The Charleston Battery rallied for a thrilled 5-2 victory over North Carolina FC on Friday at Patriots Point. After trailing 0-2 at halftime, Charleston stormed back to score five goals in the second half to secure their first victory since May 15. MD Myers bagged his second hat trick second of the year and was joined by Nick Markanich and Jackson Conway on the scoresheet.
The Battery claimed their 10th Southern Derby title, which resulted in a crucial victory as the club officially hit the halfway point of the year.
North Carolina looked to start the match on the front foot and recorded five shots through the opening 16 minutes, but only one was on target, which was saved by goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.
Charleston began to grow into the game as the half wore on but a counterattack off their corner kick led to a goal on the other end. Evan Conway managed to score the opening goal in the 27th minute to give NCFC a 0-1 lead.
Tempers began to flare in the rivalry game and North Carolina were shown three yellow cards in the final 15 minutes of the half. The visitors doubled their lead right before halftime via Shaft Brewer to take a 0-2 lead into the break.
Play resumed and the complexion of the game was almost immediately altered when NCFC’s Ezra Armstrong was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge against Mark Segbers. The collision resulted in both players going to ground for minutes before Armstrong saw red.
Charleston wasted little time to seize the opportunity with a one-man advantage and ramped up the pressure on NCFC. This paid off in the 58th minute when MD Myers pulled one back to make the score 1-2, assisted by Chris Allan. The goal was the Battery’s first of the month and first since May 24.
A noteworthy moment came in the 75th minute when Prince Saydee made his official Battery debut, coming off the bench in place of Emilio Ycaza. Saydee joined Charleston from Rhode Island FC earlier in the matchweek.
The Battery’s pressure was relentless and the hosts leveled the score in the 80th minute when Nick Markanich found the back of the net. Nathan Dossantos made a quick impact off the bench and found Markanich with a pass inside the box. Markanich’s initial strike was blocked but his follow-up beat Jake McGuire at the near post.
Markanich raised his goal tally to 13, the most in the USL Championship.
Charleston weren’t done there and would use all 10 minutes of stoppage time to put the game bed.
Myers rose to the occasion again and took a through ball from Arturo Rodriguez the distance to give the Battery the 3-2 lead in the 92nd minute.
Jackson Conway, who entered the game at halftime, combined with Myers put his stamp on the game with a goal in the 94th minute. The goal was Conway’s third of the year, all of which have come at Patriots Point.
With the match all but done, the Battery were awarded a penalty in the 97th minute, won by Myers for a foul drawn in the box. Myers stepped up to take the spot attempt a minute later and buried it for the hat trick. It was Myers’ 12th goal of the year across all competitions.
Myers turned the performance of the night with three goals and one assist. It was Myers’ second hat trick of the year after achieving the feat in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in May.
Charleston secured the 5-2 victory and snapped both their winless and goalless streaks.
Friday’s comeback marked the first time the Battery won after trailing at halftime in the league since August 2020. The comeback win also means the Battery have 12 points from losing position in the league this year, more than any other team.
The Battery are placed firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 9W-2L-6D (33pts) record.
Allan and Rodriguez’s assists in the match bring their total to three each, tied for the most on the team.
