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Atlanta United remains undefeated against Charleston Battery after PK shootout victory

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Charleston Battery (yellow) and Atlanta United FC players compete for the ball during a 2024 US Open Cup fourth round match. Photo: Wade Wimberly – TheCup.us

There was plenty of intrigue heading into Tuesday night’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Alonso Division Round of 16 match at Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

US Open Cup and Battery legend Ozzie Alonso and several of his teammates from the 2008 Charleston Battery team that finished second in the US Open Cup served as honorary captains in the packed park. The Battery were looking to finally get past Atlanta United after dropping three previous USOC meetings in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in favor of the Five Stripes.

Tuesday night’s match was their best chance to finally defeat the MLS side, taking the 2019 US Open Cup champions to penalties after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer. In the end, Atlanta goalkeeper Josh Cohen saved the Battery’s final two attempts in the shootout to send United to the quarterfinals by a score of 5-4.

Atlanta is looking for a fresh start to return to its magical form at the top of the American soccer landscape. Two teams that couldn’t have more contrasting early season arcs between the lines; The Battery are undefeated and take first place in their USL Championship campaign against a United side struggling to find form in MLS and mired in inconsistent play, sitting 20th in the Supporter’s Shield standings.

In this context, the two teams entered the field through the tunnel of the north stand where the two goalkeepers would write this fourth chapter in the history of the USOC between these rivals from the southeast.

Atlanta United employed a heavily revamped squad of reserve players and academy prospects while the Charleston Battery lacked a near-complete first-choice roster. A major change to the Battery roster was the inclusion of guard Daniel Kuzemka who was making his first start in 2024.

The first half saw both teams looking to control the midfield spaces, with things very evenly matched between the penalty boxes. Neither team was able to break down the opposition’s defense with any regularity and both teams settled for half-chances and hopeful serves into well-organized and focused defensive penalty areas. When there were sporadic breakdowns in defense, the goalkeepers were there to ward off the danger and keep the score scoreless.

Charleston called on Atlanta goalkeeper Josh Cohen in the 14th minute on a recycled corner where he was high before Kuzemka had his turn to make a big save in the 18th minute. Charleston asked Cohen questions again just after 20 minutes and once again he followed the script and provided the answers to keep things at 0-0 before halftime.

The second half saw this same pattern of play until Atlanta began replacing more regular team selections like Rios, Slisz, Lennon and Gregerson. These additions allowed Atlanta to better control the midfield, but never translated into that final decisive ball in the Battery penalty area. The second half ended scoreless and it was overtime to decide who would advance to the quarterfinals.

FULL MATCH VIDEO: Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United FC

Once again, the goalkeepers did enough to keep their opponents off the scoreboard as both teams’ shots went over the bar, missed the target or sputtered into the hands of waiting guards. Extra time saw the Battery create two superb chances in the 114th and 115th minutes to score a late winner, but both chances were blocked or off target. Penalties were expected to decide who would advance as two exhausted teams took the field.

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Daniel Kuzemka saved Atlanta’s first kick and gave the hosts an early advantage. The teams then traded goals thanks to four kickers to see the Battery lead 4-3 after four rounds.

Nicolas Firmino converted Atlanta’s fifth kick to tie things up and all eyes were on Josh Cohen to save what could have been Charleston’s victory. Cohen hadn’t saved a penalty on the first four shots, but seemed to get closer and closer to the battery, then delivered with his team on the brink of elimination with a fifth-round save to breathe new life into Atlanta. Stian Gregerson then converted Atlanta’s sixth kick to put the visitors ahead for the first time, then Cohen pushed Battery’s very next shot over the bar with a strong left hand to seal the victory .

Cohen, after the stoppage, immediately got up and sprinted toward midfield, jumping and pumping his fists before being mobbed by his teammates. Cohen’s back-to-back saves completely flipped the penalty shootout script and closed this chapter of the Battery-United USOC rivalry.

Atlanta United now advances to the quarterfinals in early July and will know their opponent and their path to the final in Wednesday night’s draw.

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