Battery in need of a recharge after losses

As the Charleston Battery drilled relentlessly under a merciless sun last Thursday, coach Mike Anhaeuser was just as merciless.

"It's got to happen," the coach yelled as he directed the team's defense. "It's got to happen."

What's got to happen? An improved effort on defense as the Battery faces USL First Division leader Portland at 6 p.m. today at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery responded to its U.S. Open Cup victory over Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo on July 10 by giving up seven goals in two losses in Puerto Rico last week, plunging Charleston to ninth place in the USL First Division.

"That was disappointing," said Anhaeuser, whose 5-8-5 squad is looking for its first league victory since a 2-1 win over Atlanta on June 22.

"Any time you beat a team like the Dynamo, you hope that momentum can carry over. But when you play on the road, it's a lot different."

Especially since the Battery had to play two road matches in three nights at Puerto Rico.

"They got the 3-1 win in the first game, and that adds a lot of pressure," Anahaeuser said.

"You can't go back home and regroup and get organized. You go with the players you have down there, and you have to get it done."

The Battery bounced back with three goals in the second match in Puerto Rico, but gave up three goals in the first half of a 4-3 loss.

Anhaeuser hopes the return of 6-3 defender Kevin Nylen and 6-2 forward Ian Fuller can bolster the Battery's defense. Nylen has been out with a broken foot, while Fuller has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

"Both could see action (today)," Anhaeuser said. "With some guys coming back, we need to solidify things all over the field. But at the same time you have to keep it going offensively.

"Portland will probably sit back (today); it will be hot and their second game in two nights, so we need to make sure we take the game to them."

Portland, 10-2-3 after a 2-1 win over Vancouver on Thursday, played at Atlanta on Saturday night.

Midfielder Andrew Gregor leads the Timber with seven goals, tied for the First Division lead with the Battery's Byron Alvarez and Eduardo Sebrango-Rodriguez of Vancouver.

Today's game is the first meeting between the teams this season; Charleston goes to Portland on Aug. 23.

"I want to see us come out and defend properly and put a complete game together," Anhaeuser said. "We've been doing it offensively, but we've had some lapses defensively. In just that one second, if something doesn't happen, the other team can get a break."

Notes

Charleston will be without defender Brandon Curran and midfielder Stephen Armstrong, both serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation ... The Battery's Byron Alvarez will face some former teammates from Portland. He spent the last four seasons in Portland and is the Timber's all-time scorer with 41 goals and nine assists in 96 games ... A bicycle race at halftime will highlight Tour de France night at Blackbaud Stadium ... Tickets for the Battery's Aug. 7 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match with FC Dallas of MLS are on sale for $10 to $18.