Second-half goal helps Charleston claim point against powerful Vancouver

Charleston Battery 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 1

Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. In the case of Charleston Battery midfielder Stephen Armstrong, it's good to be a little of both against Vancouver.

Armstrong scored on a free kick in 56th minute Saturday night as the Battery battled to a 1-1 draw with the Whitecaps in front of a crowd of 3,151 at Blackbaud Stadium.

The Battery, who are 3-0-1 in their last four home games, stand at 5-5-4 (19 points) and remain in sixth place in the USL First Division. The Whitecaps remain in first place with an overall record of 7-2-5 (26 points).

Trailing 1-0 in the 56th minute, Armstrong lined up for a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box on the right-hand side. Ten yards away, five Whitecap defenders lined up to form a wall between Armstrong and Vancouver keeper Richard Goddard.

Armstrong had planned on wrapping the ball around the left side of the wall and bending it back toward the near post for a goal.

"I couldn't see the keeper, so I assumed he was guarding the far post," Armstrong said.

When Armstrong struck the ball, a gap in the wall formed and the ball curved toward the near post and squirted past Goddard for the Battery's lone goal in the game.

"I didn't know they'd split open that wide," Armstrong said. "I didn't know they would open up like they did, so I got a little bit lucky there. The goalie kept creeping toward the far post, so I was just hoping the ball would get through and get past him."

For the first 45 minute of the game, the Battery was tentative and looked a bit nervous playing against the defending USL First Division champions.

"I thought we were a little tight in the

first half," said Charleston captain Dusty Hudock. "I think we played like we lacked confidence in what we were doing. Our touch was heavy and we didn't make good decisions a lot of times."

Joey Gjertsen's goal in the 36th minute gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

"I don't know why we came out like we did in the first half," said Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser. "Vancouver passed the ball around and I think that is what made us look a little nervous when you're defending. We gave the ball away when we shouldn't have a few times in the first half."

Anhaeuser inserted Ian Bennett and Mike Richardson into the lineup for the start of the second half. The two swift outside midfielders paid immediate dividends for the Battery putting pressure on the outside of the Whitecaps defense.

"I know when I get in there (Anhaeuser) wants me to pick up the pace and make some runs at them," Bennett said. "When I come in at halftime, fresh, I know the other team is going to be a little tired. I try to make as many runs at the defense as I can."

It was a Bennett run that led to Armstrong's free kick in the 56th minute.

"When you have a guy like Stephen, who can do what he does on set pieces, you want to draw as many fouls as you can with as many dangerous runs as you can," Bennett said.

Getting a draw against the league's top team hopefully proves the Battery can play with the Whitecaps, Armstrong said.

"We were a little sloppy in the first half," Armstrong said. "In the second half, especially for the first 30 minutes, we really dominated them. Hopefully that will give us some confidence knowing that we can play with them."

Headers

--Vancouver midfielder Martin Nash is the younger brother of NBA star Steve Nash.

--Vancouver defender Steve Klein played three seasons for the Battery. Klein was a part of the Battery's 2003 USL A-League championship squad.

--Battery midfielder Ian Fuller (hamstring) and defender Kevin Nylen (foot) were out with injuries.

--The Battery's next home game will be next Saturday against Puerto Rico beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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