Early Miami Goal Makes the Difference, Defeat Battery 1-0

By: Battery Media

MIAMI – The Charleston Battery fell in a fifth-straight match Wednesday, losing 1-0 to The Miami FC. The Battery had many opportunities while controlling the majority of possession through the night, but were unable the capitalize on the chances. Augustine Williams had the two closest looks with a pair of strikes that hit off the woodwork. Miami tallied their ninth clean sheet of the season as Charleston remain winless at FIU Stadium.

Action started in Miami with the Battery maintaining early possession in the opposition’s half. The Black and Yellow made advances, however, Miami caught Charleston on a counterattack to score the opening goal in the 4th minute. Romeo Parkes drove down the field and delivered a strike to the top corner that went just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux. Charleston continued to dominate possession through the quarter-hour mark, but the Miami defense held firm against the advances.

The Battery looked to find success via the flanks with Matt Sheldon on the right and Charlie Asensio on the left providing service. Asensio connected with Augustine Williams in the 21st minute with a solid cross that Williams headed towards goal. Williams’ effort would have been on target but was kick-blocked by Miami. Asensio again picked out Williams in the middle of the box in the 29th minute that Williams turned and shot, with the attempt rocking off the right post.

Charleston began to find a footing in the waning minutes of the half. Williams intercepted a Miami pass and fired another shot that hit off the woodwork in the 39th minute. On the opposite side, Asensio denied Lamar Walker a chance at doubling Miami’s lead when he charged to the edge of the six-yard box with a sliding block. The Battery held over 60% of the possession in the first 45 minutes, yet went into the interval with a 1-0 deficit to climb back from.

Play resumed with the Battery applying pressure again in search of the equalizer. Sheldon continued to lead the press from the right side and won a free kick in a dangerous spot near the byline in the 54th minute. Romario Piggott played the ball in but was unable to find a connection. Fauroux was again tested by Walker in the 64th minute with a shot on goal that resulted only in a calm save by the French shot-stopper.

DZ Harmon, who entered the match off the bench, nearly caught goalkeeper Connor Sparrow off his line with a shot over the top that went just wide of the right post in the 65th minute. The second half wore on with Miami settling in more to close out the match, limiting the chances for Charleston. The Battery’s defense firmed up as well and would hold Miami without a shot on target in the final 26 minutes of action. Piggott and Alexander Dexter, making his Battery debut off the bench, tried working through Miami but could not find the right combination. Dexter had a promising look in the 83rd minute, but his shot was too tall for the crossbar.

Despite the five additional minutes of stoppage time and high pressure, the Battery were unable to find an equalizer before the final whistle. Charleston held 64.1% of possession in the match and had the majority of passes in the final third (111 to Miami’s 78).

Despite the result, Battery Head Coach Conor Casey applauded his squad’s performance during the evening.

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