By: Battery Media
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Charleston Battery's 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to a close on Tuesday following a 1-0 road defeat to Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium. Charleston fought hard throughout the match but an unlucky own goal in the second half proved to be the difference. The focus for Charleston now shifts to USL Championship action, which starts up again on Saturday at Patriots Point.
Charleston started the match with high intensity and looked to get an early edge over the MLS side. Augi Williams and Nick Markanich led much of the charge forward, until Markanich was replaced early by Jesse Randall due to an apparent injury. Goalkeeper Trey Muse was tested only a handful of times and would make two decisive saves in the first half.
Randall provided among Charleston's best looks on goal with a strike off a counterattack in the 38th minute. His shot on target forced Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman into a diving save.
The Battery and Miami went into the interval tied at 0-0.
Play resumed with the opening goal occurring within the first five minutes of the second half. Juan Sebastian Palma unluckily slotted the ball into his own net after a deflected clearance attempt. Charleston, however, were undeterred and continued to press into Miami's defensive third.
Williams nearly leveled the score in the 71st minute with a shot off the post. The striker worked his way into the box and the deflection was just beyond Robbie Crawford's reach to tap it in. Miami almost doubled their lead moments later but Shanyder Borgelin skied his short-range shot over the crossbar.
Charleston continued to fight in the waning minutes of the match. The Battery appeared to have drawn a Miami handball in the 90th minute inside the box, however the appeals for a handball were not honored. Miami saw out the 1-0 victory, ending the Battery's Open Cup run in the Round of 32.
