The Charleston Battery secured a comeback 2-1 win over Birmingham Legion FC in the USL Championship regular season finale on Saturday at Patriots Point. After going down 0-1 in the 6th minute, Charleston rallied to level the score before halftime via Houssou Landry, and Cal Jennings’ penalty conversion in the second half proved to be the match-winner. The victory set a new regular season wins record for Charleston in their Championship era.
The Battery started the match on the front foot and were eager to apply pressure right after kickoff. Houssou Landry and Langston Blackstock both recorded shots in the first five minutes, but both went just wide of the target.
Birmingham managed to open the scoring in the 6th minute via Tabort Preston after some miscommunication in the Battery’s defense.
MD Myers looked to level the score in the 17th minute with an audacious attempt off a self volley, but his shot was blocked and went over the crossbar.
Houssou Landry brought Charleston level in the 34th minute. Aaron Molloy sent a one-time cross from just outside the box toward the back post as Houssou crashed in. Houssou beat his marker and struck the ball off the volley inside the six-yard box to make the score 1-1.
The goal was Houssou’s fourth of the season, and the assist was Molloy’s seventh of the year (sixth in league play).
Eager to find the go-ahead goal, Myers connected on a header off a cross from Douglas Martínez in the 42nd minute, but Birmingham goalkeeper Trevor McMullen made the save. Joey Akpunonu almost had the equalizer in the final minute of stoppage before the break, but the attempt was too tall for the goal.
Charleston and Birmingham went into the break tied at 1-1. The hosts outset the visitors by a margin of nine to two, and Opta xG (Expected Goals) rating favored the Battery 1.79 to 0.09.
The match resumed with all still to play for in the second half.
Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio made a clutch save in the 50th minute to deny Enzo Martinez on a strong shot that was bending away from him.
The complexion of the match changed in the 53rd minute when Phanuel Kavita was issued a straight red card for taking down Cal Jennings in the box, thus awarding the Battery a penalty. Jennings stepped up to the spot in the 55th minute and converted to fire Charleston in front, 2-1.
Jennings’ goal was his 17th of the league campaign, moving him back into the lead of the Championship Golden Boot race, as of writing, due to the assists tiebreakers with Peter Wilson of Oakland Roots SC.
With Birmingham reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the match, Charleston applied heavy pressure in search of a third goal. Martínez, Rubín and Molloy each recorded shots through the 83rd minute.
Charleston held firm and saw out the 2-1 comeback victory, ending the regular season on a positive note.
The win advanced the Battery’s record to 19W-6L-5D (62pts), and therefore set a new regular season club wins record in Charleston’s Championship era. It's the third consecutive year the Battery reset their own league wins record.
The win advanced the Battery’s record to 19W-6L-5D (62pts), and therefore set a new regular season club wins record in Charleston’s Championship era.
At the end of the match, Cal Jennings found himself in the lead of the Championship Golden Boot race with 17 goals. As of writing, he holds the advantage in the tiebreakers for assists and minutes per goal over Oakland Roots SC’s Peter Wilson.
With a combined 32 goals in the regular season, MD Myers and Jennings ended the regular season as the Championship’s top scoring duo.
Charleston’s next match will be at home in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sun., Nov. 2, opponent TBD. Tickets for the opening round of the USL Championship Playoffs are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups:
CHS: Zamudio, Blackstock (Dossantos, 87’), Akpunonu (Rubín, 46’), Archer, Martínez (Segbers, 69’), Houssou, Molloy, Rodríguez, Myers, Kelly (Smith, 46’), Jennings
BHM: McMullen, Paterson, Kavita, Rufe, Travis, Daley (Centeno, 46’), McCartney (Howell, 75’), McIllhatton, Shashoua (Martínez, 20’), Damus (Saucedo, 75’), Etaka Preston
Scoring Summary:
BHM – Tabort Etaka Preston, 6’
CHS – Houssou Landry, 34’ (Aaron Molloy)
CHS – Cal Jennings, 55’