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USL Charleston Battery

June 18 Match Preview - CHSvMIA

June 17, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Battery are back at Patriots Point Friday to host Miami FC Friday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. The matchup is the first of four meetings between the former 2020 Group H foes as Charleston looks to shake off last Saturday's postponed match and carry on from last Tuesday's win over Loudoun United FC.

Key Storylines

The Battery look to climb the Atlantic Division standings with a win Friday night. Charleston has only played 4 matches this season after consecutive postponements at Patriots Point due to inclement weather. Friday's forecast calls for clear skies as the Battery look to secure their first win at home.

Charleston faced Miami four times last season, winning both matches at Patriots Point while registering a draw and a loss in Miami. Fifteen goals were scored between both teams in last season's contests.

With over a week since the last match played, the Battery have taken advantage of extended training and scrimmages to prepare for Miami FC Friday night.

Patriots Point is looking to be another sellout crowd, but a few tickets remain for Friday night's match.

The 2020 fixtures between the two clubs often offered excitement and intrigue with playoff implications on the line. The Battery won both matches (3-1, 2-0) at Patriots Point last year, while Miami returned the favor at Riccardo Silva Stadium with a draw and a win (1-1, 4-3) for their side.

Looking at the Atlantic Division table, Miami currently sit in fifth with a 3-3-1 record (10 pts) and the Battery sit behind them in sixth with a 1-1-2 record (5 pts). With a later start to the season and two postponed matches, the Battery have played the fewest games in the division.

Miami are coming off a 1-1 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on the road. The Hounds got off to an early 1-0 lead in that match courtesy of a 9th-minute goal by Russell Cicerone. Undeterred, Miami equalized just before the first half ended with a stoppage-time goal from Christiano Francois. Francois received a perfect through ball from Ariel Martinez and made his way past the Riverhounds defense then into the box for the score. Both clubs had a handful of chances for a breakthrough, but neither side were able to convert.

Charleston find themselves coming off another postponed home match on account of inclement weather, this time the June 12 contest against New York Red Bulls II. The match would have been the third meeting between the two teams this year. A rescheduled date is to be determined.

Prior to the postponement, the Battery were coming off their first victory of the season, a 0-1 road win over Loudoun United FC. Burke Fahling scored what proved to be the match-winner after receiving a brilliant cross from Zeiko Lewis into the box. The Black and Yellow will look to keep the momentum going from that victory as they return to Patriots Point in front of another electrified crowd.

The 2021 season will be second in the USL Championship for The Miami FC. The two sides were paired together in Group H for 2020 and are due for another set of four matches.

Ones to Watch This Week

Miami FC - Ariel Martinez

Martinez has been a key player for Miami so far this season. The veteran attacking midfielder currently leads the team in chances created (8, tied with Pierre Da Silva) and assists (2). Martinez is also second on the team in shots (8), but is still looking for his first goal of the season. The former Cuban international was named Man of the Match by USLChampionship.com for his exceptional play in Miami's 2-1 victory over Charlotte Independence. Expect Martinez, who was not on the team in 2020, to be an important piece in the Miami game plan when he visits Patriots Point for the first time.

Charleston Battery - Nicque Daley

Daley enjoyed success against Miami last season and will look to bring that form back into 2021. Nicque scored three goals against Miami, once at Patriots Point on August 28 and twice in Miami on September 30. Half of Daley's 2020 goals came at Miami's expense. Nicque has logged minutes as a starter and off the bench with the ability to provide variety on offense. Like Martinez, Daley is searching for his first goal of the season and will look to do so against a team he's succeeded against in the past.

Coach & Training Notes

The Battery were back at training on Monday following Saturday's postponement and a rest day on Sunday.

Head Coach Michael Anhaeuser discussed the squad bouncing back from another postponed match.

"It's tough, two weeks in a row you get another rainout, but it's something that happens here," said Coach Anhaeuser. "We moved on, had a great [training] session yesterday and played [a scrimmage] to try to get the guys at least playing in a game situation to keep them ticking over."

Following the postponement, the players are looking to take it in stride and stay resolute.

"Obviously it's not great, we always want to be playing every weekend, so I think the guys just want to get on the field and be playing," said defender Leland Archer. "It's out of our control, so the guys just put their focus back into training the week coming up and are focusing on the next game ahead."

Looking at Friday, Miami visit Patriots Point for the first time in 2021, but this year's squad will be different from 2020 after the club made a handful of roster additions with experienced players in the offseason.

"We're playing an experienced team, they have a lot of experienced players," said Anhaeuser. "They've got a couple of guys up front, [Christiano] Francois, who's been around and has pace, power, Speedy Williams who played for Louisville who can control the game in the back.

"Ariel Martinez is a Cuban international who runs the show in the midfield, [Billy] Forbes has been in our league and been a leading goal scorer, so they have some [new] guys that can cause some big changes in a game, so we have to be aware of that."

Compared to the previous MLS 2 teams the Battery have faced, Archer expects Miami to bring a different approach to the match.

"They have a couple more older guys so they're more experienced, whereas the MLS 2 teams kind of run at you all the time, always have this energy, but I think [Miami] will be a lot more smarter in their approach," said Archer.

The team is excited about the chance to play again.

"Players want to play, it's hard to miss a game and sit out, because training is training, games are games," said Anhaeuser. "Playing 90 minutes in this heat isn't always easy, I think we're going to be ready to go."

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics



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