The Atlanta Silverbacks haven't had their fair share of luck against the Charleston Battery in the past few seasons. Since 1999, the 'Backs have only beaten their southeastern rivals once. And they have never beaten them on the road at beautiful Blackbaud Stadium.
The 'Backs have experienced plenty of heartbreak at the 'Baud. In 2000, the Battery scored the tying goal on the final play of regulation, and then notched the win with a golden goal 52 seconds into overtime. In 2001, the 'Backs failed to hold leads of 1-0, and 2-1, and they fell 3-2. And then earlier this season, a second half goal from Velko Iotov wasn't enough as the Battery responded from the 1-0 deficit, and defeated the 'Backs 2-1 in overtime.
On Saturday, the 'Backs made some sort of breakthrough. Granted, they didn't win the match, but this time, luck was indeed on their side as the Battery and Silverbacks battled to a 0-0 draw in which Charleston had a multitude of chances to put the ball in the back of the net.
Both teams had their share of bumps and bruises coming into the match. Charleston was missing 4 players due to injury or suspension including starters Kevin Anderson and Justin Evans. The 'Backs were without the services of star striker Velko Iotov due injury. This allowed midfielder Phillipe Godoy to dress out for the first time in over a month. The ‘Backs were also without defender James Wall due to a red card suspension.
The two sides’ tactics became evident early in the match, as the Battery pushed forward and the ‘Backs sat back on defense. In the 3rd, Charleston won consecutive corners, but failed to threaten Bryheem Hancock’s goal. In the 7th, it was Charleston on the attack again as Kyle Swords found himself inside the box with one defender to beat, Swords took a touch to his right and blasted a low shot that missed the near post.
In the 19th, Battery midfielder Steve Klein made a magnificent run through the ‘Backs defense and dribbled towards the goal. Former Battery defender Gilbert Jean-Baptiste chased him down and slide tackled the ball away. But Klein was able to regain possession, and he turned on Baptiste and sent a shot well over the bar.
Hancock made his first save of the match off a long range attempt from John Wilson that he barely had to move for. Wilson had another opportunity in minute 37 after a Swords cross found his head at the top of the 6 yard box. But Wilson sent a powerful header over the bar.
Hancock made a great play two minutes later when a seemingly harmless shot bounced off the foot of Alan Woods and towards the net. Off balance, Hancock made a spectacular kick save, and Byron Mitchell cleared the rebound.
Ryan Leib had the first shot of any real promise for Atlanta in the 44th, but his 25 yard blast missed the left post. Just before the break, the Battery missed a golden opportunity after a Paul Conway flick fell to Ryan Trout’s feet behind the Atlanta defense. With Alan Woods draped over his back, Trout managed to keep his footing as he entered the box but his shot was saved by a charging Hancock. The first half ended with a 0-0 score, but Charleston had dominated.
Neither team made a change in preparation for the second half. The run of play did not change much either as the Battery continued to attack. In the 49th, Paul Conway should have buried his full volley from inside the box with no defenders remotely close to him. But his shot bounced just barely wide of the left post.
In the 55th, the ‘Backs brought on a midfielder for a striker as Godoy made a rare appearance and Nusum exited. In the 63rd, John Akin entered for Nate Hetherington on the right flank. The ‘Backs threatened the Charleston goal in the 72nd when Brian Piesner seemed to have an open shot at Dusty Hudock, but a Battery defender stormed in to block the shot away.
In the 75th, the Battery inserted the dangerous Mac Cozier for Ryan Trout. Atlanta began to play 10 men behind the ball after the substitution, with Tony Kuhn assuming the role of the loan striker. Godoy did well on multiple occasions to initiate any sort of attack for Atlanta, but very few of them seemed to have any promise.
But in the 80th, a brilliant run from John Akin beat two defenders and Mark Watson was forced to take him down just outside of the box. Jordy Broder stepped up to take the free kick, but the Hudock held the bouncing shot. The Battery continued to attack as Hancock went to work again for Atlanta, this time punching away a promising Charleston corner kick.
In the 86th, Kuhn made a nice run into the box for Atlanta before a defender poked the ball away. But the ball rolled directly to Piesner in the right half of the box. Piesner attempted a one touch shot from his weaker right foot, and it curved directly into the hands of Hudock.
In the 90th, Godoy played a dangerous back pass to Hancock. Hancock whiffed on his attempt to clear the ball with the outside of his right foot. And John Wilson was able to get the ball for a shot, he blasted it towards the far post, but Hancock made a spectacular kick save on the short range blast. Then, late in injury time, Cozier got by Jason Annicchero, and the defender dragged him down by his jersey. Annicchero received a yellow, but some believed that it should have been a different color.
In the first overtime, the fans were a bit surprised to see Atlanta switch goalkeepers, with Cole Burgman entering for Hancock. The reason for this was that Hancock had hurt his hamstring after he missed the clearance of Godoy’s back pass. One can only imagine how painful it must have been for the rookie goalkeeper to extend his injured leg to make the kick save after the miscue.
Only one minute into the first overtime, Colin Phillips had a shot for Charleston from the right half of the 18, but he shanked his full volley shot well wide of the right post. In the 92nd, the Battery brought even more offense to the table as striker Jake Edwards entered in place of midfielder Klein.
In the 93rd, a 25 yard free kick from Akin was placed directly at Hudock. The Silverbacks had their best opportunity to get the winner two minutes later. A nice through ball sprung Piesner into the box alone with Hudock. Piesner probably should have chipped the charging goalkeeper, but instead he tried to dribble around him and Hudock made an incredible play to punch the ball out of danger before Piesner could get around him.
In the 102nd, Broder beat Hudock to the ball close to the endline, Hudock jockeyed Broder for a moment before sprinting back towards his goal. Broder then turned and sent a dissapointing curving shot right into the hands of Hudock at the near post. In the 104th, a Matt Farris header beat the diving Burgman far post, but Woods made perhaps the best play of the season for the ‘Backs, as the former New England Revolution defender slid to clear the ball off the line.
With two minutes remaining in the second overtime, Conway had the last chance of the match for the Battery. But his header from the penalty spot was saved by a diving Burgman. And the exciting match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Atlanta gained confidence from the draw. Although they were not able to beat their arch rivals, it was finally the Battery who were unlucky, as they missed many chances due to poor finishing, and great saves from Hancock and Burgman. The defense also gained it’s first clean sheet since June 29th.
The ‘Backs left the stadium on bus soon after the match, as they headed back home to Atlanta where they would be facing the same Battery team the next day in a match that looms large in their quest for the Southern Derby, and a division title.
Man of the Match: Bryheem Hancock
Hancock thwarted numerous Battery chances. Without his spectacular play, the Battery may have won the match by at least 2 goals. Unfortunately, Atlanta will be without his services for quite sometime as he hurt his hamstring badly late in the match.
Lineups
Atlanta Silverbacks – Hancock (Burgman, 90th), Woods, Baptiste, Annicchero, Mitchell (Fletcher, 76th), Parra, Leib (Broder, 73rd), Hetherington (Akin, 63rd), Piesner, Kuhn, Nusum (Godoy, 55th)
Charleston Battery - Hudock, Lewis, Watson, Dixon, Phelan, Wilson (Jones, 90th) Farris, Klein (Edwards, 93rd), Swords (Philips, 90th), Conway, Trout (Cozier, 76th)
Stats
Atlanta Charleston
Shots 10 17
Saves 5 5
Corner Kicks 3 14
Fouls 11 26
Offside 5 3
Cards
80th- Watson
83rd- Baptiste
90th- Annicchero
103rd- Woods
