Sunday, September 17, 2006

The Battery eek out a win while the Whitecaps coast

After Friday's match, things were not looking good for the Charleston Battery. They were lucky to pull off a 2-2 tie at home and the were traveling to Puerto Rico where they had not won all year. It looked like the Islanders were set to pull off an upset in their first ever visit to the post season.

Both teams had some good chances in the first half, but the Battery seemed to be clicking a little better. This work finally paid off in the 53rd minute when Stephen Armstrong nailed home a free kick from about 25-yards out. The kick was a rocket right to the top left corner of goal.

The 1-0 win in Puerto Rico sees the Battery through 3-2 on aggregate. They will face the Rochester Raging Rhinos next weekend in the semi-final series.

A few hundred miles away in Miami, the Vancouver Whitecaps were in town hoping to do something that they did all year, not lose a game by more then 2 goals. They came into today’s match with a 4-1 lead thanks to a blowout on Friday night at home. For Miami FC, they would need to turn on the offense to have a chance at this one.

Sadly for any Miami fans, their need to attack left them exposed in the back and the Caps made the most of it.

In first half stoppage time, Martin Nash crossed in a perfect corner that Eduardo Sebrango headed low and into net. Then in the 64th Nash was the one to score thanks to Tony Donatelli, who stole the ball in midfield and provided a great leading pass.

Miami's best chance of the night was in the 10th minute when they had a free kick in close. However, the wall did their job and cleared the ball away.

The 2-0 win gave Vancouver the series with a 6-1 aggregate. They now move on to face their country mates, the Montreal Impact, in the other semi-final series next weekend.

Results
Vancouver 2-0 Miami FC
Charleston 1-0 Puerto Rico

Semi-Final Schedule
Friday 22 Sept
Charleston at Rochester 7:45pm ET
Montreal at Vancouver 10pm ET

Sunday 24 Sept
Rochester at Charleston 6:00pm ET
Vancouver at Montreal 7:00pm ET

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