It took 74 minutes, but the Charleston Battery finally found the goal that would deny the El Paso Patriots another USL-1 scalp, beating the PDL side 1-0.
The Battery pressured El Paso all night, but the Patriots managed to survive most of the match with a clean sheet. In the first half, a header from Tim Karalexis found the post instead of the net. Mike Richardson also also found the woodwork with a shot from a Stephen Armstrong cross.
El Paso goalkeeper Jorge Muniz made several great saves in the second half to keep his team in the game, as well as several near misses from the Battery.
Charleston finally broke through with roughly fifteen minutes remaining. Lazo Alavanja swung a free kick that found Anthony Catalano, whose volley from inside the six-yard box beat a frozen Muniz.
El Paso very nearly sent the match to extra time in the dying seconds, however. After defender Brandon Curran slipped and fell, Omar Mora found himself one on one with Charleston GK Dusty Hudock. With Hudock closing in, Mora’s shot rolled just shy of the goalpost.
Scoring
(CHR) Anthony Catalano 75’