Battery battles to draw against league co-leader

It wasn't exactly the result that the Battery was looking for, but with the biggest match in club history looming less than a week away, Charleston will take it.

In a back-and-forth match that saw both soccer teams create plenty of quality scoring chances, the Battery and Puerto Rico were forced to settle for a scoreless draw Friday night before a crowd of 5,067 at Blackbaud Stadium and a national television audience.

The Battery, which has not lost a home match since mid-July, is 10-9-7 (37 points) and moved into sole possession of third place in the USL First Division. With the point, the Islanders (13-6-6, 45 points) moved into a tie for first place with Vancouver.

Hoping to build some momentum heading into Wednesday night's historic U.S. Open Cup final against D.C. United of Major League Soccer, Charleston captain Nelson Akwari was looking for a strong defensive effort against the league's top offensive unit.

"We did a lot of things right tonight," Akwari said. "We certainly played well defensively, and hopefully this is something we can build on heading into Wednesday's match. I think it was important for us to come out of here with a clean sheet.

"We probably could have been sharper with getting some of our balls forward, but overall getting a shutout against Puerto Rico at home is a solid effort. We're going to need the same defensive effort to have a chance at D.C. United."

The Battery, which is 9-2-3 at home this season, allowed just seven shots on goal from the Islanders. The Islanders were 2-0-0 against the Battery this season headed into Friday night's match.

"I'm very pleased with the way we played defensively," Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser said. "They like to launch the ball forward, and I thought we did a much better job of controlling that tonight. They had one goal chance to score, but we had a couple of good scoring chances.

"Going into Wednesday, you have to be pleased with this effort. We didn't give up a goal, and we're going to have to be just as solid defensively Wednesday night."

Still, Anhaeuser would have liked to have gone into Wednesday's match with three points in the standings.

"Obviously, we're disappointed that we didn't get three points because we did a lot of things well," Anhaeuser said.

The Battery had an excellent scoring chance in the 20th minute off the right foot of Lazo Alavanja. After a scramble in front of the six-yard box, the ball bounced out to Alavanja at the top of the 18-yard box. The former Indiana University All-American hit a wicked bending shot to the far right post that forced Islanders goalkeeper Mike Behonick to make a diving save to stop.

"What a shot by Lazo," Anhaeuser said. "You've got to give credit to Behonick. He came up with a huge save there in the beginning."

Charleston had another strong chance in the 39th minute, when midfielder Chris Williams fed Darren Spicer on the left side just outside the 18-yard box with a through ball. Spicer split the Islander defenders, but Behonick, a former Battery keeper, came off his line and smothered the shot to end the threat.

The Islanders responded five minutes later when midfielder James Marcelin slotted a ball through the Battery defense and found a sprinting Kendall Jadeosingh about 25 yards out. Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock stormed off his line and cut off the angle just enough to force Jadeosingh's shot to sail wide of the net.

Puerto Rico nearly scored again in the 56th minute, when Edson Elcock's cross found Sandy Gabandy unmarked on the far post. But Gabandy's volley hit off the left post to end the threat.

"We caught a break there, and when two teams are as equally matched as we were tonight a break here and there can mean the difference between three points and no points," Anhaeuser said.

The Battery nearly scored just before stoppage time off a free kick. After a foul on Noah Delgado, the Battery had a free kick on the right side from about 30 yards out. Stephen Armstrong's bending free kick found the head of defender Marco Reda, but Behonick was there for the save.

Headers

--Battery striker Randi Patterson, the team's leading scorer, and midfielder Stephen Armstrong started the game as substitutes.

Patterson and Armstrong both entered the game in the second half.

--Striker Aaron King, who has four goals this season, did not dress for the game.

--Puerto Rico forward Taiwo Atieno collided with Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock in the 65th minute and suffered a broken nose.

--Charleston defender Marco Reda was issued a red card in stoppage time.