Presented by MUSC Health
Matchday Preview
The Charleston Battery have another quick turnaround to face Miami FC on Sat., Oct. 17, in Week 33 of the USL Championship regular season. Kickoff at Pitbull Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will stream on ESPN+.
Charleston and Miami meet for the second time this year after the Battery rammed Miami, 5-0, at Patriots Point back in August.
The Battery (14W-9L-5D, 47pts) have been on a brief October tour of the East Coast and were active on the road Wednesday against Hartford Athletic for a 1-1 draw. The hosts scored just before the break, but Charleston applied heavy pressure in the second half in search of an equalizer. That pressure paid off in the 75th minute when Camilo Sanchez’s cross resulted in an own goal that forced the points to be shared.
Miami (9W-11L-9D, 36pts) were dealt a 0-2 home defeat against Loudoun United FC last Saturday. The match appeared destined for a scoreless draw, but a pair of late goals scored by Loudoun’s Eddy Davis III stole the three points at the death.
Looking at the Eastern Conference table, Charleston are in third and Miami are in eighth.
Storylines of the Match
Match No. 2 vs. Miami – Charleston and Miami wrap the regular season series this weekend after the Battery claimed a commanding 5-0 victory in the reverse fixture on August 24. Miami were shorthanded from the 35th minute onward when Denilson Milanés was shown a red card, and Charleston took full advantage. Miguel Berry notched a brace, and Maalique Foster, Graham Smith and Alec Hughes notched goals to complete the five spot.
Tough Confines – While the Battery enjoyed success at home against Miami in August, the road matches in the series have been a different story. Miami have dominated the home meetings since 2020, posting a 4W-1L-3D record against the Battery when hosting. Charleston’s lone win in the series was not achieved until 2024, and the last trip in 2025 was a 1-0 result in favor of Miami. Suffice it to say, nothing will come easy on Saturday at Pitbull Stadium.
Top-Four Clinching in Reach – Charleston will again be able to secure a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, which would lock in a home game for the opening round of the postseason. The Battery have many avenues to achieve this, the most direct routes are to either win or draw against Miami. Additionally, if the Battery are dealt a defeat, they could still secure a top-four finish if: Rhode Island FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC draw against each other, OR Louisville City FC lose to Indy Eleven AND either Rhode Island or Pittsburgh claim a victory or draw in their game.
High Stakes Saturday – There is a lot on the line for both the Battery and Miami on Saturday, which should make for a hotly contested game in South Florida. While Charleston are eyeing a top-four finish, Miami are fighting to make the big dance. Miami are just above the playoff line and are two points clear of ninth-place Indy, leaving virtually no room for error across their final two games when it comes to 2026 playoff aspirations. The South Florida side have not made the playoffs since 2022.
Final Away Day – Saturday will mark the end of the Battery’s road schedule in the regular season. While Charleston have had ample success at home, the away record has been more modest, a case for most teams throughout the league, with a 4W-7L-3D record on the road.
Players to Watch – Fans should keep an eye on Charleston’s Miguel Berry and Miami’s Arney Rocha. Berry leads the team with 16 goal contributions across all competitions this year and turned in one of his best performances of the year in the first Miami game, with two goals and one assist. On the other side, Rocha has taken over Miami’s attack following the departure of former top scorer Jürgen Locadia to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Rocha has five goals and two assists since the transfer and is Miami’s new leading goalscorer in Championship play with nine.
Golden Playmaker Race Update – Heading into this weekend, Jeremy Kelly is still tied for the lead in the Championship Golden Playmaker race with nine assists. Kelly has two games left to add to his assist total in an effort to claim the award. Kelly’s 10 assists across all competitions matched a career-high and tallying an 11th would also match the club’s single-season record.
No Milesi for Miami – Alessandro Milesi will be unavailable for Miami after picking up a yellow card accumulation suspension for a caution received in the Loudoun loss. Milesi has notched three goals and four assists in league play this year.
MATCH INFO
Miami FC vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, October 17 – 7 p.m. ET Kickoff
Pitbull Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
Saturday’s contest will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally.
