CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery’s Ataulla Guerra tallied a goal and assisted Maikel Chang’s opening goal as the Battery earned a 2-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday at MUSC Health Stadium. Bethlehem’s Derrick Jones converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute. With the win, Charleston moves to 12-7-9 (45 points) overall and 7-4-3 at home. The Battery had posted just one win in their previous five home matches heading into the weekend. Bethlehem falls to 6-13-9 (27 points) overall and 2-8-5 on the road. Steel FC is now winless in nine consecutive road games (0-6-3). The two sides played to a scoreless draw in their first meeting on April 24 at Goodman Stadium.

Scoring:
9’ – CHS – Maikel Chang (Ataulla Guerra)
35’ – BST – Derrick Jones (penalty)
39’ – CHS – Ataulla Guerra (Ricky Garbanzo)

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Trinidad & Tobago international midfielder Ataulla Guerra had a breakout game with a goal and an assist in the opening half. Guerra dropped the ball back to Maikel Chang, whose left-footed strike from the left of the frame for a 1-0 Charleston lead after Bethlehem had the brunt of the possession in the early minutes. Then Guerra showed some poise with a left-footed volley off of a Ricky Garbanzo cross from the right side for a 2-1 advantage in the 39th minute. It was Guerra’s first tally of the season and the assist to Chang was his second of the campaign.

• 2. Sandwiched in between Charleston’s first two goals, Bethlehem earned a penalty kick in the 35th minute. Derrick Jones shot right-footed straight up the middle, and Battery goalkeeper Alex Tambakis was lunging to his left in anticipation. Tambakis managed to lean back to his right and get a hand on the ball, deflecting the ball, but not quite enough to put it off frame as Bethlehem tied the score at 1-1.

• 3. Atlanta United SC’s first Homegrown player, 16-year-old midfielder Andrew Carleton, earned his first USL start with the Battery on Saturday. Carleton gave the home side a glimpse of his skill in the 25th minute with a beautiful turn with his right foot and a left-footed strike from outside the box that went a little wide left of the frame. Carleton logged 20 minutes during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to FC Montreal in his first USL appearance, and he made his Charleston debut during the Battery’s 2-1 international exhibition loss to Glasgow Rangers on July 6. 

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Ataulla Guerra, Charleston Battery – Guerra played a role in both Charleston goals as the host side grabbed a needed home victory.

Upcoming Games:
Charleston Battery at Richmond Kickers – Sept. 17, 5 p.m. ET, City Stadium
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds – Sept. 18, 3 p.m. ET, Goodman Stadium