Charleston advance to Conference Final, Host Kentucky Nov 4th

Battery Media

The Charleston Battery earned a 2-1 victory over Birmingham Legion FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinal at Patriots Point on Saturday. An early goal from Emilio Ycaza brought the stadium to life, but it was Derek Dodson’s winning goal off a deflected Nick Markanich shot that saw the Battery advance. 

Charleston are set to host Louisville City FC in the Eastern Conference Final on Sat., Nov. 4, at Patriots Point, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider. 

It was the first meeting in the playoffs for Charleston and Birmingham and both sides came out of the gate swinging. Six shots were registered through the first 16:11 mark, three for each team. 

Emilio Ycaza broke open the game in the 17th minute with a flying header off a Fidel Barajas corner kick. The corner was brilliantly placed to the far post and slotted home by Ycaza. The goal was Ycaza’s second in as many games. Barajas’ assist brings his total to 11 in the USL Championship regular season and playoffs, the most in the league. 

Both sides continued to press hard following Ycaza’s tally. Leland Archer came to the rescue in the 26th minute to deny Birmingham a promising opportunity deep inside the box, clearing the ball out of danger. The Battery almost doubled their lead in the 31st minute when Nick Markanich struck one target that was cleared off the line by Birmingham. 

Legion FC managed to equalize in the 41st minute via Prosper Kasim, tying the game at 1-1. The level score would hold into the break as both teams recorded nine shots in the opening 45 minutes. 

The match resumed with all to play for at 1-1. Charleston nearly retook the lead three minutes into the half when Augi Williams sent in a header toward goal, but the shot rocked off the crossbar. Legion FC came close to a second goal in the 61st minute, if not for the defensive acts of Williams and Derek Dodson to block a pair of close shots from inside the box. 

Charleston, determined to advance to the final four for the first time in 10 years, found the decisive moment in the 68th minute. Nick Markanich fired a shot after Tristan Trager’s ball into the box was poorly cleared by Birmingham. Markanich’s strike appeared to thread the needle, but a glancing touch off Birmingham’s Enzo Martinez and then the leg of Dodson redirected the ball into the net. The goal was officially credited to Dodson, his third of 2023.

From there on, the Battery tightened their grip on the game to see out the victory. Birmingham were held without a shot attempted after the Battery’s go-ahead goal, showcasing Charleston’s defensive strength to limit the visitors’ options. 

The Battery secured the 2-1 victory over Legion FC and punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final. The win was also the third of the year over Birmingham and the second in two weeks.

Charleston’s advancing to the Eastern Conference Final marks their first appearance in the final four of the USL Playoffs since 2013. It also helps further highlight the club’s turnaround seen this year, as the Battery went from third-to-last in the conference in 2022 to the Conference Final in 2023. No. 3 Charleston will host No. 5 Louisville City FC in the Conference Final. The Kentucky club has reached that stage in the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons.