SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 31, 2024) – The Charleston Battery played San Antonio FC to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Toyota Field. The hosts were in dire need of a result to keep their playoff hopes alive and jumped ahead 1-0 shortly after halftime. However, a sensational goal from long range by Juan David Torres in the 84th minute earned the Battery a point in Texas.
It was a rather nervous start for both sides, as Nathan Dossantos picked up the first yellow card of the night just two minutes into the game while San Antonio’s Burá was booked in the 7th minute. Charleston held over 67% possession and recorded four shots through the first 15 minutes.
As the half wore on, both defenses firmed up as neither offense managed to create promising chances in the final third. No shots were registered for nearly 20 minutes in the middle of the half.
Goalkeeper Adam Grinwis made a crucial save in the third minute of stoppage time to keep the hosts off the board. Grinwis went full-stretch on his dive to deny Luis Solignac.
The first stanza would end all square and scoreless. A total of four yellow cards were shown in the first half, two to each side.
Play resumed with Grinwis being tested immediately by the hosts. The goalkeeper made another sensational diving save, this time in the 47th minute on Nelson Flores’ shot.
San Antonio managed to take the lead in the 51st minute via Jorge Hernandez to make the score 1-0.
The Battery were quick to fight back in search of an equalizer. A contentious moment came in the 62nd minute when MD Myers was clipped in the box by goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega while going for the ball, but no penalty call was given despite appeals from Charleston. Myers was the only one to make contact with the ball.
After knocking on the door several times, Charleston pulled level in the 84th minute with Juan David Torres’ missile off a free kick from roughly 30 yards out. Torres’ goal went to the top corner, beating the reach of the newly substituted goalkeeper, Brandon Gongora.
The goal was the fourth of the season, all of which have come from outside the box.
Jackson Conway nearly gave the Battery the lead just minutes later, but his header was saved by Gongora.
Charleston ramped up the pressure in search of a winner with at least nine minutes of stoppage time added. Their best look came in the 99th minute when Torres caught San Antonio off guard with another free kick, this time delivering service to Nick Markanich. However, Markanich’s header went just fractionally wide of the frame.
The 1-1 scoreline held through the end of the additional stoppage time incurred during the initial slate of added minutes. Both sides walked away with a point after having a number of chances to grab a winner. The Battery held about 70% possession over the course of the match.
The result moves Charleston’s record to 15W-4L-8D (53pts), placing them second in the Eastern Conference.
Midfielder Jay Chapman turned in a quality night on the stat sheet, leading the match in tackles won (three), interceptions (three), duels won (seven) and accurate passes (81).
The night was also a notable one for Battery captain Leland Archer, who made his 150th USL Championship regular season appearance.
