The Charleston Battery takes on first-year USL side Orlando City B tomorrow night at MUSC Health Stadium. The Battery comes into the match tied for third place with FC Cincinnati on 21 points, six points behind league-leaders Louisville City FC.
Starting with Saturday’s match, the Battery will play back-to-back home games for the first time this season. Coming off a tough week on the road, Coach Anhaeuser and his team will be happy to spend an extended period of time in Charleston.
The two week stint in Charleston gives the Battery a chance to start a new streak at MUSC Health Stadium after being beaten at home for the first time in over two years on May 28th. Louisville City FC defeated the Battery 2-0 in tough conditions to break Charleston’s 29-game unbeaten streak.
Coach Anhaeuser commented, “We have an opportunity to start a new streak. Things always have to come to an end, but you have to start anew. We want to get off on the right foot against Orlando.”
The Battery rebounded in Pittsburgh last week after losing two consecutive games for the first time this season. Charleston followed up the league loss to Louisville with a heartbreaking extra time defeat in Jacksonville that knocked the team out of the US Open Cup on June 1st. Although the loss to the Armada is disappointing, it allows the Battery to focus solely on the league for the rest of the summer.
Charleston’s veterans led the way in the team’s 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh at Highmark Stadium. Outside back O’Brian Woodbine opened the scoring, converting a penalty in the 33rd minute. The Jamaican defender earned a spot on USL’s Team of the Week for his performance against the RIverhounds.
Center back Taylor Mueller scored his second goal of the year three minutes after Woodbine’s opener off of a long free kick from Michael Chang to double the lead. A Pittsburgh defender mis-cleared Chang’s delivery and the knock-down fell straight to Mueller. The defender made no mistake, volleying the eventual game-winner past the Riverhounds’ goalkeeper.
Orlando City B lost a seven goal thriller at home to Louisville City FC in its previous match. OCB played up a man for the majority of the second half after Louisville’s George Davis IV was sent off for a mistimed challenge. Despite the man-advantage, Orlando gave up three second half goals and lost the match 4-3.
The poor result against Louisville doesn’t reflect OCB’s improvement since its 0-0 draw with Charleston in April. The young team has four wins on the season including two tough victories over traditionally strong USL sides Rochester and Charlotte. The first-year team is beginning to gel and has become more dangerous going forward, which takes some of the pressure off of its more-developed back four. It will be interesting to see how OCB’s youngsters respond to playing on the road in Charleston on Saturday after spending six weeks at home.
OCB’s roster is made up of academy players and loanees from the team’s MLS affiliate. With MLS on a break for the Copa America, many of those loanees will be available for OCB in the match against the Battery.
Tyler Turner is one of the most notable players on loan from Orlando City SC. The outside back has played every minute this season for OCB, scoring three goals and registering an assist in 990 minutes.
Hadji Barry is another loanee that will pose a threat for the Battery, specifically the back four. The pacey forward has the ability to get in behind defenders and score goals. Barry is coming off of a three point performance against Louisville, scoring a goal and adding an assist.
With Orlando currently sitting in ninth place and looking to move up in the table and the Battery only a few points off the top of the league, both teams will be looking for three big points on Saturday night. The match will start at 5:00pm and will be followed by a Copa America watch party at 7:00pm on the 3,000 square foot video board at MUSC Health Stadium.
