Second half double sees Battery past Legion

Three goals from three different scorers saw the Charleston Battery pick up all three points against the Birmingham Legion Saturday.

Goals from Romario Piggott and Mikey Lopez had the scores level at the break, but a penalty converted by Arthur Bosua and an injury time strike from AJ Paterson was enough to give the Black and Yellow a much needed victory.

The Battery had the better of play from the get go, when just after kick off, eventual goalscorer Piggott would surge toward the byline and force the ‘keeper to come out and claim a shot from a tight angle.

A Battery corner after a quarter of an hour was initially headed on by Taylor Mueller, who returned from injury following a broken nose, but the shot was blocked, and the rebound at the top of the box by Angelo Kelly cracked off the bar on the half volley before the ball was cleared.

Joe Kuzminsky in goal for the Battery was forced into his first save of the evening from a free kick on the right after 24′, and the ensuing corner was cleared away.

Nearly from the following attack, Arthur Bosua was able to control at the top of the box before playing Kotaro Higashi in the middle. He thought about taking the shot through traffic, but hesitated, instead spotting the run of Romario Piggott, who calmly passed the ball beyond the ‘keeper into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

It was a well worked goal, and one the Battery deserved for their early possession, but it was important to make their dominance count, and with Piggott’s first goal in Black and Yellow, they did so.

On 37′, Nico Rittmeyer would beat his marker and play a ball across for Arthur Bosua, who put his shot on frame, but the effort lacked power and went straight to the keeper.

A Battery corner was headed toward goal by Kyle Nelson after 41′, but the attempt went just wide of the far post.

And then, just before half time, it was level. Brian Wright connected with a cross from the far side of the pitch, and directed his header toward Mikey Lopez, and with Joe Kuzminsky helpless, was able to head into an empty net to put his side on level terms.

It was harsh on the Battery, and there was essentially little Kuzminsky could do having been taken out of the play, yet the home side found themselves level at the break.

Buoyed by their late first half goal, the visitors came out for the second half with renewed impetuous, forcing Kuzminsky into a smart save after 65′ as the first real chance of the second period.

Ten minutes later, Arthur Bosua would find separation in the middle of the area, slipping as he got a shot off. The effort was saved by the Birmingham keeper, but the referee would spot an infringement and award a penalty. Bosua would take charge from 12 yards and dispatch the penalty into the bottom corner to put his side back in front.

On 84′, the Battery were on the counter. Vincenzo Candela sent the ball forward to substitute Dante Marini, who played Bosua on the right before the forward played in Nicque Daley, but the touch from the forward was too far in front of him and the ‘keeper was able to claim.

But Daley would be involved again, this time in the set up role deep into stoppage time, getting back into an onside position and receiving the ball in his own half, bursting into space inside the box. He would hesitate and spot the onrushing AJ Paterson, whose shot would take a deflection and leave the goalkeeper unbalanced as he was going the other way, and though he corrected well enough to get some force behind a diving effort, the ball looped over him and into the back of the net for 3-1.

And that’s how it finished. With the tough away loss against Louisville a week prior, the Battery would’ve known how important it was to get back to winning ways, and they did just that. And with two of the goalscorers breaking their ducks in the Black and Yellow, it was definitely an added bonus.

The Battery next face Atlanta United on Tuesday, June 11th. Kick off is at 7:30PM.

TOP IMAGE: ROMARIO PIGGOTT (PICTURED) ALONG WITH AJ PATERSON, SCORED THEIR FIRST BATTERY GOALS SATURDAY NIGHT. PHOTO CREDIT ROSS ALMERS PHOTOGRAPHY