Battery, SPR Share Points in midweek Clash

The Charleston Battery and Swope Park Rangers were forced to settle for a point each on Wednesday, despite both sides having many chances throughout the game.

The game featured everything but a goal. Chances at both ends, a few fantastic saves for both goalkeepers, and was a typical late season USL clash, but in the end, neither team was able to pick up the full three points.

Swope would have the first opportunity of the match after just three minutes, with Wilson Harris latching onto a pinpoint cross from the left, but firing his header wide from just outside the goal.

Striker Tyler Freeman would force Joe Kuzminsky into his first save of the evening five minutes later, though it was a shot from distance straight at him.

Kotaro Higashi would create the visitors’ first chance after 17′, weaving his way into the box, but forcing Eric Dick into his first save of the night at the near post.

Taylor Mueller would clear a dangerous passage of play out for a Swope corner on 23′, but it was the Battery who would counter on it after a clearance away. The Black and Yellow were led forward by Romario Piggott, but the counter would come to nothing.

With half an hour gone, Felipe Hernandez would latch on to a header back across goal following a cross from the left, and seemed destined to score, but his powerful drive would only crack the near post.

At the half time break, it was all to play for. The result as things stood really helped no one, which hopefully meant that the game would open up more and yield a goal either way in the second 45.

And that nearly came through Ian Svantesson, who had the first chance of the second half, when he would maraud down the left side, eventually going through on goal, with a shot that would go through the ‘keeper’s legs, but he was able to recover to keep the scores level.

Vincenzo Candela would win a well timed tackle in midfield on 55′ before the ball would fall into the path of Piggott, who took space and was able to fire at goal, but Dick would make the save.

An errant kick from the goalkeeper would hit Leland Archer in the back, allowing the defender, who had come up for a corner, to pass to Svantesson, whose shot would lead to another corner, but the chance would again go begging.

On 66′ it was Angelo Kelly who was able to overlap on the right and make his way into the box, toe poking a shot toward goal, but the ‘keeper would turn it around the post for a corner. The corner was headed down in the box, and Romario Piggott was able to turn and shoot, but the effort went wide.

Substitute Arthur Bosua would look to be free after winning the ball high in midfield with just under 20 minutes left, but the space would be closed down quickly, forcing him to take a shot from distance that was saved easily by the ‘keeper.

Felipe Hernandez would find space on the left with six minutes to go sucking in defenders toward the near post before firing across the face of goal and causing a mad scramble. The ball would find its way back into the middle, and a shot from the top of the box was expertly blocked and then cleared by Leland Archer to save a certain goal.

Shortly after, on 87′ Vincenzo Candela would win the ball high up the pitch, take a shot that looked to have beaten Dick in goal, but cracked the post.

And that was how it finished. The deadlock was not to be broken, and the teams would earn a point each. The Battery went level on points with St. Louis, but really needed to find a way to win rather than succumb to their 11th draw of the season.

The Black and Yellow next travel to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, September 14th. Kick off is at 7PM.

FEATURED IMAGE COURTESY OF ROSS ALMERS PHOTOGRAPHY