USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery fights back to earm point versus Whitecaps

Published on June 30, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, SC-A second half free kick by Stephen Armstrong salvaged a point for the Charleston Battery against league leaders Vancouver Whitecaps, drawing 1-1 Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium. Armstrong's free kick in the 56th minute leveled the score after the Battery fell behind after giving up a goal late in the first half. The goal was Armstrong's sixth of the season.

Vancouver's Joey Gjertsen put the Whitecaps ahead in the 36th minute after a mix-up in the Battery six-yard box.

Vancouver began pushing early, testing Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock twice within the first 10 minutes of the game. In the 13th minute, Vancouver's Tony Donatelli drove what could have been a disastrous ball through the Battery six-yard box that rolled untouched by either team for a goal kick.

Two minutes later, it was Donatelli again. His 25-yard shot from just right of the goal to the far post missed by just inches, beating a diving Hudock.

The Battery responded in the 17th minute with a Gordon Chin blast from 25 yards out; Chin's bullet missed by two feet.

Vancouver continued to control the run of play, which was aided by some shaky play in the Battery back line, which allowed Vancouver several opportunities inside the Battery penalty area.

In the 34th minute Joey Gjertsen's shot ricocheted off the post from inside 12 yards after Eduardo Sebrango waltzed through the Battery defense essentially unchallenged.

Two minutes later Gjertsen put the Whitecaps in the lead off a touch in from inside the six-yard box. Gjertson got on the end of a Gordie Lyall cross from the right flank after the Battery failed to clear the ball on several occasions.

The goal woke up the Battery. Aaron King just missed an open header minutes later from eight-yards out from a Stephen Armstrong from the left flank.

The Battery came out pushing after the second half whistle. Substitute Mike Richardson fired off a shot that went just wide after a long run down the left flank in the 50th minute.

Six minutes later substitute Ian Bennett drew a foul 19 yards out from goal and a little to the right. Armstrong lined up and struck a hard, low shot with his left foot directly at the Whitecap wall. The ball found its way through the wall and zipped inside goalkeeper Richard Goddard's near post. Goddard managed to get a hand on the ball, but it wasn't enough.

The Battery nearly gifted the Whitecaps a goal in the 65th minute after another mixup in the back left David Testo an open header inside the six-yard box. However, Testo could not connect, putting the ball over the crossbar.

Armstrong nearly put the Battery in the lead in the 69th minute from almost the exact spot where he netted his first goal. Again, Bennett drew the foul 19 yards out. This time, Armstrong bent the ball around the outside of the wall towards the far post. A diving Goddard swatted the ball back in to play, but the Battery could not capitalize on the loose ball in front of the goal.

Vancouver had the last chance of the game in the 86th minute off a hard-driven shot from Joel Bailey from 30 yards. Hudock dived spectacularly to his right, parrying the ball away for a corner kick, saving the draw, and earning the Battery a point in the league table.

The draw puts the Battery at 5-5-4, 19 points.

The Battery travels to Atlanta Wednesday for an Independence Day match, and returns home Saturday, July 7 to face the Puerto Rich Islanders.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics

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USL First Division Stories from June 30, 2007


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