CHARLESTON, South Carolina, CMC – Trinidadian Ataulla Guerra notched his fourth goal of the United Soccer League season to help lift Charleston Battery to a 2-0 win over Charlotte Independence last weekend.
Playing at the MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday, the 30-year-old forward scored in the 31st minute to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break.
Victory Mansaray added a second three minutes from the end as Charleston won their third straight to remain
unbeaten in five outings, and move into fourth spot in the Eastern conference on 14 points.
Charlotte, meanwhile, lie in 11th spot on eight points following their third loss of the season.
The contest was in need of a spark and Guerra provided it on the half-hour mark when Gordon Wild raced down the left and picked him out on the right-hand side of the box.
Guerra turned and fired in a low, right-footed shot which beat goalkeeper Andre Dykstra at the far post.
Armed with a lead in the second half, Charleston’s chances of victory were further enhanced in the 78th minute when defender Henry Kalungi was sent off for callously pulling down Tah Anunga, after the midfielder had raced clear from the half-way line to spring a counter-attack.
And the extra man paid dividends nine minutes later when Mansaray’s left-footed drive from the top of the box found the back of the nets.
