Battery remains unbeaten

Unbeaten Battery digs in to earn tie in Montreal

Montreal, CANADA.  The Charleston Battery ground out a 0-0 tie with the Montreal Impact Friday night at Stade Saputo in front of.12,180.  Dusty Hudock made two saves to preserve the shut-out and maintain the Battery’s unbeaten start to the USL First Division season.

With the tie Charleston (2-0-4, 10 points) moves up a place into third position; Montreal (0-3-2, 2 points) remains in 10th position.

The Battery started brightly and put Montreal back on their heels with a couple of early chances.  In the 2nd minute Tyler Hemming drove a diagonal free-kick to the middle but defender Matt Bobo’s headed attempt looped over the cross-bar.

In the 14th minute Hemming threatened again this time after finding space midway inside the Impact half.  He stepped forward then fired in a right-footed shot that Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan dove to his left to save.

Montreal pushed back and came close in the 17th minute after winger Rocco Placentino forced the ball past Battery defender Frankie Sanfilippo on the left side of the box.  Placentino hit a shot at the goal but Dusty Hudock watched as the ball cannoned into the side netting.

The best chance of the half came in the 29th minute from a Montreal corner-kick.  Veteran striker Eddie Sebrango met the cross but his header bounced back off the near-post.  The Battery defense reacted first and just managed to scramble the ball away to safety.

After the break Charleston began to enjoy more possession and after a weak Impact clearance midfielder Scott Buete almost broke the deadlock.  Beute ran on to the loose ball ten yards out but his hard shot deflected off a Montreal defender just over the goal for a corner.

Midfielder Kenji Treschuk also came close a few minutes later as he forced his way past the left shoulder of Montreal winger Simon Gatti.  Treschuk lashed a dipping right-footed shot at goal that just curled wide.

In stoppage-time at the end of the match Montreal almost stole all three points after substitute midfielder Stephen DeRoux received the ball on the left side.  DeRoux curled the ball into the middle but Hudock was alert to the danger and managed to parry the ball away to safety.

The Battery returns home next Wednesday night to take on the Miami FC Blues at Blackbaud Stadium; kick off is set for 7:30 PM.