By: Battery Media
The Charleston Battery defeated Hartford Athletic 3-2 on Saturday at Patriots Point thanks to late-game heroics from Arturo Rodriguez and his stoppage-time goal. Nick Markanich and Augi Williams provided earlier goals for the Battery, but Hartford kept pace until the very end. The victory extends the Battery's unbeaten run to five games in 2023, across all competitions.
The action began with a contentious start, indicating the intensity from both sides to set the tone for the night. Hartford struck first in the 13th minute with a goal from Prince Saydee, dealing the Battery their first deficit of 2023.
Charleston were undeterred, however, and pressed forward to level the score. They did that in the 35th minute when Nick Markanich found the back of the net, his third goal of 2023. Derek Dodson kept the play alive after his strike from inside the box was blocked. Dodson collected the rebound and then found Markanich inside the six-yard box with a curling cross for the goal.
The Battery appeared to have taken the lead in the 43rd minute when Augi Williams put the ball into the net, however the goal was disallowed for offside. Charleston and Hartford went into the interval tied at 1-1.
Play resumed with Charleston eager to claim the lead as the rain began to pour heavily at Patriots Point. Williams put the Battery ahead in the 50th minute with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, assisted by Fidel Barajas. The goal was his fourth against Hartford with the Battery since last season, and Barajas' third assist of the 2023 campaign.
Hartford managed to level the score in the 60th minute via Conor McGlynn after the Athletic's set piece play was never fully cleared by the hosts.
The Battery were dealt an additional wave of adversity when they were reduced to 10 men after Dante Polvara was shown a red card in the 76th minute. The visitors thought they had the lead a moment later but Kye Edwards' goal was chalked off for offside. Both teams continued to work hard for the match-winning goal as the game wore on.
Charleston would find glory at the death thanks to heroics from Arturo Rodriguez, who scored the match-winning goal off a free kick in the 94th minute. Rodriguez sent the ball in from the edge of the sideline, it then took one bounce and went past everyone untouched. The goal was Rodriguez's first for the Battery and could not have come at a better time.
The Battery's 3-2 extended their win streak to three games and unbeaten streak to five, across all competitions.
The night was also noteworthy for Jesse Randall as the 20-year-old New Zealand youth international made his club debut as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
