Booth’s Brace Powers Charleston’s Comeback Victory Over Tampa Bay

By: Battery Media

The Charleston Battery emphatically defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 at home on Saturday in front of a packed Patriots Point crowd for Military Appreciation Night. After the visitors took the lead in the 3rd minute, Andrew Booth scored twice to power Charleston past Tampa Bay, sealing the comeback victory. The win was the Battery’s first over the Rowdies since 2020 and they remain undefeated against Tampa Bay in 2022.

Action began quickly with Tampa Bay opening the scoring in the 3rd minute via Sebastian Guenzatti. The Rowdies drove the ball down the right flank and William Antley found Guenzatti with a cross into the box that was redirected to the back of the net with a header. Charleston had opportunities inside the box through the quarter-hour mark but could not find an equalizer.

The Battery were rewarded for their persistence in the 21st minute when Andrew Booth sent a bullet past goalkeeper CJ Cochran. Augustine Williams crossed the ball into the box and the pass was deflected, only for a charging Booth to deliver a perfect strike. The goal was Booth’s second of the season.

As the half wore on, Charleston continued to knock on the door to take the lead, with Booth and Williams providing the pressure. Williams and Booth nearly combined in the 27th minute on a counterattack, however Williams’ shot was saved by Cochran. Williams again came close in the 38th minute but was unable to send Booth’s cross inside the far post.

Charleston had another near goal in stoppage time as they continued to apply the pressure. Mauro Cichero rocked a shot off the crossbar that fell fortunately to Williams but his shot was saved again by Cochran. The teams went into the break level 1-1, although the Battery would have liked more after out-shooting the Rowdies, nine to three.

Play resumed in the second half with the Battery still on the front foot and in search of another goal. Charleston broke the deadlock in the 67th minute when Booth bagged his second goal of the night, his first brace with the club. Aidan Apodaca, who subbed into the match just a minute earlier, assisted Booth with a perfect pass through Tampa Bay’s defense. Booth then slotted the ball right past Cochran and into the back of the net.

The Battery pressed forward following Booth’s goal in hopes of adding another. Apodaca had a breakaway opportunity in the 71st minute against Cochran one-on-one but opted to pass the ball square to Williams, but Williams wasn’t able to get the shot on target. On the opposite side, Charleston’s substitutions indicated prioritizing the defense and they began to tighten their grip on the match as Tampa Bay threw numbers forward. Goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux commanded the defensive third and made a pair of saves just before the 90th minute to preserve the one-goal lead.

After seven tense minutes of stoppage time, Charleston held off Tampa Bay’s desperate advances for an equalizer to see out the 2-1 victory. The win was the Battery’s first over the Rowdies since October 2020 as they also were undefeated against the Florida club this season.

Battery Head Coach Conor Casey and midfielder Andrew Booth discussed the victory after the final whistle.

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