The Charleston Battery downed Bethlehem Steel FC 2–1 on Military Appreciation Night in front of 4,659 fans Saturday night, extending their undefeated streak to six games and their win streak to four consecutive games. And they did it in dramatic fashion.

The first half saw head referee Daniel Gutierrez blow his whistle 22 times for fouls and dole out three yellow cards like it was a giveaway episode of “Oprah.” The constant stopping and restarting of play made it nearly impossible for either side to gain any momentum.

In the 24th minute, Jay Bolt collided with Bethlehem Steel midfielder Drew Skundrich and took a knee to his lower back, forcing Bolt to leave the match and be replaced by Nico Rittmeyer.

The Battery drew first blood in the 44th minute. Vincenzo Candela intercepted a Bethlehem pass and sent it forward to Ataulla Guerra, who connected with an unchecked Gordon Wild on the right side. Wild chased the ball down near the goal line and sent his cross past three Bethlehem defenders to Guerra who used his right foot to slide the ball under a diving Jack McGuire. It was the second time in two weeks the German international connected with the Trinidadian.

Bethlehem, which only started three MLS players from the Philadelphia Union, pressed hard in the three minutes of added time but failed to get anything past Joe Kuzminsky.

The second half started off much like the first, with questionable fouls called on both teams by whistle-happy head referee Gutierrez.

The Battery put the game on ice in the 53rd minute when Neveal Hackshaw sent his looooooong cross from the left touch line all the way to a charging Wild, who blasted a volley off his weak foot from the far side of the eight yard box. Surely this will be a USL Goal of the Week.

“Nev (Hackshaw) played in a great cross,” Wild said after the match. “I saw the ball coming and, full risk, I tried to smash it and luckily I hit it well.”

Bethlehem was gifted a goal by Gutierrez in the 65th minute in yet another example of why the USL needs to implement a video assistant referee. Gutierrez called a hand ball against the Battery in the box, setting up a penalty kick for Bethlehem. Derrick Jones, the Bethlehem captain, sent the ball the opposite direction of a diving Kuzminsky, ending the keeper’s streak at 335 minutes.

Bethlehem pushed hard in the final seven minutes of regular time and the (generous) additional three minutes of stoppage time. At 90+2, Bethlehem forward Aidan Apodaca got around Hackshaw and turned on his turbo-booster, but Taylor Mueller made an amazing slide tackle to break up the play.

Bethlehem regrouped and had another opportunity at 90+3 when Tonny Temple rocketed a line-drive from the left side, but Kuzminsky made the stop, one of his six saves on the night.

The win gives the Battery 17 points on the season and puts them in a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the USL team from the city where they put chili on spaghetti noodles.

Here’s what Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendon Burke had to say after playing the Battery in Charleston:

“ They had two shots in the game and they beat us 2–1. They are (always good at home), I don’t know what it is. They defend well. They’re all men, so they win a lot of those individual battles, which makes it tough to break them down especially with a very young team. They’re organized, so that’s credit to Mike. And they fight for him, they all do. I have a lot of respect for each of those individual players that they played tonight. Hackshaw stood on his head. Even their goalkeeper made two incredible saves and then one cleared off the line there at the end.”

By the numbers

Hackshaw did it on offense and defense for the Battery. Expect to see him earn a nod for USL Team of the Week for his performance, along with Jarad van Schaik.

The Battery back line once again Defended Charleston. Even with the early Christmas present for Bethlehem from Gutierrez with the imaginary hand ball in the box, the Battery defense frustrated Bethlehem all night.

Match summary

In Defense of Charleston

Neveal Hackshaw: Hack did it on both ends of the field all match. Combine that with his assist on the Battery’s second and game-winning goal and Hack turned in one of his best performances on the season.

Hack did it on both ends of the field all match. Combine that with his assist on the Battery’s second and game-winning goal and Hack turned in one of his best performances on the season. Joe Kuzminsky: G.I. Joe came in with three consecutive shutouts and kept his streak going for 65 minutes of this match. He recorded six saves on the night, including the critical clearance in stoppage time that would have sent Bethlehem home with a point.

Up next

The Battery remain at home for Round 2 of the U.S. Open Cup, hosting South Georgia Tormenta.

Kick off is Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at MUSC Health Stadium.

The Battery will then host former Battery defender Colin Falvey and the Ottawa Fury on Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at MUSC Health Stadium.

Box score

Charleston Battery — 2

Bethlehem Steel FC — 1

Goals

44' — Charleston — Ataulla Guerra (assist: Gordon Wild)

53' — Charleston — Gordon Wild (assist: Neveal Hackshaw)

65' — Bethlehem — Derrick Jones (Penalty Kick)