Jägermeister Cup Preview: Charleston vs. Tampa Bay
USL Charleston Battery

Jägermeister Cup Preview: Charleston vs. Tampa Bay

Published on July 24, 2025 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


The Charleston Battery close out the month hosting the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Round 4 of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Sat., July 26. The group stage match at Patriots Point will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will stream on ESPN+ and air locally on Palmetto Sports Network.

This weekend marks the third time this year Charleston and Tampa Bay have clashed this year. Charleston swept the regular season series with wins in both fixtures.

Charleston enter Round 4 looking to end the group stage on a positive note after going winless in the first three rounds. The Battery's last foray in the Jägermeister Cup was a 3-3 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC, with the Battery winning the ensuing penalty shootout to secure an additional point. Charleston's last match was a 3-0 league win at home over Miami FC.

Tampa Bay head into Round 4 looking to maintain their spot atop the group table. The Rowdies lead the group but only by a margin of one and two points over second and third place, respectively. Tampa Bay defeated FC Naples, 0-2, on the road in Round 3. Saturday will be the Rowdies' first match in a week and a half after being off since their last match on July 16, a 0-1 road win over Hartford Athletic.

Looking at the Group 6 standings, the Battery are in sixth and Tampa Bay are in first.

Storylines of the Match

Chance to Play Spoiler - While the Battery's fate in the group stage is confirmed, that doesn't mean there is not still plenty to play for on Saturday. The pressure will be on Tampa Bay to secure their spot atop of the table to advance to the knockout phase, since dropped points would open the door for Miami and Greenville to jump them in the standings. Therefore, the Battery could play spoiler and deliver crucial blow to their No Quarter Derby rivals with a home victory.

Tale of Two Seasons - The Battery and the Rowdies find themselves on opposite sides of the spectrum for both the regular season and the Jägermeister Cup. Charleston have been flying in Championship play and currently lead the Players' Shield race, while Tampa Bay are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference. On the flip side, the Rowdies have been a commanding presence atop Group 6 while the Battery have left much to be desired in their Jägermeister Cup debut.

All-Time Series - This weekend will be the first meeting between Charleston and Tampa Bay in a cup competition after previously meeting only in the regular season and playoffs. The Battery hold a 14W-9L-3D record over the Rowdies in the all-time series, including a 10W-3L-0D record at home.

Special Threads - Charleston will be rocking a new look on Saturday that's special for the Jägermeister Cup. The Cup Fourth Kit will make its first, and only, appearance in 2025. The shirt features yellow sleeves and trim with a black base that includes a waved line pattern that reimagines the club's signature stripes.

Last Game Before the Bye - Despite having little to gain from Saturday's cup tie, Charleston will look to stay sharp before having a bye week the following weekend. A strong performance would give the squad a positive base to build off of before their next game two weeks later, a heavyweight bout against Louisville City FC on August 9 that could prove decisive in the Players' Shield race.

Myers, Jennings vs. Rowdies - The first two fixtures were dominated by MD Myers and Cal Jennings, and their presence on Saturday will be an aspect to keep an eye on once again. The pair accounted for all five of the Battery's goals in the two regular season meetings, with Myers recording three and Jennings tallying two.

Torres Leading the Way - Juan David Torres' breakout campaign has continued, with him leading in many categories in the league. Torres is in the driver's seat for the Championship's Golden Playmaker with a league-best eight assists. He also leads the league in chances created (46), big chances created (15), shots (54) and goals from outside the box (four).

Shootout Potential - Unique to the Jägermeister Cup is the potential for the game to end in a penalty shootout if it is tied after 90 minutes. Should the game be level at full-time, each team will receive a point and then the game will go straight to a penalty shootout to decide who wins the bonus point. Charleston had their first taste of this element of the tournament against Tormenta FC, winning 4-5 after Christian Garner made the save in the final round of shots.

Houssou Returns - Back at the Battery's disposal will be midfielder Houssou Landry, who is available again after serving a one-game suspension last week for yellow card accumulation.

From the Training Ground

MATCH INFO

Charleston Battery vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

USL Jägermeister Cup | Group Stage | Round 4

Saturday, July 26 - 7:30 p.m. ET Kickoff

Patriots Point

HOW TO WATCH:

Saturday's match will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league's YouTube channel for free internationally. It will also air on local television on Palmetto Sports and Entertainment Network, channel WCSC 5.3 (SD) and WZCH-TV 35.3 (HD) in Charleston. Check with your TV provider for the exact channel number.

A limited amount of tickets for Saturday are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery's exclusive digital ticketing provider.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 24, 2025


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