Fuller, King fuel Battery's comeback over Impact

Battery 3, Impact 1

A hot, humid Lowcountry night was just the weather the Charleston Battery needed against Montreal on Saturday night.

Ian Fuller and Aaron King each had a goal and an assist as Charleston rallied for two second half goals in a 3-1 victory over Montreal before a crowd of 3,507 at Blackbaud Stadium.

It was the fifth victory in seven home matches for the Battery, which improved to 6-2-2 (20 points) and regained first place in the USL First Division. The Impact dropped to 2-6-2 (8 points) on the season.

Most USL First Division teams based in Canada or the Northwest United States prefer to play the Battery early in the season to avoid the muggy Lowcountry nights. With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees at kickoff and a heat index near 100 degrees most of the day, the impact of the weather on the Montreal heat could not be understated.

"No question the weather was a factor in tonight's game," said Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser. "I thought they got tired in the back as the game went on. They had some guys that hadn't played a lot of minutes this season and by the end of the game the heat had taken its toll on

them. We were able to open things up and they had to defend and that's tough to do when you've got tired legs."

As important as the heat was, it was Fuller's goal just before halftime that proved to be crucial for the Battery's fifth win in its last six games at Blackbaud Stadium.

"That goal changed the game for us," Anheauser said. "If we don't get that goal than the pressure kind of mounts for us in the second half. Montreal can pack things in during the second half and really limit our scoring chances. It made the game level and we were able to open the game up a little bit in the second half.

"Montreal actually had to press a little bit and play for a draw, which is a lot different than containing a 1-0 lead. I thought that goal made all the difference in the world."

It was the second time this season that the Battery has battled back from a 1-0 deficit to win by two goals. The Battery beat Miami FC, 3-1, on May 9 after an early goal by the Blues.

"We've got a lot of character on this team," Anhaeuser said. "We've got guys that have a lot of resilience. We've been able to keep our composure even when we've been down this season and I think that shows a lot of character out of the guys."

Montreal took a 1-0 lead on Rocco Placentino's goal just five minutes into the match. Joey Gjertsen played a long ball to Placentino, who turned around a Battery defender just outside the 18-yard box, took a strong dribble and then blasted a shot past Charleston keeper Dusty Hudock for the score.

Charleston nearly tied the game in the 43rd minute when Osvaldo Alonso got the ball just outside the 18-yard box. But the Cuban's blast hit the left post and bounced out of bounds to end the threat.

Less than a minute after Alonso's shot, the Battery tied the score on Fuller's header off a corner kick.

Midfielder Chris Williams served the ball into the 6-yard box and the former Clemson All-American snapped his header past Montreal keeper Matt Jordan for the score in the 44th minute.

"Great service by Chris into the box," said Fuller, who got his first goal of the season. "I was fortunate to get my head on it and get it past (Jordan)."

With the Impact showing some tired legs, Anhaeuser inserted King and midfielder David Kenga into the lineup midway through the second half. The two subs paid immediate dividends for the Battery attack.

The Battery nearly took the lead in the 60th minute off some very nice passing between Chris Williams, King and Randi Patterson. Patterson got the ball in the middle of the field and slid it to the right to Williams. Williams took three strong dribbles and crossed the ball to King, whose half-volley sailed over the cross bar.

After a couple of excellent scoring chances, the Battery finally grabbed the lead 2-1 on King's goal in the 73rd minute. Williams got the ball on the right side and slid it to King inside the 18-yard box. King passed it backward to Fuller who blasted a shot on net that Jordan made a diving stop on. King pounced on the rebound and chipped it past Jordan for the score.

The Battery pushed their advantage to 3-1 on Kenga's goal in the 86th minute. Williams again started the action on the right and crossed the ball to King in the middle of the field. The former North Carolina State star slid the ball over to the left side to Kenga, who easily beat Jordan for the score.

Headers

--Charleston defender Marco Reda missed his fourth straight game with a sprained ankle.

--Midfielder Jordan Hughes was loaned to the Wilmington Hammerheads earlier in the week.