Former Wellington Olympic winger Jesse Randall has made his first start for USL Championship club Charleston Battery, helping them to a 1-0 US Open Cup win with a Man of the Match performance.
The New Zealand U-20 international made the Charlotte Independence defence work hard in a tight game on Wednesday April 26 (NZT) that went to extra time before a Nick Markanich goal sent Battery into the last 32 of the knockout competition.
Randall (20) was in the New Zealand U-23 squad that played China in late March, and his deal with Charleston Battery was announced after the international window.
He had been seeking a professional contract in the United Kingdom and United States since leaving Wellington at the end of the men’s National League season.
Main photo: Jesse Randall … joined Charleston Battery who play in the second-tier of United States football. Photo credit: Charleston Battery.
Randall is in contention for the New Zealand squad that will play in the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Argentina, due to start on May 11.
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