USL-1 Charleston Battery

Battery Held by Ten-Man Aztex

June 7, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Austin TX. The Charleston Battery were held to a 1-1 tie by the ten-man Austin Aztex Sunday evening at Nelson Field. The Battery ground out a lead after Austin had a player ejected in only the second minute but a resilient Aztex fight-back earned the home side a point as substitute forward Jeff Harwell equalized late in the match.

The draw ensured that Charleston's season-long unbeaten streak remains intact as the Battery improves to 6-0-5, 23 points and stays in first place in the USL First Division standings.

The game started at a frantic pace and Austin were reduced to ten men almost immediately as midfielder Mike Callahan challenged Battery winger Scott Buete at the half-way line. The referee issued a straight red card to Callahan despite the protests of the Aztex players.

Charleston pushed on with the extra player and came close in the 8th minute after a neat flicked pass from forward Dan Antoniuk. Kenji Treschuk ran onto the ball but saw his right-footed attempt turned around the far post by Austin goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

Austin fought back and had a great chance to take the lead in the 26th minute after forward Edward Johnson managed to squeeze the ball through the Battery defense to midfielder Yordany Alvarez. Alvarez hit a fierce shot but goalkeeper Keith Wiggans batted away with a fine reaction save.

Just before half-time Charleston threatened again as Scott Buete found space on the left side of the eighteen-yard box. Buete hammer a shot at goal from point-blank range but Gallardo made a save to deny him.

Charleston scored ten minutes into the second half after forward Dan Antoniuk saw a close-in shot saved. Te ball popped out to midfielder Kenji Treschuk who volleyed home into the empty net.

As the game wore on the Battery continued to press and were unfortunate not to score a second in the 76th minute. Charleston defender Frankie Sanfilippo made a strong run to the goal-line down the right side then crossed the ball to the middle. Dan Antoniuk hit a first-time shot with power but Gallardo got across and denied him with a blocking save.

Less than a minute later the Aztex leveled after Jeff Harwell stole in at the back post and lashed a shot past goalkeeper Keith Wiggans.

The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium this Tuesday night as it takes on Atlanta FC in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; kick off is set for 7:30 PM ($5 - $10, (843) 971-GOAL (4625) / www.charlestonbattery.com).




USL First Division Stories from June 7, 2009


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