The Charleston Battery dominated South Georgia Tormenta FC in a 4-0 victory in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round on Tuesday at Patriots Point. MD Myers was the hat trick hero alongside Chris Allan’s first Battery goal to lift the Battery past Tormenta. Christian Garner recorded the shutout in his first appearance of the year. The Battery advanced to the Open Cup Round of 32, where they could face an MLS side on May 6-7.
Charleston featured a moderately rotated squad with six changes to the lineup from last Saturday, but began the match aggressively by making numerous advances into Tormenta’s defensive half. However, the Battery were unable to record a shot until the 15th minute, an on-target attempt by Jackson Conway that forced goalkeeper Austin Pack to come out to make the save.
Battery goalkeeper Christian Garner, making his first start of 2025, was tested in the 20th minute and made a pair of decisive actions to keep Tormenta off the board. Garner punched the initial cross into the box, but the ball was not cleared out and he made a close-range save on Sebastian Vivas’ shot.
The Battery broke the game open in the 32nd minute when Chris Allan found the back of the net to give Charleston a 1-0 lead. The opportunity arose after Arturo Rodriguez’s corner kick wasn’t cleared away and fell to Allan, who then made a move to get into position for a shot. Allan’s strike ricocheted favorably off a Tormenta defender and fell just inside the far post past Pack.
Allan’s goal was a special one as it was his first in Battery colors.
Nearing halftime, Tormenta were granted a way back into the game after being awarded a penalty when Mark Segbers made a challenge in the box against Niall Reid-Stephen. However, Garner guessed correctly and saved Mason Tunbridge’s attempt from the spot.
Garner’s save gave the Battery an instant momentum boost. Charleston marched down the field minutes later and doubled their lead just before the break, with MD Myers making the score 2-0. Arturo Rodriguez led the movement up the field and played the ball to Johnny Klein inside the box, who then patiently waited and forced Pack off his line. Klein then teed up Myers with a clean lane to the near post.
The assist was Klein’s first of the year and the goal was Myers’ second.
Charleston took the 2-0 lead into the break with the momentum of their strong performance after the half-hour mark.
The Battery came out of halftime with the same mojo as in the first half and pressed forward for another goal.
They didn’t have to wait long as Josh Drack forced the issue in the 52nd minute with a cross into the box that Pack was unable to catch cleanly. The ball was spilled back into play in front of Myers, who then knocked it in to give the Battery a 3-0 lead.
That goal brought Myers’ season total to three, but there was a sense he was looking to score another hat trick against Tormenta in the Open Cup after doing the very same in 2024.
On the opposite end, Garner continued to stand strong in goal for Charleston and made another close-range denial in the 55th minute to keep Tormenta off the board.
Myers was at the right place at the right time again in the 70th minute to score his third goal of the night, securing the hat trick and increasing the Battery’s lead to 4-0. Rodriguez’s initial shot was saved but again Pack spilled it right in front of Myers in the box, and the striker redirected the ball into the goal.
The hat trick was Myers’ third with the Battery after notching two in 2024, repeating his hat trick performance against Tormenta in last year’s Open Cup. He now has six goals in two games against the Georgia club.
A notable moment came in the 73rd minute when 16-year-old Viggo Ortiz entered the match to replace Myers. The appearance marked Ortiz’s professional debut as the Mexican youth international looked to help shore up the victory.
Charleston’s dominance in the match did not waver in the final stages of the night and the hosts prevented Tormenta from recording a shot in the final 20 minutes. Garner ended the day with four saves.
Charleston secured the 4-0 win over Tormenta, sending the Battery into the Open Cup Round of 32.
Garner recorded his first shutout of the year and his second career clean sheet with the Battery after doing so in his lone appearance with the club in 2024.
Klein and Rodriguez enjoyed a productive day in attack, co-leading the Battery with three chances created each.
Defender Nathan Dossantos was active in both phases of the game while filling in at center-back next to Joey Akpunonu, recording two chances created, three tackles won, three interceptions, three recoveries and five duels won.
Looking ahead, the Open Cup Round of 32/Round of 16 Draw will be held this Thurs., April 17, as part of CBS Sports Golazo Network’s flagship program, Morning Footy, at 9:15 a.m. ET. Thursday’s Draw will combine a pair of Third Round winners with another pair of clubs entering the tournament from MLS, all drawn from eight groups of four teams. The Round of 32 will take place on May 6-7.
