Markanich’s winner sends Battery into playoffs with momentum

Battery Media

The Charleston Battery secured a 1-0 victory over Birmingham Legion FC in the regular season finale at Patriots Point on Saturday, completing a season sweep of the Alabama club. Nick Markanich scored the eventual match-winning goal in the 33rd minute. Trey Muse recorded his 12th clean sheet of the season, tied for the most in the USL Championship.

Charleston’s victory was meaningful as it capped off a record-setting turnaround season, as the club set a new USL Championship record for the largest season-to-season points gain in league history (+34; 25 in 2022 to 59 in 2023).

Despite Charleston and Birmingham already clinching spots for the playoffs, both teams made it known early they wanted to end the regular season strong. The clubs traded shots on target through the first 20 minutes, but neither could put one past the goalkeepers.

The Battery struck first in the 33rd minute when Nick Markanich bounced on a loose ball inside the box and sent it in for the goal. Birmingham authored their own demise on the play by failing to clear Arturo Rodriguez’s corner kick, allowing Markanich to capitalize. The goal was Markainch’s 11th of the season across all competitions.

Charleston nearly doubled their lead just before halftime when Markanich fired in a shot from distance that forced an athletic save from Matt van Oeklel. The 1-0 lead held into halftime.

Play resumed in the second half with Legion FC looking for an equalizer. Goalkeeper Trey Muse was called on to make a save in the 50th minute, denying Tabort Preston.

The Battery nearly doubled their lead in the 77th minute when Beto Avila, fresh off entering the game from the bench, had a big chance inside the box. Tristan Trager played the ball to Avila with an open net but his first-time hit was too tall for the frame.

As the night wore on to the closing stages, Charleston tightened their grip on the game to not allow Birmingham a way back into it. Legion FC’s final attempt to level the score came at the end of stoppage time when Grayson Dupont went for a shot inside the box that was blocked by Leland Archer’s stretch.

Charleston capped off the regular season with a victory at Patriots Point, 1-0, completing a season sweep of Birmingham. The win also snaps a two-game losing streak to set the Battery up with momentum going into the playoffs.

The Battery’s victory also set a new USL Championship record for the largest season-to-season points turnaround in league history (+34; 25 in 2022 to 59 in 2023). Trey Muse tallied his 12th clean sheet of the season, tied for the most in the league this year with Louisville’s Oliver Semmle.

The Battery will next host the USL Championship Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Patriots Point on Sun., Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. ET (opponent TBD). Playoff tickets are available now via SeatGeek.com, the Battery’s exclusive digital ticketing provider. No. 3 Charleston’s opponent will be No. 6 Indy Eleven.