Slow-starting Battery falls to Sounders

Sounders 2, Battery 1

Sounders 2, Battery 1

The Charleston Battery dominated the Seattle Sounders for the final 35 minutes of the game Thursday night at Blackbaud Stadium.

Unfortunately, for the Battery, a USL First Division match is 90 minutes in length.

Nathan Knox and Greg Howes each scored for Seattle as the Sounders held off a furious Charleston rally to beat the Battery, 2-1, Thursday night before a crowd of 3,660 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Sounders, who are beginning a four-game road trip, improved to 4-4-3 (15 points), while the Battery dropped to 3-3-3 (12 points).

With the summer heat on full display, it was the Battery, and not the West Coast Sounders, that came out a little lethargic during the first half.

“It was a little warm tonight and you would have thought that Seattle would have been at a disadvantage, but we were the ones that came out a little flat,” said Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser. “We came out a little sloppy. We gave up a goal early in the game and its tough when its 92 degrees out there and your down a goal and trying to fight your way back in the game”

After several close calls, Knox broke open the scoreless tie with a goal in the 37th minute.

The ball was played into Knox just outside the 18-yard box. As the ball was in the air, Knox was jostling with Charleston defenders Brandon Curran and Chris Corcoran. The three continued to fight for position as Knox bulled his way past Corcoran to get to the ball. With several Battery players looking for a foul from referee Sandra Serafini, Knox got past the Charleston defenders and easily chipped the ball past Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock for the score.

“Looks like (Knox) just ran over (Corcoran), but that’s the referee’s decision,” Anhaeuser said. “You have to live with it and move forward. At 1-0 you know you can come back.”

The Sounders pushed their advantage to 2-0 on Howes’ header in the 50th minute. Seattle midfielder Kevin Sakuda took a strong run down the right side and served the ball into the 18-yard box to Howes, who beat Hudock for the score.

“That really hurt us,” Anhaeuser said. “One cross and one goal. You have to give them credit it was a good play.”

The Battery closed to within 2-1 on Ian Bennett’s goal in the 73rd minute. Corcoran made a long run down the left side, dribbling into the 18-yard box. Corcoran’s took a shot, but it was blocked by a Seattle defender and went right to striker Michael Todd. Todd’s shot was blocked as well, but Bennett was there for the rebound and the score.

Charleston had an excellent chance to tie the game in the 85th minute off a corner kick. Byron Alvarez served the ball into the box and Aaron King leaped over a Seattle defender to get a strong header on goal. But Seattle keeper Ben Dragavon made a diving save to end the threat.

“I jumped off the bench because I thought it was in,” Anhaeuser said. “Their keeper made a great save. We need to create those chances a little earlier and put them under pressure and make sure we take the game to them. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this.”

Headers

The Battery will take on Jamaican Premier League’s Village United in an exhibition match Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium.

Charleston midfielder Ian Fuller, who has two goals on the season, will miss six-to-eight weeks with a pulled hamstring.

Fuller suffered the injury last week against Minnesota.

Defenders Chris Gores (leg) and Kevin Nylen (foot) were unavailable because of injuries.

(Reach Andrew Miller at 937-5599 or apmiller@postandcourier.com).