CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery got standout finishes in either half by Romario Piggott and Claudio Repetto that paved the way to a 3-1 victory against Hartford Athletic before an enthusiastic crowd at Patriots Points on Saturday night.

Looking to add to a midweek victory against Tampa Bay, the Athletic had more of the early possession but neither side created a clear chance until the Battery took the lead in the 21st minute. Stavros Zarokostas was played down the right side and delivered a cross that wasn’t within reach of two teammates in the penalty area but came to Piggott just outside the top-left of the penalty area. The Panamanian controlled and then curled a beautiful shot into the top-right corner to put the hosts ahead.

Hartford created a chance to level in the 34th minute as Preston Tabort Etaka was played into the right side of the penalty area by Conor McGlynn, only for his finish to clip the outside of the right post and go behind for a goal kick. Tabort Etaka had another chance a minute later as Derek Dodson’s cross from the left found the forward at the back post for a header that went off target.

The Battery looked to push on in the second half and got a shot by Nicque Daley from a narrow angle on the left that forced a low save by Hartford’s Jeff Caldwell. Less than a minute later the second for the hosts arrived, though, as Zeiko Lewis found Repetto in the right channel, and the recent addition cut inside onto his left foot for a beautifully struck shot that Caldwell got his fingertips to but couldn’t keep from flying into the top-left corner of the net.

Daley almost added a third for Charleston midway through the second half as he received a pass at the top-left edge of the penalty area, cut past his defender nicely and had a shot to the near post tipped off the upright and wide by Caldwell. Zarokostas also found the woodwork for the hosts with 14 minutes remaining with a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area that clipped the inside of the right post that rebounded across the face of goal before spinning out for a goal kick.

Hartford looked to find a way back into the game late, and Danny Barrera had a chance from 16 yards blocked away by Battery defender Patrick Hogan for a corner kick with nine minutes to go. Two minutes later, the Athletic found a goal as after recycling possession from a corner kick, Barrera’s attempt to deliver from the right took a deflection and carried to Tulu near the back post for a stooping header into the net.

Charleston almost put the game away with four minutes to go as first Temi Adesodun and then DZ Harmon had chances denied by Harmon on a counterattack as Hartford pushed players forward. In stoppage time, though, Daley got the Battery’s third as he slid home a finish from the left side of the penalty area into the right corner of the net to seal all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Nicque Daley, Charleston Battery – Daley was rewarded for an exciting performance with his late goal and finished the night with six shots, four of which were on target, while also winning 5 of 8 duels.

Scoring Summary
CHS – Romario Piggott (Stavros Zarokostas) 21’
CHS – Claudio Repetto (Zeiko Lewis) 58’
HFD – Tulu 83’
CHS – Nicque Daley 90+4’

Full Box Score