By @SAdyson
Charleston Battery (7-3-2) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-4-5)
7:00 PM – The Highmark, Pittsburgh, PA
Tailgate with the Steel Army 4:00 – 6:00 PM in the WEST LOT underneath the Fort Pitt Bridge, followed by a march to fill the Childsy Stand and heckle the Battery by order of Richie Costanzo:
Watch on-line LIVE on @UNATION
Orlando City was pleasuring itself over the fact that it thought it was going to be the automatic USL PRO champion last season. The Charleston Battery, however, swooped in with a quality club to defeat the Wilmington Hammerheads 1-0 last season in the championship match.
Yes, the Charleston Battery are defending USL PRO champs.
They come into the Highmark with more wins than losses in USL PRO play after getting thrashed on Wednesday in the US Open Cup, 5-2, against Real Salt Lake.
The Steel Army is expecting a huge crowd for the game today, and the Hounds are going to need all the help that they can to slow down the Battery and jump on them early. The Battery always their “A” game when they come to Pittsburgh, and there is no doubt that the atmosphere of the Highmark is going to bring out the best in both teams.
LAST MEETING: April 27, 2013 – Blackbaud Stadium – 2-0 Battery
HOUNDS PLAYER TO WATCH: Richie Costanzo, D – Richie played his first season with the Hounds in 2012 as a midfielder. Evans has since then changed his captain’s position to defense. After some early-season struggles, Richie has solidified a Hounds’ back line that has only allowed 13 goals on the season so far. Richie will need to lead a strong defense to withstand the offensive firepower of the Battery in this match.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: CHS Soccer
“The Battery’s 2-0 win on April 27 featured two goals by Michael Azira, who appeared to benefit from Pittsburgh’s defensive focus on Charleston’s better-known threats. The Riverhounds racked up 21 fouls that evening out of their 4-4-2 formation, and largely succeeded in keeping Charleston’s more talented attackers in check.
But the big difference between this match and the first one might just be the presence of Dallman in the attack. The 28-year-old midfielder started the season injured and didn’t play against Charleston after going the first half against Charlotte the night before. Over the past four games, Dallman has logged one goal and three assists as the Riverhounds went 2-0-2.
PROBABLE RIVERHOUNDS STARTING XI: Gilstrap, Costanzo, Marshall, Flunder, Seamon, C’deBaca, Motagalvan, Kerr, Dallman, Arteaga, Angulo
#UNLEASH
