Battery Battle Wet Conditions in 1-0 Loss to Detroit

By: Battery Media

The Charleston Battery suffered defeat Saturday after falling 1-0 to Detroit City FC during a rainy Michigan afternoon. The hosts struck first in the 50th minute when Antoine Hoppenot scored off the rebound of an initial Joe Kuzminsky save. The goal proved to be the match-winner as the Battery now will look to bounce back from the loss when they travel away against Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, March 27th, before returning home on April 1st.

The game kicked off with rain showers and the temperature at an even 50 degrees. The field was slick and the conditions appeared to play a role early and often in the contest, with Detroit falling victim to errant passes to stunt their forward movement in addition to the stingy Battery midfield. DZ Harmon had the first chance of the day, taking a free-kick in the 4th minute that rattled off the right post before being cleared out.

Augustine Williams had a flurry of chances midway through the half, once in the 22nd minute with a shot from distance and again in the 25th minute from deep inside the box, with both coming close but going wide. He and Aidan Apodaca were regularly in dangerous spots inside the attacking third. Harmon again had another good look on goal in the 27th minute with a shot from a tough angle that went just past the far post. Control was hard to come by as the ball played fast off the wet artificial turf.

Enock Kwakwa made his Battery debut and asserted his presence early, tallying one chance created, three tackles, six duels won and two interceptions roughly 30 minutes through. Play started to turn towards Detroit’s way as the hosts began to command possession and opportunities towards the final 10 minutes. Charleston’s defense held firm, however, and the sides went into the break scoreless.

There were 12 fouls called in the first 45 minutes and the action resumed with a similar amount of intensity. Detroit managed to strike first in the 50th minute. Goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky made an initial save to deny Max Rodriguez, but the deflected ball was still in the box and Antoine Hoppenot was able to capitalize on the chance. The hosts were able to control much of the momentum in the time that followed as the Battery looked to shake things up with a wave of substitutions. Tristan Weber was among those called upon, making his Battery debut in the showing.

Williams continued to apply pressure up top with a shot in the 62nd minute that was blocked. Substitutes Mauro Cichero and Geobel Perez began providing the Battery new life on offense in bringing tempo and opportunities in search of an equalizer. Detroit would be held without a shot on target until the 87th minute when Kuzminsky was tested and made an easy save. Cichero nearly broke through with the leveling goal in the 92nd minute with a strong shot that was ultimately directly at goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher, who made the save. That would be the final scoring chance for Charleston before the final whistle.

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