The Charleston Battery enters Saturday’s match against Penn FC (formerly Harrisburg City Islanders) looking to improve on last week’s 1-0 loss, the Club’s first in a home opener since 2007.
The Battery dropped the 1-0 result to FC Cincinnati despite outshooting the visitors 24 to 9 and dominating play for the majority of the 90 minutes. Cincinnati controlled the first 20 minutes of the match and nicked a goal; but after conceding, the Battery made adjustments and began asking questions of the Cincinnati defense.
Charleston created quality scoring opportunities throughout the entire match and will be looking to build on that attacking momentum this Saturday against Penn FC. The Battery looked to have found an equalizer on several occasions last weekend, but Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Newton was able to make key saves and preserve a shutout for his side.
Quinton Griffith was shown a red card in the dying minutes of the match against FCC and will serve a one-game suspension in Saturday’s match. Griffith, along with Neveal Hackshaw, has been called up to represent his national team and would be unavailable for the run-in with Penn FC with or without the suspension.
The Battery have a 14-5-2 overall record and a 9-1-1 home record against Penn FC, outscoring them 25-9 in those matches played at MUSC Health Stadium. Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser will be looking to continue his side’s good run of form in the rivalry against an almost entirely new Penn FC squad on Saturday night.
Penn FC added 17 new players, signing two this week, and appointed a new head coach in the offseason. With no USL game last weekend, Raoul Voss had an extra week of preseason to bring his new players into the fold.
During their Week 1 bye, Penn FC rounded out their preseason with a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Pittsburgh last Friday. Jorge Rivera and Dan Metzger scored Penn’s goals, both from penalty kicks.
Metzger and Marco Franco are two of the newcomers expected to have a big impact on how Penn fares this season. Metzger played in 59 matches and won the 2016 USL Championship with New York Red Bulls II before joining Penn FC. Franco spent the last two years with Indy Eleven, then in the NASL, appearing in 82 games. Lucky Mkosana, who signed earlier this week, is another key newcomer for 2018; however, his availability for Saturday’s match is unknown.
Penn FC will be looking to take a step in the right direction towards improving on last year’s 11th place finish Saturday night, while the Battery will be looking to rebound from last week’s loss. Charleston took four points from two matches against Penn FC last year, earning a 2-2 draw with ten men at FNB Field and winning 4-0 at MUSC Health Stadium last October.
