By: Battery Media
The Charleston Battery played Louisville City FC to a 0-0 draw on Saturday at Patriots Point. The Battery's undefeated record remains intact as the club stays atop the Eastern Conference standings. Charleston (4W-0L-3D) match their best start to a season since the 2015 campaign, when they also went seven games unbeaten.
After a 30-minute delay due to thunderstorms prior to kickoff, Charleston and Louisville got underway at Patriots Point under clear skies. The residual rain on the pitch made its presence felt early, as both teams had to adjust to the slick and slippery conditions in the first 15 minutes, preventing many concrete chances.
Goalkeeper Trey Muse recorded the first save of the night, a 6th-minute stop to deny Louisville on a counterattack. Nick Markanich registered the Battery's best looks on goal, with a shot in the 13th minute from inside the box that went just wide and another in the 24th minute that was saved.
Chances continued to be limited in the latter portion of the first half resulting in Charleston and Louisville going into the break tied at 0-0.
Both clubs came out of the break eager to find the night's first goal. Charleston provided the majority of the pressure and had several chances to open the scoring. Deklan Wynne sent in a long-range shot in the 53rd minute when goalkeeper Oliver Semmle was caught off his line, but Wynne's shot was deflected and went into the side netting.
The Battery's best attempts came past the hour mark. Fidel Barajas whipped in a curling shot in the 68th minute but the attempt clattered off the crossbar. Augi Williams had an open look moments later and went one-on-one with Semmle, but Williams' shot was just wide of the far post.
Louisville created a dangerous opportunity in the 72nd minute that forced AJ Paterson to make a sliding tackle, cleanly winning the ball to remove the threat. The Battery were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Williams was shown his second yellow card of the night.
The night would end how it began with Charleston and Louisville sharing the points in a scoreless draw. The Battery preserved their spot in first place of the Eastern Conference standings and their undefeated record.
Saturday's draw marked Trey Muse's second clean sheet with the Black and Yellow.
