The Battery put one in the net before the 30th minute for the first time this season, but it was not enough to earn three points on the road. The Charlotte Independence managed to score late in the second half in front of 3,312 fans at the Sportsplex in Matthews — their largest regular season crowd in club history — to draw even with the Battery 1–1.

Coach Mike Anhaeuser made four roster changes from last week’s starting XI for this Southern Derby clash. A healthy Ataulla “The Slayer” Guerra and O’Brian “Obi” Woodbine returned to the XI, along with defender Skylar Thomas. Angelo Kelly made his first USL start in the midfield, starting in place of the injured Vincenzo Candela.

Charlotte attempted to strike early. In the sixth minute, Kay Voser sent a cross in from the right side to a leaping Eamon Zayed, whose header was deflected over the crossbar by a fully outstretched GI Joe Kuzminsky. It would be Charlotte’s only shot on target in the first half, as Zayed’s next attempt would be called offside in the 23rd minute.

The Battery outplayed Charlotte throughout the game’s opening half. In the 18th minute, Kotaro Higashi played Guerra at the top of the 18. Guerra found Jarad van Schaik running up the left side and his cross into the box went past Bilal Duckett and found Gordon Wild. Wild’s shot off his left foot through two Charlotte defenders was just wide of the left post.

In the 25th minute, Thomas drove the ball up the right side all the way to the center line unopposed. He sent his long pass past the Charlotte front line and midfield to Wild, who met the ball 25 yards out from goal. Wild dished off to Guerra who drove left at the top of the 18, bringing two Charlotte defenders with him. Guerra made quick work of Lee Jung-Soo and then megged Duckett to find Higashi darting in from the right side. Higashi, who managed to get past Donnie Smith, used his left foot to meg Charlotte goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra for the game’s opening tally.

Not only was this Higashi’s first USL goal, but as we said, it was also the first time the Battery have scored before the 30th minute all season.

Charlotte made two substitutions, at the 45th minute and 52nd minute, trying to adjust and counter the Battery. While Charlotte would command more possession than the Battery in the second half, it did not stop the Battery from getting shots on target.

In the 54th, Guerra’s header at the center line found Wild, who drove up the left side in a breakaway and sent a rocket from atop the 18 into the side netting, narrowly missing for the second time.

The Battery’s remaining attempts to score would be halted by the assistant referee, with four of the six offside calls coming against the Battery late in the second half.

Charlotte, which ended up with 63.1 percent possession for the night, could not drive the ball into the attacking third with any success. The only real attempt in the second half came in the 79th minute. Zayed’s pass on the right side to Jorge Herrera inside the box was intercepted by Neveal Hackshaw. Zayed managed to wrangle the ball back from Hackshaw and get it to Mutaya Mwape. Mwape’s high cross came from just inside the right side of the 18.

His equalizer would drop like a split finger fast ball right into the back left corner of the net.

The Battery were not able to score in the six minutes of stoppage time allocated by referee Rubiel Vazquez, and the match ended 1–1.

By the numbers

Tah Brian Anunga led all Battery players in passing with 50 total passes. Kelly had impressive stats in his first start with 40 passes and an 87.5 percent PA, and winning eight duels.

The back line once again shut down and frustrated the opposing team. Charlotte was unable to drive the ball effectively, thanks in no small part to Anunga’s seven interceptions and six tackles.

Match summary

In Defense of Charleston

Kotaro Higashi : Higashi sliced and diced his way through the attacking third all night and managed to score his first USL goal with the nutmeg.

: Higashi sliced and diced his way through the attacking third all night and managed to score his first USL goal with the nutmeg. Tah Brian Anunga: Anunga’s offensive performance speaks for itself weekly, however his defensive performance frustrated Alex Martinez and Jorge Herrera, much to the delight of the Battery faithful who trekked up to Charlotte to cheer on the Black and Yellow.

Box score

Charleston Battery — 1

Richmon Kickers — 1

Goals

25' — Charleston — Kotaro Higashi (Assist: Ataulla Guerra)

79' — Charlotte— Mutaya Mwape

Match highlights

Up next

The Battery return home to Charleston Saturday, June 23, for a World Cup Watch Party and a meeting with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in an Old Guard Shield match.

World Cup matches will be shown in the Three Lions Pub — South Korea vs. Mexico at 11 a.m. and Germany vs. Sweden at 2 p.m. Regiment tailgate starts at 4:30 p.m. and kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at MUSC Health Stadium.

Fireworks will follow the match and we’ll wrap up with karaoke in the Three Lions Pub after the fireworks. Tickets are only $10 with code CURTIS and are available online.