Leading by two, Battery stumbles against Miami

Miami FC 3, Battery 2

MIAMI — Miami FC came from two goals down to beat the Charleston Battery, 3-2, on Sunday night at Tropical Park Stadium.

The loss leaves the Battery in 10th position in the USL First Division with one game remaining. Charleston is two points behind Miami which now holds the eighth and final playoff berth.

To make the playoffs, the Battery requires some help from the Carolina RailHawks, who must earn no more than two points from its two remaining games, combined with a Charleston win Friday over Puerto Rico.

Charleston started strong, and were two goals up after the first 15 minutes.

The first goal came from a free kick 20 yards out. Midfielder Stephen Armstrong rolled the ball to Ian Fuller, who set it for Armstrong to shoot. Armstrong hit a left-footed shot that curled around the wall and inside the far post.

The Battery's second goal also came from a free kick, this time with Armstrong acting as provider. Armstrong played a quick pass in behind the Miami defense to striker Aaron King, who took a touch then lashed the ball past goalkeeper Pat Hannigan into the goal.

Miami answered in the 22nd minute as Brazilian midfielder Zinho played a give-and-go with forward Eric Vasquez at the top of the box. Zinho ran onto the return pass and stroked the ball past a diving Dusty Hudock.

The tieing goal came at the half-hour mark after Battery defender Tim Karalexis brought down Vasquez inside the penalty-area. Vasquez fired the penalty kick past Hudock into the left corner of the goal.

As the game wore on, Charleston pressed forward looking for a winner. In the 86th minute the Battery appeared to have scored as the ball was headed at the goal from a corner kick. The ball bounced back off the far post then struck Hannigan, deflecting back towards the goal. Charleston's players appealed, but the referee ruled that the ball did not cross the line.

Miami scored the winning goal in stoppage time. The ball was crossed from the left side to forward Luichi Gonzales who directed a sharp header past Hudock.