CHARLESTON, South Carolina, CMC – Reggae Boy Romario Williams struck twice to move his tally for the season to a league-leading 10 goals but Eastern Conference leaders Charleston Battery conceded three second-half goals as Louisville City FC held them to a pulsating 4-4 draw in the United Soccer League last weekend.
Playing at the MUSC Health Stadium here, the 22-year-old Jamaican notched goals in the 11th and 32nd minute to help the hosts take a 2-1 lead at half-time but they shipped goals in the last half-hour to squander a chance to extend their lead at the top.
Charleston, who have now won just two of their last five outings, have 24 points and are two clear of Tampa Bay Rowdies, with Louisville fourth on 16 points.
In a game of virtually end-to-end action, Williams opened the scoring when he got on to the end of a well-timed through ball into the eight-yard box from Kotario Higashi, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in from the tightest of angles on the left.
He doubled Charleston’s lead just after the half-hour mark with one of the more memorable goals of the season.
Collecting a loose ball just beyond the half-way line, Williams ran at the Louisville defence before unleashing a right-footed thunderbolt from the top of the 18-yard box which gave custodian Gregory Ranjitsingh little chance.
Oscar Jimenez pulled one back for Louisville in first half stoppage but when midfielder Maikel Chang scored three minutes into the second half, Charleston appeared to have the game done and dusted.
George Davis IV struck for the visitors on the hour mark and even though Ricky Garbanzo restored Charleston’s two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute, Brian Ownby’s 79th minute strike and Forrest Lasso’s own goal three minutes later, earned a determined Louisville a share of the points.
