Photo courtesy of Charleston Battery
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
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