Sports stats



USL Charleston Battery

Battery Back Home Friday Night

August 5, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - After dropping points on the road against Miami FC Sunday night, the Battery are back at Patriots Point Friday night to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for the second of four matchups this season.

Key Storylines

The division leading Pittsburgh side visits Patriots Point for the second time this season, but the first in front of fans since 2019 after the July 7 contest was closed to fans due to Tropical Storm Elsa

Crucial points are on the line for Charleston as they look to get back into playoff contention in the Atlantic Division standings

The Battery are riding a 6-game unbeaten streak at home having not lost since the May 14 home opener at Patriots Point

Charleston will look to score early and often against a high-powered Pittsburgh side averaging 1.8 goals per game. The Battery were able to hold Pittsburgh to a signle goal in the July 7 1-1 draw.

The Battery return home Friday following two consecutive road matches to take on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on August 6. Kickoff at Patriots Point is slotted for 7:30 p.m. EST will be the second meeting of the season between the fellow black and yellow sides.

The spoils were shared in the first meeting, a 1-1 draw in Charleston. Geobel Perez got the Battery on the scoreline early in the contest for his first career professional goal. The Hounds equalized late via a Tommy Williamson goal in the 85th minute. The match was the first between the clubs since 2019.

Looking at the Atlantic Division standings, Pittsburgh sit top of the table with a 9-4-3 record (30 pts) and Charleston are fifth with a 6-5-3 record (21 pts), just outside a playoff spot.

Pittsburgh are coming off a triumphant performance at home, defeating Hartford Athletic 3-1. Hartford got off to an early 1-0 lead that held through halftime by way of a Derek Dodson goal. The Hounds, undeterred, rallied in the second half with three goals to claim the victory. Pittsburgh were powered by a brace from Alex Dixon and a late goal from Louis Perez to seal the win. The victory afforded the Riverhounds some breathing room from the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who have one game in hand, in the standings following Tampa Bay's away loss to Charlotte.

The Battery will look to bounce back from a 3-2 away loss to The Miami FC on Sunday. The Black and Yellow got off to an early 2-0 advantage through goals by Nicque Daley and Zeiko Lewis, before Miami's Ariel Martinez got one back just before halftime. Miami scored twice in the second half to complete the comeback win, lifted by goals from Christiano François (61') and Billy Forbes (78'). The Battery pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes of the match but were unable to convert. The loss snapped a three-game win streak and was the second of two consecutive road matches in less than a week.

The first match between Charleston and Pittsburgh was played behind closed doors due to the potential threat of Tropical Storm Elsa, meaning Friday's fixture will be the first time Pittsburgh are welcomed by the Patriots Point crowd.

Ones to Watch This Week

Pittsburgh Riverhounds - Alex Dixon

Dixon was a crucial performer in the Hounds last match, notching two goals on two shots and had two key passes in 85 minutes of work. Defensively, the winger tallied six recoveries. On the year, Dixon is second on the team in goals (4), third in shots (18) and second in chances created (21). The 31 year-old was Pittsburgh's top performer in the first meeting with the Battery according to FotMob.com, rating his performance a team-high 7.5 (out of 10), as he registered one shot, three key passes and four duels won. Expect Dixon to play another important role Friday.

Charleston Battery - Nicque Daley

Nicque Daley has been heating up as a critical component of the Battery attack. The young Jamaican had a goal and an assist in just 54 minutes of work against Miami. Daley has registered a goal or assist in the Battery's last four matches and will look to maintain that form heading into Friday. On the year, Daley leads the team in goals (5) and shots (18) in 13 appearances. Although not credited for an assist, Daley provided an important through ball to Perez in the build-up that led to Geobel's goal against Pittsburgh in the first meeting.

Training Notes

The Battery returned to Patriots Point for training Tuesday following a travel and recovery day Monday.

Head Coach Michael Anhaeuser prepares the team for their first home match since July 23 against Charlotte Independence.

"We had two games on the road, so giving the team a day off, and [in training] we went over what we want to do and where we're going to make some adjustments," said Anhaeuser. "We want to keep that intensity and our pressure on the field up higher."

Pittsburgh have shown different formations this year and Charleston will work on what they could see from the Hounds in the second meeting.

"Coach [Bob] Lilley might play a three, might throw out a four, might throw out a five, he might sit back and he might press us," said Anheauser. "We've got to be prepared for a little bit of everything."

As the Battery return home, defender Logan Gdula said the team is happy to be back at Patriots Point.

"Coming back home is always nice, it feels comfortable and you want to get another win at home," said Gdula. "Away trips are nice to see other places, but the fans make a huge difference, so the atmosphere is a little different."

Patriots Point will welcome fans for Friday's game against Pittsburgh after they weren't present in the first match. Gdula expects their presence to have an impact.

"The flow of the game changes when the crowd is in it, it gives you momentum, especially when your legs are feeling heavy and you're tired, it gives you something to fight for," said Gdula. "It helps a lot, when there's no fans, the atmosphere is just not the same."

As of posting, Jarad van Schaik and Robbie Crawford are questionable, Claudio Repetto, Joel Bunting, Erik McCue, Nico Rittmeyer, and Mauro Cichero are out.

MATCH INFO

Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Friday, August 6 - 7:30 p.m. EST Kickoff - Patriots Point

How to Watch: ESPN+

Tickets are still available for Friday's match through SeatGeek, the Battery's exclusive digital ticketing provider.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 5, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central