Impressive debut for Andre Toussaint.
By: Andrew Miller (Post & Courier).[/size]
Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser thought that striker Andre Toussaint would have an immediate impact on the Battery's attack. He was right.
Toussaint scored a goal and added an assist in his Battery debut to lead Charleston past Miami FC, 3-0, Tuesday night before a crowd of 3,198 at Blackbaud Stadium.
The Battery, which is 6-0-2 in its last eight home games, improved to 7-8-5 (26 points) and moved into a tie for eighth place with Atlanta in the USL First Division with eight regular -season games left. Miami FC dropped to 8-11-3 (27 points).
Charleston signed Toussaint just three days ago. The Trinidad and Tobago national team striker had just two days of training before entering the game at the start of the second half. Despite his limited amount of practice time, Toussaint had little trouble connecting with his new teammates.
"Andre was fantastic, you can't ask for anything better than what he did for us tonight," Anhaeuser said. "He had only two days of training, so I didn't want to start him, but I wanted to get him on the field. He had a great assist and a great goal. He has great awareness on the field and he can shoot with both feet. He obviously brings a bit of quality for us up front."
Toussaint, who has six goals in 17 games with the Trinidad & Tobago national team, displayed all of his offensive skills against Miami.
"I wasn't nervous at all," he said. "Soccer is soccer. It doesn't matter where you're playing. I felt good out there. I was pretty comfortable. I was happy to score, but even happier we got a win."
Miami generated 11 shots on goal, but only a couple of quality scoring chances. It was the second straight shutout for the Battery and the sixth for Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock this season.
"I think we've been a little more organized the last two games," said Hudock, who made three saves on the night. "I think we've held our shape a little bit better than we have lately. We've kept our shape and that's what limits scoring chances. We had a 10-minute spell in the first half where we were diving in and they started to get chances. But after that we played honest defense, we held our shape, and made it tough for them to get anything on us."
It took less than four minutes for the Battery to get on the scoreboard on Jordan Hughes' first goal of the season.
Midfielder Lazo Alavanja got the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. The former Indiana star chipped the ball to Hughes, who eluded two Miami defenders inside the box and curled the ball past keeper Pat Hannigan. "Great goal by Jordan," Anhaeuser said. "He worked hard to get that one and had a great finish. He deserved to score."
Charleston pushed its advantage to 2-0 on Aaron King's goal in the 68th minute. Midfielder Stephen Armstrong played the ball into Toussaint. Toussaint pivoted to his right, raced past a Miami defender and slid the ball to a wide-open King, who easily finished for the score. "I saw Aaron the whole way," Toussaint said. "They gave me some room and I found Aaron on the other side of the defender. He made a good shot."
Charleston extended its lead to 3-0 on Toussaint's goal in the 88th minute. King set it up, getting the ball just outside the 18-yard box and heeling it to Toussaint, who blasted a shot past Hannigan. The Battery travels to Atlanta Saturday August 4, before facing MLS Dallas F.C. in the quarterfinal fixture of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup August 7 at Blackbaud Stadium.
Header.--Charleston midfielder Ian Fuller (hamstring) was the only Battery not available because of injury. Fuller, who missed six weeks with a pulled hamstring, re-injured his leg against Portland on July 22.
--Defender Kevin Nylen made his second consecutive start after missing the first 19 games of the season with a broken foot.
--Former Battery striker Ben Hollingsworth was in attendance Tuesday. He scored 14 goals for the Battery during the 2006 season. Hollingsworth is still recovering from a broken foot he suffered at the end of last season.
Battery 3 v Miami FC 0Referee: Joe Caroccio
Assistant Referees: Alan Schechtman, Bob Wern
Attendance: 3,198
Weather: Clear 90
Blackbaud Player of the Game: Andre Toussaint
Scoring Summary Goal (Assist) MinuteCharleston Battery Hughes (Alavanja) 3
Charleston Battery King (Toussaint) 67
Charleston Battery Toussaint (King) 88
Players: - Dusty Hudock, Louie Rolko, Tim Karalexis, Kevin Nylen, Chris Corcoran, Luke Vercollone, Lazo Alavanja, Gordon Chin, Stephen Armstrong (Mike Richardson 80), Jordan Hughes (Andre Toussaint 45th), Byron Alvarez (Aaron King 54th).
