Sunday, July 5, 2009 - Montreal, CD Battery defeats Impact to claim first-place in USL First Division
Montreal, Canada. Former Montreal forward Dan Antoniuk scored against his old Club Sunday afternoon at Saputo Stadium in front of 11,581 to lift the Charleston Battery to victory over the Montreal Impact. Antoniuk blasted home the winner in the 68th minute as Charleston (8-2-6, 30 points) claims all three points and moves into first position in the USL First Division.
“It was a great overall team performance and in the second half we started to control the game,” said head coach, Mike Anhaeuser. “Dan hit a great strike to give us the lead and then the team did a good job to close off the game defensively.”
Veteran goalkeeper Dusty Hudock recorded seven saves to preserve his league-leading 10th shut out of the season.
The Battery looked the brighter of the sides on a warm afternoon and almost scored within the first 30 seconds after Antoniuk flicked a header brilliantly into the path of striker Randi Patterson. Patterson accelerated past his marker put pushed his right-footed shot wide of the far post.
Charleston continued to press and created a second chance in the 14th minute after some clever inter-play in the midfield. The final ball was played to Tsuyoshi Yoshitake but his hard shot was blocked away by the Montreal defense.
The Impact finally came to life in the 30th minute and almost scored as the ball was worked out to forward Rocco Placentino at the back post. Placentino hit a stinging first-time volley but Hudock was well positioned and managed to smother the shot around the post for a corner.
The break-through came after substitute midfielder Scott Buete picked out Antoniuk with a driven cross from the left-wing. Antoniuk’s first-touch was excellent as he controlled the ball then finished neatly past Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan.
Charleston looked to have the game comfortably wrapped up but in stoppage-time Tyler Hemming was caught in possession just outside the box. David Testo curled a quick shot at the goal but the ball spun just wide of Hudock’s right goal-post.
The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium Tuesday night for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match versus Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo; gates open at 6:30 PM, kick off is set for 7:30 PM.
Scoring Summary
Goal (Assist)
Minute
Charleston Battery
Antoniuk (Buete)
68
Team Summary
Montreal Impact
Players
Matt Jordan, Adam Braz, Nevio Pizzolitto, Stephen DeRoux, Stefan Pesoli, Simon Gatti (Sandro Grande 72), Mauro Biello (Pa Amadou 80), Rocco Placentinoid (Roberto Brown 64), David Testo, Joey Gjertsen (Felix Brillant 80), Eddie Sebrangol
Players Not Used - Srdjan Djekanovic, Elkana Mayard, Zanzan Oudeyi
