Battery Host LouCity in Conference Final on Saturday

By: Battery Media

The Charleston Battery are set to host Louisville City FC on Saturday, November 4th, in the Eastern Conference Final. Kickoff at Patriots Point is 7:30 pm.

Charleston and Louisville meet for a third time after the previous two contests ended in draws. The sides tied 0-0 at Patriots Point back in April and 1-1 at Lynn Family Stadium in August. The Battery and LouCity have met twice before in the playoffs, with the Kentucky club winning both matches.

Silverware is at stake on Saturday. The winners will lift the trophy as Eastern Conference Champions after the match in addition to punching their ticket to the USL Championship Final.

No. 3 Charleston enter the Conference Final after defeating No. 7 Birmingham Legion FC in the semifinals, 2-1. Emilio Ycaza scored his second goal in as many playoff games and a late winner knocked in by Derek Dodson made the difference on the night. The Battery have reached the final four of the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and will look to make the final for the first time since 2012.

No. 5 Louisville arrive in the Lowcountry following their knocking out of No. 8 Detroit City FC in the semifinals, 4-0. LouCity overwhelmed Detroit throughout the match and denied the Michigan club a chance to continue their Cinderella story as the 8 seed. Louisville have made a habit of reaching this stage in the playoffs and have done so nine consecutive times.

Robbie Crawford is a player to watch for the Battery. Crawford has big game experience from his appearances in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League qualification rounds, in addition to other playoffs and tournaments around the globe. Look for his leadership to play a role in guiding the relatively young Battery side on Saturday.

Brian Ownby is one to keep an eye on for Louisville. The veteran was part of LouCity’s two titles in 2017 and 2018, and has nine goals and six assists across 22 career playoff matches with Louisville.

Saturday’s match will feature the two goalkeepers with the most shutouts across the regular season and playoffs in the Championship this season. Trey Muse and LouCity’s Oliver Semmle both lead the way with 13 clean sheets.

This weekend will mark the 18th all-time meeting between Charleston and Louisville; third in the postseason.

The victors of Saturday’s match will face the winner of the No. 1 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 6 Phoenix Rising FC Western Conference Final. The USL Championship Final will take place on Sun., Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. ET. The location is TBD based on the results of the Conference Finals, Sacramento currently hold the advantage to host the final.

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