CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds ended an extensive winless streak against the Charleston Battery, rallying from an early deficit to post a thrilling 2-1 victory on Saturday at MUSC Health Stadium. Corey Hertzog scored the game-winner off of a Kevin Kerr cross in second-half stoppage time to complete the comeback, while Marshall Hollingsworth provided a 59th-minute equalizer to turn the tide. Charleston’s Ataulla Guerra tallied in the eighth minute to give the host side the early lead. The Hounds ended Charleston's 11-game unbeaten streak (6-0-5) against Pittsburgh. I marked the Hounds' first win against Charleston since a 2-0 victory on June 25, 2011. The Battery move to 1-1-1 (4 points) while Pittsburgh improves to 1-1-1 (4 points).

Scoring:

8’ – CHS – Ataulla Guerra (Dante Marini)

59’ – PGH – Marshall Hollingsworth (Kay Banjo)

90+1’ – PGH – Corey Hertzog (Kevin Kerr)

Three Things That Mattered:

1. The Riverhounds provided some magic in the second half as Corey Hertzog headed home the winner inside the near right post in the dying moments of the game, giving the club its first win of the season. It took some significant doing to complete this comeback. Heading into the second half, Riverhounds Head Coach Dave Brandt wasted little time making some necessary changes, inserting Kay Banjo into the match, and his presence paid off quickly. Marshall Hollingsworth played a give-and-go to Banjo in the 59th minute and found a way to break down Charleston’s defense. Hollingsworth surged ahead with a rocket just inside the left post to tie the score at 1-1.

2. Only three games in, the Battery have demonstrated a versatile scoring arsenal to work with. The previous matches firmly established the set-piece combination of Justin Portillo and Forrest Lasso. On Saturday, the fleet-footed front line showed off in the early going with the Ataulla Guerra’s finesse. In the eighth minute, the ball took a deflected off of teammate Dante Marini and Guerra did the rest. From just beyond the 18-yard box, Guerra shuffled in a way that caught Pittsburgh goalkeeper Trey Mitchell. Rather than shoot for the far right post, Guerra snuck his shot inside the near left and Mitchell didn’t even move as he watched the ball scoot past him for a 1-0 Charleston lead.

3. Pittsburgh was dealt an early setback as Columbus Crew SC loanee Ben Swanson was injured in just the ninth minute. The apparent ankle injury led to training staff carrying him off the pitch and forced Brandt to burn an early sub. Abuchi Obinwa came in as the replacement.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Corey Hertzog, Pittsburgh Riverhounds – The Hounds were on the verge of draw, but Hertzog ended the team's lengthy winless streak against Charleston with a perfectly placed header in stoppage time to take all three points.