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Battery Pull Away to Defeat Rowdies

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 07/01/17, 10:32PM EDT

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Williams scores 14th of the season in 2-0 victory for Charleston


Photo courtesy Zach Bland / Charleston Battery

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Romario Williams scored his 14th goal of the season as the Charleston Battery scored twice in the second half to take a 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday night. Neither side was able to create much in attack until late in the first half, when Charleston’s Tah Brian Anunga and Ataullah Guerra both forced good saves from Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens. The Rowdies didn’t threaten greatly in the first half, but went close to taking the lead shortly after the break as a turning shot by Darwin Jones was saved by Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper. But while Tampa Bay had the upper hand in terms of possession in the second half, the Battery took the lead with 20 minutes to go as a perfect pass by Maikel Chang played Romario Williams in behind the defense, and he rounded Pickens before finishing into an open net. The Battery doubled their lead 11 minutes later as a turnover was seized upon by Chang, and he played in Heviel Cordoves for a simple finish to the left corner. Rowdies midfielder Joe Cole had an effort blocked with four minutes to go, and then couldn’t find the target two minutes later, as Tampa Bay looked to get back into the game, but the Battery held firm to claim another big win.

Scoring: 
70’ – CHS – Romario Williams (Maikel Chang)
81’ – CHS – Heviel Cordoves (Maikel Chang)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. The Battery continued to push forward at the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to two late goals after a game that was tight throughout, but saw a pair of fine finishes earn the hosts the victory. Charleston is now starting to put space between everyone except for second-place Louisville City FC, with Charleston now 10 points clear of a Tampa Bay side that entered the weekend in third position. The Battery will miss the presence of Romario Williams as he departs for CONCACAF Gold Cup duty on Sunday, but you figure the side won’t fall too far from the standard it has set this season.

  • 2. The most interesting matchup in the contest was that between Jamaica teammates Romario Williams of the Battery and Damion Lowe, who will both join up with the Reggae Boyz for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup tomorrow ahead of the tournament’s opening night on Friday. For the most-part, it was Lowe who held the upper hand against the USL’s leading scorer as he limited Williams’ clear looks on goal with some timely challenges and interceptions. But with 20 minutes to go, and Lowe caught upfield after joining an attack, Williams struck with a calmly taken finish for his league-leading 14th goal of the season that proved the impetus for the Battery to claim victory.

  • 3. A second consecutive defeat, which left the Rowdies seven games without a win, makes Thursday night’s game with FC Cincinnati arguably a make-or-break moment for Tampa Bay. Saturday saw the start of the second half of the season for the Rowdies, with the teams directly behind them starting the queue up with games in hand. The team’s last victory, against Toronto FC II on May 19, is feeling a very long time ago.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery – Chang provided the assist on both Battery goals, playing perfectly-weighted passes to provide the platform for two fine finishes.

Upcoming Games:
Charleston Battery
vs. Louisville City FC – July 8, 7 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. FC Cincinnati – July 6, 8 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium

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