For the third consecutive year, Chivas USA were eliminated by lower-division competition in the U.S. Open Cup. Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium, it was the USL First Division Charleston Battery that did the honors, once again knocking off an MLS opponent for a 3-1 victory.
Despite possessing the ball for large chunks of the game and recording 15 shots, Chivas, which is in second place in the Western Conference, was unable to capitalize on their scoring chances.
The Battery, losing Open Cup finalists a year ago when they lost to D.C. United after defeating a pair of MLS clubs along the way, knocked off a team from the U.S. top flight for the seventh time.
"It's kind of been the story of our season," said Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch, who had the team's only goal. "We've been able to create some scoring chances, we just haven't been able to finish them off. You've got to (Charleston) credit. They came out, they fought hard, the got four chances and they scored on three of them. That's the difference in the game."
Chivas, which had to travel cross-country from California to South Carolina, was without two of their star players -- defender Jonathan Bornstein and midfielder Sacha Kljestan -- who were members of the U.S. national team in the recent FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.
"That's just an excuse," said Chivas coach Preki. "We certainly had the team to get a result."
It was a physical match that featured 25 fouls, a couple of pushing and shoving matches between the squads, seven yellow cards and a red card.
"I don't think either team was going to back down," said Charleston striker Randi Patterson, who played one season for the New York Red Bulls and keyed the USL-1 side's victory with two goals.
The game also had its share of controversy when Charleston 'keeper Dusty Hudock was forced off his line to make a diving save on Chivas striker Maykel Galindo with less than two minutes left in regulation and the Battery leading just 2-1.
Chivas' midfielder Paulo Nagmura lofted a perfect ball to Galindo over the Battery defense. Galindo took two strong dribbles and just as he was ready to shoot, Hudock came rushing out to make the diving save just outside of the 18-yard box.
At first, referee Mark Kadlecic was going to award Chivas with a penalty kick because Hudock had tackled Galindo inside the penalty area. However, the linesman on the far side ruled that Hudock's tackle had come just outside the box and Chivas was awarded a free kick.
Chivas defender Carey Talley took the free kick just to the right of the goal, but Hudock easily stopped the attempt.
"I don't know if it was inside or outside the box," Preki said. "I was upset that (Hudock) didn't get a red card. He's the last guy on defense and that's a professional foul. He's out. I have to see the replay to see if it was penalty kick or not. But that's a red card 100 percent of the time."
Hudock wasn't sure if where he was on the field.
"I was just trying to get to the ball as quickly as I could," Hudock said. "At the last instant I knew I wasn't going to get there, so I stretched to where I thought he's going to make his touch and I believe I got a piece of the ball. "I thought I was outside the box, but it was close. The linesman has the clearest line of sight, so I was glad the referee looked to him."
Charleston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Patterson's goal in the ninth minute.
The play started off a long throw-in from Charleston midfielder Kenji Treschuk. Treschuk's throw went deep into the six-yard box where Chivas defender Tim Curtin headed the ball toward the back post and what he thought was out of danger. The ball landed directly onto Patterson's right foot and the former UNC Greensboro All-American easily volleyed it into the net for the score.
Chivas tied the game at 1-1 on Jesse Marsch's header in the 28th minute.
Chukwudi Chijindu got a turnover around midfield and fed Sasha Victorine down the right flank. Kljestan made the run down the right flank then served the ball into the six-yard to an unmarked Marsch on the back post who easily headed into the open goal.
The Battery answered in stoppage time at the end of the first half on Patterson's second goal of the game.
Patterson picked up a loose ball and slotted it to Darren Spicer on the left flank. Spicer took two dribbles and passed it back to Patterson, who slipped past the Chivas defensive wall. Patterson settled the ball, took a dribble and blasted a shot past Chivas keeper Lance Parker for the score.
Tsuyoshi Yoshitake finished off the scoring in stoppage time with a brilliant half-volley from about 20 yards out.
Andrew Miller is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
