The Charleston Battery traveled down to Georgia on Tuesday to face off for in a midweek game against Atlanta United 2 with last Saturday’s disappointing draw against Penn FC in Harrisburg still in the back of their minds.

They quickly put that game behind them, as Ian Svantesson scored an opening goal in the 33rd minute, Atlanta’s 2018 MLS Superdraft pick Gordon Wild added a brace, and Battery keeper Joe Kuzminsky recorded a clean sheet.

3–0 the final, three points for the Battery on the road.

Coach Mike Anhaeuser deployed the 3–4–2–1 formation for a second game in a row. This time it worked: Atlanta’s 4–2–3–1 could not match up.

It was a series of firsts for the Battery, in large part due to the three players mentioned above.

Joe Kuzminsky got his first USL professional start as the Battery goalkeeper. At the end of the 93 minutes, he added his first USL professional shutout as well.

Ian Svantesson’s first goal opened his official Battery scoring account in dramatic fashion in the 33rd minute. Swedish Ian sent a right footer in from three yards above the penalty arc, and it finally crossed the line for a goal after bouncing off the pole not once, not twice, but three times.

Gordon Wild opened his official Battery scoring account with a brace deposit, scoring his first two USL professional goals. The first goal came in the 51st minute and was a rocket from the top of the 18 yard box, after winning a foot race against the Atlanta 2 back line.

The Deutscher Torschütze (German Goal Scorer), followed up in the 85th minute, getting clear from Atlanta 2’s Kendall Edwards on the right side, and finishing it up by putting the ball past Nicolas Caraux into the left side of the net.

Ryan Arambula made his first USL professional start in the midfield as well, putting in a solid performance with a 63.2 percent passing accuracy, two tackles, three clearances, and two interceptions.

The Battery also secured their first win on the road this season. After going 0–1–2 overall in the first three of four road games, the win vaults the Battery from 12th place in the Eastern Conference table up to seventh, just five points behind reigning USL Champions Louisville City, who sit in first.

While Kuzminsky, Svantesson, Wild, and Arambula contributed to the series of firsts, Battery veteran Ataulla Guerra continued to produce with another memorable performance. The 30 year-old forward not only had a 85.7 percent passing accuracy, but he also dabbed the ball with his special Caribbean spice blend.

The stats do not tell the whole story

Atlanta 2 hoarded the ball for most of the match and held the advantage with corners over the Battery 3 to 1. Atlanta 2 had 16 shots, with only three on target and zero goals. The Battery had 10 shots, with four on target, three of those being goals.

This is what makes the Battery so deadly on the attack: They are able to drive the ball quickly and get accurate shots off. Tuesday night, that led to great success.

Match Summary

In Defense of Charleston

Gordon Wild: Wild’s brace performance was exactly what the Battery needed. A solid offensive performance with 78.9 percent passing accuracy, a brace, and along with one blocked shot, one clearance and two interceptions, Tuesday’s game should see Wild earn a USL Team of Week nod.

Up next

The Battery return home in 7th place in the USL Eastern Conference table. Their next match is Saturday, April 28 at MUSC Health Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are still available from the Battery website. #UpTheBattery

Box score

Charleston Battery — 3

Atlanta United 2 — 0

Goals

33’ — Charleston — Ian Svantesson (assist: Jarad van Schaik)

51’ — Charleston — Gordon Wild (assist: Ian Svantesson)

85’ — Charleston — Gordon Wild

#ATLvCHS Highlights