The Battery takes on the Harrisburg City Islanders tomorrow night at MUSC Health Stadium looking for its first win at home since a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC II on May 14th. Despite earning three points of a possible nine over the last three weeks, Charleston sits in a good position in the league table.
Charleston recently lost back-to-back home games for the first time in over five years, but is still in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Battery is eight points off league-leaders Louisville City FC and two points ahead of long-time rival Richmond Kickers who sit in fifth. The consecutive losses came on May 28th against Louisville and last week against USL newcomers Orlando City B. A win in Pittsburgh between the two losses kept the Battery firmly in mix in the top four.
Harrisburg is at the opposite end of the table in 11th place. The City Islanders have four wins, eight losses, and a draw this season. The match in Charleston on Saturday is Harrisburg’s fourth straight on the road, going winless in the previous three. During the stint on the road, the Islanders only mustered two goals three games in losses to FC Cincinnati, Wilmington, and New York Red Bulls II.
The Battery was victorious in the previous meeting between the two teams, defeating the hosts 3-2 by way of a late Austin Savage goal. The Eastern Conference rivals traded blows in the back-and-forth match in Central Pennsylvania in early May. Romario Williams and Forrest Lasso scored before Savage’s 80th minute game-winner. Paul Wilson scored a goal in either half for Harrisburg, forcing the Battery to battle back from a one-goal deficit twice.
Wilson is one of City’s most dangerous attacking players. The speedy center forward has appeared in every match this season, scoring four goals and tallying three assists. Wilson and his Jamaican running mate, Craig Foster lead the Harrisburg attack and have been involved in ten of the Islanders’ 18 goals.
Jose Barril plays in behind the Jamaican duo and is currently tied for the league-lead in assists with four. Barril and Wilson combined for both of Harrisburg’s goals in the match against Charleston in May. The Spanish midfielder is good on the ball and distributes well from the center of the park. His Battery counterparts will have to keep a close eye on him tomorrow night to keep City’s attack at bay.
The Battery attack has grown quiet over the past few weeks, scoring two goals from the run of play in its last four games. Justin Portillo converted a penalty last week against Orlando City B to bring his season total to three, which is the second highest goal total on the team. Charleston’s leading goalscorer, Romario Williams hasn’t found the back of the net since May 14th against TFC II.
The Battery will need Williams, Portillo, and midfielder Maikel Chang to show up big in Saturday’s match. Charleston’s attack hinges on those three players. If the talented trio can pressure on Harrisburg’s defense, the rest of the game will likely shift in favor of the Battery.
Top Image: Heviel Cordoves shields a Pittsburgh defender on 6/4. Terry O’neil photo.
