Gambians in USL wrap: Win for Sanyang, Jatta’s Blues held while Touray’s Islanders defeated

Amadou “Baresi” Sanyang played the full 90 minutes when his Charleston Battery took their third consecutive victory as they pulled away from the Barracudas at Blackbaud Stadium.

Sallieu Bundu had a goal and assist as the Battery handed the Barracudas their third consecutive defeat. Baresi Sanyang’s Battery had chances in the first half, Ryan Richter getting the best only to shoot wide.

Jose Cuevas grabbed his side the lead in stoppage time with a deft left-footed chip over the advancing goalkeeper from the left side of the penalty area. In a physical contest, the Battery then added to their lead late in the game. Bundu set up Nicholas Stephen Paterson in the 74th minute to double the lead, and six minutes later Bundu found the back of the net himself.

Dane Kelly then capped the victory in the final minute, his first goal of the season. Sanyang and his Battery host Rochester Rhinos next.

In the days other game, Sainey Touray played the full game but couldn’t help his team as the Charlotte Eagles won their second consecutive match when they came back to defeat Touray’s Harrisburg City Islanders in their home opener at Skyline Sports Complex.

Daryl Roberts and Jorge Herrera’s goals proved decisive in a game that was delayed for more than an hour by lightning. Harrisburg pressured early, and Morgan Langley had a chance well saved by Eric Reed to keep the game scoreless.

Then in the 32nd minute the bad weather rolled in, forcing the players off the field for 1 hour, 22 minutes. After the players returned, they reached halftime scoreless, but the City Islanders then took the lead two minutes after an abbreviated halftime break as Antoine Hoppenot finished sharply off a good through-ball by Sainey Touray.

The Eagles were able to hit back, however, with Roberts latching onto a pass by Joseph Kabwe to tie the game in the 66th minute. Kabwe was again the creator on what proved to be the game-winner, sliding a low cross that found Herrera for the finish.

Finally, the Wilmington Hammerheads twice took the lead through Hagop Avesyan, but Ebrima “EJ” Jatta’s Los Angeles Blues answered on both occasions as the two teams played to a 2-2 draw at the Titan Stadium in California.

Jatta saw the full game and was even cautioned in the 43rd minute for a reckless tackle. After a scoreless first half, the game came to life midway through the second after Avesyan was brought on as a substitute.

The former Ventura County Fusion standout, who had vocal support in the crowd, capitalized as Chukwudi Chijindu’s shot was only parried, tapping home the rebound to open the scoring in the 66th minute.

Jatta’s Blues hit back quickly, with Irving García finding space on the right side and rifling a low shot into the left corner of the net three minutes later, but Avesyan was able to restore the Hammerheads’ lead as he finished a Hagop Chirishian corner kick from the left in the 75th minute.

Los Angeles was able to earn a point, and take four points from the weekend after its 2-1 win against the same team on Friday night, with five minutes to go as a quickly taken free kick found Bryan Burke on the right side of the penalty area. He centered to Cheun-Yong Park, and the Korean’s shot found the back of the net, earning his side the draw.

Ebrima Jatta and his Blues will next head on the road as they travel to face the Dayton Dutch Lions at Miami Valley South Stadium.

USL PRO

USL PRO is the strongest, best operated and most experienced North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field. Focused on franchise stability and longevity, USL PRO features 11 teams in 2012 and an unprecedented six teams with more than a decade of operational experience. The league is focused on aggressive but deliberate growth by adding teams fully capable of meeting USL and USSF standards, which are located in markets that further promote regional league play. In addition to league play, USL PRO teams will compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. USL PRO is affiliated with the USSF.