Match Preview | Tampa Bay vs. Charleston

Presented by MUSC Health

Matchday Preview

The Charleston Battery hit the road again in Week 10 of the USL Championship to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sat., May 10. Kickoff at Al Lang Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the match will stream on ESPN+.

Saturday will be the second meeting between the No Quarter Derby rivals this season. Charleston won the first match roughly a month ago on April 5, 2-1, with Cal Jennings and MD Myers finding the back of the net.

The Battery (5W-2L-0D, 15pts) enter this weekend on a four-game winning streak in league action. Charleston defeated Hartford Athletic, 4-2, in Week 9 at Patriots Point in a comeback victory that saw Cal Jennings, Houssou Landry and Juan David Torres (2) score. Torres’ performance was particularly exceptional as the Colombian recorded two goals and one assist. Charleston’s most recent action was on Tuesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against MLS side D.C. United, a 2-0 loss after extra time.

Tampa Bay (1W-5L-1D, 4pts) find themselves entering this weekend amid a four-game winless run in Championship play. Their last foray in the league was a 2-2 home draw against Birmingham Legion FC on May 3. The Rowdies were down 1-2 going into the final minutes of stoppage time when Pacifique Niyongabire scored the equalizer to salvage a point. Tampa Bay were also in action in the Open Cup midweek, succumbing 0-5 at home to MLS club Orlando City SC.

Looking at the Eastern Conference table, the Battery are in third and the Rowdies are in 11th.

Storylines of the Match

Looking to Bounce Back – While not a league competition, the Open Cup defeats for both teams are sure to add an extra layer of motivation for a rebound on Saturday. Charleston played admirably for 90 minutes against D.C., and saw both a potential handball and chalked-off goal happen in quick succession, before falling in extra time. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay found themselves down early to an Orlando side that commanded the night. Expect both clubs to come out of the gate eager to take an early lead.

No Quarter Derby, Second Leg – The No Quarter Derby will be decided on Saturday, with Charleston currently leading the rivalry after April’s 2-1 win. The supporter-led competition is contested across the two regular season games, meaning the USL Jägermeister Cup fixture in July will not count towards the derby.

Meeting No. 26 – Charleston and Tampa Bay have met 25 times since 2017. The Battery hold a slight edge in the all-time series with a 13W-9L-3D record in the regular season and playoffs. However, Tampa Bay have had the advantage in the series when hosting and have a 6W-3L-3D record when playing at Al Lang Stadium. Like with any rivalry, no matter the records of the teams playing, Saturday is sure to be another hotly contested and close match.

Jennings’ First Return – Among the most notable aspects to watch for will be Cal Jennings’ return to his old stomping grounds for the first time since joining the Battery. Jennings enjoyed a successful two-year run with the Rowdies and was one of the league’s top scorers during his stay in St. Petersburg. But that’s all in the past now, as Jennings has been prolific for Charleston with six goals so far, including one against Tampa Bay in April, tied for the second-most in the league.

Ycaza Homecoming – Another noteworthy visit will be Emilio Ycaza’s return to his hometown of St. Petersburg. Ycaza attended St. Petersburg Catholic High School and is an alumnus of the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Torres Leading the League – Juan David Torres has been on a hot streak through the first nine weeks of the league campaign. The Colombian is currently tied for the most goal contributions (seven; three goals, four assists) and tied for the most assists. He is also second in the league with a +2.96 Goals Added mark and has the second-highest FotMob rating (7.91) in the Championship.

Jennings’ Contribution Streak – Jennings’ form in the league has been stellar as of late. The striker has recorded a goal contribution in six consecutive league games following his goal against Hartford. He has recorded six goals and one assist in that span, dating to his two-goal performance against Rhode Island FC on March 15.

Edwards Debuts – New defender Michael Edwards, fresh off arriving on loan from MLS side Colorado Rapids, made his club debut on Tuesday and turned in a strong shift. The 6-4 centerback registered 12 duels won (match-high), four clearances, two interceptions, two tackles won and one block in 105 minutes of action.

Houssou, Torres Earn Accolades – The duo of Houssou Landry and Juan David Torres took home Team of the Week honors in Week 8/9 for their stellar showings against Hartford. Arturo Rodriguez earned an honorable mention to the TOTW Bench after leading the match with four chances created.