BY PHILIP M. BOWMAN
Of The Post and Courier Staff
It was soccer with surrealism, if not a victor.
The angry clouds, booms of thunder and bolts of lightning were the first signs that it was going to be an unusual and challenging night at Blackbaud Stadium, the venue for Friday's A-League showdown between the Charleston Battery and Atlanta Silverbacks. The final indication of the fierce challenge was the scoreboard. It read 0-0 after 110 minutes of competition.
The match, witnessed by 3,304 fans, featured everything but a goal, although the Battery and Silverbacks combined for 27 shots. Two banks of lights on the stadium's south end went dark in the 28th minute of the match, creating an eerie and threatening environment.
It was no wonder one of the songs played at halftime was Green Day's "Warning."
The warning turned out to be an omen for both squads in a battle without a golden goal. The lights were restored in time for the second half, but neither squad could generate offense in a matchup of the top two teams in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
"I think it was a fair result," said Battery keeper Dusty Hudock. "Obviously, it's not as horrible as a loss and not as great as a win.
It's somewhere in between."
Charleston (14-2-3) is in first place heading into today's 6 p.m. rematch in Atlanta. The Silverbacks are 12-8-1. The tie gives the Battery 64 points and Atlanta 56.
Will it be difficult to be ready for today's game after the 110-minute struggle Friday night?
"Obviously, it's going to be difficult to recuperate and be ready," said Hudock, who recorded seven saves. "It's a grind playing in this heat, but the good thing about it is they have to do it too and get ready just like us."
The match wasn't as eventful as the weather or electrical outage. The Battery was efficient, but couldn't get their shots past Silverback keepers Bryheem Hancock or Cole Burgman. The Battery had 17 shots in the match and a chance to end it in regulation when keeper Hancock muffed a stop in the 89th minute and the ball trickled out to John Wilson, who tried to slam a shot past the goalie, but Hancock stopped it with his shin.
"The keeper made a massive blunder, but was able to save it with his shin," Battery forward Paul Conway said. "It could have gone either way.
"They probably came in and got what they wanted with the tie," Conway added. "We know we're the measuring stick for the other teams in the league, but the final chapter hasn't been written."
The Silverbacks, meanwhile, controlled, but didn't dominate, the second half. The standoff forced overtime and the Battery had their chances, but couldn't convert.
Conway had a chance to score the golden goal in the 108th minute, but Burgman was there to stop it. Four minutes earlier, the Battery's Mac Cozier had a shot right in front of the net, but Burgman managed the save.
Conway played all 110 minutes, recording four shots while helping out on the defensive end. He said all he needed to get ready for tonight's rematch was a good night's sleep.
"We take pride in our organization," Conway said. "The management and (coach) Chris (Ramsey) put together a good squad, and it pays off in situations like we face Saturday. We'll be ready."
Earlier in the week, Ramsey said the Battery would have momentum heading to Atlanta if they could pick up a win Friday night. The Silverbacks managed a draw even though the Battery had seven more shots on goal and held a 14-3 advantage in corner kicks.
"In general, you try for a draw or to steal a win here or there when you're on the road, and win every game at home," Hudock said.
Shots: Battery 17, Silverbacks 10.
Saves: Hudock 7, Hancock 4, Burgman 1.
Fouls: Battery 26, Silverbacks 11. Corner
Kicks: Battery 14, Silverbacks 3.
A: 3,304.
