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Bethlehem, Charleston Finish Deadlocked

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/24/16, 5:13PM EDT

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Both sides create chances, but neither is able to convert in scoreless draw


Photo courtesy Sideline Photos / Bethlehem Steel FC

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem Steel FC and the Charleston Battery created chances, but neither was able to find the back of the net as they played to a 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon at Goodman Stadium.

The game opened evenly, but the Battery (2-1-2, 8pts) began to create the more dangerous chances as the first half went on. A pair of free kicks were well dealt with by the Steel’s defense as the Battery looked to use their size in the penalty area, but Charleston came close to opening the lead in the 16th minute when Atuallah Guerra broke in behind the defense, only for the pass to be just out of his reach.

Romario Williams went close four minutes later for the Battery as he forced a good save from Bethlehem goalkeeper John McCarthy. Charleston pressed on and in the 23rd minute had a good low cross by Dante Marini go through the penalty area, but just out of the reach of Williams for the finish.

The Steel (2-2-1, 7pts) looked to break quickly when they had the chance, in particular using the speed of Eric Ayuk on the left. Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper – making his first start of the season – had to be alert just before the half-hour mark to claim a through-ball, but after a good spell by Bethlehem the Battery got back on the front foot.

The visitors went close to the opening goal nine minutes before the break when Guerra took possession from Williams on the left side of the penalty area, and unleashed a good shot to the far post that just flashed wide. The Steel had the last good chance before the break as Ayuk sliced a shot wide of the left post from 10 yards, but the teams went to the break scoreless.

The Steel made a better start to the second half, and started to put pressure on the Battery’s defense, but were unable to create any clear-cut chances until past the hour-mark, when Fabian Herbers ran onto a through-ball by Walter Restrepo. The rookie forward tried to lift his finish past the advancing goalkeeper, but Cooper saved well to keep the game scoreless.

Charleston began to regain a foothold in the game after that chance, and could have done better when O’Brian Woodbine was found in space on the left at the corner of the penalty area with 20 minutes to go, but the full back’s cross went over all of his targets in the center.

The Steel got a good chance two minutes later as a foul saw them earn a free kick just left of center 23 yards from goal, but Herbers’ dipping effort was comfortably saved.

The Battery got a pair of late set piece chances to try and grab the lead. The second of those offered a prime opportunity for new signing Chris Tsonis as Maikel Chang’s delivery found him at the top of the six-yard area, but the former New York Red Bulls II forward couldn’t get full purchase on his finish as it went wide, and the game ended scoreless.

Upcoming Games

  • May 1: Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Louisville City FC, 3 p.m. ET, Goodman Stadium

  • April 30: Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7:30 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Shawn Ferguson, Charleston Battery – Ferguson had a welcome return to form from a week ago for the Battery, as he helped contain the dangerous Eric Ayuk and the rest of the Steel attack to help the visitors earn a point.