2006 Jun 8

Charleston Battery  2 - 0  Seattle Sounders
Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC

Charleston: Dusty Hudock; Mark Watson (Tim Karalexis 62'), Brandon Curran, Shane Crawford, Ben Hollingsworth; Omar Daley (Troy Lesesne 58'), Chris Corcoran, Lazo Alavanja (Ugo Okoye 82), Luke Vercollone; Stephen Armstrong (Jeff Matteo 89'), Ian Fuller (Teba McKnight 62'). Substitutes not used: Keith Wiggans, Armando Romero.

Seattle: David Mahoney; Noah Merl (Craig Tomlinson 62'), Zach Scott, Kevin Sakuda, Seyi Abolaji; Roger Levesque, Nate Boyden (Gabe Sturm 89'), CJ Klaas, Andrew Gregor; Cam Weaver, Jamal Sutton (Jake Sagare 78'). Substitutes not used: Chris Eylander.

Goals:
17' CHA - Armstrong (Crawford)
79' CHA - McKnight (Crawford)

Additional match reports: Battery.

Match report from the Sounders:

In their first match of a two-game road trip, the Seattle Sounders were shut out by the Charleston Battery 2-0 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC. Both teams were evenly matched, but the Sounders weren't able to capitalize on point-blank shot opportunities in the second half. With just 15 men available, the Sounders played with a slim roster as the team struggles with injuries.

Charleston put one on the board in the 17th minute as forward Stephen Armstrong delivered a shot from the top left corner of the box. On a clearing pass, Armstrong played the ball to his right, then with time and room fired a shot into the far upper corner giving the Battery the early 1-0 lead.

Despite limited numbers and long travel, Seattle maintained a physical level of play throughout the match. But it would cost the Sounders in the 85th minute as defender Seyi Abolaji received his second yellow card of the evening and was sent off the field. Both midfielder Nate Boyden and forward Roger Levesque received cautions in the match.

With multiple scoring opportunities early and throughout the second half, the Sounders outshot the Battery 12-7 in the match but could not find the back of the net.

Midfielder C.J. Klaas had two great opportunities that were thwarted by Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock, an ex-Sounder. In the 56th minute, Klaas took a shot from the right side about 15 yards out. The ball was sent into the box on a Gregor free kick. Jamal Sutton received the ball but his shot was deflected in the direction of Sounders defender Noah Merl at the top of the box. Merl's shot was deflected by a Charleston defender, and the ball trickled out to Klaas for the shot.

In the 67th minute Klaas split the defense chasing down a pass from midfield. Putting a step between himself and two Charleston defenders, Klaas forced a one-on-one with Hudock. Veering to the right, Klaas pulled Hudock off his line and attempted a low shot on the far post. Klaas' momentum prevented him from getting a solid strike on the ball and his shot skipped into the hands of the diving keeper.

Late in the match the Sounders just missed another scoring opportunity as Gregor sent a free kick into the box. Levesque near the right post tried to outwork his defender and in the process tapped the ball out to defender Zach Scott. Scott, inside the top right corner of the six-yard box, launched his shot over the crossbar.

The Battery took a 2-0 lead in the 79th minute of play as Forward Teba McKnight received a long pass and simply outran his defender down the right side. With a toe poke past Sounder Keeper David Mahoney inside the far post, the Battery capped the 2-0 shutout handing the Sounders their second consecutive loss.

Mahoney made three great saves in the second half, squandering goal opportunities for the Battery.

Out with injuries, the Sounders were missing Ben Somoza, Leighton O'Brien, Jake Besagno, Danny Jackson and Maykel Galindo. With two cautions against Charleston, Abolaji reached the five caution mark and will serve a one match suspension on Sat., June 10th in Atlanta.

The loss drops the Sounders record to 2-4-3, 9 pts, as they search for their first victory on the road. Seattle continues their road trip to Atlanta on Saturday, June 10th against the Silverbacks. Kickoff is set for 4:30 pm PST. The Sounders have been shut out only one other time this season, a 0-4 loss to Minnesota on April 23rd on the road.

Statistics:
        Charleston   Seattle
Shots:        7        12
Saves:        5         3
Corners:      3         6
Fouls:       14        14
Offsides:     1         3

Misconduct:
44' SEA - Abolaji cautioned
65' CHA - Alavanja cautioned
69' SEA - Boyden cautioned
71' CHA - Hollingsworth cautioned
75' SEA - Levesque cautioned
85' SEA - Abolaji cautioned and sent off for his second caution

Referees: Chris Sculthorpe; Jason Sessions, Bob Wern; Richard Turpin

Attendance: 3,006