Steel win

Led by Philadelphia Union players Kacper Przybylko and Fabinho, Bethlehem Steel FC handed Charleston Battery their first loss of 2019 with a 3-1 victory at Talen Energy Stadium Saturday evening.

The home side made their presence known at the beginning of the first half when midfielder Michee Ngalina played in Zach Zandi who had his shot blocked by a Battery defender.

Steel FC continued to apply pressure on the visitors as Zandi sent Faris down the left side, but his outside-of-the-foot effort only managed to hit the side netting. The pressure finally paid off in the 44th minute when midfielder Issa Rayyan’s cross found Faris and was flicked on to Zandi, who poked the ball into the path of Kacper Przybylko for the on-loan Union attacker to one-timed into the net.

The second half started with Steel FC relying on Union goalkeeper Carlos Miguel Coronel to keep the Battery quiet. In the 51st minute Coronel saved a one-on-one breakaway, closing down the angle on the attacker. Coronel was called on again when he parried a vicious curling strike out of danger. Steel FC then pressed forward and Zandi was taken down for a penalty in the 67th minute. Philadelphia Union’s Fabinho, on loan to Steel FC, stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home into the bottom left corner of the net. The Charleston Battery got on the scoreboard when Tah Anunga scored in the 69th minute. However, the Battery began to push numbers forward and Steel FC punished them on the break. Ngalina recovered the ball in his own half and played in an unmarked Przybylko. Przybylko darted alone up field and slid the ball under the goalkeeper’s outstretched body to add his second goal of the night in the 70th minute.