MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Nashville SC controlled the run of play, with 61.7% of possession and a 10-4 shot advantage, but Charleston Battery made the most of its opportunities in the first half of third-round US Open Cup play. Soccer is a game of moments, and the Battery found theirs.
Striker Nicque Daley got the visitors on board from a counter-attack sprung by wingback Romario Piggott. Daley’s right-footed goal on the break popped over the shoulder of Nashville keeper Connor Sparrow and found twine.
Nashville would pour on the pressure later in the half, with a number of dangerous chances from leading scorer Daniel Ríos and attacking midfielder Lebo Moloto, but the Boys in Gold couldn’t find the equalizer, and go into the half down a goal. Charleston keeper Phil Breno made a pair of saves, four Nashville shots were blocked before reaching frame, and four more were off-target.
The late stages of the half got chippy, with Charleston taking offense to Nashville’s playing on when a Battery player was down on the turf. A hard tackle from behind on Nashville’s Alan Winn earned defender Jarad van Schaik a yellow card for the Battery – and started a fracas between the two sides.
Things settled down – but Nashville’s in dire need of finding the tying goal.
Starting lineups
Match events
- 24′ CHS GOAL – 29 Nicque Daley (right foot), assisted by 8 Romario Piggott
- 45’+1 – CHS Yellow card – 14 Jarad van Schaik (foul)
- 45’+3 – Half time
