Charleston
The Battery will be looking to rebound against the Rowdies this week after suffering their third loss of the season at the hands of thirteenth-place Saint Louis FC last Saturday. With the team’s two most prolific attacking players missing, Charleston were shutout for the first time this season in the match at Toyota Stadium in week 16. The Battery created several quality scoring opportunities against Saint Louis, including 12 corner kicks, but were unable to finish their chances and were stung with a 1-0 loss in the first of three straight matches on the road.
Charleston will be without Dante Marini, Romario Williams, and Ataulla Guerra this weekend in Tampa. Marini suffered a season-ending knee injury against Saint Louis. Williams will remain on international duty with Jamaica after the Reggae Boyz advanced to the semifinals of the Gold Cup Thursday night. Guerra is working back from a groin injury that has kept him out of six games. The Trinidadian playmaker is close to fully fit, but will likely not be available Saturday night.
To make up for the Battery’s absences, Atlanta United loanees Alex Tambakis, Miles Robinson, and Lagos Kunga trained with the Battery in Charleston all week and are available for selection Saturday night.
Tampa Bay
Al Lang Stadium is one of the most difficult venues to visit in the USL. The Rowdies are 6-1-2 at home this season, earning six shutouts and a +10 goal differential. Tampa have only given up five goals in their nine home games; the Battery scored three of those goals in week 5.
The Rowdies drew 1-1 with Orlando City B in their previous match. Tampa were within a whisker of earning their second win on the road this season against Orlando, but Danny Deakin’s 96th minute penalty forced the Rowdies to settle for a draw.
Tampa beat FC Cincinnati 2-0 in their previous match at Al Lang Stadium on July 6th. Martin Paterson and Joe Cole scored Tampa’s goals in the win, Matt Pickens earned the shutout in goal.
Previous Meetings
Charleston have taken six points from their first two matches against the Rowdies this season. In the first meeting on April 22nd, Tah Brian Anunga’s 89th minute goal lifted the Battery to a 3-2 win and into first place. Romario Williams and Heviel Cordoves scored goals in Charleston’s 2-0 win over Tampa at MUSC Health Stadium on July 1st. Odisnel Cooper earned the shutout in goal.
