FC Cincinnati had swept into the USL on a wave of excitement in the stands, setting both single-game and season-long attendance records at Nippert Stadium, and impressive performances on the field that saw the side in contention for second place in the Eastern Conference late in the season. FCC welcomed another record crowd for its first playoff game in club history, but then the Charleston Battery then spoiled the party.

Charleston had welcomed Cincinnati to the league in the opening game of the regular season, notching a late goal at MUSC Health Stadium to take a 1-0 victory in FCC’s inaugural contest, and then earned a point on the road in its first visit to Nippert Stadium. With Cincinnati having taken four wins out of five to end the regular season, though, the hosts were favorites going into the clash, and that edge was emphatically driven home midway through the first half when Eric Stevenson’s 30-yard blast into the top-right corner gave FCC the lead and brought the house down in the stands.

The Battery battled back into the game, though, and five minutes before halftime notched an equalizer as a long throw-in by O’Brian Woodbine found Chris Tsonis at the top of the six-yard area, and despite a challenge by Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt the Battery forward flicked his header home. Charleston put on more pressure in the second half, and moment after Romario Williams had been denied by Hildebrandt from the left side of the penalty area, Zach Prince nodded home the ensuing corner kick to put the visitors ahead. Charleston then held firm late, bringing an end to FCC’s year.