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USL Charleston Battery

Charleston Battery Hosts North Carolina FC Wednesday Night

September 25, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


The Charleston Battery (12-4-13) hosts North Carolina FC (11-10-8) Wednesday night at MUSC Health Stadium in their third game in seven days.

The Battery earned two 1-1 draws last week to remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Nico Rittmeyer scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Battery an early lead at home against Charlotte midweek, but the Independence battled back to earn a point. Rittmeyer left the match at halftime and missed Saturday's draw with Nashville.

With Rittmeyer and Ataulla Guerra unavailable, Tah Brian Anunga stepped up and found the back of the net Saturday night in Tennessee. The Battery fell behind early after Tucker Hume scored in the ninth minute, but equalized minutes later through Anunga.

Charleston played the last 30 minutes down a man after Patrick Okonkwo was issued a straight red card in the 60th minute for an off the ball incident. Okonkwo will miss Wednesday's match against North Carolina FC, but Guerra returns from his three-game suspension.

Guerra's last match was the 2-2 draw with Louisville City FC on August 31. He currently leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and assists with four. The Battery fared well without their leading goal-scorer, earning five points of a possible nine during his absence.

North Carolina FC enters Wednesday's match carrying the momentum of a 6-1 drubbing of Atlanta United 2 on the road last Friday night. Ulrich Ewolo scored four goals in the match to bring his season total to seven.

Daniel Rios was given the night off in Atlanta, but will be a serious threat to the Battery back three if he plays Wednesday night. Rios scored his 17th goal of the season prior to being substituted at halftime of NCFC's 1-0 win over Penn FC on September 16th. Rios' 17 goals have him tied for second-most in the league, four behind Louisville City's Cameron Lancaster.

Both Rios and Guerra found the back of the net in the first ever meeting between the Battery and North Carolina FC on July 7. The regional rivals drew the two previous matches this season; both were played at WakeMed Park in Raleigh.

The Battery could clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win and a Nashville loss Wednesday night. If Charleston wins and Nashville wins, the Battery will need just one point from their remaining three matches or one of four teams behind them to drop points in order to make the playoffs.

North Carolina is battling to get into the playoff picture. NCFC is currently in ninth place, tied on points with eighth place Ottawa Fury FC with two games in hand. Getting points against the Battery is crucial if they're going to make the playoffs in their first season in the USL.

Wednesday's match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 PM. It will be streamed live on ESPN+; there is no television broadcast.

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