The Charleston Battery played Sacramento Republic FC to a 1-1 draw in Week 20 of the USL Championship regular season at Patriots Point on Saturday. Charleston clawed back from a 0-1 deficit when Emilio Ycaza converted from the penalty spot with roughly 20 minutes left to play. The Battery went up a man after a Sacramento red card following the equalizer, but were unable to score a match winner before the final whistle.
The Battery and Republic FC kicked off amid near-90° temperatures, with both sides eager to bounce back from losses the previous weekend.
Sacramento had the first close look of the night in the 8th minute when Mark-Anthony Kaye’s shot narrowly went over the crossbar after catching a deflection. On the other end, Colton Swan unleashed a strong shot from distance in the 11th minute that went just wide of the goal frame.
A near calamitous moment for the Battery occurred in the 25th minute when Sacramento’s Blake Willey stole the ball and scored from Charleston’s defensive third. However, a handball was called on Willey to nullify the goal.
The game went into the break tied at 0-0. Neither side recorded a shot on target.
Play resumed in the second half with all still to play for.
Sacramento managed to pull ahead, 0-1, in the 48th minute via Forster Ajago.
Charleston were quick to battle back with Miguel Berry leading the line. Berry recorded the side’s first shot on target of the night in the 55th minute, a curler that was saved by goalkeeper Danny Vitiello. Berry again came close with a turn-and-shoot effort minutes later that went just wide of the post, and again with an acrobatic effort in the 63rd minute that was saved.
A notable moment occurred in the 66th minute when Laurent Kissiedou entered the match off the bench to record his 150th career USL Championship regular season appearance.
The Battery were offered a chance to level the match when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after Aaron Essel brought down Colton Swan in the box.
Emilio Ycaza stepped up to the spot and confidently slotted his penalty into the bottom corner opposite Vitiello’s dive in the 73rd minute, bringing Charleston even at 1-1.
Ycaza’s goal was his fifth of the year. The skipper has now contributed to a goal in three consecutive home league matches (three goals and three assists).
The complexion of the game altered just minutes later when Sacramento were reduced to 10 men after Ajago was dismissed with a red card for violent conduct. Tempers flared after the equalizer, and an altercation ensued with multiple players in the middle of it, appearing to start when Ajago made contact with Ycaza, earning him the red card.
Up a man, Charleston pushed forward heavily for a late winner. Substitutes Langston Blackstock and Alec Hughes both recorded shots on target in the 82nd and 85th minutes, respectively, but both were saved.
The game’s last shot was a narrowly wide effort by Wilmer Cabrera in the 99th minute.
Charleston were forced to share the points with Sacramento in the end after the 1-1 draw. The result extends Charleston’s undefeated run at home to 22 games in regular season play.
The Battery’s record moves to 8W-5L-3D (27pts) following the result, placing them in second place in the Eastern Conference table, as of writing.
Additionally, Charleston have won nine points from losing positions in the USL Championship this season, only Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (10), the Battery’s next opponent, have recovered more.
Charleston hit the road for their next match, against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on July 25. The Battery’s next home game will be on Sat., Aug. 1, against Brooklyn FC. Tickets for the match are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups:
CHS – Zamudio, Messer, Akpunonu, Suber, Martínez (Cabrera, 84’), Pakhomov (Kissiedou, 66’), Ycaza, Kelly, Berry, Foster (Blackstock, 66’), Swan (Hughes, 76’)
SAC – Vitiello, Essel, Desmond, Timmer, Gurr, Kaye, Casas (Crisostomo, 66’), Malango (Wolff, 66’), Rodríguez (Midence, 87’), Willey (Ukaegbu, 79’), Ajago
Scoring Summary:
SAC – Forster Ajago, 48’ (Jared Timmer)
CHS – Emilio Ycaza, 73’