Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery head west for their Week 2 fixture against Oakland Roots SC on Sat., March 16. Kickoff at Pioneer Stadium is set for 10 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s contest will be the second all-time meeting between Charleston and Oakland after the sides clashed last year, a 0-1 Roots SC victory.
Charleston kicked off their season with a 0-0 draw against North Carolina FC, the reigning USL League One winners. Charleston dominated much of the match, commanding roughly 67% of possession in addition to not conceding a shot on target, but couldn’t find the right goalscoring combination.
Oakland’s 2024 campaign began with a 2-1 home win over Indy Eleven. The hosts scored three minutes into the match via Jeciel Cedeño and Bryan Tamacas scored the winner in the second half after Indy’s equalizer before the interval.
Storylines of the Match
Cross-Country Battery – Saturday’s match is the second road match to start the year for the Battery. Charleston went from their closest away days in NCFC in Week 1 to one of their furthest in Oakland, which is just over 2,300 miles away, in Week 2.
New Kids in Town – Charleston had nine players make their club debuts in Week 1, which highlights the newness of the 2024 squad. With the first official 90 minutes of play in the books, they’ll look to build on the chemistry established through Week 1 in the team’s first trip to The Town.
Debut on the Horizon – MD Myers could make his Charleston and USL Championship debut on Saturday. The Battery’s new No. 9 joined the club via transfer from New York City FC II in the offseason but did not feature in Week 1. Myers won the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot in 2023.
Goalkeeper Watch – Both goalkeepers are worth keeping an eye on this weekend. Adam Grinwis made his Battery debut with a clean sheet in North Carolina and showed plenty of poise between the sticks. Oakland’s Paul Blanchette was the top shot-stopper last year, with 114 saves in the regular season, and was an All-League Second Team selection.
Possession Battle – One of the takeaways from Week 1 for the Battery was their dominance of possession against NCFC. Indy held a similar majority in possession against Oakland in Week 1, but Oakland’s efficiency with their chances proved to make the difference.
Finishing Touch in the Final Third – The Battery out-shot North Carolina and posed more danger in attack but were unable to find the back of the net. Charleston will look to capitalize on their chance creation, which has been lively, for the first goal and win of 2024.
Defensive Solidity – Charleston’s defense shined in Week 1 and held NCFC without a shot on target all night long. Graham Smith led the game with eight clearances and the mix of Smith, Leland Archer and Juan Sebastian Palma proved to be too tall of a task for North Carolina to overcome. The unit will aim for their second shutout in as many games.
Meeting No. 2 – The Week 2 fixture between Charleston and Oakland will be just the second all-time meeting between the sides. Roots SC joined the Championship in 2021.
From the Training Ground
Head Coach Ben Pirmann and defender Josh Drack previewed the upcoming Oakland match before heading to California:
MATCH INFO
Oakland Roots SC vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, March 16 – 10 p.m. ET Kickoff
Pioneer Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
Saturday’s match will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally.