Charleston Battery (0W-1L-2D) - the official USL PRO affiliate of Vancouver Whitecaps FC - suffered their first defeat last weekend, falling 1-0 against future MLS club Orlando City SC.
Mamadou Diouf created the team’s best chance, perfectly timing a header from a cornerkick. The header beat the keeper, Miguel Gallardo, but it was cleared by a defender guarding the near post. In the 35th minute, Diouf connected with another header, forcing Gallardo into a big save. Andre Lewis and Aminu Abdallah made late appearances as second-half substitutes, but Orlando City held on for a 1-0 win.
Earlier in the week, the Battery hosted a friendly against Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and bested them 2-0 on Tuesday, April 8. Abdallah and Lewis both started the match, while Diouf scored as a second-half substitute.
The next day, the Battery held a training session and saw the return of several Whitecaps FC players. Whitecaps FC Residency defender Jackson Farmer returned to training, having sat out Tuesday's match with soreness. Michael Kafari (right knee), Whitecaps FC's third-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, also trained for the first time with no restrictions, while 2013 Whitecaps FC draftee Adam Mena returned to training after suffering from back spasms.
Omar Salgado, who had a scare after leaving with a foot injury against Richmond Kickers on March 29, continues to participate in fitness work. He also joined the team in finishing drills and stayed after practice for extra work this past Tuesday, but is not expected to participated in Friday's match against the reserve side of Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls.
The match, which will be streamed live at http://www.charlestonbattery.com, will count in both the USL Pro and MLS Reserve League standings.
