Late goalbolsters Impact

Impact 1, Battery 0

MONTREAL — The Charleston Battery fell to the Montreal Impact, 1-0, on Friday night in a USL First Division match played in front of 13,143.

Striker Rocco Placentino scored the lone goal, blasting a shot past goalkeeper Dusty Hudock in the 70th minute.

The game was a bad-tempered affair, particularly in the second half, and both sides finished the game with only 10 men after Randi Patterson and Adam Braz were ejected in the 88th minute for a scuffle in the box.

There was a moment of controversy in just the 10th minute after Impact midfielder Pat Leduc appeared to have scored with a fierce shot from twenty yards out. The ball struck the crossbar and looked to bounce from behind the line back into play. Hudock gathered up the loose ball and referee Justin Tasev waved away the Montreal players as they appealed for the goal The Battery (6-3-2, 20 points) enjoyed its best spell of possession during the middle portion of the first half and came close in the 16th minute as Ian Fuller ran in on goal. Fuller shot from point-blank range as the ball reached him but was denied by Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan.

Ten minutes later Jordan again saved his side making an excellent parried stop to deny Randi Patterson's headed effort from ten yards out.

After the break, Montreal (3-6-2, 11 points) took control of the game and were rewarded for their efforts in the 70th minute.

Placentino received the ball on the right side and lashed a left-footed dipping shot over Hudock's outstretched hand and in from 23 yards out.

The Battey is at home next Friday against Minnesota.