Monday, August 24
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Miami FC fell 5-0 to Charleston Battery on Monday night at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium in a USL Championship matchup that saw Miami play the majority of the contest with 10 men.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, August 22, the match was postponed due to severe weather in the Charleston area and rescheduled for Monday night.
Charleston opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Miguel Berry played Maalique Foster through on goal, with Foster finishing into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
The complexion of the match changed in the 35th minute when Miami forward Denilson Milanes was shown a red card, leaving the visitors to play the remainder of the night with 10 men.
Charleston took advantage of the extra man just before halftime. In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Jeremy Kelly found Berry inside the box, and the forward converted to send the Battery into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Miami made adjustments at halftime, bringing on Joel Soñora and Harwan Alzubaidi as the visitors looked to manage the match while playing a man down. Charleston, however, struck shortly after the restart, with Berry scoring his second of the night in the 47th minute.
The Battery added another in the 62nd minute when Graham Smith converted from close range following a corner kick.
Despite the deficit, Miami continued to battle and goalkeeper Eloy Room was called into action several times throughout the second half. Room made saves against Langston Blackstock, Alec Hughes, Chris Allan and Wilmer Cabrera as Charleston continued to apply pressure.
The hosts completed the scoring in the 86th minute when Hughes headed home a cross from Emilio Ycaza to make it 5-0.
Miami continued looking for a response through the final whistle, with Joel Soñora forcing Charleston goalkeeper John Berner into a save in the 90th minute before Alessandro Milesi saw a late effort blocked in stoppage time.
Miami FC will now turn its attention back home, where it will host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, September 5 at Pitbull Stadium.
