Match Information
- New York Red Bulls II at Charleston Battery
- Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, SC
- Saturday, April 18, 2015
- 7:30 p.m. EDT (WATCH: Live Stream available on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live)
- Follow on Twitter @NYRBII
New York Red Bulls II will play their first away match in club history as they head to Charleston South Carolina to take on the Charleston Battery this Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston. NYRB II is coming off their first loss of the season in a 3-0 defeat to the Wilmington Hammerheads while the Charleston Battery look to remain hot as they have won all three of their matches to begin the USL season.
New York Red Bulls II
NYRB II (1-1-1), suffered its first loss last weekend at the hands of the 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. Rafeal Diaz is expected to start in Charleston on Saturday as Castano serves his suspension. Academy starlet Derrick Etienne looked threatening in attack in his first start, putting a few shots on target including an impressive volley that saved well by Rawls.
The squad put forth against Wilmington was different than the one the week before when Red Bulls II handily took care of Toronto FC II, 4-1. With various first team players playing against Toronto FC II due to a bye week for the Red Bulls, NYRB II put forth a team consisting of mostly their own players in the match against Wilmington.
New York Red Bulls II currently sit in sixth place in the USL Eastern Conference standings with four points through three matches.
Charleston Battery
It will not be an easy road test for New York Red Bulls II as they look to take down an undefeated Charleston Battery (3-0-0), who will be coming off of a bye week last weekend. 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.
The Battery sit in first place in the Eastern Conference and are one of only two teams to have 3 wins and no losses with the other being Arizona United SC of the USL Western Conference.
Founded in 1993, Charleston Battery (along with Richmond Kickers) is the oldest continuously operating professional club in the United States. 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. 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.
Kickoff on Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on NewYorkRedBulls.com/live.
