By: Battery Media
EL PASO, Texas (Sept. 30, 2023) – The Charleston Battery suffered a 3-2 road defeat to El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park on Saturday. Goals from Augi Williams and Emilio Ycaza powered Charleston's efforts in the Sun City but a pair of late goals for the hosts made the difference in the inaugural meeting between the sides.
Regardless of the defeat, Charleston secured home-field advantage in the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs by virtue of the losses by Memphis 901 FC and Louisville City FC on Saturday. The playoff game will take place on Sun., Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. ET, and tickets for the contest will be available on Mon., Oct. 2, via SeatGeek.com, the club's exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Action in Texas began after scattered thunderstorms passed through the area with El Paso dominating possession early. The hosts held upward of 90% of possession but were relatively unthreatening with the ball.
The first opportunity of the night came in the 10th minute when the Battery were awarded a penalty following an El Paso handball inside the box. Augi Williams took the ensuing spot attempt, from the portion of the field with grass covering the baseball field, but his strike went off the woodwork and was then cleared away.
El Paso managed to strike first in the 33rd minute via Petar Petrovic. Charleston were undeterred, however, and continued to press for a goal.
Augi Williams was finally rewarded for his efforts in front of goal with a strike in the 38th minute that found the back of the net, tying the match at 1-1. Fidel Barajas sent in a perfect cross to Williams and the striker went airborne for the first-time strike off the volley.
The goal was Williams' 13th across all competitions and the assist was Barajas' ninth.
Charleston and El Paso went into the break with the 1-1 score intact.
Play resumed with both sides eager to find the breakthrough goal. Charleston and El Paso each recorded shots through the 65th minute, although off target.
Emilio Ycaza, barely five minutes removed from entering the match, stepped up to the plate to score the go-ahead goal and make the score 1-2. Tristan Trager's shot off Derek Dodson's cross was blocked and Ycaza sent the rebound into the back of the net. The goal was Ycaza's second of the season.
Despite the Battery's lead, the hosts looked for a way back into the match. Emmanuel Sonupe put El Paso back on level terms with a goal in the 75th minute. The Locomotive FC skipper, Eric Calvillo, would put away the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute, making the score 3-2.
Charleston pressed forward for an equalizer but were unable to register a shot in the final 12 minutes of the match. El Paso held on for the 3-2 victory, snapping Charleston's five-game unbeaten, in the inaugural meeting between the sides.
Thanks to losses by Memphis 901 FC and Louisville City FC on the same night, Charleston secured home-field advantage in the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs since neither side can catch the Battery's points total with two games remaining in the regular season. The playoff game will take place on Sun., Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. ET
Goalkeeper Trey Muse recorded two saves in what was his 100th career appearance in the USL Championship regular season.
