Charleston Battery Defeats Rhode Island FC in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
The No. 2 seed Charleston Battery defeated No. 7 seed Rhode Island FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Friday night at Patriots Point after playing to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs, the USL Championship reported.
How the Penalty Shootout Decided the Match
Both teams converted their first three penalty attempts before Rhode Island’s Hugo Bacharach shot high in the fourth round. Rhode Island goalkeeper Koke Vegas then stopped Charleston’s Graham Smith with a save down the middle to keep the score level. Vegas converted his own attempt in the fifth round, followed by a successful shot from Charleston’s Laurent Kissiedou. Right before the shootout, Charleston brought on substitute goalkeeper John Berner, who denied Agustín Rodríguez. Jeremy Kelly then secured the victory for the Battery by shooting low to the left corner past Vegas.
Early Dominance and First-Half Goals
Rhode Island controlled the opening exchanges, taking the match’s first 10 shots. Leo Afonso tested Charleston starting goalkeeper Luis Zamudio with a long-range shot in the sixth minute, and Stas Korzeniowski subsequently volleyed over the crossbar from a Jojea Kwizera cross. In the 27th minute, referee whistles sounded for a penalty after Houssou Landry pulled down Grant Stoneman during a corner kick. Zamudio stopped Jojea Kwizera’s initial penalty kick, but the Rwandan international scored on the rebound to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Late Equalizer Extends Charleston’s Season
Trailing into the second half, Charleston raised its offensive pressure and outshot Rhode Island 11-2 after halftime, accumulating 22 touches inside the penalty area. Just past the hour mark, Colton Swan fired toward the far post, forcing a save from Vegas. In the closing stages, Laurent Kissiedou delivered a deep cross from the left wing to Miguel Berry at the back post. Although Berry’s initial header was blocked, he reacted quickly to poke the ball into the left side of the net, tying the match 1-1 and forcing extra time.
Extra Time Chances and Defensive Stops
Momentum shifted briefly to Rhode Island in extra time when Amos Shapiro-Thompson forced a wide parried save from Zamudio. Charleston countered with a low shot from Langston Blackstock that was also kept out by the defense. Berry missed a chance to win the match late in the second period of extra time by sending his finish wide, setting the stage for the decisive penalty shootout.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the Charleston Battery and Rhode Island FC match take place?
The Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff match took place on Friday night at Patriots Point in Charleston, South Carolina.
Who scored Rhode Island FC’s goal during regulation time?
Jojea Kwizera scored for Rhode Island FC in the 27th minute by putting in the rebound after his initial penalty kick was saved by Charleston goalkeeper Luis Zamudio.
Which goalkeeper made the decisive save in the penalty shootout?
Charleston substitute goalkeeper John Berner, brought on specifically for the shootout during extra time, stopped a penalty attempt from Agustín Rodríguez to set up the game-winning kick.