Battery defeat Dynamo in first game of Carolina Challenge Cup

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Danny Morales / Valencia Voice

The Charleston Battery defeated the Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the opening game of the Carolina Challenge Cup.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Austin Savage scored the lone goal of the game as the Charleston Battery defeated the MLS’ Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the opening game of the Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday.

Houston and Charleston were tied 0-0 going into the second half before Savage scored in the 69th minutes to give the Battery a one goal lead.

“We defended, we were ready to defend well,” said Charleston head coach Michael Anhaeuser after the game. “And then Austin again seemed to get that goal, he’s just got that knack right now, he got one the other day and he gets one today.”

Both teams had four shots on goal for the game, but Charleston had 13 total shots compared to Houston’s six.

The win gives Charleston their first three points of the tournament and means that the Battery are currently at the top of the table following the first game.

“It’s a good start,” said Anhaeuser. “And who knows, you never know I guess now we’ve got to think about getting three points, that puts us at the top of the table, I don’t think we’ve been there ever.”

The Battery’s next game will be on Wednesday, Feb. 25 against the against an Orlando City SC team that Charleston knows very well from their days in the USL PRO.

“One game at a time, we know we’ve got to come out here we’ve got another tough game on Wednesday and we know we’ve got to be prepared.”