In a match that ended 4-4 after 120 minutes, it was Danny Mwanga who ended a ten round penalty shootout to give Orlando City SC a place in the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup.
The match was scoreless after 57 minutes, before Battery captain Jarad van Schaik would open the scoring from a corner kick taken by Justin Portillo, before Lewis Neal would even the score ten minutes later from a Tyler Turner cross. The game continued to amaze in the minutes that followed.
The first half was more about both teams keeping composure, and only really led to half chances. The first fell to Carlos Rivas, whose shot from the edge of the box was saved by Odisnel Cooper in goal for the Battery.
Navion Boyd played an excellent cross-field ball to Maikel Chang, who cut inside and had a shot, which was blocked, but popped out to Justin Portillo, whose shot was straight at Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr.
A free kick for Orlando after 14 minutes was deflected behind for a corner, which Sebastian Hines rose highest to meet but Odisnel Cooper sprawled out to keep the game scoreless.
A lose ball in midfield fell to Battery striker Dane Kelly, who took a rather rushed shot and saw his effort go over the bar.
A ball from Sebastian Hines after a half an hour was collected by Cooper, which led to a quick Battery counter. Navion Boyd was quickly in space down the side to put in a cross, but it was behind everyone.
Five minutes later, Dane Kelly dummied an O’Brien Woodbine through ball hoping to find Ricky Garbanzo, but the ball had too much pace on it.
Woodbine would play a cross-field ball to Maikel Chang, whose subsequent cross to Dane Kelly would go straight at ‘keeper Edwards.
Carlos Rivas would latch on to a cross-field ball after 39 minutes, but put his shot right at Odisnel Cooper.
Dane Kelly would have a shot on the stroke of half time, which was deflected behind for a corner, which was put straight in on the ‘keeper, but Edwards in the Orlando net would clear the ball out for a corner on the opposite side. This time taken by Justin Portillo, Dane Kelly would rise highest, and had his shot deflected by his own team-mate, Ricky Garbanzo, toward goal. Eric Avila, however, was there on the line to clear.
Sebastian Hines was there to clear a battery cross in stoppage time, and the ensuing corner led to nothing, before the half time whistle was blown.
Charleston fashioned the first chance of the second half after 52 minutes. A Justin Portillo free kick was saved at the second attempt by Earl Edwards in goal for Orlando.
The Battery would break the deadlock just six minutes later. A corner from the left taken by Justin Portillo was met by Jarad van Schaik, who powered a header into the net.
Navion Boyd was booked on 62, and conceded a free kick which was wafted into the edge of the box and chested down, before eventually falling to Tyler Turner, who played in a brilliant cross for Lewis Neal, who equalized with a header of his own.
Odisnel Cooper was able to clear from outside of his own box as a ball was played through on goal for Orlando just 3 minutes later.
On 67, Maikel Chang played an inch perfect ball for Dane Kelly, not unlike the one for Orlando earlier, for Dane Kelly, who latched on to, taking a touch, before slotting the ball home to restore the home side’s lead.
The Battery were quick to fashion another chance, again from a free kick, which was again saved by Edwards, but fell to substitute Zach Prince before being cleared for a corner, which led to nothing.
On 74, Battery defender Shawn Ferguson was beat to a ball by Carlos Rivas, and Ferguson committed a foul on the inside edge of the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Rivas stepped up to take the penalty, and went to the left bottom corner. Whilst Odisnel Cooper guessed the right way, the spot kick was hit with the right amount of power and placement, beating the ‘keeper and making it 2-2.
The full time whistle blew with the score still tied, meaning the game would go into extra time.
A Battery free kick would find Shawn Ferguson at the back post, but his header back across would be cut out by Edwards in goal, which set Orlando on a counter, eventually leading to a through ball played to Carlos Rivas, who was in a footrace with the Battery ‘keeper Cooper, leading to a collision, which the referee gave a penalty for.
Rivas would step up again, this time sending the ‘keeper the wrong way, giving Orlando the lead.
After 104 minutes, another Battery free kick would be headed back across and cleared by Orlando, from which the away side countered, again finding Rivas, who got to the ball before this time being taken down by Cooper, leading to another penalty, which was again dispatched by Rivas.
In the 105th minute, just before half time in extra time, Justin Portillo would be given space and time to shoot from fully 30 yards, and took the opportunity, bending the ball into the top corner, giving the Battery a lifeline at 4-3.
On the other side of the break on 108, Dane Kelly held the ball up on the edge of the box, taking a shot on the turn and forcing Edwards in the Orlando goal to make a top-class save.
Five minutes from time, the Battery were awarded a penalty of their own after a corner fell in the box in a mass of bodies, and was eventually handled. Justin Portillo stepped up, calmly dispatching his spot kick into the left bottom corner, past Edwards, to make the score 4-4.
After 120 minutes, it was down to the penalty shootout to decide a winner. Odisnel Cooper made two saves, while Earl Edwards made three. It was eventually down to Danny Mwanga to score Orlando’s winner, and he put the ball away to book Orlando’s place in the next round.
The Battery next travel to Charlotte to face the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, June 20th. Orlando are also on their travels next, against the Montreal Impact on the same day, June 20th.