7:30 PM – Blackbaud Stadium
Match Officials, as assigned by PRO:
REFEREE: Mr. Patrick O’Brian
AR1: Mr. Brian Bozard
AR2: Mr. Rick Rogers
4TH: Mr. Parker Northrop
It’s getting real, now, isn’t it? Before it was half-delusional, blistery talk about this team peeling itself off the canvas and making a run at the top eight. A couple months ago we said these things as a defense mechanism to push away the horrible idea that all the waiting and planning in the off season would have been for nothing. Then, a couple weeks ago, we started saying these things because.. well, it’s fun. “We’re gonna win the league”, sure why not chant it for 20 minutes, good times to be had, and the team was starting to turn it around. Now, the dog looks like it might actually chase down the mail truck and claim success. But, we’re not there, yet. This team has proven over the past 11 games that they can do the damn thing, get that goal or two and then play stout defense to preserve the lead. Can they do it again, on the road, having just played yesterday, and with a lot at stake?
Charleston could clinch their postseason birth with a win and a couple of favorable results in other league games, tonight. The Battery last played on Wednesday, a 3-1 loss in Sacramento. However, two prominent Battery players, Maikel Chang (knee) and Zach Prince (yellow card accumulation suspension), did not feature in that contest and are expected to see the field, tonight. Unlike some other top USLPro teams (Orlando City), the Battery still have plenty to play for and should be looking to jump out early on a Riverhounds’ squad that should have some tired legs walking off their bus.
For the Riverhounds, it’s going to be about the insanely quick turnaround. Which players are able to give it a go tonight and for how long? Jason Johnson is expected to join the team today, but after playing a half-hour for Houston, yesterday, in less-tan-ideal weather conditions, he may not be able to give as much as would have been planned going into the weekend. Does Mike Lisch get the back-to-back starts, or does Hunter Gilstrap come in to spell the Houston loanee on the last road game of the regular season? A lot of questions to be answered when the starting lineups and available substitutes are announced.
This season has been, and still is, a wild one. Last night’s game ensured that the team will come home to close the season with something to play for. Going into the weekend, you couldn’t ask for too much more than that. Now, a result tonight would keep Pittsburgh in control of their own destiny and could severely reduce the amount of scoreboard watching everyone would have to do between tonight and next Saturday evening. Everything goes well-enough tonight, and we bring the party, next Saturday.
#UNLEASH
