Battery quiets Thunder, faces Impact in playoffs

BLAINE, Minn. — After seeing a two-goal advantage disappear, the Charleston Battery managed to defeat the Minnesota Thunder, 3-2, in front of 4,613 at the National Sports Center.

With the win, the Battery (14-5-11, 53 points) finished the season tied for third place in the USL standings with the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Battery now opens the playoffs against the Impact in Montreal on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Charleston forward Dan Antoniuk's header late in the game gave the Battery its sixth road victory of the season.

Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser made eight changes to the side that tied Rochester 0-0 on Friday night as he rested some of the regular starters Battery quiets Thunder ahead of this week's playoff game.

Despite the changes, Charleston pressed from the opening whistle and created the first chance of the game in the third minute as Antoniuk received the ball just outside the box. Antoniuk pulled away from his defender but his right-footed strike was smothered by Minnesota goalkeeper Nick Platter.

The Battery opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Charleston captain Nelson Akwari managed to head the ball back across the face of goal from a deep free-kick. Darren Spicer met the cross unmarked at the back post and tapped the ball home from two yards out.

Charleston scored again 10 minutes later off a long throw-in from midfielder Kenji Treschuk. Antoniuk flicked on with a slip-header and midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake buried the ball past Platter to make it 2-0.

The Thunder pulled a goal back in the 28th minute with a long-range strike by forward Melvin Tarley that flew past Battery goalkeeper Chris McClellan. Two minutes later, Minnesota equalized as midfielder Ricardo Sanchez headed home from 10 yards out.

The game remained deadlocked until the 79th minute when midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake whipped in a corner from the near side. Antoniuk met the cross and snapped a header into the right corner of the goal.