Battery earns tie on road

MONTREAL — The Charleston Battery ground out a 0-0 tie with the Montreal Impact Friday night at Stade Saputo in front of 12,180.

Dusty Hudock made two saves to preserve the shutout and maintain the Battery's unbeaten start to the USL First Division season. Charleston (2-0-4, 10 points) moves up a place into third position, while Montreal (0-3-2, 2 points) remains in 10th.

The Battery put Montreal back on its heels with a couple of early chances. In the 2nd minute, Tyler Hemming drove a diagonal free kick to the middle, but Matt Bobo's headed attempt looped over the crossbar.

In the 14th minute, Hemming threatened again, this time after finding space midway inside the Impact half. He stepped forward and fired a right-footed shot that Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan dove to his left to save.

The best chance of the half came in the 29th minute from a Montreal corner kick. Veteran striker Eddie Sebrango met the cross, but his header bounced back off the near-post. The Battery defense reacted first and just managed to scramble the ball away to safety.

After the break, Charleston began to enjoy more possessions, and after a weak Impact clearance, midfielder Scott Buete almost broke the deadlock. Buete ran on to the loose ball 10 yards out, but his hard shot deflected off a Montreal defender over the goal for a corner.

Battery midfielder Kenji Treschuk also came close a few minutes later as he lashed a dipping right-footed shot at goal that just curled wide.

In stoppage-time at the end of the match, Montreal almost stole all three points after substitute midfielder Stephen DeRoux received the ball on the left side. DeRoux curled the ball into the middle, but Hudock managed to parry the ball away to safety.

The Battery hosts the Miami FC Blues at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.