Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery are back in action in the USL Championship Week 23 against Louisville City FC on Sat., Aug. 9. Kickoff at Lynn Family Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET and the match will stream for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
This weekend marks the second meeting between Charleston and Louisville this year. The first match resulted in a 1-2 win for Louisville back in March.
Charleston (13W-3L-2D, 41pts) return to play after having a bye in Week 22. Their last competitive outing was a 2-1 home win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the final group stage match of the USL Jägermeister Cup. MD Myers’ strike in the second half proved to be the winner. The Battery’s last league contest was a 3-nil victory at Patriots Point over Miami FC on July 19.
Louisville (12W-1L-5D, 41pts) remain home after a 4-1 win over North Carolina last Saturday. The match was tied 1-1 at halftime, but three unanswered goals by the hosts in the second half saw the points go Louisville’s way. Saturday’s win extended Louisville’s four-game unbeaten run in league play.
Looking at the Eastern Conference table, Charleston are in second and Louisville are in first, due to the head-to-head tiebreaker after being even at 41 points.
Storylines of the Match
Battle for First – While there will still be roughly three months to play after this weekend, Saturday’s fixture could prove to be a decisive moment in the 2025 USL Championship Players’ Shield race. A victory for either side would grant them three crucial points in the final meeting of the regular season. Louisville are the reigning Players’ Shield winners, while the Battery’s last regular season title was in 2010.
League’s Finest Clash – Charleston and Louisville are among the best teams in the league beyond their 41 points apiece. The sides are No. 1 and 2, respectively, in overall goals scored, goals per match, goal differential, and shots on target per match. Louisville are tied for the fewest goals conceded per match at 0.8 and the Battery are right behind them at 0.9. Looking at individual players, Juan David Torres and Taylor Davila are No.1 and 2 in chances created, as are Damian Las and Luis Zamudio in save percentage, respectively.
A Cut Above the Rest – The separation between the top two and the rest of the league has mirrored the superiority the two clubs have shown in their consistency since the start of the 2023 season. Louisville have accumulated 50 wins and 167 points in that span, while the Battery are right behind them with 48 victories and 164 points. No other club has passed 40 regular season wins since 2023.
Recent History – While Louisville have fared better in the all-time series, the head-to-head record between the two clubs is even at 2W-2L-2D each since 2023. Louisville are on a two-game winning streak in the series, which ended the Battery’s two-game winning streak following back-to-back draws.
Unfriendly Confines – Lynn Family Stadium has proven to be among the toughest venues to play in in the league. Louisville are currently undefeated at home this year and have not lost a regular season match on home soil since June 22, 2024. The Battery are still searching for their first win away against Louisville after having gone winless in the previous 10 meetings in Kentucky.
Myers Matches Jennings – MD Myers joined Cal Jennings as the club’s co-top goalscorer with his 12th tally of the year across all competitions. Myers’ 12th goal came in the Jägermeister Cup, with the other eight and three being scored in the regular season and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, respectively. Meanwhile, 11 of Jennings’ 12 goals have arrived in the regular season and just one in the Jägermeister Cup.
Allan Approaching Century Mark – Chris Allan is closing in on 100 overall appearances for the Battery and currently has 96 matches to his name. Allan first joined the Battery in 2023 and has been a midfield mainstay ever since. His 96 appearances are second only to Leland Archer’s 183 among current Battery players.
Martinez Milestone Watch – Douglas Martínez is closing in on the career milestone of 150 USL Championship regular season appearances, and currently has 149 matches to his name going into Saturday. Martínez returned to action on July 26 for the first time since June 7.
Johnny, Devin Depart – Prior to this weekend, the Battery saw two members of the club depart the organization. Devin Rensing was announced as the new head coach of Las Vegas Lights FC on Monday after spending the previous three years on Ben Pirmann’s Charleston staff as an assistant coach. Johnny Klein completed a permanent transfer to Championship side Monterey Bay FC on Tuesday. The club wishes both Devin and Johnny the best of luck in their new adventures out west.
From the Training Ground
MATCH INFO
Louisville City FC vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, August 9 – 8 p.m. ET Kickoff
Lynn Family Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
Saturday’s match will stream for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network! The Golazo Network can be accessed for free via the CBS Sports App (under the ‘Live TV’ section), Pluto TV, Roku TV, Paramount+ app (no subscription needed), the PlutoTV app or on the channel’s website: https://www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sports-golazo-network
