CHARLESTON, S.C. – Tommy Williamson scored an equalizer late as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC earned a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery on Wednesday afternoon at Patriots Point after the hosts had seen Geobel Perez put them ahead early in the first half.

Looking to bounce back from defeat last time out, the Battery got out to an ideal start as Geobel Perez scored his first goal for the club in the ninth minute. The hosts sprang forward quickly into attack through Nicque Daley, who played the Cuban forward in toward the top of the penalty area, and while Perez’s initial shot was blocked by onrushing Hounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, the carom came straight back to Perez and allowed him to carry the ball through and finish into an open net.

Geobel Perez then made crucial intervention at the defensive end as off a Pittsburgh corner kick from the right by Kenardo Forbes teammate Mekeil Williams rose highest to head toward the right side of the net. Perez was stationed on the post and flicked a header up and over the crossbar to clear the danger.

The Battery tried to add to their lead as the opening half went on as first Claudio Repetto was denied from a narrow angle on the left side of the penalty area before Daley sent a finish just wide of the right post as Vitiello closed down the angle well at the top-left edge of the penalty area. The Hounds almost leveled just before halftime, too, as Alex Dixon corkscrewed a cross-shot from the left that hit the crossbar before being cleared behind for a corner kick, leaving Charleston ahead at the break.

The Hounds threatened again three minutes into the second half as a sharp passing move around the penalty area saw Dixon find Cicerone as he cut to the center of the penalty area for a first-time shot that was kept out by an outstanding low one-handed save from Kuzminsky. The Battery then thought they had added a second as Repetto headed home a free kick in the 65th minute only for the offside flag to be raised.

Pittsburgh had another big opportunity moments later as Louis Perez cut past a defender on the left side and delivered a cross to the back post that Todd Wharton headed back toward the left corner, only to see it slide wide of the post. Cicerone then tried a chipped finish with 20 minutes to go from the top-left edge of the penalty area that sailed just over the crossbar.

With five minutes to go, however, the Hounds found an equalizer. Williamson began the play, clipping a backheeled pass through two defenders on the left flank for Louis Perez as he cut through. Louis Perez’s cross was blocked at the near post, but rebounded to Williamson, who fired through traffic from the left side of the penalty area into the right corner of the net.

Williamson set up a potential winner two minutes later as he clipped a cross from the left that Dikwa attempted to steer home with an overhead kick only to see the ball slip wide of the right post. The Battery also threatened moments later as Temi Adesodun got onto a short back-pass but was denied a clear shot as Vitiello came quickly off his line to block the ball out of play.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Geobel Perez, Charleston Battery – Geobel Perez scored the opening goal for Charleston and then made a decisive defensive play with a goal line clearance, and finished the game with three shots while completing 10 of 11 passes and winning 6 of 10 duels.

Scoring Summary
CHS – Geobel Perez 9’
PIT – Tommy Williamson 85’

Full Box Score