Sanyang’s Battery blanks Dayton Dutch Lions‎

American midfielder Jose Cuevas scored the lone goal as the Charleston Battery of Amadou “Baresi” Sanyang ground out a 1-0 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions at Beaver Creek Stadium.

The win lifts the Sanyang’s Battery (8-2-0) into second place in the USL PRO standings. The game was very chippy and with both sides intent on not conceding, there were few goal-scoring chances.

Battery goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was finally called into action in the 20th minute, saving a low shot from Dayton’s Andrew Bardsley. Charleston forward Sallieu Bundu battled for much of the first half alone up front.

His endeavor almost paid off in the 34th minute as he managed to spin his defender and fire a shot at the near post. Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams reacted quickly and just managed to turn the ball around the goal for a corner.

Just before halftime, Charleston threatened again after Navion Boyd was tripped just outside the box. Midfielder Tony Donatelli took the free-kick, but his placement was just off with the ball curling wide of the far post.

The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute with substitute forward Dane Kelly forcing Williams into an errant clearance. Ryan Richter took a quick throw-in, picking out Kelly deep in the box. Kelly slipped the ball inside to Cuevas, who completed the move with a clever close-range finish.Dayton tried to respond, but the Battery defense, led by captain Colin Falvey, held firm as the Battery won its fourth road game of the season. Sanyang and his Battery returns to action next Saturday in Orlando with a match against the defending USL PRO champion Orlando City Lions.

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, Sainey Touray’s Harrisburg City Islanders and Richmond Kickers tied for the second time this season after Friday’s game was called in the 84th minute following a lightning delay and torrential downpour that left conditions at Skyline Sports Complex unplayable with the teams knotted 1-1.

Richmond’s Shane Johnson and Harrisburg’s Garret Pettis each scored their first professional goals in the draw. While both sides had chances in the first half, Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale made a pair of outstanding saves late, and the teams went to halftime scoreless. The chances kept coming as the sides played an entertaining game in trying conditions, and the Kickers broke through in the 68th minute as Stanley Nyazamba’s far post cross from a free kick on the right found Johnson, who headed it home into the left side of the net.

Harrisburg got even 11 minutes later as Pettis scored with almost his first touch after being brought on as a substitute. Pettis fielded a cross by Jason Pelletier to tie the score. The teams then were pulled off the field because of lightning, and after more than an hour, the game was called as heavy rain swept through City Island, rendering conditions unplayable.