The Charleston Battery hit the road for Week 2, taking on Detroit City FC on Saturday, March 19, at Keyworth Stadium. The afternoon clash in the Motor City is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. ET, and is the first of two away matches for the Black and Yellow before they return home for an April 1 meeting with Las Vegas Lights FC.
The fixture will pit the oldest continuously run club in the USL Championship with the newest club in the USL Championship, as Detroit are in their inaugural season in the league.
Supporters of Le Rouge have become renowned for their rowdy matchday atmosphere, and it is likely Saturday will be no exception when the hosts take the field for the first time in front of their home fans this season.
Detroit will look to bounce back after falling 1-0 in their first-ever league match, away to San Antonio FC. The visiting side put on an admirable display in the contest, but a 68th-minute goal from Fabien Garcia following a contentious situation off a corner kick lifted San Antonio past Detroit. Among the top highlights of the night for Le Rouge came in the 19th minute when goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher produced a stellar diving save to deny San Antonio from the penalty spot. Steinwascher was paramount in keeping Detroit in the game, more on him later.
Charleston will aim to maintain the momentum from their opening night victory over FC Tulsa, a 1-0 result in front of an electric Patriots Point crowd. Newcomer Augustine Williams made the difference with a 10th-minute strike to open up his Battery account in sensational style. The play started near midfield when Aidan Apodaca dispossessed Tulsa and initiated the counter-attacking scheme Head Coach Conor Casey has implemented with his squad. From there, Apodaca found Williams at the top of the box and the Sierra Leonean perfectly placed the ball between goalkeeper Sean Lewis and the right post.
The Battery’s strong presence in the midfield and back line allowed the club to see out the victory, holding Tulsa without a shot on target until the 80th minute. Goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky played a more relaxed role in the match as a result, but came away with two crucial saves that put him at the 250 regular-season saves mark in the USL Championship.
The Black and Yellow logged some valuable minutes competing in cold weather in Week 1 and the experience should assist them in handling the Midwest climate, with the forecast at Keyworth Stadium ranging in the low-50s with a high chance of rain.
Ones to watch
Nathan Steinwascher
Steinwascher turned in a strong showing in Detroit’s league debut, with the penalty save in the 19th minute encapsulating the performance. However, Steinwascher’s night was more than just that one moment. The shot-stopper was key in keeping Detroit in the game throughout the evening, registering five saves in total – a tally that was tied for the most in the league in Week 1. Expect Steinwascher to be an important figure for Detroit on Saturday when he takes the field with the home crowd alongside him for the first time this season.
Augustine Williams
Williams made an emphatic first impression at Patriots Point in scoring the match-winning goal against FC Tulsa in his Battery debut. Williams registered two shots on the night and completed 85% of his passes while applying regular pressure to Tulsa’s defense. Williams’ goal was a clinical display of athleticism and accuracy on the move to slot the ball home. The Sierra Leone international showed the prowess he can command up top alongside fellow playmakers Apodaca and Mauro Cichero, expect him to pursue more that come Saturday.
From the training ground
The Battery continued to train at Patriots Point ahead of the away day in Michigan.
The matchday forecast currently calls for rain showers at kickoff and the squad was able to get some work in with corresponding conditions via rain during the week in the Lowcountry.
Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky said the team is looking to build on the momentum from the Home Opener win.
“The victory against Tulsa this past weekend was a good confidence booster for us, [helping us] believe in each other on the field,” said Kuzminsky. “We’re going into a road trip this weekend and we’re working together, working on our energy, working on our press, [and] we’re really looking forward to going out there and playing again.”
Kuzminsky said the team feels prepared for the test against the unfamiliar foe competing in just their second game in the league.
“It’s tough to know exactly what it’s going to be like in Detroit, they’re a new team this season [and] it’s not like we’ve been there before, but we’ve played on the road in front of rowdy crowds before,” said Kuzminsky.
Coach Casey said practice this week has been about refining the squad’s game and improving upon the performance against Tulsa.
“The focus in training this week has mostly been about us and looking to keep developing what we want to do, which is pressing, reacting and being an aggressive team,” said Coach Casey.
The Battery tactician emphasized taking the productive start at home and bringing it with them on away trips
“It’s such a great way to start a season at home with your fans and that support, so we want to take that positive energy with us this weekend going into Detroit,” said Coach Casey.
On the impending atmosphere at Keyworth Stadium, Coach Casey wants his team to turn that rowdiness into some fuel of their own.
“We know Detroit fans are always quite raucous and loud, and that’s a great environment that we want to play in,” said Coach Casey. “We want to use that energy, take it, harness it, and hopefully we can really push our tempo and use that noise as an impetus for us to press.”
As of posting, Burke Fahling, Matteo Ritaccio and Andrew Booth are questionable and AJ Paterson is out.
Match info:
Detroit City FC vs. Charleston Battery
Saturday, March 19 – 4:00 p.m. ET Kickoff
Keyworth Stadium
HOW TO WATCH:
The club is hosting the first Battery Watch Party at Rusty Bull Brewing in North Charleston! Join the staff and supporters cheer on the Black and Yellow from afar, along with enjoying specials on Striker’s Wit (21+) just for Battery fans. Start time for the watch party is 3 p.m., one hour ahead of kickoff.
Can’t make it to Rusty Bull? All Battery matches will stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally.
