Sports
Eight-Man Battery Defeated in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Charleston Battery fell 5-0 to Memphis 901 FC in a frustrating Friday at AutoZone Park. Charleston were reduced to eight men during the contest as three players and Head Coach Conor Casey were all issued red cards. The Battery will look to bounce back at home, where they’re undefeated in September, next Friday against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.
For the first time since 2019, Charleston kicked off against Memphis at AutoZone Park. The hosts made the most of the early opportunities and struck first in the 8th minute via Phillip Goodrum. Goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux made an initial save but Goodrum scored on the rebound. Memphis would add another in the 12th minute from Goodrum.
The Battery looked to get back into the match and Avionne Flanagan nearly found the back of the net after receiving a free kick from Robbie Crawford. Flanagan’s attempt was just wide of the far post. Laurent Kissiedou found the back of the net for 901 FC at the half-hour mark to make the score three-nil. Charleston were reduced to 10 men when DZ Harmon was shown a straight red card following an altercation with Kissiedou.
Despite the deficit, the Battery looked for a way through Flanagan on the left, who was able to cause 901 FC problems. Memphis held firm and maintained the three-goal advantage at halftime.
Play resumed with Charleston searching for a way back into the match in the second with Flanagan and Augustine Williams leading the forward advances. The Battery, however, were dealt a series of disadvantages at the hour-mark when Mauro Cichero picked up his second yellow card of the night and was dismissed from the contest, along with Head Coach Conor Casey, who received a straight red card after exchanging words with the referee.
The Black and Yellow were reduced to eight men in the 62nd minute when Leland Archer also picked up his second yellow card of the night. Memphis would make the most of their three-man advantage and would score in the 72nd minute via Zach Carroll. Nighte Pickering added a goal in stoppage time to close out the 5-0 defeat for the Battery.