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Battery’s Open Cup Run Ends in Atlanta

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/06/18, 9:29PM EDT

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Former Charleston loanees Carleton, Williams score in 3-0 victory


Photo courtesy Eric Rossitch / Atlanta United FC

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Charleston Battery saw their run in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup come to an end as Major League Soccer's Atlanta United took a 3-0 victory in the Fourth-Round clash between the clubs on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium as former Battery loanees Andrew Carleton and Romario Williams both found the net.

The Battery were aggressive to open the contest as a cross by O’Brian Woodbine got a near-post flick by Ian Svantesson that forced a punched save by United goalkeeper Alec Kann, but in the 14th minute Atlanta took the lead as a long-range strike by U.S. U20 international Carleton just eluded a diving Odisnel Cooper and found the left corner of the net.

Charleston tried to hit back quickly as Neveal Hackshaw’s shot went wide of the right post, while Ataulla Guerra fired just wide soon after, but the Battery had to scramble a close-range chance away to safety as Atlanta threatened again through Miles Robinson as the hosts held play in the attacking third after a corner from the left. The visitors then went close as Svantesson’s shot from just inside the penalty area took a looping deflection that went just over of the crossbar, but Atlanta carried its lead to the halftime break.

The hosts then got the chance to score from the penalty spot in just the second minute after the break as former Battery standout Williams was brought down in the area, and while Cooper got a hand to Ezequiel Barco’s shot to the top-left corner the Battery goalkeeper was unable to keep his side from falling into a two-goal deficit. Williams went close not long after, only to pull his shot wide of the left post, but in the 65th minute the 2017 USL All-League selection fired home a low finish from 20 yards into the left corner of the net to put the game away for the hosts.

The Battery almost pulled a goal back three minutes later when a low free kick from the right by Jarad van Schaik had to be parried away by Kann as the delivery found its way past the advancing attackers looking to apply a final touch. Charleston had another pair of chances go just astray as Svantesson hit the left post before Skylar Thomas had the rebound cleared off the line with 11 minutes to go, but the visitors were unable to find a finish as Atlanta earned its passage to the Round of 16.

Scoring:
14’ – ATL – Andrew Carleton (Julian Gressel)
47’ – ATL – Ezequiel Barco (penalty kick)
65’ – ATL – Romario Williams (Ezequiel Barco)

Atlanta United FC: GK Alec Kann; D Franco Escobar, Miles Robinson, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Sal Zizzo; M Julian Gressel (Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu 71’), Kevin Kratz, Brandon Vazquez, Ezequiel Barco (Chris Goslin 86’), Andrew Carleton; F Romario Williams

Substitutes Not Used: GK Mitch Hildebrandt, Mikey Ambrose, Darlington Nagbe, Miguel Almiron, Yosef Samuels

Charleston Battery: GK Odisnel Cooper; D Neveal Hackshaw (Jay Bolt 76’), Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas; M O’Brian Woodbine (Nico Rittmeyer 58’), Tah Anunga, Vincenzo Candela, Jarad van Schaik; F Kotaro Higashi, Ian Svantesson, Ataulla Guerra (Victor Mansaray 82’)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Joe Kuzminsky, Robert Beebe, Ryan Arambula, Angelo Kelly-Rosales

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