It’s a massive USL Eastern Conference matchup — No. 1 Louisville City FC vs. No. 3 Charleston Battery — and we’re looking to pack Slugger Field for a 5 p.m. Saturday start.
On “Salute to Heroes” night, first responders and military members get in free with their IDs. All other tickets start at $15 and are available by calling (502) 384-8799 or at www.loucity.com/tickets.
Here’s what to watch for…
Tune In
TV: WBNA TV-21 will air the game live and in high definition locally with Mike Watts, voice of the USL, on the call alongside Lee Godfrey.
Radio: None.
Streaming: Watch live via the USL Match Center or at www.loucity.com.
Follow Along
For Starting XI information and in-game updates, check us out on social media. It’s @loucityfc on Twitter, Louisville City FC on Facebook and louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.
Links
• “Salute to Heroes” a cause close to Spencer’s heart
• Videos: O’Connor, players preview Saturday’s game
• With renewed confidence, Jimenez hitting his stride
• Concentration key for LouCity, even in top form
Notes
Atop the Eastern Conference: LouCity (13-5-5, 44 points) still holds the top spot off a loss to Orlando City B, as the second-place Charlotte Independence and Charleston Battery (11-6-8, 41 points) also dropped points last weekend. The boys in purple have won five of their last seven games while the Battery, who led the standings through the first half of the season, have one victory in their last nine.
The season series: LouCity and Charleston have twice played to draws this season — both in South Carolina — ahead of Saturday’s series finale at Slugger. Last time they met, the teams played to a 1-1 result on July 8. Their June 3 clash was far more dramatic, as LouCity trailed by two goals at three different points before rallying for a 4-4 draw.
Scouting Charleston: The Battery, as with LouCity, are into double digits as far as players to score this season. But much of the production comes from forward Romario Williams, who has spent significant time this summer with the Jamaica National Team — and will be out for that reason Saturday. After Williams’ 15 goals, Forrest Lasso and Justin Portillo have six apiece. Goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper has a 73.7 percent save success rate with 56 stops and seven clean sheets.
International appeal: Midfielder Devon “Speedy” Williams this week received his second call up to the Jamaica National Team for a 7 p.m. Saturday friendly against Canada. The game will be played in LouCity teammate Mark-Anthony Kaye’s hometown of Toronto, with Kaye also representing his country in the game. Williams last earned a cap in 2010, then as a high schooler, while Kaye most recently appeared for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Dominant, except on the scoreboard: LouCity owned more possession, out-shot Orlando City B and played more of those attempts on goal. But as with other recent losses, the opposition capitalized on a few chances, while the boys in purple couldn’t find the back of the net. LouCity held 60.8 percent possession July 15 against FC Cincinnati, out-shot the, 12-6 but lost 3-2. Similarly, the boys in purple controlled 58 percent of possession Aug. 5 at Charlotte, out-shot the Independence 13-7 and fell 3-1
Bounce-back trend: LouCity will put its record on the line Saturday of avoiding consecutive losses that dates back to July 30, 2016. This season, the club’s four previous defeats were all followed by a victory: May 20 at Pittsburgh, July 1 vs. Ottawa, July 22 at Saint Louis FC and Aug. 12 vs. FC Cincinnati. The Battery, though, present the stiffest challenge yet off a loss for LouCity.
Home field advantage: In years past, LouCity has posted a better record away, thriving on larger pitches. But the boys in purple have figured out how to make Slugger Field friendly confines this season as well, with their record there 7-2-2. Strong fan support helps. An average 8,959 fans have attended the club’s 11 home games, including a record 13,812 Aug. 12 when the boys in purple hosted FC Cincinnati.
The battle in goal: Coach James O’Connor tends to change goalkeepers after a loss. Greg Ranjitsingh has earned recent starts between the posts, sporting 26 saves, five clean sheets and just 14 goals allowed in 13 appearances. His competition: Tim Dobrowolski, who has totaled 22 saves, three shutouts and 10 goals conceded. Dobrowolski (68.8 percent) and Ranjitsingh (65 percent) nearly mirror in save success rate.
Kaye recognized: Mark-Anthony Kaye was named to USL Team of the Week on Tuesday thanks to his contributions in a 5-0 win Aug. 23 over the Harrisburg City Islanders. Kaye not only scored LouCity’s first goal of the night, an 11th-minute strike from the right side, but he was able to complete 17 of his 20 passes. The attacking midfielder also created two other scoring chances.
Injuries/discipline: Defender Kyle Smith will sit out the last of three games Saturday, the end of his suspension for a stoppage time red card received for a shove Aug. 20 in LouCity’s win at Bethlehem Steel FC. While shorthanded with Smith, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Speedy Williams unavailable against Charleston, all others on the roster are healthy.
