The Charleston Battery dominated San Antonio FC in a sensational 4-0 win in front of a packed house for Military Appreciation Night at Patriots Point on Saturday. Birthday boy Cal Jennings tagged San Antonio twice, and additional scores via an own goal and tally by Johnny Klein secured the three points for the Battery. Luis Zamudio recorded his second shutout of the year. The win launched Charleston to the top of the USL Championship standings.
Charleston’s night was off to a fast start, as the hosts applied pressure early to the Western Conference’s top side. Juan David Torres nearly broke the game open in the 3rd minute but his volley went just wide of the goal. Torres and Aaron Molloy both had on-target shots in the first 10 minutes but both were saved.
Goalkeeper Luis Zamudio was called into action in the 7th minute to save Jake LaCava’s shot from inside the box in the 7th minute.
After pressure continued to mount in the middle stage of the first half, the Battery were awarded a penalty after Nathan Dossantos was taken down in the box by Nicky Hernandez in the 23rd minute.
Cal Jennings, celebrating his 28th birthday, stepped up to the spot in the and sent goalkeeper Richard Sanchez the wrong way to give the Battery a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. The goal extended Jennings’ goal contribution streak to eight games in a row.
Charleston kept up the tempo and were vying for a second goal immediately after Jennings converted.
Arturo Rodriguez was the man who found the Battery’s second goal after Torres picked him out with a sublime diagonal ball from the center circle. Rodriguez then lined up his shot from the edge of the box, and it was deflected by San Antonio’s Mohamed Omar before going into the net in the 30th minute. The tally was officially ruled an own goal by Omar to make the score 2-0.
The Battery’s defense was stifling as the half wore on toward the interval, and San Antonio went without a shot after the 9th minute
Charleston took the 2-0 lead into the break after a dominant first 45 minutes. The hosts had the lion’s share of shots, eight to two (five to one on target), and held roughly 56% possession.
The Battery came out of the gate firing in the second half. Rodriguez tested Sanchez after just 17 seconds into the new half with a shot that was saved.
Charleston’s pressure would pay off again just before the hour mark when their relentless attack on San Antonio’s defense produced the third goal.
Jennings was the man again to knock it in for the Battery to give them a 3-0 lead in the 57th minute. The play was initiated by Torres, who released Dossantos toward the box for a dangerous look. Dossantos played to ball to Rodriguez, and Rodriguez’s first-time shot was saved, but was not secured and fell right to Jennings at the goal line. Jennings then leisurely strolled the ball into the net.
The goal brings Jennings’ total to nine, making him the sole leader in the Championship Golden Boot race.
As the match neared the closing stages, Charleston’s defense kept San Antonio without much of an opportunity. The visitors would not register another shot on target until stoppage time, when Zamudio saved Luco Berron’s attempt in the 92nd minute.
The Battery scored their fourth goal of the night when Johnny Klein came off the bench and went onto the scoresheet in the 90th minute, after entering the match just two minutes earlier. The chance was created when Mark Segbers played a clever ball into the box to Rubio Rubín, and Rubín went the distance to play the ball square to Klein and past Sanchez’s dive. Klein simply knocked the ball in uncontested to firmly put the game to bed.
Klein’s goal and Rubín’s assist were their first of the season, respectively.
Charleston secured the 4-0 win over San Antonio, sending the Battery to the top of the league with their sixth consecutive Championship victory.
The Battery’s record now advances to 7W-2L-0D (21pts) as they handed San Antonio their first road loss in league play. It was also Charleston’s first triumph over the Texas club after going winless in the previous three meetings.
It was also a noteworthy night for Emilio Ycaza and Nathan Dossantos, who made their 75th and 50th Battery appearances, respectively.
The brace for Jennings was his second of the season.
Luis Zamudio’s relatively calm day at the office required him to make only two saves en route to his second clean sheet of the year.
Defender Joey Akpunonu led the way on defense with a match-high 13 clearances, along with two tackles won, two blocks, three recoveries and five duels won. Akpunonu and home debutant Michael Edwards turned in another lockdown performance as a center-back pairing.