San Jose rallies past Battery

Earthquakes 2, Battery 1

Playing against a team from Major League Soccer is tough enough for the USL First Division Charleston Battery.

Throw in blustery wind conditions for the final 45 minutes of the match, and things became much more interesting for the Battery.

Ramiro Corrales scored a goal an added an assist as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Charleston Battery, 2-1, Wednesday night in the second round of the Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery, which is 0-1-1 in the tournament, will take on Toronto FC at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Following this win and a victory over Toronto FC (1-0) in the opening round of the tournament, San Jose captured this year's Carolina Challenge Cup. San Jose will finish out the round-robin tournament Saturday night against New York.

It's the second time San Jose has won the event, capturing the title in 2005.

With wind gusts of 40 mph during the first half Wednesday and a torrential rain in second half, weather played a factor.

"The conditions were very difficult for both teams," said Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser said. "That much wind and that much rain is going to be a factor for both teams. The first half was very difficult to judge any ball in the air. It was a nightmare for the keepers and the second half everyone was slipping on the field."

Despite scoring early, Anhaeuser said the Battery was outplayed by San Jose for most of the match.

"It's a 90-minute game and we were struggling to get around the field at the end of the game," Anhaeuser said.

"San Jose was keeping the ball and moving it very well. It was nice to get that early goal, but the guys have to remember that it's a 90-minute game. They did a nice job in the second half of keeping possession of the ball and keeping the ball on the floor and building

their attack."

The Battery was outshot, 10-4, during the match and generated just one quality scoring chance over the final 60 minutes.

"I think our legs were a little heavy, especially in the second half," Anhaeuser said. "They made us work pretty hard in the first half to move the ball up the field and then made us work hard defensively in the second half."

Playing into a stiff wind in the first half, the Battery took a 1-0 lead on Darren Spicer's goal in the fifth minute off a corner kick. Midfielder Pato Aguilera served the ball into the six-yard box off a corner kick. San Jose keeper Preston Burpo tried to punch the ball out, but failed to clear the ball as it bounced right onto the foot of Spicer. Spicer blasted the shot into the open net for the score.

"The wind had a lot to do with the goal," Anhaeuser said. "I don't think (Burpo) ever really had a chance at that one."

San Jose tied the game at 1-1 on Corrales' goal in the 26th minute. After a build-up from the midfield line, midfielder Ned Grabavoy slotted a ball behind the Battery defense to Corrales. Corrales took one dribble into the 18-yard box and blasted a shot past Charleston keeper Keith Wiggans for the score.

San Jose nearly scored again in the 30th minute when the Earthquakes took advantage of the windy conditions. Defender Ryan Cochrane played a long ball over the heads of the Charleston defenders to Kamara. Kamara raced past the Battery defenders to get to the loose ball. Kamara took a hard shot that Wiggans was able to chest to the ground. However, Wiggans didn't control the ball and it rolled slowly toward the empty net. Wiggans scrambled to his feet and stopped the ball just before it crossed the goal line.

San Jose took a 2-1 lead on Kamara's goal in the 70th minute. The combination of Corrales and Kamara proved lethal again.

As the rain came pouring down, Corrales played a beautiful through ball to Kamara. Kamara took two dribbles as Wiggans came storming out of the goal to challenge the San Jose striker. Kamara's managed to get past Wiggans just inside the 18-yard box and slotted the ball into the goal for the score.

Toronto 1, New York 1

With wind gusts of more than 35 mph throughout the match, Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls played to a 1-1 draw in the first game of the doubleheader.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Toronto FC scored early on Jeff Cunningham's goal and dominated possession of the ball. In the second half, it was all Red Bulls as they pressed forward with John Wolyniec eventually tying the game in the 60th minute.

"It was very difficult conditions," Toronto FC coach John Carver said. "I thought we did OK in the first half. Not great, but OK. I thought there was some progress there from Saturday. It was an improvement, but there still needs to be more improvement. There's certainly something there to work with.

"I was happy with the way we defended. I thought we defended the box very well. I thought we scored a very good goal and that's something that we've worked on. That pleased me as well."

Toronto FC grabbed a 1-0 lead on Cunningham's goal just 10 minutes into the match. Kevin Harmse picked up the ball at the midfield line and slotted the ball up to Cunningham who made a strong run on New York keeper Jon Conway. Cunningham tried to dribble around Conway, but the New York keeper wasn't able to control the loose ball. Cunningham pounced on the ball and slammed it home for the score.

New York tied the game at 1-1 on Wolyniec's goal in the 74th minute. After a build-up in the midfield, Reyna got the ball just outside the 18-yard box. The New York captain slotted the ball between two Toronto FC defenders to Wolyniec, who beat Toronto FC keeper Brian Edwards on the near post for the goal

"When I saw Claudio had space I pretty much took off running," Wolyniec said. "I looped around their defense and he split their two middle backs. Claudio put it in there right away. He put it right on my feet, right in the box. I didn't even need to take a touch. I just hit right as soon as I got it and used the wind to my advantage."

Notes

--Toronto FC defender Julius James, the ninth overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, left the game in the 23rd minute with a shoulder injury.

--San Jose striker Gavin Glinton left the game in 36th minute after getting hit with the ball in the eye.