Nicki Paterson

2011 US Open Cup First Round: Charleston Battery defeat USASA’s Regals FC 2-0

June 15, 2011 by Chuck Nolan Jr.

Charleston Battery Regals FC — Photo: Charleston Battery

The Charleston Battery once again turned away a USASA challenge in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win over Houston’s Regals FC at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery have hosted a USASA team in the first round three years in a row.

The USASA club played the Battery tough for the first 45 minutes, holding the USL PRO team to a 0-0 draw at halftime. The Battery nearly scored on a couple chances in the first half, however. In the 6th minute Nicki Patterson’s header of a Brandon Massie free kick sailed just over the crossbar. A few minutes later Mike Zaher blasted a hard shot at Regals goalkeeper Marcus Sanchez, who juggled the ball before controlling it.

Charleston put their first goal on the board two minutes into the second half when the Battery’s Levi Coleman was pushed by Regals defender Robert Hernandez. Patterson netted the penalty kick for a 1-0 Battery lead. Hernandez would later be sent off for his second yellow card of the match in the 78th minute.

It was in the 78th minute that Charleston scored their insurance goal to make it 2-0. After a string of passes, Dane Kelly received a back heel pass from Seedy Bah and Kelly scored the clinching goal.

Charleston will host Orlando City SC in the second round at Blackbaud Stadium on June 21.

Regals FC (USASA-South TX)
0:2
Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, S.C.

RECAP: Charleston | Post and Courier (Charleston)

Scoring Summary
CHR: Nicki Patterson (PK) – 47th
CHR: Dane Kelly (Bah) – 78th
SENT OFF: Robert Hernandez (Regals) 87′

2009 Quarterfinals: DC United gets revenge, survives battle from shorthanded City Islanders

July 7, 2009 by

Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, Md.
Match Reports: DC United | Washington Post | Patriot-News

	2	FT	1
Boyzzz Khumalo (McTavish) 8’ Andrew Jacobsen (Fred) 18’				50’ Mo Odour – SENT OFF 65’ Nicki Paterson (Unassisted)

MLS Eastern Conference leaders and US Open Cup holders DC United took a step closer to repeating as champions by defeating USL-2 front runners Harrisburg City Islanders in a closely contested Quarterfinal matchup seen by over 2000 fans at the Maryland Soccerplex.

DC, trying to avoid a repeat of the 2007 match between the two clubs that saw Harrisburg eliminate them 1-0, took an early lead in the game through an 8th minute goal by Boyzzz Khumalo. Devon McTavish served up the cross from the right side and the South Africa native headed it home.

Ten minutes later, United added some insurance when Andrew Jacobson repeated the feat with his head off a corner kick delivered by Fred. DC would hang on to the two-goal advantage into halftime.

The second half should have been smooth sailing with the sending off of Harrisburg’s Mo Oduor nine minutes in, but the City Islanders put up a fight and kept the hosts on the defensive. Even with a man down, Harrisburg got on the board in the 64th minute thanks to Nicki Paterson’s shot after recovering a loose ball in the box.

With Harrisburg having the momentum and the pressure mounting for DC, play intensified. The City Islanders continued to create chances while drawing two late cautions by Ange N’Silu and Christian Gomez. DC fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief as the equalizer was not realized when regulation ended 2-1 in favor of United who now face the Rochester Rhinos in the Semifinals.

History is on the defending champions’ side as they have beaten the Rhinos all three times they have played them in Open Cup play, including the 1996 Open Cup Final.