Charleston Battery blanked Rhode Island FC 2–0 at home on Saturday night, with Emilio Ycaza scoring both goals in a seven-minute span late in the second half to seal the USL Championship victory.

The first half produced no goals but plenty of tension. Rhode Island's Zachary Herivaux picked up a yellow card in the 41st minute, and the visitors' discipline only worsened from there. Aldair Sanchez was booked just two minutes into the second half, followed by Eric Klein in the 50th minute — three yellows in the space of nine match minutes for Rhode Island, a stretch that suggested mounting frustration as the game wore on.

Charleston eventually made that pressure count. Ycaza broke the deadlock in the 77th minute, and with Rhode Island now chasing the game, he doubled the lead just seven minutes later in the 84th. Koke Vegas earned yet another yellow for Rhode Island in the 81st minute, sandwiched between Ycaza's two strikes, as the visitors' night went from bad to worse. Four bookings and no goals — Rhode Island never found an answer.

Ycaza's brace was the difference in a match that was scoreless for more than 75 minutes before tilting decisively Charleston's way. The Battery controlled the final stretch with composure, and Rhode Island simply ran out of ideas and composure in equal measure.

The win gives Charleston Battery valuable points in the second half of the USL Championship season as the playoff picture continues to take shape.