BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Charleston Battery played Birmingham Legion FC to a scoreless draw in the USL Championship on Wednesday at Protective Stadium. Charleston’s attack threatened throughout the night, outshooting the hosts 15 to seven, but were unable to find the back of the net. The Battery’s defense held firm during the whole match and recorded their third shutout of the regular season.
The midweek match started with the Battery on the front foot and recording four shots in the opening 10 minutes, but only one on target, by Juan David Torres in the 9th minute.
As the half neared the 30-minute mark, the game began to have a more cagey complexion. Neither team took a shot for a span of roughly 15 minutes until Cal Jennings’ attempt from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the target.
MD Myers almost opened the scoring in the 34th minute after being played forward by Torres’ sublime one-touch pass. Myers’ shot from inside the box was saved by goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel’s outstretched arm.
Charleston’s pressure began to mount more in the later stages of the half, with on-target attempts by Myers and Arturo Rodriguez, but the game went into the break tied at 0-0. Birmingham did not record a shot on target in the first half.
Play resumed for the second half with the hosts looking to jump out of the gate. Birmingham made a dangerous advance into the box in the 48th minute but the threat was neutralized by Houssou Landry and cleared away.
Jennings broke free in the 53rd minute to test Van Oekel, but his shot was saved. Neither side would record an attempt on target afterward through the 87th minute.
Aaron Molloy was close to breaking the deadlock in the 88th minute with a shot off the half-volley, but it was saved by Van Oekel.
Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio, who had a relatively tame evening at the office, was called to make his only save of the night with a stop against Tabort Etaka Preston in the 92nd minute.
The night ended how it began at 0-0, and the points were shared at Protective Stadium.
Charleston outshot Birmingham 15 to seven.
The result moves the Battery’s record to 10W-3L-2D (32pts), good for second in the Eastern Conference.
Zamudio’s clean sheet is his third of the year.
Joey Akpunonu had another productive evening en route to the shutout with a match-high nine clearances, in addition to two duels won, two blocks and three recoveries.