On Saturday evening, the Battery traveled for the third straight week, this time to Harrisburg to face Penn FC (formerly known as the Harrisburg City Islanders), in front of 1,712 fans at Penn FC’s season home opener.

Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser changed up his usual 4–4–1–1 formation, instead going with a 3–4–2–1 formation. The new configuration saw Neveal Hacksaw fall into the back line and Patrick Okonkwo, on loan from Atlanta United, made the start up front.

The formation change seemed to work in favor of the Battery in the first half.

In the fifth minute, Jay Bolt was able to get the ball through for a chance, but Kotaro Higashi was called offside. In the 20th minute, Vincenzo Candela tried to get the ball through only to have Higashi, once again, called offside. In the 26th minute, Bolt sent a beautiful cross right to Okonkwo, who was dead center of the goal at the six yard line, but his chip was trapped between the legs of Penn FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser, who had fallen in a effort to stop the ball.

The Battery would have two more attempts to find the back of the net in the first half, both of which fell short, and head official Guido Gonzales Jr. blew his whistle to send the match into the half, both teams tied 0–0.

The second half saw the ball move back and forth without any impressive attempts to score until the 75th minute. An intercepted pass led to a Battery chance as a deep ball found 64th minute substitute Ian Svantesson, who had his right-footed shot deflected. The ensuing corner would not materialize.

But then, with pressure mounting in the 77th minute, Tah Brian Anunga drove the ball up on the left side, just shy of center circle, and found a speeding Ataulla Guerra through two Penn FC defenders.

Guerra, The Harrisburg Slayer, picked up the pass and turned on the afterburners to pass the Penn FC back line. He would draw Peiser all the way up to the penalty spot, and after a beautiful fake out put Peiser on his hind end, Guerra tapped the ball in past a sliding Harri Hawkins, putting the Battery up 1–0 and continuing Guerra’s torture of Penn FC.

It seemed the Battery would be leaving Harrisburg with three points, but in the 88th minute, Anunga conceded a corner kick. Penn FC sent the set piece in to have it cleared by Candela, Penn FC midfielder, Mauro Eustáquio, who sent a lofting chip across the box. In a huge defensive lapse having shifted after Candela’s clearance, the Battery left three Penn FC players unmarked just outside the six yard box and the home side made the Battery pay for it.

Kenneth Tribbett scored on an incredible bicycle kick to tie it up. Three separate camera angles show Penn FC potentially offside, but the AR did not raise his flag.

In stoppage time, the Battery had a chance to go ahead when Guerra found Nico Rittmeyer in the 94th minute, but his right footed shot from the right side sailed way too high, followed up with the final whistle.

The final was a 1–1 draw and one point for the Battery on the road.

Almost a clean sheet

The Battery did not dominate in possession but were successful in driving the ball forward and outshot Penn FC: Charleston had five shots on goal compared to the home team’s two.

In Defense of Charleston

Tah Brian Anunga : Leading the team with 72 passes and the assist, Anunga turns in yet another solid performance.

: Leading the team with 72 passes and the assist, Anunga turns in yet another solid performance. Jay Bolt : A solid performance put in by the rookie, defensively but also showing us that he create plays on offense as well. A beautiful cross to Okonkwo in the 26th minute almost put the Battery on the board early.

: A solid performance put in by the rookie, defensively but also showing us that he create plays on offense as well. A beautiful cross to Okonkwo in the 26th minute almost put the Battery on the board early. Ataulla Guerra: The “Harrisburg Slayer” does it again, now scoring in four straight matches against them. A heads up play by Anunga and a perfectly executed pass served up to Guerra resulted in Charleston’s only goal of the match.

Up next

The Battery came home long enough to get one good night’s sleep at home and then they hit the road again to travel to Georgia to take on Atlanta United 2 in the first match between each team.

Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 24 at Cool Ray Field.

Box score

Charleston Battery — 1

Penn FC — 1

Goals

77’ — Charleston — Ataulla “The Harrisburg Slayer” Guerra (assist: Tah Brian Anunga)

89’ — Penn FC — Kenneth Tribbett

#PENvCHS Highlights