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Anthony Catalano battles for the ball in first half action at Blackbaud
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7/7/2007 9:57:50 PM
Battery and Islanders tie
CHARLESTON, SC—The Charleston Battery played the Puerto Rico Islanders to rain-soaked 0-0 draw Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium. The tie puts the Battery at 5-6-5 (20 points) on the season.
The game started in the middle of a torrential downpour that lasted the first 20 minutes of the game. The waterlogged field slowed play considerably for both teams, causing the ball to skid in places and
come to a sudden floating stop in others.
After sloppy play on both sides of the ball, the game’s first chance came from Puerto Rico’s Alberto Delgado in the 14th minute after the Battery could not clear a long thrown in. Delgado’s shot from outside
the penalty area sailed harmlessly over the bar.
The Battery’s Aaron King responded two minutes later, getting on the end of a long Lee Sandwina throw in deep in the Islander’s half. King’s glancing header fell just wide.
After the rain stopped and the puddles on the field began to drain, Puerto Rico began to control the run of play, controlling the midfield and maintaining possession for long stretches of the time, pressing
Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock into action. Hudock saved spectacularly several times to keep the score level in the first half.
Hudock came up big for the first time in the 24th minute, diving to his left off a Peter Villagas drive from 45 yards out. The shot would normally have given Hudock any problems, but the wet pitch and ball gave considerable difficulties as he stumbled to make the one-handed diving save.
In the 26th minute Hudock was saved by the crossbar after being beaten by a curling left-footed blast, again from distance by Delgado.
By ten minutes into the second half both teams swapped shots on goal: Hudock saving easily on an Edwin Miranda shot from outside the penalty area, and the Battery’s Lazo Alavanja missing high from twenty yards
out.
At the hour mark, the Islanders seized control of the game, keeping the Battery pinned into its own defensive half for stretches of time. Again in was Hudock who came up big, saving in the 63rd minute, first with his foot before finally snagging the put-back from his rebound.
With 10 minutes remaining the Battery began pushing forward with numbers, gaining control of the game in the process. Second half substitute Jeremy Gold tested Islanders goalkeeper Joshua Saunders in the 84th minute with a drive from 25 yards out. Saunders knocked down the right-footed blast and smothered the rebound, negating the Battery’s last chance of the night.
The final five minutes of the match became frantic, as both teams pushed for a goal. However, under the pressure, neither team could mount a threatening attack before the whistle was blown for full time.
The Battery is in action again Tuesday, July 10, at Blackbaud Stadium when they face 2006 MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff is set for 7:30.
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Don't let an injury hurt your game
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Official Yoga Teacher of the Battery ~
Sign up for Yoga
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Official Dentist of the Charleston Battery
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