Photo Credit: Chris Humphrey
After 120 minutes of frantic soccer, which ended in the Charleston Battery prevailing thanks to a Forrest Lasso winner capping off a comeback, Charleston now face Louisville City FC in the Eastern Conference Semis.
Louisville, who snuck up behind the Battery for the second seed in the playoffs, after the Battery’s early season form had previously looked certain to see them to the spot, will be happy to host, where they prevailed over Charleston 3-1 on August 22. Leading scorer Matt Fondy took his chances well despite being heavily marked and got himself a brace. Charleston hosted Louisville a couple weeks later, where Fondy was again well dealt with. This time, the Battery got their revenge, with Justin Portillo and talisman Dane Kelly securing a 2-0 win.
It should also be said that the Battery were in the midst of a six game winless run when they rolled into Slugger Field, and playing their second game of a two day road trip. They snapped the streak with a clutch win at Richmond a week later, and finished the season strong.
Louisville’s Fondy leads a potent attack that scored 55 goals in 28 matches, though Fondy, with 22 goals, is well ahead of his closest teammate, Magnus Rasmussen with eight. The Danish striker was the third man on the scoresheet when these two met in Louisville on September 12th, and will be looking to be there this time.
Louisville have conceded only 34 goals in their 33 games, but Dane Kelly, leading an attack with 43 goals in 28 games played, is always a threat, and will be looking to add to his game-tying goal last week, when he rose highest to meet a Dante Marini cross to level the scoring early in the second half of extra time.
Marini, who may be credited with changing the game last Saturday, could be in line for a start this week, as key players Ricky Garbanzo and Navion Boyd were both sent off against Richmond. Garbanzo received his card for dissent, and Boyd for a second yellow late on in the comeback win. However, Charleston are well stocked in the front four positions, and Houston Dynamo loanee Memo Rodriguez, striker Heviel Cordoves and veteran winger Zach Prince will also be itching for their chance. New signing Ariel Martinez is known to be capable of playing their roles, (under the striker or on the wing respectively) but may have to wait for his debut for multiple reasons, while Sebastien Thuriere has been deployed in either of those positions also.
Another factor will also be the fans. Louisville’s near-capacity crowd on Charleston’s last visit to Slugger Field may have left them a bit shellshocked, while the atmosphere was also a factor in the win in Charleston a few weeks ago. Because of that, it is imperative that both sides have a positive start and make their mark early in the game.
It is a clash that is absolutely mouthwatering given the two teams’ form, and even the neutrals will hope that the match lives up to its billing when the sides meet on Saturday. No matter the result, this match may just define this year’s playoffs in regards to who can sustain a run.