Tsuyoshi Yoshitake

2009 Third Round: Battery make history with win; Chivas USA’s Open Cup misery continues

June 30, 2009 by

Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, SC | 7:30 p.m.
Match Reports: Charleston | Chivas | Post and Courier | LA Times

	3	FT	1
Randi Patterson 9’, 45’+ Tsuyoshi Yoshitake 90’+				28’ Jesse Marsch

The Charleston Battery reach the Quarterfinals by defeating Chivas USA 3-1 at Blackbaud Stadium. For the Battery, they become the first USL team to reach the round of eight three consecutive years. The first of Randi Patterson’s two goals came in the 9th minute, when a failed Jim Curtin clearance landed in front of him. He volleyed it into the net to give Charleston the early 1-0 lead. However, in the 28th minute, a Sasha Victorine’s cross to Jesse Marsch equalized the game for Chivas USA.

That would be as close as they would get in their attempt to win their first Open Cup game since 2005.Randi Patterson scored his second goal mere seconds before the halftime whistle as he received a pass beyond the Chivas back line. He then proceeded to bend it past goalkeeper Lance Parker to give the Battery a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Charleston closed out the victory in second half stoppage time as Tsuyoshi Yoshitake finished a spectacular volley from 25 yards out.

Chivas USA continues to struggle in the US Open Cup, losing their fifth straight Cup match. Since their inaugural season in 2005, they have a tournament record of 1-4-1, with the draw ending in a historic shootout loss to Dallas Roma FC of the USASA. Their only win came in their first Open Cup game in the Third Round of 2005 when they scored the game-winning goal in the 120th minute of extra time to beat the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division.

Charleston moves on to the Quarterfinals next week to play the Houston Dynamo at Blackbaud Stadium. The game on July 7 will be the third consecutive tournament where the two clubs will have met with Charleston winning the first two (one in extra time, the other in penalty kicks).

2009 First Round: Battery cruise as Atlanta FC self-destructs in Open Cup debut

June 9, 2009 by

Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, S.C. | 7:30 p.m.Match Reports: Charleston, Post & Courier

Photos: Post & Courier

Twitter: @atlantafc Broadcast: USL Live

	2	FT	0
Randi Paterson (T. Yoshitake) 1’ Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (John Wilson) 32’				28’ Sappia Venn – SENT OFF 66’ Robert Munilla – SENT OFF 69’ Leo Sandoval – SENT OFF

Atlanta FC’s dream of a run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup fell short as they unable to pull off the upset against the Charleston Battery (USL-1) falling 2-0 at Blackbaud Stadium. Goals from Randi Patterson and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake propelled the Battery to the Second Round.

The match, broadcast live on USLLive.com, was a tale of two different clubs. Atlanta FC, the first team to qualify out of Georgia since 1991 (Atlanta Datagraphics), were overpowered for a majority of the match against a Charleston Battery side who have participated in six straight Open Cups, and 10 of the last 11.

No sooner had the national anthem finished than Atlanta FC found themselves down one goal as a corner from Tsuyoshi Yoshitake found Randi Patterson in the box, heading in the first goal 37 seconds into the match. Charleston showed no signs of fatigue, having played three games in the last five days, as they controlled the match from the start. Atlanta FC soon settled down and maintained possession, but could not force a single shot on Battery keeper Keith Wiggans.

The match began to get scrappy in the 28th minute as Venn Sappia was ejected during an incident off the ball. Later, the report showed an apparent ’hand-to-face’ incident prompted the Sappia ejection.

After the situation calmed, the Battery did not waste time any time. John Wilson beat his man down the left flank and played a pinpoint cross into Yoshitake, who volleyed it home from six yards out, giving the Battery a 2-0 lead that they held until the halftime break.

The second half was more of the same, as Atlanta FC crippled their upset chances by earning two more red cards and finishing with only eight men. Atlanta FC’s coach was also sent off in the second half, as the NPSL side failed to gain any momentum and saw their US Open Cup run come to an end.

Charleston advance to the Second Round to take on Miami FC, 8pm ET at Tropical Park in Miami, Fla.