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Steel FC Begins Busy Slate in Charleston

May 11, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release


Bethlehem Steel FC vs. the Charleston Battery
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. the Charleston Battery
(Philadelphia Union II)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem Steel FC looks to continue its momentum from its latest victory as the squad begins a three-game in eight-day slate against the Charleston Battery on Saturday, May 12. Kick off from MUSC Health Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be available locally on Service Electric and streamed on ESPN+.

Steel FC is coming off one of its best performances of the season, as it defeated the Richmond Kickers 3-1 rainy conditions at Goodman Stadium. After allowing an early goal, Steel FC answered on a goal from Matt Real in the 29th minute. Santi Moar put the finishing touches on his USL Team of the Week performance with the game-winning goal in the 68th minute of play while Chris Nanco converted the insurance goal from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute. In the match, Steel FC fired a club-record 30 shots, placing 10 on frame while having three others denied by the post.

"I do think it should be a confidence booster but I think have been performing that way," Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke said. "You look at the week before, if we don't have that lapse at Louisville, we generated 18 shots down there and that's not an easy thing to do and I think that is as much an accomplishment as this weekend. You look back to Cincinnati, we outshot the nearly two to one when we played them and we that should have been a win. We're pushing the right way, it might not translate to wins every week but I'm really happy with the way guys are approaching it across the board."

Saturday's match will be a rematch between the two sides that faced off in the Lehigh Valley back on April 9. Charleston jumped out to the lead on a goal from defender Skylar Thomas but Steel FC answered with a goal from Cory Burke just before halftime in the match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Steel FC is still in search of its first win in the series, with the Battery sporting a 3-0-2 record in the all-time series.

Charleston enters the contest unbeaten in its last five matches and owns a 4-2-2 record. Sitting in fourth place in the USL's Eastern Conference, the Battery haven't conceded a goal in their last three matches. Forward Ataullah Guerra leads the offense, scoring four goals in 15 shots.

"I think they are more willing to concede possession when we saw them a few weeks ago and I think now, especially at home, they will come out and try and dictate the game a little bit more," Burke said. "They're hot right now. They have a player like Ataullah Guerra who continues to win them games and they have a lot of very good role player pieces around him that have really stepped up over the last few weeks. It's a big challenge; they don't often lose at home over the last couple of years."

MATCH INFORMATION

2018 USL Regular Season

Date: May 12, 2018

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston, SC.

Bethlehem Steel FC: 2-3-2

Charleston Battery: 4-2-2

Match Day Twitter: @BSteelFC

Game Day Hashtag: #CHSvBST

Game Notes: bit.ly/2KPg1pj

Match Preview: bit.ly/2wDJzmP

Match Center: bit.ly/2IvlFhG

Watch: es.pn/2I6hSZ1

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Bethlehem Steel FC vs. the Charleston Battery
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. the Charleston Battery
   



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