New York Red Bulls II played its third match of the season against Wilmington Hammerheads on Sunday, April 12. The Hammerheads punished NYRB II in the first half, scoring twice, and finished strong to hand Red Bulls II its first loss in club history, 3-0. New York hits the road this week for its first ever away match against Charleston Battery.
New York Red Bulls II face Charleston Battery in Charleston, S.C. on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. EDT (WATCH: Live stream available on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live).
Wilmington hands Red Bulls II first loss
New York Red Bulls II suffered its first loss this weekend to Wilmington Hammerheads, 3-0. Wilmington forward Nick Zimmerman struck twice in the 22nd and 43rd minute, and the match was capped off in the 88th when Andres Mendoza buried his penalty kick for the third and final goal.
Red Bulls II fired shot after shot at Wilmington goalkeeper Amore Rawls, but the effort was to no avail. New York fired 20 shots in total, 10 on target, but all were saved. Santiago Castano was also active and made seven saves, including an impressive double-save just moments before being sent off for a challenge on Wilmington forward Corben Bone.
Santi Suspended
In the 86th minute, Wilmington midfielder Kwadwo Poku played a through ball past the Red Bulls II defense to the feet of a charging Corben Bone. Bone, alone in behind the back line, slowed up at the top of the penalty box where Santiago Castano confronted the attacker. Bone went right and beat Castano, forcing the keeper to take out the forward in the area. Castano earned a red card and will be suspended for the next match. Rafael Diaz is expected to replace Castano against Charleston Battery.
Re-Charged Battery
The undefeated Charleston Battery (3-0-0) return from a bye week on Saturday, April 18 to host New York Red Bulls II. This will be Charleston’s fourth match of 2015 and third played at home. In the Battery’s home opener against Toronto FC II, Charleston overcame a two goal deficit to win its first match of the season, 3-2. A total of three Charleston players, forward Dane Kelly and defenders Quinton Griffith and Taylor Mueller, were selected to the USL Team of the Week for their contributions in the comeback. Jarad van Schaik was also named to the bench.
Charleston followed up its first performance with a 3-2 victory versus northern rivals Charlotte Independence. Forward Heviel Cordoves had two goals and one assist in the match and earned USL Team of the Week honors. Charleston Battery have had at least one representative on each USL Team of the Week thus far, with the exception last week (bye week). In Charleston’s previous fixture on April 4, the Battery defeated Harrisburg City Islanders thanks to goals from Cordoves (3) and Kelly (2) in a shutout, 2-0.
Getting to know…Charleston Battery
Founded in 1993, Charleston Battery (along with Richmond Kickers) is the oldest continuously operating professional club in the United States
Charleston and D.C. United are a rare example of a MLS-USL team rivalry and has been nicknamed the “Coffee Pot Cup.” The rivalry stems from a postgame incident after the Third Round of the 1999 U.S. Open Cup where Charleston pulled a shocking 4-3 extra time upset at home. The teams now meet annually during preseason in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
Charleston Battery are the most recent non-MLS team to appear in the U.S. Open Cup Final. In 2008 Charleston lost 2-1 to D.C. United.
Charleston plays its home games at Blackbaud Stadium, a soccer-specific 5,100 capacity arena. In recent years, the stadium installed solar panels which is said to offset approximately 12 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Mike Anhaeuser, head coach and general manager of Charleston Battery, has spent his entire professional career with the club (1994-98 as a player, 1999-04 as an assistant, 2005-present as head coach.). Following the 2013 season, Anhaeuser was inducted to the USL Hall of Fame.
