Sports
Battery Travel to Alabama to Face Birmingham
The Charleston Battery travel away this week to face Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday, April 27th. Kickoff at Protective Stadium is slated for 8 pm.
Wednesday’s fixture will be the first meeting between Charleston and Birmingham since 2020, when Legion FC won 1-2 at Patriots Point. The all-time series is even at 1-1-1 since 2019 and the Battery won the inaugural meeting 3-1 in Charleston.
Birmingham secured their second victory of the season on Sunday in a 1-2 away result over Loudoun United FC. A relatively quiet match through the first half, the action picked up in the later stages of the game. Enzo Martinez and Amadou Diop found the back of the net for Birmingham in the 62nd and 79th minute, respectively, to break the game open. Loudoun, however, looked to stage a comeback, retaliating with a goal of their own in the 80th minute via Abdoul Zanne. Birmingham would hold to secure the three points in Virginia.
Charleston snapped a losing streak on Saturday, taking a point from Louisville City FC in a 1-1 draw at Patriots Point. Mauro Cichero scored his second goal in as many games to put the Battery ahead midway through the first half. The goal was a result of Charleston’s high-pressure offense, with Andrew Booth intercepting the ball deep in Louisville’s defensive third before connecting with Cichero. Louisville equalized in the second half but the draw was a welcome turn in fortune for the Battery to build off of as they enter the middle phase of the season.
Following Saturday’s match, Booth now leads the Battery in chances created with seven. Cichero also elevated himself to being Charleston’s co-leader in scoring with two goals, tied with Augustine Williams.
Wednesday will be the Battery’s first trip to Protective Stadium, where Legion FC are playing their first season after residing at PNC Field the previous three years.
Both Charleston and Birmingham are operating on quick turnarounds for Wednesday’s game after playing Saturday and Sunday, respectively.