The Charleston Battery are back on the road to face Loudoun United FC on Sat., Aug. 8, in Week 23 of the USL Championship regular season. Kickoff at Segra Field is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will stream on ESPN+.
This weekend marks the third clash of the year between Charleston and Loudoun. The Battery won both duels, a 1-2 triumph in the Prinx Tires USL Cup Group Stage at Loudoun and a 4-1 home victory in the regular season.
Charleston (9W-6L-3D, 30pts) were back to winning ways on Saturday, snapping a three-game span without a victory with their 5-0 thrashing of Brooklyn FC on Saturday. The win featured five different goalscorers and seemingly restarted the momentum the side had at the end of June, which concluded with a run of 14 goals scored across three games. Charleston’s performance was highlighted by Miguel Berry, Laurent Kissiedou and Maalique Foster all recording one goal and one assist each.
Loudoun (3W-5L-9D, 18pts) find themselves three points out of a playoff position, meaning every game will become more crucial for them in the second half of the campaign. The side appears to recognize that with their strong string of recent performances, as they are on a four-game unbeaten run, including a pair of victories in their last two. Loudoun defeated Hartford Athletic, 2-0, this past weekend on goals by Thorleifur Úlfarsson and Abdellatif Aboukoura.
Looking at the Eastern Conference table, Charleston are in second and Loudoun are in 10th.
Storylines of the Match
Round III vs. Loudoun – Charleston and Loudoun are set for a rare third meeting during the year after the sides clashed in the USL Cup and regular season. The Battery pulled away with a dramatic 1-2 victory in their last trip to Segra Field thanks to Graham Smith’s late goal before the final whistle in the cup. When the clubs met in June, Charleston commanded the game to a 4-1 win on goals by four different players.
All-Time History – The head-to-head record against Loudoun favors the Battery, who have an 11W-1L-4D record against the Virginia side since 2019. In fact, Charleston are undefeated in their last 14 USL meetings with Loudoun, a run that dates back to 2021. That is the longest active streak in the Championship and tied for the second-longest in league history. A draw or win this weekend would match San Antonio FC’s USL record of 15 consecutive games unbeaten against a single opponent (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 2019-25).
Surging Sides Clash – Fans on Saturday will be in for a fixture between two in-form sides this weekend. Loudoun are riding a four-game unbeaten run that includes back-to-back wins ahead of Saturday. Charleston, meanwhile, snapped out of their underwhelming July and appeared to pick back up where they left off the last time they faced Loudoun in June. Add in the playoff implications concerning the league table for the match, Saturday could prove to be a hotly contested one at Segra Field.
League-Leading Attack Fires Back – The Battery reasserted their status as the league’s top attack against Brooklyn with their third five-goal performance of the season. Charleston have a Championship-best 2.1 goals scored per game and 37 goals scored overall, and a second-best goal differential of +13. Production has come across the whole team, too, as 13 different players have scored during the league campaign.
Club Wins Milestone in Sight – Charleston’s victory over Brooklyn marked the club’s 199th win in the USL Championship regular season, putting them within reach of No. 200 this weekend. If the Battery secure all three points against Loudoun, they will become the second team in league history to achieve that feat.
Cabrera’s Timely Impact – Wilmer Cabrera set a new club record for fastest goal scored in the USL Championship era and the fastest goal of the league season (tied for 18th fastest in league history). Cabrera’s speedy strike showcased his ability to make an impact in any capacity, as he also has one goal and two assists off the bench in the regular season this year.
Swan Punches World Cup Ticket – Internationally, Colton Swan and the United States youth national team secured their spot to the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2027 PanAmerican Games after reaching the semifinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship. Swan has made three appearances (one start) for the USYNT in the tournament so far, and the Stars and Stripes will face Costa Rica on Friday with a spot in the final on the line.
Kissiedou, Swan Unavailable – Charleston will be without Laurent Kissiedou as the midfielder serves a one-game suspension for the red card received in the Brooklyn game, and Swan remains out on international duty.
BHMvCHS Update – Further down the line, but confirmed this week, Charleston’s away fixture against Birmingham Legion FC in September has been moved up a day and at a new venue. The Battery and Legion FC will clash on Sat., Sept. 12, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET at Dunnavant Valley Fields.
MATCH INFO
- Loudoun United FC vs. Charleston Battery
- Saturday, August 8 – 7 p.m. ET Kickoff
- Segra Field
HOW TO WATCH:
- Saturday’s contest will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally.