Zeiko Lewis’s Charleston Battery are headed to the Eastern Conference semi-final of the USL Championship Play-offs.

Lewis and his team-mates were forced to go to extra time before finally edging hosts Charlotte Independence 2-1 in an evenly fought quarter-final at the Sportsplex at Matthews last night.

Charleston led 1-0 at the break through Nicque Daley’s early strike, with Lewis, the Bermuda forward, providing a delightful assist.

Hugh Roberts grabbed a second-half equaliser for Charlotte to send the game to extra time, where Arthur Bosua came off the bench to score the winner and keep his team’s championship hopes alive.

“A good win and moving forward we will want to clean up a few things,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette.

“It is play-offs and we know that we must fight until the end of every game. It’s play-offs, so win or go home; it is that simple.”

Charleston made the initial breakthrough in the third minute when Lewis bent a brilliant pass with the outside of his left boot around the Charlotte defence that fell to Daley, who took his chance well.

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But the home side pressed on and were eventually rewarded after the break when Roberts swept in a rebound from a free kick from close range to bring the teams level and send the match to extra time.

The game remained in the balance until man-of-the-match Bosua headed home the winner from a free kick in the first extra period.

Charleston will now face Tampa Bay Rowdies in the semi-finals at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday.

Lewis and his team-mates have already got the better of Tampa Bay three times this season, including a 2-1 win nine days ago.