Mac Cozier warms up
before the match |
Friday nights match up between the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Charleston Battery was one of those matches soccer critics love to cite as boring, ending in a 0-0 draw after a 110 minutes of play. But any fan of the game would have witnessed a great contest of two teams that tested each other time and time again and finally just wore each other out.
The match was the first time in a long while that Coach Ramsey had the benefit of nearly every one back from injures but had to do with out the services of Kevin Anderson, who was serving a red card suspension, and without Justin Evans who was also serving a suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Back was Terry Phelan taking up the position local favorite Johnny Wilson had been filling so well. Ramsey moved Johnny up into a midfield position for the match into a position from were he scored a goal for the New England Revolution after a mid week call up with the MLS club.
Matt Farris explodes
through the midfield |
Just over 3,300, including a few from Atlanta that I had the pleasure to meet, were at the 'Baud, carefully watching the storm clouds and lightning in the distance move closer. The match started out with the Battery not so much dominating but meticulously controlling the match. The Battery's strong defensive unit of Watson, Dixon, Phelan, Lewis and Hudock must be the bane of all soccer coaches in America. The defense is one of the major things the Battery organization wanted to change this year and change they did. With only nine goals allowed in league play, the Battery has the lowest number goal against in the entire league and arguably the strongest defense in the country, MLS included. They continually shut down any Atlanta offense throughout the first half and started many of the Battery's offensive plays up the field.
Not surprisingly, the Battery had a flurry of corner kicks and the only real shots on goal. Shots from Swords, Klein and Wilson all failed to find the back of the net and Ryan Trout had the best shot in the first 45 minutes blocked by 'Back keeper Bryheem Haincock just before the half.
Silver Back Ryan Leib
fighting off two Battery players |
After half time, the Battery came out much like the first half but Atlanta quickly dug down and found themselves with an equal amount of position in the second half. But it is mostly due to Haincock's brilliant play in goal and some unlucky finishing by the Battery that the local boys didn't put the match away shortly after the break. A shot from Conway went wide in the 50th minute and a long-range shot from Ryan Trout was parried by Haincock. Right before the end of regulation time, Johnny Wilson found himself the recipient of a miss kick from Haincock with only the keeper to beat. Again Haincock rose to the occasion and just tipped the ball wide of the goalmouth.
Late in injury time the Battery continued to threaten to score when Mac Cozier got thorough the Silverback's defense and was pulled down by Apes defender Jason Annicchero from behind. The referee showed a yellow card to Annicchero but a red could have been justified as Annicchero was the last defender and Cozier had a clear scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, the Battery couldn't convert the resulting free kick from about 20 yards out.
Atlanta forward
John Barry Nusum |
Dusty Hudock found himself making some vital saves as well on the opposite end, stuffing a shot from former Battery player Brian Piesner in the 86th minute and recording another six saves throughout the match.
Full time saw a change in keepers for Atlanta. Haincock was noticeably limping the last few minutes of the match and Cole Burgmann was brought in as a replacement. What ever mojo Haincock was working on the night was transferred to Burgmann as he made a couple of incredible save to keep the Battery from scoring the golden goal, one a diving header from former A-league MVP Paul Conway. Alan Woods probably had the best single play of the match when he cleared a header off the line after Matt Farris had beaten Burgmann.
The match ended as it began, 0-0. But a battle of two fine teams and some great goal keeping made the match one to remember. A hard fought match between two regional rivals that will only full Atlanta resolve to beat Charleston in the future.
Half time at the Blackbaud stadium
with the sun setting behind the storm clouds |
Charleston needs to find some chemistry up top though, with the offense failing to convert the many chance it's had over the last few games. Hopefully it just a phase and one they will have passed before the play offs. One pair that I don't think we've seen up top yet is Mac Cozier and Ryan Trout. While both play very similar roles when matched with Conway, I think they would complement each other nicely. Trout's not afraid to take on defenders and have a go at goal and Cozier finds himself at the right place at the right time. Of course, that probably why I'm writing this column and not coaching the team but it would be interesting.
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)
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
