The Battery suffered a 4-1 defeat against defending back to back USL Championship champs, Louisville City FC at Slugger Field on Saturday night.
It was a night to forget as the Battery conceded a goal just three minutes into the match. George Davis IV scored his third goal of the season after getting onto the end of a low cross beating Kuzminsky to open the scoring.
Things would get worse for the Battery in the 19th minute as Kierron Mason picked up a straight red, conceding a penalty in the process. Mason turned the ball over and pulled Mkosana down in the box. Louisville would double their lead on the ensuing penalty, Magnus Rasmussen the goal scorer.
Charleston were forced to defend for the duration of the first half as Louisville controlled the flow of play. Niall McCabe assisted on the opening goal and provided Louisville with a chance to grab their third of the match in the 38th minute. After receiving a pass on the left flank, McCabe cut in on his right foot and found Rasmussen in the box who sent his first time shot wide of the left post.
Arthur Bosua would get a goal back for the Battery in the 50th minute following a corner kick. Ian Svantesson found space on the left side of the box and fired a shot that deflected off a Louisville defender resulting in the corner. Bosua rose above the Louisville defense beating Ben Lundt with a well-placed header to bring the Battery within one.
Rasmussen would force an own goal from the Battery following a corner kick in the 74th minute. Rasmussen struck a shot from the top right corner of the box deflecting off Romario Piggott and Dante Marini, beating Kuzminsky at the near post. McCabe would put the game out of reach scoring on a well struck free kick in the 87th minute.
Louisville would be reduced to nine men in the second minute of stoppage time after Paco Craig picked up his second yellow card of the match. Earlier in the match, Brian Ownby received a straight red card sixteen minutes after coming on as a substitute after an elbow to Vincenzo Candela.
The Battery return to action Saturday night against Birmingham Legion FC at 7:30 PM at MUSC Health Stadium. It’s Military Appreciation Night at the stadium with all current and former military and their families receiving complimentary tickets with a valid military I.D. Stick around after the match for fireworks on the pitch, tickets can be purchased at tickets.https://www.www.charlestonbattery.com or by calling (843) 971-GOAL.
BOX SCORE:
Louisville: Lundt, Jimenez (YC49’ Peay 77’), Francis, Souahy, Craig (YC 67’, YC (RC) 90+2), Williams, McCabe (goal 87’), DelPiccolo, Rasmussen (goal 21’), Davis IV (goal 3’, Ownby 63’, RC 79’), Mkosana (Spencer 71’)
Substitutes: Hubbard, Peay, Totsch, Dee, Jane, Ownby, Spencer
Charleston: Kuzminsky, van Schaik (86’ YC), Archer, Nelson, Rittmeyer (Piggott 58’), Mason (RC 19’), Candela, Marini (OG 74’), Higashi (Paterson 78’), Svantesson (Daley 65’), Bosua (goal 50’)
Substitutes: Breno, Piggott, Lewis, Anunga, Kelly, Daley, Paterson
Louisville Score Four Against 10-Man Charleston
