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USL Charleston Battery

Richmond Preview: Third Meeting Pits Third Place vs. Third Place

August 26, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston Battery vs. Richmond Kickers
Charleston Battery vs. Richmond Kickers
(Charleston Battery)

CHARLESTON -- The outlook for the third 2015 meeting between Charleston and Richmond speaks volumes about the current state of the oldest continuous rivalry in U.S. soccer.

The Battery and Kickers share more this week than just the distinction of being the country's oldest professional teams in continuous operation. Both share third place in the USL East and identical 9-6-9 records heading into Saturday's series-capping showdown at City Stadium, set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

How close are these two? Their two previous meetings this season ended in draws, with each host able to express legitimate frustration at being forced to share points in results (2-2 at Richmond on May 2, 1-1 at Charleston on June 10) that went somewhat against the run of play. Then again, if you're a soccer fan who studies the shots stat the way boxers look at punch counts, this series simply couldn't be any closer: The Battery and the Kickers finished dead even in shots (nine each in Richmond, 11 each in Charleston) in their first two meetings.

With the rivals stuck in a three-way points tie with New York Red Bulls II (who host Wilmington at 5 p.m. on Saturday), the Richmond-v-Charleston match stakes a claim to a marquee spot in the Week 24 USL schedule. It's a game neither can afford to lose.

SCOUTING THE BATTERY

Charleston enters this crucial weekend as a USL anomaly: Winless in their last six and coming off a two-game road-trip losing streak, yet arguably in respectable late-season form.

How weird have the last six matches been for the Battery? Despite not getting a win and scoring just four goals, the Battery have out-shot their opponents 83-60.

They lost 1-0 at Toronto in the 89th minute, with goalkeeper Quillan Roberts taking Goalkeeper of the Week. They lost 1-0 at first-place Rochester on a 10th-minute Goal of the Week candidate in a strategic match where a scoreless draw seemed the most likely outcome. Montreal goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau earned Goalkeeper of the Week for his role in the scoreless draw at Charleston, and Saint Louis FC's freak goal in the 60th minute came despite being out-shot 22-3. The Battery led by two at St. Louis, surrendering the equalizer in the 83rd, and the game-winner in stoppage.

And in last week's loss to second-place Louisville City FC, the Battery played a brilliant first 44 minutes before Bryan Burke's pinpoint cross unlocked leading scorer Matt Fondy's unstoppable header in the 45th. Charleston lost 3-1 as the high-scoring Coopers punished the Battery for chasing the lead.

Yes, Anhaeuser's men have been forced through a variety of combinations by suspensions, injuries and fatigue. But the Battery have enjoyed quality depth this season, and mix-and-match lineups are far from uncommon for USL clubs slogging through the summer doldrums. So what's the problem?

The most obvious culprit? Accuracy.

Before the loss at Toronto, the Battery were putting a stellar 47 percent of their shots on goal. In the matches since, Charleston has steered just 36.1 percent of its shots on frame.

Anhaeuser's team has actually increased its shooting production over the past six (13.7 shots per game, raising the team's season average to 11.7), while holding on as one of the top defensive units in the league (1.17 goals allowed per match, fourth-best in USL) . But quality finishes have proven elusive, with less than 5 percent (0.048) of the team's shots resulting in goals. That's less than half the team's season average (0.125).

For Battery fans, the good news is that all four of the team's goals on the current winless streak have come in the past three games, and all three of its top-scorers -- forwards Dane Kelly (9), Heviel Cordoves (5) and Ricky Garbanzo (4) -- are available for selection. With the team on a full-week's rest for Saturday, Anhaeuser can pick a lineup based on his Richmond game plan, rather than on managing health and minutes.

Only starting fullback Obi Woodbine (knee) and reserve forward Austin Savage (ankle) have been held out of training this week. Kelly is on warning for yellow card accumulation.

It's a sign of the Battery's defensive success that the team not surrendered more than two goals in a game before last week. The back-to-back three-goal let downs on the road were shared by goalkeepers Odisnel Cooper and Kevin Corby. Despite the pounding in Louisville, Cooper's 1.07 goals-against average in the second best in USL.

SCOUTING THE RICHMOND KICKERS

Like the Battery, the Kickers have been through an up-and-down 2015, with success and frustration often arriving in waves.

But if there's an obvious trend to the Kickers' season, it's been tied to the Battery. Richmond's two longest winless streaks both began with draws against Charleston (0-2-2 in May, and 0-1-4 in June and July). They've been a little better than the Battery over their last six (2-3-1), with a +1 goal differential.

In a sense, Richmond's problems have been the reverse of Charleston's. The Kickers have gotten back in the scoring groove and are now back in the Top 10 in production (1.56 goals per game), but have slumped back toward the middle of the pack when it comes to stopping their opponents (1.35 goals allowed per game, tied for 11th). The 12 goals surrendered in the team's last six matches are driving that falling ranking.

In the Kickers' last outing, however, Coach Leigh Cowlishaw reversed that trend by pitching a 2-0 shutout against Saint Louis FC. With the visitors playing on a travel-day's rest after their emotional 3-2 win over Charleston, Cowlishaw fielded a 4-4-2 stocked with defensive-minded players, controlled the game from the opening whistle and finally broke through in the second half for a pair.

Will Cowlishaw try that approach again? His Aug. 22 lineup featured central midfielder Samuel Asante on the right wing, rookie fullback Braeden Troyer at central mid next to veteran Sascha Goerres, and 29-year-old Ghanian wingback Fred Owusu Sekyere on the left. Cowlishaw's back line of left back Uriah Bentick (6-2), center backs William Yomby (6-4) and Hugh Roberts (6-4), and left back Alex Lee (5-10) gave the unit plenty of heft. Jason Yeisley and Yudai Imora sat atop as forwards, with Yeisley in the No. 9 role.

Like Anhaeuser, with a week's rest and week before his next game, Cowlishaw's XI for Saturday is likely to reflect his preferred game plan for his opponent and situation. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal, too. Veteran forward Matt Delicate is second on the team with six goals, tied with attacking midfielder George Davis IV. Midfielder Brian Ownby has four goals and four assists. The team bolstered its attack last week by signing PDL Player of the Year Anthony Grant, who scored 12 goals for Seacoast United.

Still, there's little doubt who the Kickers' breakout star of 2015 has been. Yeisley, the former FC Dallas prospect, has toiled in the lower divisions since 2011, serving in a supporting role in Richmond for the previous three seasons. In 77 USL appearances before 2015, he produced 10 goals.

In 19 league appearances this season, Yeisley has scored 12 times, putting him in a tie for for fourth place in the USL scoring race. The 28-year-old has a good skills package for a 6-2 forward, and will be a focus for Battery center backs Shawn Ferguson and Taylor Mueller if he gets the nod.

Goalkeeper has been a revolving door for the Kickers this season, with four men getting starts for the Reds. Homegrown product Ryan Taylor has the bulk of the minutes and the best win-lost-draw record, going 6-3-3 over 11 starts and 12 appearances. D.C. United rookie Travis Worra trails Taylor with nine starts, and has better numbers across the key statistics.

Check out the Charleston Battery Statistics




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Charleston Battery vs. Richmond Kickers
Charleston Battery vs. Richmond Kickers
   

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