Lagos Kunga impresses in Charleston Battery debut

Atlanta United and Charleston Battery fans alike took notice when the Charleston Battery announced that Lagos Kunga had joined on a one-year deal. Atlanta were pleased the academy product would likely be given more first team action than he would in the ATL, and Charleston that another exciting piece wold be added to an already deep and impressive side.

It took awhile to get the bells and whistles done, but Lagos made his debut in the Battery’s 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, slotting in on the left wing to fill the void left by the injured Dante Marini. It didn’t take him long to show the fans what he’s about, and he was one of the focal points going forward in the Battery attack.

Especially in the first half, he displayed the things that if you’ve paid attention, you’ve probably seen on highlights of him in the ATLUTD academy or for US Youth National teams. The ability to beat a man in close quarters is something that Battery fans will be grateful for in the absence of the aforementioned Marini, but he showed a few other things as well.

He seems more comfortable trying to cut in, and showed decent positional sense as well, making smart runs on and off the ball, which was shown in the one or two chances he had at goal about midway through the first half. He seems to have settled in quickly as well, judging by the quick passing he was involved in, especially with Maikel Chang and Heviel Cordoves.

He would be replaced early on in the second half, with perhaps one eye on the midweek clash with Pittsburgh, but fans can be pleased with what they saw, and will hope that the form he showed can continue.

The Battery face Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday at 7PM. You can stream the match via the club’s website.