Crew SC tied the USL's Charleston Battery, 1-1, in a Wednesday Carolina Challenge Cup match.

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – There was some good for Crew SC in its second Carolina Challenge Cup match – stretches of good ball movement and a strong cross from Nicolai Naess on a free kick that led to a Charleston own goal.

There was some bad, including a few untimely fouls and lapses, particularly in the first half, that allowed Charleston to sneak behind Crew SC’s back line.

There was also a little bit of new.

In the second half, the Crew, which changed out most of its lineup, came out in a 3-4-2-1 (which at times looks a lot like a 3-4-3), giving viewers a look at a much anticipated three-in-the-back formation.

From goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s perspective, the back line consisted of center backs Nicolai Naess, Lalas Abubakar and Josh Williams from right to left, with Connor Maloney playing right wing back and Jukka Raitala playing left wing back.

“In the second half, I thought it was pretty good. I thought it was good,” Berhalter said of the formation. “I think we still need to work with that wide center back, how he engages the attackers and being stronger, but I thought it was pretty good.”

First-half defense

Charleston slipped behind the Crew SC defense a couple times in the first half.

Romario Williams had a strong chance at a goal in the 20th minute, but missed just wide of the left post. Five minutes later, Forrest Lasso got enough space in the box to head in a corner kick for Charleston’s only goal.

In the 40th minute, Ataulla Guerra received a pass from Williams and had what looked like a clean look at a second goal, but a referee raised his flag to rule Guerra offside.

A back line of Hector Jimenez, Jonathan Mensah, Alex Crognale and Harrison Afful has not played together – and likely won’t in coming matches – contributing in part to some miscommunication, Berhalter said.

“We had different personnel playing together for the first time and we mixed it up a little with the group,” Berhalter said. “I think there was a little miscommunication, but also give (Charleston) credit for a couple nice moves.”

Mensah, who played the first half, produced a couple nice highlights, including a well-timed tackle of O’Brian Woodbine on the far side that cut short a decent Charleston chance in the 18th minute.

Field moisture

Berhalter attributed a slower-paced first half at least in part to a dry Charleston Battery field.

“What I’d say is we talked to the organization before the game about wetting the field,” Berhalter said. “I think everyone wants to see a fast-paced, exciting game and, you know, when the field’s bone dry and it’s sunny, you can’t move the ball fast enough, and I think that was an issue especially in the first half.”

The field’s condition improved in the second half, Berhalter said.

“Yeah, it helped, certainly,” he said. “It was a more entertaining game in the second half, and that’s what people want to see. To me, it should be normal that you wet the field under those conditions.”

Niko Hansen just missed netting the Crew’s first goal about 10 minutes into the second half, instead ringing the far post.

He didn’t want to complain – he said both teams had to play on the same pitch – but said the lack of moisture continued into the second half, the half in which he played.

“I still kind of felt the dryness,” he said. “At times, it felt like it was holding up a little bit on some of the through balls where, you know, had it been wet it would’ve gone through a little better.”

Crew SC dominated possession in the second half, and despite better ball movement, had just a free kick own goal created by Naess to show for it. Berhalter said it was due, at least in part, to a Battery formation that was bunched up near the back throughout the match.

“I mean, listen, they were very compact in both halves. They had 10 to 11 men behind the ball at all times and it became an exercise in ‘How can we break them down?’” he said. “To be honest, they did a good job. We give them credit, we weren’t precise enough in the first half but we created some chances and we can live with it.”

Oh captain

It still means very little at this point, but Harrison Afful wore the captain’s armband for Crew SC in the first half.

When Afful came off at halftime, Josh Williams wore the armband in the second half. Justin Meram wore the armband in the Crew’s CCC opener on Saturday against Atlanta.

To recap: Four halves, three captains, and a captain decision that won’t be made until next week.

Kamara out

Forward Ola Kamara watched Wednesday’s game from the stands and has not played in either of the Crew’s Carolina Challenge Cup matches to this point.

Berhalter said Kamara suffered a slight concussion during the team’s training camp at SuperKick in Lewis Center last week.

“He’s on the protocol and he’s doing really well,” Berhalter said.

Joining Kamara in the stands were Waylon Francis and Abuchi Obinwa, neither of whom has played in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

Twenty-one players touched the field for Crew SC, with Adam Jahn playing a full game and Tony Tchani playing in both halves.

@AEricksonCD