Charleston
The Battery are still searching for their first win since July 1st after going 0-3-4 in their last seven matches. A silver lining of the mid-summer skid is the team’s home unbeaten streak, which they extended to 10 games last Saturday against New York Red Bulls II.
Romario Williams scored his league-high 15th goal in the 1-1 draw with the defending USL champions. Williams and Ataulla Guerra started together for the first time since the 2-0 victory on July 1st and connected to score the Battery’s only goal against the Red Bulls.
O’brian Woodbine was shown a second yellow card late in last weekend’s match and will be unavailable for the match in Rochester. Tah Brian Anunga is also suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson, Laurent Kissiedou, and Patrick Okonkwo are all available for selection against the Rhinos.
Rochester
The Rhinos will have had ten full days of rest between their last match and Saturday’s contest with the Battery. Rochester defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders, 1-0, away from home in their last match on August 8th.
Darius Madison nodded home a Wal Fall free kick in the 25th minute to give Rochester an early lead against Harrisburg. Madison’s goal was enough to earn Rochester the full three points and bring the Rhinos within three points of the Battery in the table.
Rochester have one of the best home records (6-1-3) in the USL this season, losing only once and conceding just four goals in 11 games at Capelli Sport Stadium. The Rhinos have earned seven shutouts at home, winning 1-0 four times. The Rhinos’ ten total shutouts is the best in the Eastern Conference and one behind San Antonio for the USL-high. Goalkeeper Tomas Gomez is tied for second in the league with eight shutouts.
Previous Meetings
The Battery defeated the Rhinos, 5-0, in the previous meeting between the two sides back in April. Romario Williams scored a hatrick in eleven minutes to power Charleston past Rochester at MUSC Health Stadium.
Scoring Summary: Romario Williams (15, 25, 26); Ataulla Guerra (31); Maikel Chang (81)
The Battery haven’t beaten the Rhinos in Rochester since August 11, 2012. Goals from Tony Donatelli, Amadou Sanyang, and Dane Kelly lifted Charleston to a 4-0 win the last time the Battery earned three points in Rochester.
Game Notes
Records
- Charleston: 10-5-8; goals 40; goals against 26; GD +14
- Home: 7-1-5; goals 27 ; goals against 12 ; GD +15
- Away: 3-4-3; goals 13; goals against; 14; GD -1
- Rochester: 9-4-8; goals 25; goals against 20; GD +5
- Home: 6-1-3; goals 13; goals against 4; GD +9
- Away: 3-3-5; goals 12; goals against 16; GD -4
Form
- Charleston: L | D | D | L | D
- Rochester: D | W | W | L | W
Statistical Leaders
- Charleston
- Goals: Romario Williams (15)
- Assists: Justin Portillo (6)
- Points: Romario Williams (32)
- Minutes: Taylor Mueller, Justin Portillo (2,070)
- Rochester
- Goals: Wal Fall (7)
- Assists: Kenardo Forbes (4)
- Points: Wal Fall (16)
- Minutes: Ryan Felix (1,800)
Previous
- Charleston Battery vs. New York Red Bulls II (D | 1-1)
- Charleston goals: Romario Williams (45’)
- New York goals: Stefano Bonomo (72’)
- Rochester Rhinos vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (W | 1-0)
- Rochester goals: Darius Madison (25’)
- Harrisburg goals: none
