Lamar Walker gets first Miami FC goal in losing effort

Despite a maiden United Soccer League (USL) championship goal from national midfielder Lamar Walker, his club Miami FC fell to the Charleston Battery 2-1 in their league fixture last Friday in South Carolina.

Walker got Miami off to the perfect start, taking the lead in the seventh minute. However, Zeiko Lewis equalised for Charleston in the 24th minute, while Joel Bunting scored the eventual game winner five minutes into the second half.

From the opening whistle, Walker, the former Portmore United man, threatened the Charleston goal. Five minutes into the game, his curling effort was saved by Charleston goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky. However, two minutes later Walker's low free kick was drilled into the back of the net for his first goal for the club.

However, Charleston Battery would restore parity in the 24th minute thanks to Lewis's volley past Miami FC goalkeeper Connor Sparrow. Charleston then took the lead in the 50th minute as Bunting finished from close range from a low cross played in by Arthur Patterson. Walker's national teammate Devon Williams appeared as a second-half substitute to push for the equaliser but in the end, Miami could not steal a point.

The defeat leaves them in fifth place in the USL Eastern Conference Atlantic Division with 10 points.

Walker was among the 30-man squad announced in May for the recently held international friendlies against Serbia and the Japanese Olympic team, however, he did not make the trip for the games while Williams started both games. The Reggae Boyz drew with Serbia 1-1 but lost 4-0 to the Japanese Olympic team.

Walker has so far made seven appearances for Miami FC since his move to the USL championship club in January. Walker, Williams and teammate Jahshaun Anglin are all part of the 60-man provisional Gold Cup squad which was released last Friday. The final 23 is expected to be selected before the July 2 start of the preliminary round according to Concacaf.

Meanwhile, Miami FC will have back-to-back home games against Birmingham Legion which features Jamaicans Junior Flemmings and Neco Brett on Wednesday and the Charlotte Independence on Saturday.