The Charleston Battery (10–3–10) sit even with Pittsburgh in second place on the USL Eastern Conference table with 40 points, just five points behind WKRP FC in Cincinnati. In the midst of the 10 match unbeaten streak, the Black and Yellow now welcome Uncle Arthur’s Trust Fund United 2 to Charleston Saturday night for the first time in USL play.

It’s also Coach Mike Anhaeuser Appreciation Night.

For those new to the Battery or curious as to why Anhaeuser was named USL Coach of the Month for July, his accomplishments are like that of no one else in the USL. He has been with the Battery for 25 seasons, first as a player, then as assistant coach and for the past 13 seasons as head coach and general manager.

Besides being the most recent non-MLS coach to reach the final of the U.S. Open Cup, his resumé includes the following:

740 matches

Four championship trophies

126 matches played

198 wins as head coach

Most wins in the modern USL era

Coach of the Year (twice)

USL Hall of Fame inductee

Congratulations on your silver anniversary, Coach.

Meanwhile, Atlanta United 2 has not had the same success the first team is having this season in MLS. While several of the players on the ATL 2 roster have been called up by head coach Tata Martino, the ATL 2 team has struggled all season. Currently sitting in 15th place on the table, ATL 2 has only managed a 3–11–7 record.

Nine points separate the Battery from eighth-place playoff bubble team Indy Eleven. Both North Carolina teams have a chance to get above the playoff cut line soon, with NCFC traveling to play swamp ball with the Rowdies Saturday and Charlotte traveling to Pittsburgh next weekend to face the Riverhounds, who have appeared to put the train back on its tracks.

Battery notable milestones

Coach Mike Anhaeuser: Coach is looking for win number 199 after drawing on the road in Tampa. A win Saturday sets the stage for a potential 200th win against first-place WKRP FC in Cincinnati.

Coach is looking for win number 199 after drawing on the road in Tampa. A win Saturday sets the stage for a potential 200th win against first-place WKRP FC in Cincinnati. Odisnel Cooper: Cooper appearing in the starting XI could be mounumental. Cooper has recorded 39 regular-season shutouts; no other player in the USL modern era has recorded 40 shutouts. A clean sheet would put the former Cuban national team keeper in the USL history books, per the USL’s Nicholas Murray.

Predicted Battery starting XI

Cooper (GK), Hacksaw, Mueller (Captain), Archer, Rittmeyer, Anunga, Candela, Bolt, Mansaray, Guerra, Wild.

Available subs: Kuzminsky (GK), Woodbine, Thomas, Arambula, Okonkwo, Kelly, Svantesson*

Battery players not available*

Injuries : Ian Svantesson — (QUESTIONABLE)

: — (QUESTIONABLE) Suspensions : None

: None International duty: None

Uncle Arthur’s Trust Fund 2 key players

With Atlanta United in a bye week, Battery fans could see the return of some familiar faces Saturday night. However, given the recent string of injuries to key first team players like Darlington Nagbe, Sal Zizzo, Mikey Ambrose and Greg Garza, former Battery players such as Lagos Kunga, Miles Robinson, Andrew Carleton and Romario Williams might be kept at home to bolster the first team’s roster.

Given the Battery’s 3–0 rout of ATL 2 earlier this season in Gwinnett at the hands of Atlanta United loanee Gordon Wild, it will interesting to see who makes the bus trip to the Lowcountry.

Current form

Charleston: W | W | W | D | D |

Atlanta United 2: W | D | L | L | D

Past meetings (results are for Charleston)

The Battery lead the all-time series 1–0–0 (away: 1–0–0; home: 0–0–0). Atlanta United 2 are in their inaugural USL season.

2018 (USL)

3–0 (April 24 — Win at ATL)

The DrewOnTarget Prediction

Given the injuries Atlanta United has suffered to key players, several second-team members have been called up to the first team. Regardless of who makes the starting XI, expect the Battery to press early and often and put points on the board.

Final score: 3–0 Battery

Game details

What: Charleston Battery vs. Atlanta United 2

Where: MUSC Health Stadium, Daniel Island, SC

When: Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, 7:00 p.m.

Broadcast: MyTV Charleston

Stream: ESPN +

Referee: Lorant Varga

ARs: Benjamin Jackson III, Jim Felluca

Fourth: Sam Hosig

Game Hashtag: #CHSvATL

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back after the games for our recaps, read all our Battery coverage here, and, as always, follow Soccer ’n’ Sweet Tea on Twitter for all the latest Carolina soccer news.

Up the Battery!