CHARLESTON – FC Montreal played the Battery to a 0-0 draw, in a lively match in Charleston on Saturday night.
“We’re satisfied with the result,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “You could even say that we’re satisfied with a little taste of disappointment because given the game’s events, we could have won. We’re happy with this point, but we could have gotten two more.”
In an eventful first half, FC Montreal had the first chance in the 9th minute when Charleston was called for a pass back to the goalkeeper forcing the referee to award FC Montreal with an indirect free kick from inside the box. The chance went begging as Charles Joly blasted a shot off the Battery wall.
On the other side off the pitch, Charleston was given a penalty kick four minutes later when FC Montreal goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau took down Battery striker Dane Kelly in the box after the striker was played in overtop. Crépeau redeemed himself as he guessed right and stopped Justin Portillo’s ensuing spot kick.
“It’s been one of our small problems all year dealing with those aerial balls,” noted Eullaffroy. “Our centre backs need to read the play better and anticipate those long balls.”
Both sides continued to exchange chances as the half rolled on. FC Montreal’s task got more difficult at the end of the half when Joly was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute for retaliating to a harsh Battery tackle.
Down to 10 men, FC Montreal came out in the second half looking to frustrate their opponents by remaining solid at the back and looking to hit Charleston on the counter. The visitors did not appear to be playing a man down, as they were still able to generate good chances.
“It’s a good second half performance,” Eullaffroy added. “We put them under pressure for the entire match and they could have lost. Defensively we were solid, especially in goal with Maxime Crépeau. With a little more efficiency up front, it was a game we could have won one or two nothing.”
Winger Alessandro Riggi, who wreaked havoc all game down the left flank, had an opportunity to put FC Montreal ahead in the 69th minute. Riggi was played in behind by a through ball and was in alone against Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper, but saw his effort denied.
FC Montreal will play its next game on August 5 when it visits Louisville City FC at Louisville Slugger Field, at 7:30pm.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal: GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Zachary Sukunda, Jems Geffrard (Mitchell Bringolf 25’), Mélé Temguia, Janouk Charbonneau; M-Marco Dominguez (Louis Béland-Goyette 77’), Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, Zakaria Messoudi (Jacques Haman 64’); Frédéric Lajoie-Gravelle, Alessandro Riggi (Yacine Ait-Slimane 88’), F-Charles Joly
Unused Subs: David Paulmin, Jonathan Grant, Fabio Morelli
Charleston Battery: GK-Odisnel Cooper; D-O’Brian Woodbine, Taylor Mueller, Shawn Ferguson, Emmanuel Adjetey; M-Quinton Griffith (Austin Savage 80’), Justin Portillo, Jarad Van schaik (Sebastien Thuriere 62’), Maikel Chang; Ricky Garbanzo (Dante Marini 72’), F-Dane Kelly
Unused Subs: Kevin Corby, Forest Lasso, Memo Rodriguez
GOALS
N/A
CAUTIONS
CHA: Ricky Garbanzo 42’
CHA: Shawn Ferguson 44’
MTL: Mélé Temguia 63’
EJECTIONS
MTL : Charles Joly 42’
