By: Charleston Battery Media
Things didn't go Charleston's way Wednesday night at Riccardo Silva Stadium as the Battery fell to The Miami FC 4-3 after a second-half push by the hosting side. After putting up a solid performance through the first half, Charleston's defense was exposed early and often through the closing 45' allowing Miami to come out on top.
Top Storylines
- The Battery got on the front foot early putting up two goals in the first 30 minutes of the match. It was a different look for the Charleston side at Riccardo Silva Stadium compared to their September 5 match that saw possession struggles early on the artificial turf surface.
- Nicque Daley notched his fourth and fifth goals for the season in the first brace of his professional career. His two goals Wednesday night quickly vaulted him to sole owner of second place in total goals this season for the Battery, just one behind team-leader Zeiko Lewis.
- After 1,234 minutes of solid play as an unsung hero and leader from the midfield for the Battery, Robbie Crawford scored his first goal of the season to put the Battery ahead 3-1 early in the second half.
- With the loss, the Battery's chances at first place in their regional Group H might be limited, but they’ll look to close out the season on a high note against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.
First Half
It was first half dominance for the Battery on Wednesday night as the Black and Yellow put up a relentless attack through the first 30 minutes. As the Miami line played high, the Battery exposed the Miami back line early culminating in a deflected shot by Stavros Zarokostas to be knocked in by Daley in the 12th minute. It was the second chance for Daley on the evening and he didn't let up with missed conversion just four minutes later that was saved by Miami keeper Mark Pais.
While Miami gave the Battery back line some trouble in the 23rd minute as Charleston failed to clear their line through multiple attempts, Nicque came through with his brace after a breakaway banger from the top of the box. “I just saw the opportunity and took it,” Daley noted on his second goal for the evening. While Miami started looking tired towards the end of the first half, both teams entered the locker room at the break with plans to adjust and come out strong for the final 45'.
“We came out strong, we surprised them a little bit more than a couple of times,” Coach Mike Anhaeuser assessed of the first half performance. “Could have had more than two. It was a really good half, we moved the ball and made chances on the left and the right.”
Second Half
It was all Miami in the second half as the Battery continued to get pinned in their own half and the back line started getting stretched by the Miami attack. The home team got great movement from forward Romario Williams in the 48th minute to deliver the Miami side's first shot and an easy tap in for the goal. Down by one, Miami wouldn't let up through the remaining time, even after Robbie Crawford added some padding just a minute late with his first goal of the season.
Miami made adjustments and substitutions throughout the half to respond to the Battery's second-half game plan and turned the game on its head with 9 total shots on target to put the Battery on their heels. While Battery keeper Joe Kuzminsky made an aggressive effort, making 5 solid saves throughout. But Miami were able to convert three more times in the second half with goals by Vincent Bezecourt at 60', Sebastian Velasquez at 64', and Miquel Gonzalez to put it home at 88' with a ball just going over the line and not kicked out in time by the Battery defense.
“We came out flat and pushed up a little too quickly,” Coach commented on the second half. “And they caught us on the counter attack for a simple goal. But we didn't learn our lesson going up 3-1 and made it an open game.”
Coming out of the tough loss and looking ahead to Tampa Bay, Coach added, “You got to take the positives from a game. And how we played in the first half was great. We're going to half to reproduce that. Tampa Bay is going to come out flying, they're going to be aggressive and want to win the game being at home. We're not going to lay down. We know what we have to do against Tampa Bay. We have to defend well and not make it an open game, especially on the road. We're going to be ready to defend as a unit and as a team.”
The Battery take the loss and regroup as they travel from Miami to St. Petersburg Thursday ahead of the regular season finale against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Implications on first place are up in the air but the Battery hope to have a league decision come Thursday and make the most of their final regular season game before heading into their historic 13th consecutive playoff run.
