The Charleston Battery defeated Hartford Athletic in a thrilling 4-2 comeback win in the USL Championship on Saturday at Patriots Point. Despite going down in the 5th minute, the Battery rallied before halftime with goals by Cal Jennings (24’) and Juan David Torres (38’). Charleston added two more via Houssou Landry (56’) and Torres (64’) to secure their fourth consecutive league win.
The match got off to a quick start, but not in favor of the hosts. A pass back to goalkeeper Christian Garner resulted in the ball crossing the byline and granting Hartford a corner kick. The visitors converted the ensuing corner kick via Jordan Scarlett to take a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute.
Charleston battled back despite the early deficit and pressed for an equalizer.
That pressure led to the first golden opportunity midway through the half, when MD Myers was taken down in the box by Scarlett in the 22nd minute. Cal Jennings stepped up to take the corner and buried it to the right side after sending goalkeeper Antony Siaha the other way, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 24th minute.
The goal was Jennings’ sixth of the year. It was also the seventh first-half goal scored by the Battery so far this season, second only to El Paso Locomotive, as of writing.
Charleston’s command on the game began to grow as the team peppered shots at Hartford through the half-hour mark, as Juan David Torres, Emilio Ycaza and Jennings drew blocked shots, and the visitors were held without a shot since their opener for the rest of the half.
After a few close calls, Torres produced a moment of magic to give the Battery a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute, scoring from outside the box with a laser to the near post that Siaha could only watch go into his net. Arturo Rodriguez found Torres with a switch and the Colombian was given a wealth of space by Hartford to tee up his shot.
The goal was Torres’ second of the year and the assist was Rodriguez’s first.
Charleston effectively erased Hartford’s quick start by taking the 2-1 lead into halftime. The Battery outshot Hartford 10 to two and held 70% possession in the first stanza.
Play resumed for the second half with the Battery beaming with confidence in search of a third goal, quickly advancing forward into Hartford’s defensive third.
Houssou Landry was the man of the moment who added to the Battery’s lead in the 56th minute to make the score 3-1. The play was created by Torres at the top of the box, who patiently waited for Houssou to make a run toward goal before chipping the ball over the top to the Ivorian. Houssou then gathered the ball and delivered a strike from the edge of the six-yard box into the goal.
The goal and assist were Houssou’s first and Torres’ fourth, respectively.
Hartford, however, were gifted a way back into the game in the 61st minute when Emilio Ycaza was called for a foul on Sebastian Anderson in the box. Michee Ngalina converted from the spot a minute later, despite Garner guessing correctly, to cut the Battery’s lead to 3-2.
Despite Hartford’s apparent bid for a comeback, the Battery swung momentum back in their favor by putting the visitors on the ropes immediately. Jennings nearly struck again in the 63rd minute, but his attempt was saved and went out for a corner kick.
Torres took the ensuing corner kick and uncorked a world-class delivery for the Olimpico goal in the 64th minute, sending his shot directly into the net, while hitting Adrián Diz as it was already crossing the line.
The strike, Torres’ second of the day, brought his 2025 goal tally to three.
As the match wore on after the Battery made the score 4-2, Charleston began to tighten their grip to secure the win. Hartford would not record another shot on target again until the 89th minute, a strike by Deshane Beckford that was saved by Garner.
Rubio Rubín, making his first appearance at Patriots Point, nearly scored the Battery’s fifth in the 73rd minute with a strong shot that Siaha saved.
Defender Joey Akpunonu asserted his presence in the final stages of the match, making strong interventions in the 76th and 87th minutes to deny his former club a way back into the match.
Charleston secured the 4-2 victory over Hartford to kick off the new month. The win was the Battery’s fourth consecutive in league play.
The result advances the Battery’s record to 5W-2L-0D (15pts), placing them in third place in the Eastern Conference, as of writing.
Charleston have now won six points from losing positions in the league, no team has recovered more, as of writing.
It was a milestone day for Aaron Molloy, as the Irish midfielder eclipsed 10,000 career minutes played in the USL Championship regular season during the match. Molloy deputized at center-back and turned in an admirable showing with four clearances, four recoveries and two duels won.
As of writing, Cal Jennings is now tied for the league’s Golden Boot race with six goals.
Torres additionally found himself tied for the league lead in assists (four), as of writing.
Head Coach Ben Pirmann, forward Cal Jennings and midfielder Juan David Torres addressed the media after the victory, with key quotes to follow.
Coach Pirmann on his overall thoughts about the win…
A little bit unlucky to start the game. And then, a dominant first half, excellent mentality. Just keep up what we do. We had to go side to side. They’re really well-coached, really well-organized, they shift their lines. But, we were getting chances, we were breaking them through, whether it was central areas or overloads in the wide spots. Excellent by Cal and MD to draw the penalty, a great goal going from Arturo to Juan David.
We had to play some guys out of position, full of credit [to them]. Christian stepped straight in, this has been planned for a while, but it’s always tough. He did a great job. Aaron and Houssou at new positions in tough spots in the back line, did a great job. Juan David, with the goal involvements, was great, and the chance creation. I thought MD was excellent, in and out of possession. When our strikers, Rubio, MD, Cal, when they’re going and they’re pushing and pressing and working, we’re tough to play against and that can turn some things over and go in our direction. I give a lot of credit to Douglas Martinez. He’s had to play, like, eight different positions in the last eight or nine days, and he’s an animal. He’s getting fitter and healthier, so we’re glad he’s back. Some strong performances, like you said, and we’re excited about it now. We just have to keep improving.
Coach Pirmann on the importance of the fans’ support at home…
We’ve had a tremendous record over the last year and a half in this stadium and it’s because of that we roll with them, they roll with us. We feel it. Even if things go badly or a guy can’t play or whatever it is, these fans push us and that’s what it’s all about.
Jennings on the team’s ability to come back for the win…
Yeah, not the way we wanted to start the game, we gave up a set piece. But I felt like we responded great and realized that, ‘all right, we can be in control of this game, we can get right back in it.’ And we did just that.
I don’t actually love scoring PKs, but I’ll do it. I’ll take it. And MD did a great job getting on the end of it and drawing [the penalty], and I’m happy to put it away.
I thought we were real selfless, we were patient, moving the ball, trying to get good opportunities. A guy like Houssou getting a goal is a fantastic reward, because he does so much for us, winning balls and he does so much beating the press. So I’m very happy for him. I’m going to let him know when I go back.
Torres on his performance against Hartford…
With Coach Ben, we have a play. So, when it was the corner kick, he told me, ‘what do you want?’ I say, ‘I go and score Olimpico goal.’ So I just look at the keeper, and, I do my job.
Up next, the Battery have a quick turnaround to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tues., May 6, against D.C. United at Audi Field in the Round of 32. Charleston’s next home match will be vs. San Antonio FC on Sat., May 17, as the club celebrates Military Appreciation Night at Patriots Point. Tickets for the game are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
Lineups and Scoring Summary
Lineups
CHS – Garner, Houssou, Molloy, Akpunonu, Blackstock, Allan (Martínez, 79’), Ycaza, Rodriguez (Dossantos, 85’), Torres, Myers (Klein, 79’), Jennings (Rubín, 68’)
HFD – Siaha, Anderson, Farrell, Scarlett, Samadia, Diz (Presthus, 78’), Makangila (Moreira, 46’), Panayotou (Obalola, 59’), Careaga (Beckford, 71’), Ngalina, Dieng (Edwards, 78’)
Scoring Summary
HFD – Jordan Scarlett (Emmanuel Samadia), 5’
CHS – Cal Jennings, 24’
CHS – Juan David Torres (Arturo Rodriguez), 38’
CHS – Houssou Landry (Juan David Torres), 56’
HFD – Michee Ngalina, 62’
CHS – Juan David Torres, 64’
