MIAMI – The Charleston Battery fell 1-0 on the road to Miami FC at Pitbull Stadium on Wednesday. After a scoreless first half, Miami’s goal via Marias Romero in the 51st minute the break proved to be the difference after the Battery were unable to find an equalizer in the second half. The loss snaps Charleston’s nine-game unbeaten run and their 17-game streak with a goal in USL Championship play.
Despite only a few days’ rest for both teams, the attacks each made advances in the early proceedings of the night. Cal Jennings’ shot in the 9th minute was saved, while Jonathan Ricketts’ shot in the 11th minute was also saved.
Juan David Torres tested goalkeeper Bill Hamid in the 21st minute with a strong strike from outside the box that was saved.
The tempo of the game began to slow as halftime drew closer, but picked up again in the 41st minute when MD Myers nearly broke the deadlock. Myers’ run came after some effective building out of the back, but the shot was kick-saved by Hamid.
The sides went into the break scoreless, with Charleston holding roughly 63% possession at the end of the first half.
Play resumed in the second half with the hosts out on the front foot. Miami managed to take a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute via Marias Romero’s opener.
Charleston found themselves in a difficult position after going down. The Battery tried to get back into the game but recorded only one shot in the second half through the 75th minute, an attempt on target by Torres in the 57th minute that was saved.
Aaron Molloy almost leveled the score in the 86th minute with a near-perfect free kick that hit off the crossbar.
The Battery threw numbers forward in search of a late equalizer, but were met with stern resistance. Molloy looked to find the back of the net again in stoppage time, but his shot off the volley, which appeared to be on target, in the 98th minute was blocked.
Miami held off to secure the 1-0 win, ending the Battery’s league runs of nine consecutive games undefeated and 17 consecutive games with a goal.