Paterson’s dramatic late goal lifts Battery past Hartford

By: Battery Media

HARTFORD, Conn. (June 17, 2023) – The Charleston Battery defeated Hartford Athletic in a thrilling 4-3 victory on Saturday at Trinity Health Stadium. AJ Paterson, playing in his 100th game for the club, scored the dramatic match-winner in the 90th minute to propel the Battery past Hartford. Nick Markanich notched a brace and Derek Dodson scored his first goal for the club as the Battery came back from being down 3-1 in the second half. The win snapped a three-match run without a victory and the club’s first in Hartford in four years.

The night started with both teams eager to find an early goal, trading shots and building dangerous chances, but neither could find the back of the net midway through the half. Hartford managed to strike first in the 31st minute with a goal from Andre Lewis.

Nick Markanich leveled the score in the 43rd after going bar down on a free-kick that was just outside goalkeeper Joe Rice’s reach, coming minutes after Rice denied him. Markanich’s sensational strike was his sixth goal of the season and first since April 26.

Toward the end of stoppage time, Hartford added a second goal via Kyle Edwards to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Charleston held the lion’s share of possession (63%) and shots (eight to four) in the first half.

The Battery brought pressure out of the break and it paid off by drawing a second yellow card, and subsequent red card, on Antoine Hoppenot in the 48th minute. The forward’s dismissal put Hartford down a man for the remainder of the match.

Despite the momentum, Charleston were called for a foul inside the box on a challenge by Derek Dodson in the 55th minute. Edwards converted from the spot, giving the hosts a 3-1 lead.

The Battery really ramped up the high press with the one-man advantage after going down two goals, looking for a way back into the match. They were rewarded for their efforts when Markanich scored his second goal of the night in the 65th minute, making the score 3-2. Arturo Rodriguez kept the play alive along the byline and played the ball to Dante Polvara, and Polvara teed up Markanich’s first-time strike to the upper half of the net. It was Markanich’s first brace for Charleston.

Charleston continued to overwhelm Hartford with their intensity and hampered the hosts with dangerous chances.

Dodson rose to the occasion in the 87th minute to score the equalizer for the Battery against his former club. Arturo Rodriguez sent in a cross that hit the woodwork and Dodson was at the right place at the right time to fire the ball into the back of the net. The goal was Dodson’s first for the Battery.

Charleston’s late heroics came in the 90th minute when AJ Paterson scored the match-winning goal from roughly 30 yards out, a screamer that banged off the post and into the net. The goal put a bow on the captain’s 100th game for the Battery and was his second of the season. Fidel Barajas assisted Paterson and the defender carried the ball upfield before uncorking the winner with his left foot.

Charleston saw out the victory after five minutes of stoppage time, a 3-4 result and the Battery’s first win in Hartford since the 2019 season. The match also snapped a three-game winless run for the Battery.

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