Miami, Fla. (Wednesday, July 13) – The Miami Football Club defeated Charleston Battery by minimal difference on Wednesday night. Jamaican striker Romeo Parkes scored the only goal of the outing early on to give Miami FC its third home win of the season.
Miami ended a six home drought at home with the 1-0 victory. Now, the Orange and Blue are two points away from sixth place Birmingham Legion, who clash against Sacramento Republic FC in California on Saturday.
Starting XI vs. Charleston Battery
Head coach Anthony Pulis changed things after a negative result against Pittsburgh Riverhounds last weekend. Left-back Othello Bah, center-back Benjamin Ofeimu, attacking midfielder Florian Valot and forward Romeo Parkes returned to the starting lineup.
Match Breakdown
Parkes found the back of the net in the opening five minutes of the match to give Miami FC an early lead. In detail, Valot threaded a ball behind defenders and into the Jamaican’s path. The Reggae Boy took two touches toward the goal before firing a powerful shot past goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux and into the goal.
Forward Lamar Walker attempted to double Miami’s lead. However, a shot from up close went wide, and an attempt from a long distance ended up in Fauroux’s gloves.
Charleston dominated possession in the latter part of the first half, hitting the frame of the goal twice in the span of ten minutes. Nonetheless, the Orange and Blue returned to the locker room up 1-0 at the half.
The two teams tussled for the first 35 minutes of the half, failing to create clear goalscoring opportunities. Right-back Mark Segbers re-ignated the attacking action in the 82nd minute where he intercepted a pass, beat five defenders and dished a pass wide to Valot. Unfortunately, the Frenchman shot the ball over the bar with his left foot.
Miami went forward with numbers again in the 85th minute. This time, Rivas found space in the 18-yard-box. The Salvadoran beat a defender and sent a low-driven cross to midfielder Richard Ballard, who was not able to wrap his foot around the ball as he attacked it.
Miami FC 1-0 Charleston Battery: Match Notes
- Parkes’ goal is the earliest goal Miami FC has scored this season. It only took three minutes-and-four seconds for the ball to go past the goal line.
- Valot registered his fifth assist of the campaign. As a result, the 29-year-old is now the lone assist leader on the roster.
- Parkes and Valot combined for a goal for the second time this year. Their first goal combination unfolded in a 2-1 home loss against Colorado Springs Switchbacks in April.
- Goalkeeper Connor Sparrow claimed his eighth clean sheet of the year. The 28-year-old leads the league in shutouts along with El Paso’s Evan Newton.
Up Next for Miami FC
Miami FC travels to the West Coast to face Orange County on Saturday. The Orange and Blue look to record their first point against a Western Conference side, falling to four cross-conference opponents this year.
