USL Charleston Battery

Charleston Battery Hosts Charlotte Independence Wednesday Night

September 17, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


The Charleston Battery (12-4-12) hosts the Charlotte Independence (9-11-8) Wednesday night at MUSC Health Stadium. Both teams enter the match on ten days rest following an unexpected bye weekend due to Hurricane Florence.

The Battery currently sits in fourth place, tied on points with third place Louisville City FC and two points back of second place Pittsburgh Riverhounds. All three teams have six matches left to play.

Prior to Hurricane Florence's arrival, the Battery picked up their twelfth win of the season, defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0, at MUSC Health Stadium. Patrick Okonkwo scored his fourth goal in three games to help Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser earn his 200th win.

With Ataulla Guerra suspended for Wednesday's match, the Battery will lean on Okonkwo to produce in the final third. The 20-year old forward has four goals in just seven starts this season and they've all come in the last three weeks. Okonkwo will likely be paired with either Ian Svantesson or Gordon Wild and Kotaro Higashi in attack Wednesday night.

Despite picking up six points in their previous two games, the Independence enters Wednesday's match in twelfth place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is six points off of eighth place New York with a game in hand. The Independence hosts Red Bulls II on Saturday following their trip to Charleston, giving them the opportunity to close the gap; but with four teams in between them and a playoff spot, they'll be pushing hard for maximum points from their final six matches.

The Battery earned a 2-0 win over Charlotte the last time the two sides met at MUSC Health Stadium on May 5. Goals from Guerra and Victor Mansaray helped the Battery secure their third of four straight victories in May.

The teams split the points in the second of three matches this season a month later in Charlotte. Guerra had a role in the Battery's goal again, assisting Higashi's 25th minute strike. The Independence battled back and equalized through Mutaya Mwape in the 79th minute to secure a point at home.

The Battery has the best home record in the Eastern Conference, losing just once at MUSC Health Stadium this season. Charleston has earned 31 of a possible 42 points at home so far in 2018. Only FC Cincinnati has earned more points at home and they've hosted two more games than the Battery.

A win on Wednesday would give the Battery their tenth at MUSC Health Stadium this season, tying last year's mark with two home games left to play. The Battery will have the opportunity to secure double digit wins at home in back-to-back years against an Independence side that has lost eight times on the road. Charlotte has picked up just nine points away from home in 2018.

Kickoff for Wednesday's match is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 17, 2018


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