WHO: Charleston Battery, 7W-9D-5L, 30 points, 9th place Eastern Conference

WHAT: A regular season USL Championship match

WHEN: Saturday, August 17, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: MUSC Health Stadium, 1990 Daniel Island Drive, Charleston, SC 29492

WATCH: I have no idea whether there’s an official watch party this week, but you can just about always catch the match at Against the Grain, Saints, Molly Malone’s, Mellwood Tavern, Butchertown Pizza Hall, and Hometown Pizza. It’ll be on WBKI, the radio broadcast is on WHAS (I think) and of course you can stream it over FloSports ESPN+.

WHO, AGAIN? Charleston Battery, the quietest good team in the Championship. Just like always, Charleston isn’t making waves but all of the sudden playoff time comes around and BAM, there they are with a respectable seed. This weekend’s game has even more significance, really, for both teams. According to Sportsclubstats.com, the result in this game could push LouCity juuuust a little closer to a six seed in the playoffs, while a Charleston win would strengthen their hold on ninth, and push them closer to eighth.

The Battery, who are likely leaving Daniel Island after this season and moving back into Charleston proper, haven’t exactly made their digs a fortress this season. While they’ve only lost there once, they’ve only won four times, and drawn six.

Mike Anhaeuser’s club has been a bit up and down all season, and recent form is no different. In their last five matches, they’ve drawn the Baby Bulls, struggled to beat Hartford away, gotten thrashed at home by Tampa Bay, drawn St. Louis away and just beat Loudoun on Wednesday at Segra Field. It’s a mixed bag, but a team that can be gotten.

The Battery have scored a respectable 29 goals this season, but given up an uncharacteristic 31. They apparently don’t really care to keep the ball, having just 43% possession on the season, and average just over 360 passes per 90 minutes, which is not a lot. 40% of those balls are of the forward variety, meaning they’re kind of a Route One team these days. City has struggled in the past with counterattacking tactics so they’ll have to be on their guard if that’s Charleston’s M.O. on Saturday.

Zeiko Lewis leads the team in scoring with six goals in 15 appearances, followed closely by the arguably more dangerous Ian Sventesson with four. Lewis is also the club’s leading chance creator, but Kotaro Higashi and Vincenzo Candela aren’t slouches, either. Joe Kuzminsky will likely be between the sticks.

City are on a good run of form the past two games. Seeing five hit the back of the net last week has to have done wonders for their confidence. I’m willing to bet we see a similar back line to the past two matches, but the midfield is of a bit more interest to me in this game. Speedy playing the six is okay, but he needs some support. Niall McCabe did a great job of that last week, but it’ll be important for City to have some creativity on the field to break down the Charleston low block without giving up too much bite and pace on the counter.

It’ll be interesting, and Charleston is almost always a fun team to play. Let’s come back with three points. VAMOS MORADOS!