Screamer stuns Battery in loss to Montreal

The Battery were made to pay for a slow start on Wednesday afternoon, as they fell 2-1 away from home against FC Montreal. The hosts went ahead after 14 minutes through Anthony Jackson-Hamel, before Jeremy Ebobisse‘s goal on his full debut five minutes from half time gave the Battery a lifeline. But a late long range effort from Jimmy Shamaar Sanon gave Montreal all three points.

FC Montreal’s first chance came just four minutes in, as Chuarniere got around his man and forced a save from Odisnel Cooper, who tipped the ball out for a corner, which was cleared.

On six minutes, Zach Prince had a shot blocked at the other end, but it was cleared before anyone could follow in.

And then the Battery were behind on 14 minutes. A cross from the right came in for Anthony Jackson-Hamel, and Taylor Meuller overplayed the flight of the ball, giving him space to control and turn, firing past Cooper in goal to make it 1-0. It was a good goal, and probably deserved for Montreal, given the run of play early on, but the Battery would know that the start they made wasn’t good enough.

The Battery would play the ball up to Romario Williams on 20′, and he controlled well, though his shot would go into the side netting.

Montreal were asking questions again on 26′, with a corner taken short that the Battery failed to fully deal with and had to struggle it out for a corner, but that was dealt with and away.

The Battery would have their lifeline late in the first half, when Jeremy Ebobisse latched on to a ball from midfield, took a touch to square up to his defender, then another to create space before curling an effort into the top corner.

The Battery were on level terms headed into the break, knowing that the second half would have to be better at least from a starting point, as they did come into a little later on in the half, but there were definitely improvements needed.

But like the first half, the hosts had the first chance of the second period, countering after winning the ball in midfield. The cross was inch perfect and forced a save out of Odisnel Cooper from a header as the ball seemed destined for goal. The corner, however, was well dealt with.

Maikel Chang’s 49th minute free kick was played into Zach Prince, but he couldn’t control at the back post as the ball went out for a goal kick.

Goalscorer Jeremy Ebobisse had another chance from a Maikel Chang header down after Quinton Griffith‘s cross in, but the shot lacked power and went into the ‘keeper’s arms.

Montreal had a man sent off just before the hour after a challenge on Attullah Guerra in midfield. The challenge was two footed, and Guerra had to jump to avoid it, and the referee blew for a free kick, eventually sending the player off.

Ricky Garbanzo would replace Ebobisse on 60 minutes, coming on for his pace and pressing ability. Ebobisse could be happy with his full debut, scoring to get his team back in the match. He just looked a little tired as he came off, and so perhaps it was a smart move to get some fresh legs on.

Garbanzo would nearly make an instant impact, after Guerra won the ball back and played a 1-2 with the sub, as Garbanzo sped away down the wing, then played a low cross for Williams, who turned and shot, but the effort was high.

With 20 minutes left, a Romario Williams shot which was deflected earned the visitors a corner, which was played in by Maikel Chang. Zach Prince would make a late run onto the inch perfect ball, but he couldn’t direct it on target.

Andrew Carleton would come on shortly afterward, making his first appearance since July, having spent time with the US Youth set up.

Two minutes later, Prince could’ve made amends after Quinton Griffith’s cross fell to Prince, but his shot bounced off the turf and over the bar.

And on 81′ the Battery would pay for not converting their chances, when Jimmy Schamaar Sanon got space on the left and cut in, and wasn’t closed down before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt from all of twenty yards past Odisnel Cooper.

The Battery were up against it then, but on 86′, Ricky Garbanzo got the ball from Andrew Carleton, and had a shot of his own from distance, but the ball went over the bar.

In stoppage time, the Battery could’ve had a penalty as they threw the kitchen sink at Montreal, as a ball popped out toward Heviel Cordoves, and he went down under a challenge, but the referee gave a corner, which was cleared.

And so the Battery fell away from home. It turns out that Montreal have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Battery, their record all time being 3-0-1. The Battery next face the Bethlehem Steel, in a match where they will honor Leukemia and Lymphoma awareness month by wearing special orange and white kits on Saturday, September 10th. Kick off is at 7:30.

TWO PLAYERS BATTLE FOR POSSESSION IN THE LAST MEETING BETWEEN THESE TWO SIDES. ROSS ALMERS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO