On the cusp of extra time, the Charleston Battery escaped with a 2-1 win over the Charlotte Eagles, thanks to a 90th minute penalty kick by Osvaldo Alonso. In front of 1,411 at Blackbaud Stadium, Darren Spicer opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute, who recovered a rebound from Charlotte goalkeeper Terry Boss after a shot by Aaron King.
Charlotte answered back in the second half, as Jorge Herrera headed home a long throw-in from Ben Johnson in the 66th minute. As extra time seemed a given, Charleston’s Randi Patterson was brought down in the box, and referee Skye Arthur Banning awarded the spot kick. Alonso stepped up and beat Boss for the winning goal.
Charleston will host the defending MLS Champion Houston Dynamo in the Third Round next Tuesday at Blackbaud Stadium.
Charlotte Lineup
Keith Wiggans, Kevin Nylen (Tim Velten 67), Marco Reda (Brandon Curran 59), Nelson Akwari, Chris Corcoran, Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Richardson (Dominic Cianciarulo 89), Stephen Armstrong, Darren Spicer, Randi Patterson, Aaron King (Lazo Alavanja 59)
Players Not Used – Dusty Hudock, Lester More, Louie Rolko
SHOTS: 4; SAVES: 6 (Wiggans 6); FOULS: 15 (Patterson 3); CORNER KICKS: 2; OFFSIDES: 3; PENALTY KICKS: Alonso 90 (Goal); CAUTIONS: Nylen 54; EJECTIONS: (NONE)
Charleston Lineup
Terry Boss, Josh Rife, Steve Shak, Ben Johnson, Brady Bryant, Joe Kabwe, Darren Toby (Worteh Sampson 89), Jorge Herrera, Jonah Long (Ben Page 89), Dustin Swinehart, Rob Ssejjemba
Players Not Used – Kevin Trapp, Chris Klotz, Dan Harvey, Chad Smith, Taurai Daka
SHOTS: 7 (Swinehart 3); SAVES: 2 (Boss 2); FOULS: 9 (Bryant 2); CORNER KICKS: 8; OFFSIDES: 4; PENALTY KICKS: (NONE); CAUTIONS: Bryant 35, Swinehart 84; EJECTIONS: (NONE)
Referee – Skye Arthur Banning
Att – 1,411