HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – The Charleston Battery dismantled Detroit City FC in a 1-3 road win on Saturday at Keyworth Stadium. After going down an early goal, Charleston immediately responded and never looked back, with Cal Jennings bagging a brace in the first half and Juan David Torres striking in the second half to secure the three points. It’s Charleston’s seventh consecutive victory in USL Championship play, the club's longest in their Championship era, as they remain atop the league standings.
Despite the mild temperatures in Michigan, the game was off to a hot start. Detroit managed to pull ahead in the 2nd minute via Jay Chapman off a corner kick.
Charleston, however, responded immediately after going down 1-0. For the 10th time this year, Cal Jennings found the back of the net for the Battery, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 5th minute. Juan David Torres played a pinpoint cross from near the touchline and connected with Jennings, who was between two defenders and headed home the equalizer.
In addition to being Jennings’ 10th goal, it was his ninth match in a row with a goal involvement, tying the USL Championship record for consecutive games with a goal involvement. Torres’ assist was his fifth of the year, placing him tied for the league lead, as of writing.
Detroit thought they scored a second a minute later via Darren Smith, but the flag was raised for offside to chalk off the tally.
As the half wore on, the Battery began to find more of a footing and slow down Detroit. Both sides were reduced to only shots off target or blocked shots from the 7th minute through the 43rd minute.
The Battery grabbed the lead in the 44th minute after Jennings capped off a complete team effort to make the score 1-2. Nearly every player touched the ball while building out from the back, and it was Chris Allan’s release of Torres that initiated the movement across the field. From there, it went from Torres to MD Myers to Jennings in quick succession for the goal.
The tally brought Jennings’ season total to 11, and the assist was Myers’ second of the year.
Charleston took the 1-2 lead into the break, a strong response after conceding the early goal to the home side. Shots on target were even at two apiece.
Play resumed for the second half with the Battery’s foot firmly on the gas pedal.
Torres was the man of the moment again in the 52nd minute with a first-time strike from the top of the penalty area to the far post. Arturo Rodríguez played it to Torres while being knocked down, and Torres cleanly curled his shot away from goalkeeper Carlos Herrera to put the Battery ahead, 1-3.
Torres’ goal was his fourth of the year, and Rodríguez’s assist was his second.
After taking the two-goal lead, the Battery tightened their grip on the game, stifling Detroit and silencing the crowd.
Charleston’s defense held the hosts without a shot on target for the rest of the match.
The Battery secured the 1-3 victory at Keyworth Stadium, their seventh consecutive win in league play.
The win snapped Detroit’s nine-game undefeated streak at home and was the Battery’s first at Keyworth Stadium since 2023.
With the result, the Battery’s record advances to a league-best 8W-2L-0D (24pts). It was also Charleston’s fifth consecutive league match scoring at least three goals, which brings their goal differential to +14, best in the Championship.
Additionally, the Battery have won nine points from losing positions in the Championship this season, no team has recovered more.
Cal Jennings’ 11 goals place him firmly in the lead for the Championship Golden Boot race, as of writing.
Juan David Torres ended the day with a goal and an assist while having a game-high three chances created (tied).
Joey Akpunonu and Michael Edwards both turned in strong shifts as a center-back pair with a combined 16 clearances, nine and seven, respectively.
Nathan Dossantos recorded a match-high four won tackles and eight duels won (tied), along with three interceptions, four clearances and one block.
Aaron Molloy had a game-high six interceptions, in addition to two tackles won, one clearance and 10 recoveries.