LAS VEGAS – The Charleston Battery hit the jackpot with a 0-2 road win over Las Vegas Lights FC in Week 26 of the USL Championship regular season at Cashman Field on Saturday. Maalique Foster led the way for the Battery with his brace, and goalkeeper John Berner posted his second consecutive clean sheet to earn Charleston a crucial three points on the road.
Charleston kicked off against Las Vegas for the final scheduled meeting in Cashman Field history and, in doing so, a pair of individual milestones were achieved. Graham Smith recorded his 200th career appearance in the USL Championship regular season, and Head Coach Ben Pirmann coached in his 200th career game across the Championship regular season and playoffs.
The hosts issued an early warning shot when Johnny Rodriguez ripped an attempt off the crossbar in the 2nd minute, but the game remained scoreless.
Charleston responded with pressure on the other end. Miguel Berry nearly had a close-range look on goal in the 14th minute, but his touch proved too heavy, and goalkeeper Charlie Lanphier claimed the ball before the strike could make an attempt. Jeremy Kelly and Laurent Kissiedou fired in shots from outside the box that went wide in the 21st and 23rd minutes, respectively.
The Battery opened the scoring in the 40th minute when Maalique Foster slid in for the goal to put the visitors up 0-1. Langston Blackstock provided the service from the left flank, and his cross avoided all the traffic inside the box to meet Foster at the far post, who was making a run toward goal. Foster evaded his marker and slid in for the finish.
Foster’s goal was his 10th of the year across all competitions, and his eighth in league play, the most on the team. Blackstock’s assist was his first of the season.
Las Vegas quickly responded by threatening on the other end. Patrick Leal nearly equalized in the 41st minute if not for a spectacular save by goalkeeper John Berner, who got a paw on the ball at the last second to deflect the header.
Smith then made a crucial block in the 45th minute to deny Oalex Anderson from inside the box.
Charleston took the 0-1 lead into halftime. Both sides recorded one shot on target each.
Play resumed in the second half with Charleston aiming to preserve their lead and carry the momentum from the first stanza.
Foster doubled down and scored his second goal of the night to put Charleston ahead, 0-2, in the 59th minute. The initial counterattack was instigated by Foster, whose intervention at midfield led to a turnover that fell to Miguel Berry. From there, Berry led the charge forward toward goal, and his hold-up play enabled Foster to catch up and make a run into the final third. Berry laid it off to Foster around the edge of the box, and Foster’s first-time strike was right on the money.
Foster’s goal brings his total to 11 in 2026, and ninth in Championship play, adding to his single-season career-best mark. Berry’s assist was his seventh of the year across all competitions.
Las Vegas, again, were eager to respond to Foster’s goal and picked up the tempo on the other end. Abraham Okyere smashed the post in the 79th minute in the hosts’ closest look of the half.
Charleston saw out the 0-2 victory from there, securing a crucial three points on the road and in their final visit to Cashman Field. With the win last Monday, the triumph also completed the rare feat of a six-point week for Charleston.
The Battery’s win advances their record to 12W-7L-3D (39pts), placing them second in the Eastern Conference table.
Head Coach Ben Pirmann marked his 200th career match in the USL Championship regular season and playoffs with a win, improving his managerial record to 109W-50L-41D.
With the brace, Maalique Foster has scored 11 goals across all competitions this year, adding to his career best for a single season. Additionally, his nine goals in league play now lead the team and place him in the top-10 of the Championship Golden Boot race.
Joey Akpunonu and Graham Smith led the game in clearances with a best and second-best total of eight and six, respectively.
Houssou Landry posted a match-high eight duels won, along with four clearances and three recoveries.
John Berner recorded three saves, one punch and six recoveries en route to his second consecutive clean sheet in league play, bringing his shutout total to four on the year across all competitions.
Charleston’s next match will be on Wed., Sept. 2, against Hartford Athletic, as the club hosts Pups at the Pitch at Patriots Point. Fans will be welcome to bring their dogs with them to the game, and tickets for the match are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups:
LV: Lanphier, Sessock (Pope, 76’), Jones, Guillén, Antonoglou, Pinzón, Leal (Okyere, 58’), Locker (Arteaga, 58’), Probo, Rodriguez (Mines, 76’), Anderson
CHS: Berner, Houssou (Martinez, 63’), Akpunonu, Smith, Suber, Blackstock (Cabrera, 73’), Kissiedou (Allan, 83’), Ycaza, Foster (Messer, 73’), Kelly (Pakhomov, 74’), Berry
Scoring Summary:
- CHS – Maalique Foster, 40’ (Langston Blackstock)
- CHS – Maalique Foster, 59’ (Miguel Berry)