MIAMI – The Charleston Battery concluded their two-game road trip on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw with Miami FC. Patrick Hogan scored his first professional career goal in the first half, but an equalizer from Miami’s Lamar Walker in the second half canceled Hogan’s efforts and saw the evening’s points split. The Battery will win both road results and return home to meet the New York Red Bulls II on Wednesday.

First half:

After nearly an hour and a half late to kick-off due to bad weather in the Miami area, both sides showed they were eager to get the game started from the start. The battery pressed early with three attempts and a corner kick in the first six minutes, although none converted. Miami threatened at the other end with a shot from Christiano François in the 8th minute which was eventually saved by Joe Kuzminsky. The hosts nearly scored a mistake from Kuzminsky whose touch inside the 6-yard box went straight to Billy Forbes, but Forbes couldn’t get his shot beyond effort. of Kuzminsky’s backup.

Charleston would strike first in the 14th minute after a Zeiko Lewis corner kick, Patrick Hogan scoring his first professional goal to make it 0-1. Lewis’s cross was well placed at the near post and Hogan was the tallest at the ball, sending him past goalkeeper Connor Sparrow’s dive. Josh Penn looked to add a second goal moments later, but Sparrow was there to make the save. Miami continued to push for an equalizer after Hogan’s goal. Callum Chapman-Page nearly did this within half an hour after a corner kick, sending a dangerous header that was saved by Kuzminsky over the bar.

Miami would have a few more opportunities on the corner as half played out but failed to find an equalizer. In the first 45 minutes, the Battery retained a slim possession majority (52.1%) and dominated Miami (8-5).

Second part:

Halftime started with a threat from Miami outside the gate, winning a corner kick in the first minute of the action resuming with another Chapman-Page header coming just over the top of the door. cross-bar. The hosts came close again in the 53rd minute with a Devon Williams shot that hit the right post. Lamar Walker, entering the game off the bench, started making his presence felt with a pair of blocked shots in the 58th, stopped by Hogan, and in the 64th minute as Miami advanced to equalize. Walker successfully converted in the 67th minute following a forward orchestrated by Ariel Martinez, who was credited with the assist, to bring the score to 1-1.

As the game progressed, the intensity also increased, as the two teams battled to break the deadlock in search of three points. Despite Miami’s advances, Battery’s defense remained determined to deny them a second score. Leland Archer showed his pace against Josh Perez of Miami in the 72nd minute as Perez made a breakaway towards Kuzminsky. Archer grabbed Perez inside the box and stopped the attacker in his tracks, negating the threat completely. Penn looked to help Charleston’s effort for another goal in the 85th minute, but Sparrow was there for the save. Kuzminsky came out on top in the 89th minute with a clutch save on a Callum-Page header, hitting a ball that appeared to be en route to the back of the net.

Kuzminsky’s intervention was followed by a quick shot from Martinez that hit the bar before Jarad van Schaik kicked the ball out of play. Martinez provided Miami’s last promising opportunity during stoppage time with a shot from inside the box, but Archer was again there to deny the hosts.

Drums head coach Michael Anhaeuser delivered his verdict on the game, crediting the team with a good start after the delayed kick-off to wrap up the road trip.

“It was the opposite of Wednesday [against Atlanta], we played a very good first half, we kept [Miami] on their heels ”, said Anhaeuser. “The second half, [Miami] made some adjustments. We could see our legs, on a second road game, getting a little heavy. If we could have kept the score 0-1 for about five or ten more minutes, I think we could have been in good shape. “

Coach Anhaeuser was proud of his defense for standing firm after the Miami goal by preserving a point of the game.

“[Miami] scored the goal like they have in the past, but we didn’t give up the second goal like the last time we were here, so you get the positive from that ”, said Anhaeuser. “It’s a tough place to come in and play, so we’ll take the point.”

Battery forward Zeiko Lewis said the team will now look to build on Miami’s result after the tough away position.

“It was a tough point, I think we started very strong but we faded as the match progressed”, Lewis said. “We were able to withstand the pressure Miami put on us in the second half, but a point against a very good Miami team is something we can be proud of and we continue to learn and grow in the next game.”

For drums, attention now turns to Wednesday’s home encounter with the New York Red Bulls II.

“We got two points on a two game road trip, we will regroup and it will be a big game for us on Wednesday” said Anhaeuser.

The point obtained on Saturday night places the Battery in fifth place in the Atlantic division standings. The Blacks and Yellows will look to continue climbing the standings as they return home on Wednesday, September 22 for the fourth and final fight against the New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. EST.