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How the Charleston Battery cemented their credentials as a contender in Tampa Bay

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/13/23, 7:22AM EDT

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Augustine Williams’ stoppage-time winner capped impressive all-around display against Rowdies


The Charleston Battery's Augustine Williams celebrates his stoppage-time winner with teammates as the visitors claimed a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium. | Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – As stoppage time ticked away, it seemed like if there was a team that was going to grab a late victory at Al Lang Stadium on Wednesday night it was going to be the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The hosts had pushed the visiting Charleston Battery back, throwing players forward in search of a winner, and had gone a foot away from taking the lead with two minutes to go as Charlie Dennis’ shot flashed past the right post.

And then, in an instant, the Battery pounced.

A clearance by Leland Archer found a gap in the middle of the Charleston half. Arturo Rodriguez quickly claimed possession and sprang Augustine Williams – at that point still in his own half – forward with only Rowdies goalkeeper Connor Sparrow in front of him.

One cool, collected, curling finish from 35 yards out that bent around the goalkeeper and into the vacant net later and the Battery were on top of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference.

“This league is like the wild west, you just got to keep sticking with it,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “You got to look at your brothers and say ‘hey, we're going for it.’ You know, it was right there and then Augie slipped it in with a great through ball from Arturo. It was an incredible evening.”

For a second consecutive outing, the Battery had claimed an improbable victory.

This past Saturday it was Rodriguez’s turn to be the hero as his curling free kick eluded everyone in the penalty area to lift the side to a 3-2 victory against Hartford Athletic. On Wednesday night, Williams’ second goal of the game delivered a third consecutive league victory as the Sierra Leone international’s current run of form continued.

Williams has scored in three consecutive games in the league and four in a row in all competitions, with his game-winner showing a high level of confidence and execution.

“I saw [Sparrow] coming out, and I thought about him coming out and actually positioning himself to save it will be much harder for him,” said Williams. “So, I was just trying to go around him the best I can. Fortunately, I was able to do that.”

Over the 90 minutes, it was hard to deny it was a result the Battery deserved. From the opening the visitors took the game to the Rowdies, putting the hosts under pressure and showing off crisp passing and patience in possession when they had the ball. Only a massive moment of misfortune put the Rowdies ahead in the 26th minute when the gusting wind that was blowing in from the bay and across the pitch caught out Archer, who was impressive overall. An overhit attempted pass back to goalkeeper Trey Muse got caught by the breeze, which helped carry the ball into Charleston’s net.

It could have been a moment that saw the Battery’s heads drop, but under Pirmann’s leadership there’s a new-found level of confidence that immediately saw the visitors get back onto the front foot. Tristan Trager hit the post on a close-range chance four minutes later, and when Williams capped a slick move five minutes into the second half to bring Charleston level it was deserved.

From there, neither side seemed ready to settle for a draw.

The Rowdies went close to grabbing the lead inside the final 15 minutes, first through a header by Freddie Kleeman that was tipped over the crossbar by Muse and then through a long-range effort by Dennis – brought on as a second-half substitute – who rattled the stanchion behind the goal, momentarily fooling a section of fans on the opposite side of the field who thought the strike had picked out the top-left corner.


The Charleston Battery's Dante Polvara holds off the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Cal Jennings during the clash between the clubs at Al Lang Stadium. | Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

Dennis then appeared to have the game at his feet with two minutes to go as the Rowdies opened seams in the Battery defense. The English midfielder had space in the left side of the penalty area but pulled his shot a foot wide of the right post.

“They're pushing for 2-1, we had two or three really good chances in the second half to make it 2-1,” said Pirmann. “It was both teams going for it, and that’s what I think this league and football is about.”

Thanks to Rodriguez’s opportunism and Williams’ calm finish it was instead the Battery who walked away winners in the most dramatic fashion possible, continuing the upward progression the side has experienced with Pirmann at the helm this season.

“When we have guys like Ben, you know, you want to be able to run through a wall for guys like that,” said Williams. “He motivates us, tells us to keep going and believe in ourselves, you know, and we stick together as a team.

“Everything is coming together and we're happy.”

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