With only seven matches left in the season, the Charleston Battery need wins to lock up a playoff spot and home field advantage as a top four seed in the Eastern Conference. But this week held two games and two draws for the Battery, who tied Louisville City 2–2 in Southern Indiana Saturday night.

And, for the second game in a row, there was a questionable call from the referee.

In the 77th minute, with the game tied 2–2, Charleston’s Ataulla Guerra put a ball into the box that hit Louisville City’s Paco Craig in the arm, but head referee Kevin Broadley waved off the handball. Jay Bolt had a chance to put the deflected ball in the back of the net but his attempt was saved.

With the draw, Charleston still sits in fourth place in the USL Eastern Conference, three points ahead of fifth place Bethlehem Steel.

With O’Brian Woodbine, Jarad van Schaik and Victor Mansaray unavailable and Tah Brian Anunga idle with a one-match suspension for his red card last Saturday night, coach Mike Anhaeuser made three roster changes. Vincenzo Candela started in place of Anunga, Skylar Thomas replaced Leland Archer on the back line and Odisnel “Super” Cooper donned the red kit in goal.

After a 30-minute weather delay, the Battery lined up on the water-logged modified baseball field. True to SNST’s pre-match prediction, Louisville City immediately took it to the Battery, firing three shots on goal and earning two corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes.

The Battery eventually settled down and countered and were for the most part successful in keeping the play at midfield and in Louisville City’s defensive half.

First half heat map

The Battery scored in the 15th minute on their first drive deep into the final third. Ataulla Guerra played a beautiful pass forward up the left side to Patrick Okonkwo, who broke free of the Louisville City defender and turned on the booster. The Atlanta United loanee got his shot off just past the pitcher’s mound, goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh lost his footing on the faux grass covering the infield, and Okonkwo’s shot found the back of the net for his third goal in two matches.

Louisville City answered quickly when Kyle Smith scooped up a loose ball just outside of the 18 and dished it off to Ilija Ilic. Ilic threaded a pass between defenders to Cameron Lancaster, who slotted the shot past Cooper and took the lead in the USL Golden Boot race with his 17th goal of the season.

The Battery answered Lancaster’s goal just three minutes later. In the 21st minute, Vincenzo Candela sliding kick just past midfield sent a high pop fly downfield to just outside the 18 on the left side. Guerra, who managed to get three steps in front of Smith, chased down the ball before Smith caught up to him just outside the six yard box on the far side. Guerra did Smith dirty, crossed him over and drove to the foul line before sending his cross off his left foot. Oscar Jimenez blew his coverage of Nico Rittmeyer, who sent the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides traded possession and shots on goal until late in the 38th minute. A foul on Lancaster earned Candela a yellow card, his fifth on the season, which means he will be out for this weekend’s match at home against Tampa Bay.

In the 41st minute, Louisville City equalized yet again. As Niall McCabe drove down outside the 18 on the left side, Lancaster dipped in between Taylor Mueller and Neveal Hackshaw. McCabe’s arcing cross got around a leaping Mueller and Lancaster got his head on the ball and sent it to the back of the far side post for his 18th goal of the season.

Louisville City came out in the second half much like the first, firing four shots on goal in the first 10 minutes after the break but failing to take the lead. The Battery tightened up the defensive shape and Louisville only managed to get seven out of 25 shots on target, three-quarters of those coming from distance. Cooper recorded five saves on the night.

USL #LOUvCHS Second Half Heatmap

Then came the controversy.

In the 77th minute, Kotaro Higashi drove into the box only to be caught in the middle of a Louisville City sandwich. Guerra was able to pick up the loose ball and sent a rocket towards the goal. The ball hit the arm of Craig inside the box near the spot, in clear sight of the referees and the USL cameras:

Broadley waved off the hand ball. Then Jay Bolt rushed in as Craig turned around looking for the loose ball. As Bolt lined up to take his shot, Craig came in with a sliding tackle that took the Battery player off his feet.

A penalty wasn’t awarded for either incident, leaving Battery fans (and Dante Marini near the Gatorade cooler) bewildered.

The match ended level at 2–2 and Louisville City remains unbeaten at home against the Battery.

Game notes

Atrocious officiating: Just as we were getting over last Saturday’s officiating fiasco , this match ripped off the Band-Aid and dowsed hydrogen peroxide on the wound. After missing the handball that all “7,000” fans in the baseball stadium, the broadcast announcers, and the SNST family all saw, the head ref also ignored the subsequent cleats-up tackle on Jay Bolt.

Just as we were getting over last Saturday’s , this match ripped off the Band-Aid and dowsed hydrogen peroxide on the wound. After missing the handball that all “7,000” fans in the baseball stadium, the broadcast announcers, and the SNST family all saw, the head ref also ignored the subsequent cleats-up tackle on Jay Bolt. Focused: The Battery need to remain focused nonetheless. Sitting on 45 points with seven matches remaining, and only seven points clear of 8th place, every point counts.

Match summary

In Defense of Charleston

Ataulla Guerra : The King of Charleston recorded both assists for the Battery after scoring a brace in the previous match. The veteran is unselfish with great vision and has proven to be a leader this season.

: The King of Charleston recorded both assists for the Battery after scoring a brace in the previous match. The veteran is unselfish with great vision and has proven to be a leader this season. Odisnel “Super” Cooper: Cooper recorded five saves on the night. The Cuban’s performance helped ensure the Battery were able to take a point away.

Box score

Charleston Battery — 2*

Louisville City FC — 2

Match Highlights

Up next

The Battery return home to host the Rowdies of St. Petersburg in one of the last four home matches of the regular season. Saturday night’s match will have special jerseys available for auction with all proceeds benefiting the North Charleston Cop Athletic Program.

As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to check back after the games for our Battery recaps, read all our Battery coverage here and follow Soccer ’n’ Sweet Tea on Twitter for all the latest Carolina soccer news.

Up the Battery!