Presented by MUSC Health
The Charleston Battery return home to face Oakland Roots SC on Fri., Aug. 4, at Patriots Point. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Friday’s fixture will feature the first-ever clash between Charleston and Oakland. Roots SC joined the USL Championship in 2021.
The Battery (11W-5L-6D, 39 pts) enter Friday looking to build upon their five-game unbeaten run, having beaten Birmingham Legion FC, 1-2, last weekend. Charleston rallied late again to score twice in the final 15 minutes of the match, Tristan Trager scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute and Derek Dodson scored the winner in the 91st minute. It was the Battery’s first win over Legion FC since winning the inaugural meeting in 2019.
Roots SC (9W-6L-7D, 34 pts) visit the Lowcountry for the first time on Friday after drawing 1-1 with Detroit City FC at home last Saturday. Both teams scored within the opening five minutes of the match but held each other scoreless for the remainder of the evening. Oakland currently sit third in the Western Conference standings.
Tristan Trager is a player to keep an eye on for the Battery. The forward has netted two goals in the last four games and both have come as equalizers in the second half on the road after entering the game from the bench.
Paul Blanchette is one to watch for Oakland. Fresh off a Team of the Week selection, the shot-stopper currently leads the league with 78 saves and has the second-most clean sheets (eight).
Entering Friday, the Battery lead the league in points won from a losing position (14). The current total also stands as the most the club has gained in a Championship regular season since the league’s inception in 2011.
Augi Williams bagged just his second two-assist game of his career last Saturday and will look to build on that performance come Friday.
Fans of the NFL may notice a familiar face among Oakland’s ownership group in Super Bowl champion, and Oakland native, Marshawn Lynch.
A pair of five-game unbeaten runs will be on the line on Friday as both Charleston and Oakland haven’t lost in their past five contests.
Including the Oakland game, there are 12 matches left in the Battery’s regular season, six home and six away.
FROM THE TRAINING GROUND
Head Coach Ben Pirmann and midfielder Emilio Ycaza addressed the media ahead of Friday’s match, with key quotes to follow.
Coach Pirmann on the key message in training this week…
We want to put a higher-end value on the ball. Be responsible with it and then be a little bit more creative and dynamic in the final third, whether that’s a willingness to run and overload, finding matchups or just simply being a little bit more assertive. Then, out of possession, we want to play with energy and put our opponent under pressure
Coach Pirmann on Oakland, a team the Battery have never faced before…
Oakland are one of two teams in the league that are five-in-a-row unbeaten. They’re in very good form. Whether they’re home or away, they’ve got a very distinct attractive style of football, they’re very good at trying to break lines in the half-spaces. They’re comfortable in those moments to try to play a positional game and really move their opponent around. So, that’s something we’re going to have to be disciplined in and dial in for and be comfortable out of possession. I think it will be a good matchup.
Ycaza on the mindset within the locker room heading into Friday…
Following the Birmingham game, we were very excited and very happy about the performance. It was a massive victory for us. I think it’s the fifth or sixth game that we’ve come back from losing positions to do it in the closing 15 minutes. It definitely gives us a big confidence boost and I think other teams that play us are really aware that we close games really well now.
Ycaza on playing at home again after a travel-heavy July…
I think playing at home is a massive advantage for us, not having to travel. Being in front of the fans always motivates us and makes us run the extra mile. Last month was tough, we traveled a lot. So, it will be nice to start this month with a home game against a really good team that’s in-form and good preparation for the playoffs.
Ycaza on how he’s been feeling since returning to match action…
I’ve been feeling really good. I’ve been integrated back into the team, back into the system, the training sessions, the workloads, the games and the travel loads really well. I’m very happy with that and as the season continues to go on, I’ll be able to do what I can with the minutes I get and get into better game form.
MATCH INFO
Charleston Battery vs. Oakland Roots SC
Friday, August 4 – 7:30 p.m. ET Kickoff
Patriots Point
HOW TO WATCH:
Only a very limited number of tickets are still available for Friday’s match and can be purchased via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
All Battery matches will also stream on ESPN+ domestically and through the league’s YouTube channel for free internationally.
