Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery have another quick turnaround to face Birmingham Legion FC on Wed., July 2, in Week 18 of the USL Championship regular season. Kickoff at Protective Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET and the match is airing exclusively on national television on CBS Sports Network.
It is the first meeting between Charleston and Birmingham this year, with the reverse fixture not until October 25. Last year, the Battery swept the series with a 0-1 win in Alabama and a 2-0 win at Patriots Point.
Charleston (10W-3L-1D, 31pts) head to the Yellowhammer State after playing South Georgia Tormenta FC to a 3-3 road draw in the USL Jӓgermeister Cup group stage on Saturday. The Battery won the penalty shootout for the bonus point after Christian Garner made a clutch save in the fifth round. Leland Archer, Cal Jennings and Emilio Ycaza scored during regulation. In league play, the Battery most recently triumphed 4-1 over Phoenix Rising FC.
Birmingham (3W-7L-4D, 13pts) also drew in the Jӓgermeister Cup, 1-1 on the road against Indy Eleven. Legion FC were looking at a loss going into the 90th minute, but a late stoppage time goal by Tabort Preston salvaged a point for Birmingham. In the penalty shootout, Indy were victorious, 7-6, after Hunter Sulte denied Erik Centeno’s spot attempt. Birmingham’s last league contest was a 0-1 home loss to Oakland Roots SC.
Looking at the Eastern Conference table, Charleston are in second and Birmingham are in 10th.
Storylines of the Match
National Television Week – Charleston will be residents of CBS Sports Network in Week 18 as both of their matches will air nationally on CBSSN. After facing Birmingham on the channel, the Battery’s Sunday Southern Derby against North Carolina FC will also be on CBSSN.
All-Time Series – The Battery and Legion FC have met 10 times since 2019, with Charleston holding a 6W-3L-1D record against the Alabama club. Prior to 2023, Birmingham led the series, but Charleston’s current five-game winning streak in the series tipped the record in their favor.
Top-5 Attack – Looking at the league campaign, three of the top five overall scorers (goals + assists) are members of the Battery. Cal Jennings leads the way with 13 (11G/2A), with Juan David Torres (4G/7A) and MD Myers (8G/3A) tied for fourth. No other team in the Championship has more than one player in the top nine.
Strong Shot-Stoppers – Wednesday’s contest will feature two of the better goalkeepers in the league. Charleston’s Luis Zamudio and Birmingham’s Matt Van Oekel are both top-10 in saves in the league, tied at 35 saves each.
Rodriguez Hitting His Stride – Arturo Rodríguez has been on fire over the past two weeks. Rodríguez followed up his brace against Phoenix with a two-assist performance against Tormenta. It was Rodríguez’s first multi-assist game since October 2023 and brought his 2025 total to four across all competitions.
Debuts and Firsts – Charleston’s Jӓgermeister Cup match also featured some notable firsts. Chief among them was USL Academy signing Diego Rodríguez, 18, making his professional debut off the bench in the second half. Diego, the younger brother of Arturo, registered three duels won, one interception and two tackles won. Additionally, Viggo Ortiz made his first career start as a professional for his second appearance of the year. Ortiz tallied three duels won, two successful dribbles, one chance created and one tackle won.
Kelly’s Instant Impact – Newcomer Jeremy Kelly also made his club debut on Saturday, but it was his influence on the game that was more noteworthy. Kelly needed only about two minutes to make his mark when he assisted Emilio Ycaza’s goal in the 64th minute. It was a crafty play by Kelly, who made the charge in the box while retaining possession against several defenders before teeing up Ycaza at the top of the box for the shot.
Archer, Ycaza on Target – Two new names on the scoresheet for the first time this year were Leland Archer and Ycaza. Archer opened the scoring for the game in the 8th minute when he towered over everyone to meet the corner kick and head the ball home. It was the skipper’s first goal since April 2023. Additionally, Ycaza notched his first goal of the year in the 64th minute. Ycaza was teed up by Kelly, and then delivered a perfect first-time strike to the far post, for his first goal of 2025.
Torres Top Creator – In addition to leading the Championship in assists, Torres is the top creator in the league through Week 17. The Colombian winger has recorded the most chances created (35) and big chances created (11).
Rubio Powers Guatemala in Gold Cup – Rubio Rubín came up clutch for Guatemala once again in the Concacaf Gold Cup, this time scoring a crucial equalizer in the Quarterfinals against Canada that eventually sent the game to penalties. Rubín delivered a thumping header in the 69th minute and Los Chapines advanced to the Semifinals for the first time in 29 years after winning the penalty shootout. The goal was Rubín’s second of the tournament. Guatemala’s stunning triumph over Canada was immediately hailed as “One of the biggest upsets in Gold Cup history” by Fox Sports’ Tyler Terens during the match broadcast. Canada boasted a FIFA ranking of 30 compared to Guatemala’s 106 prior to the game. For his efforts, Rubín was named to the Gold Cup’s Quarterfinals Best XI by Concacaf.
MATCH INFO
Birmingham Legion FC vs. Charleston Battery
Wednesday, July 2 – 8 p.m. ET Kickoff
Protective Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
Wednesday’s match will air exclusively on national television on CBS Sports Network, which may be accessed through a typical cable or satellite TV subscription that includes CBSSN. Check your TV’s guide for the exact channel number.
The match is exclusive to CBSSN and will not be accessible via a Paramount+ subscription nor will it be available on local linear channels. Fans may use the CBS Sports App or website to stream the games by logging in with their TV subscription credentials.
The game will also air on SiriusXM FC (channel 970).
