed.”

Not bad for a team that didn’t even exist until January of last year. The Express finished last season 15-1-2, winning six straight games to capture the national title. And they dominated the early proceedings of the contest as the PDL Pioneers – who had only practiced three times prior to Wednesday – chose to conserve energy and try to counter through their veteran superstar, Brazilian Alencar Junior. While Junior got loose once, Elm City’s territorial advantage finally paid off in the 23rd minute.

After Pereira (5 saves), who unfortunately had a stellar match other than his one moment of infamy, denied Asante on a clear breakaway, the Pioneers never got themselves settled on the ensuing corner, and Asante was wide open at the top of the six-yard box to head home Lucas Sousa’s ball for the game’s opening goal.

“I told Rafael (Pereira) after the game I’ve seen that happen at the highest levels, so it can happen to the best,” Elm City coach Teddy Haley said. “You really don’t want to see a goal like that decide a game either way. I wouldn’t want that to happen to my keeper or their keeper. But the first half we performed better, but overall it was a great match, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

About 40 minutes in, Western Mass. coach Federico Molinari decided it was time to step up and challenge further up the field and the move almost immediately paid dividends. Junior got loose at the top of the box and was dragged down by Graciano Brito (who did not agree with the call). Junior followed with a perfectly placed free kick in first-half stoppage time to make it 1-1 at the half.

The Pioneers were the most dangerous team in the second half, and won a free kick in an almost identical spot as their goal in the 50th minute, but Maxi Viera blazed it high. The best chance for either team prior to the winner came in the 66th minute when a Western Mass. cross somehow made it all the way across the Elm City goal to Daniel Fabian, but Fabian couldn’t quite get his feet set and put it over the goal from six yards out.

From there, both teams tired, with neither having much of a preseason to speak of, U.S. Open Cup play allowing just three subs per side, and both coaches wary of a looming 30 minutes of extra time. But it was Asante, who is from Ghana but played for Syracuse and now hails in the Bronx, who was still running deep into the second half, and chasing one extra seeming lost cause resulted in the game-winner.

Both teams immediately made double subs after the goal and the Pioneers got the ball into the Elm City box a few times and got a couple of corner kicks in stoppage time (including one where Pereira went forward trying for the ultimate retribution), but never seriously threatened Matt Jones in the Express goal.

It was the second straight home first-round Open Cup loss for the Pioneers, who fell in penalties to Boston City FC last season.

“Going forward, I think we’ll keep getting better,” Western Mass. midfielder Edward Speed said. “It’s unfortunate because these opportunities (U.S. Open Cup) don’t come around all the time. But that’s the way it goes.”

While there are some significant changes to the squad that rolled through the NPSL last season (and a different home, as renovations at Yale means Elm City will have to play its home games at Southern Connecticut State), Haley is confident they will give their second-round opponent Seacoast United Phantoms of the PDL all they can handle.

“It’s certainly a different makeup of the side, so it’s a little more difficult to know where to put people,” Haley said. “It’s going to take some time to play good football for longer spells. In the second half, we fell off a little and lost our momentum, but I think we’ll still be pretty good in the long run.”