CARY, N.C. – The Charleston Battery were dealt a 2-1 road defeat against North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in the Battery’s first away match of the season. The hosts scored twice through the opening half-hour of play, with the second tally being an own goal inadvertently knocked in by Graham Smith. Cal Jennings converted from the penalty spot just before halftime, but the Battery were unable to find an equalizer in the second half.
The match kicked off with intensity, as both sides looked to establish early control.
Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio was called into action in the 11th minute, stepping off his line to claim a dangerous long throw from NCFC. Zamudio made another big stop in the 16th minute, rushing out to deflect a chip attempt by Ezra Armstrong.
North Carolina managed to take a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute via Evan Conway.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Graham Smith’s attempt to head away a cross went toward the goal and Zamudio was unable to stop the own goal.
Despite the deficit, Charleston pressed for a goal in the latter stages of the half.
The Battery’s persistence paid off in the 5th minute of stoppage time, when Arturo Rodriguez’s shot drew a handball by Paco Craig inside the box.
Cal Jennings stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, clipping the post on the way in to cut the score to 2-1.
The goal was Jennings’ third in three games for the Battery.
North Carolina took the 2-1 lead into the break but Jennings’ late tally gave the Battery momentum to work with going into the second stanza. Charleston held just over 61% possession in the first half.
Charleston came out of the break looking to level the score and applied heavy pressure to North Carolina’s back line. The Battery held 68% possession in the first 15 minutes of the half and Juan David Torres nearly scored the equalizer in the 60th minute with a free-kick that was on target.
The pace of the match began to slow as the hosts settled in again and withstood Charleston’s advances. Zamudio was tested in the 83rd minute by Mickey Maldonado and came up with the save.
Charleston aimed to make a final push for a second goal with attacking-minded substitutions made with Zeke Soto, Josh Drack and Jackson Conway entering the fray. However, North Carolina were able to hold on for the 2-1 win.
The result snapped an eight-game undefeated run the Battery had over North Carolina.
North Carolina’s win gives them a leg up in the Southern Derby, which remains undecided until after the second regular season match. Charleston will host NCFC on July 6 at Patriots Point with a chance to tip the series in their favor and lift the Southern Derby trophy for a second consecutive year.
