Defense Leads City Stars In 0-0 Draw With Charleston

July 17, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release


CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars played the third place Charleston Battery to a 0-0 draw Friday night at Middlefield Cheese Stadium. The City Stars (2-10-6) earned a point for the second straight match behind solid defense and standout play from goal keeper Hunter Gilstrap. Defenders Troy Roberts and Stephen Cruickshank each made game-changing plays in the back line for the City Stars.

Charleston (8-3-7) made its first trip to Cleveland and came away with the point despite losing three players to injury during the match.

Cleveland controlled the ball for much of the first half in one of the City Stars better performances of the season.

In the 14th minute received the ball inside the box and got off a low left footed shot towards the far post but Charleston goal keeper Dusty Hudock was there for the save.

In the 21st minute, Hotckin was active again, this time squeezing a pass through a gap in the Charleston defense to the awaiting Pato Aguilera but Aguilera's shot was miss-hit and gathered by Hudock with no harm.

Charleston seemed to have a great chance in the 31st when Darren Spicer snuck through the off-sides trap of the City Stars and received the ball with nobody in front of him and the net but before Spicer could settle into a shot, Cleveland's Roberts chased him down from behind and deftly knocked the ball out of bounds for a throw in.

Cleveland had its best look of the first half in the 35th minute. Leo Gibson made a run up the right side of the pitch but was tackled in the box and lost control of the ball. After regaining his feet, Gibson immediately won back possession of the ball and crossed the ball to Joshua Boateng who gathered and fired a shot but the ball flew over the top of the net.

In the 37th minute, Spicer created another good look for the Battery as he controlled inside the box. After drawing Cleveland keeper Gilstrap off his line, Spicer sent a left footed shot towards the far post and past the diving Gilstrap but the shot missed wide right.

A minute later Charleston had another chance off a misplay from the Cleveland defense. Midfielder Alioune Gueye controlled for the City Stars and sent it to the back line. With Kenji Treschuk closing in for Charleston, Anthony Stovall jumped in front for the City Stars and sent a header towards Gilstrap but the ball bounced into the path of Treschuk but the Charleston midfielder couldn't get enough of a flick on the ball to gain the goal advantage.

The Battery had the first opportunity in the second half in the 55th minute. Scott Buete sent a great ball to Dan Antoniuk inside the box. Just as Antoniuk stepped into his powerful shot, Roberts was there to stuff the ball and send the ball out of the box. The redirect landed at the feet of Buete who settled into another shot for Charleston but Cruickshank was able to step in front and knock the ball out of harms way for Cleveland.

After packing in the back end for much of the half, the City Stars created a chance in the 86th minute. Boateng made a run up the right sideline and streaked past the Charleston defense as he turned the corner into the box. As Boateng attempted a shot, Hudock slid into the legs of Boateng and won possession of the ball for Charleston.

In extra time the Battery put a scare into the City Stars as Tom Heinemann received a ball outside of the 18-yard box and controlled with a header before gaining possession and firing a one-on-one shot against Gilstrap but the Cleveland keeper was up to the task and punched the ball out of bounds to preserve the draw.

It was the second consecutive clean sheet for Gilstrap as last week's performance earned the keeper a place on the USL-1 Team of the Week.

The City Stars take the road next week for matches at Montreal and Rochester. Cleveland returns home Saturday August 1st against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tickets are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003.



USL First Division Stories from July 17, 2009


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