The Charleston Battery are returning home Saturday night for Craft Beer Night, having played four straight away matches, going 1–1–2 and culminating Tuesday night with a 3–0 win against Atlanta United 2.

The Battery will host the second-place Tampa Bay Rowdies (4–2–0), always a formidable opponent. The win on Tuesday moved Charleston (2–2–2) up to seventh in the USL Eastern Conference, just four points behind the Rowdies.

Tampa Bay is undefeated at home this season, defeating Real Monarchs SLC (and former Battery players Justin Portillo and Maikel Chang) 2–0 this past Saturday. However, the Rowdies have only managed to win one out of three road games this year, losing 1–0 to defending USL champions Louisville City and taking a 5–0 shellacking from the Baby Bulls.

The Battery are fresh off a 3–0 shutout win over Atlanta United 2 in Georgia Tuesday night, which saw a few notable firsts:

Forward Ian Svantesson opened his Battery scoring account.

Forward Gordon Wild opened his professional scoring account with two goals.

opened his professional scoring account with two goals. Joe Kuzminsky started in goal for his first professional match, also recording his first shutout.

started in goal for his first professional match, also recording his first shutout. Midfielder Ryan Arambula started in his first professional match.

Here are Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser’s thoughts on his lineup changes to the starting XI on the road:

“We honestly had to rotate a little bit with a couple guys out with injury. We tell the guys all the time that everyone on the roster needs to be prepared to play and that’s a great thing to have. When you’re on the fourth game of a road trip, it’s difficult. You have to commend the players; to be on the road for that long, going to different cities and different hotels and have still the mentality to go out there when your backs are up against the wall and compete is very impressive. We tied two and won once, so to get five points out of those last three road games after giving up five goals is a tremendous accomplishment for us.”

Along with his thoughts on Tampa Bay ahead of Saturday’s match:

“Whatever team we put out, we have to have energy because they’re a quality team. If it comes down to just quality and passing, they have a lot of experience and a lot of players who can hurt you from anywhere on the field. We have to put them under pressure and we have to make them work. We have to create chances and put their goalkeeper under pressure. That’s what we want to do at home regardless of who we’re playing. I think knowing we have five games in a row at home will be a boost for the guys on Saturday. Our goal is to win every game at home. The goal is to win our home games and get between six and eight wins on the road; if you do that, you can have a great season. That’s where our focus lies right now.”

Battery forward Gordon Wild said it best when asked about what impact being back home after being on the road for the past month will have on the team:

“It’s our field. We have our fans here. It’s our stadium. We don’t have to travel, so we’re in our usual routine again. I think that’s always a little advantage and this is a game where a small advantage can have a big result.”

Battery players to watch

Ian Svantesson & Ataulla Guerra: Now that Svantesson has opened his goal scoring account, it is time for another deposit to gain interest. Teaming with Guerra, expect to see both of them on the jumbotron with goal celebrations Saturday night.

Now that Svantesson has opened his goal scoring account, it is time for another deposit to gain interest. Teaming with Guerra, expect to see both of them on the jumbotron with goal celebrations Saturday night. Tah Brian Anunga: Anunga is the only remaining Battery veteran to have scored against the Rowdies last year. The Battery will need him to move the ball forward to put points on the board.

Anunga is the only remaining Battery veteran to have scored against the Rowdies last year. The Battery will need him to move the ball forward to put points on the board. “Fiesta Trio”: The back line is again paramount to stop the explosive Rowdies offense. Not only is Hristov a threat, but Joe Cole has two of the four Rowdies goals scored against the Battery. Neveal Hackshaw, Skylar Thomas and team captain Taylor Mueller will need to keep the Rowdies out of the box as they have scored 11 of their 12 goals this season inside the box.

Predicted Battery starting XI

Cooper (GK), Hacksaw, Mueller (C), Thomas, Bolt, Anunga, Arambula, van Schaik, Wild, Guerra, Svantesson.

Available subs: Kuzminsky (GK), Rittmeyer, Candela, Kelly, Mansaray

Tampa Bay key players

Georgi Hristov: Hristov leads the Rowdies with four goals already this season. The Battery will need to contain him in order to earn all three points.

Hristov leads the Rowdies with four goals already this season. The Battery will need to contain him in order to earn all three points. Cody Mizell: Mizell spent the last two years in Charlotte with the Independence. The Battery have had good success facing him the past two years, scoring a total of six goals in four games against Mizell in Charlotte. However, Mizell has recorded three clean sheets: That puts him in a four-way tie for third in the USL this year for the Rowdies.

Recent form

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

Tampa Bay: W | W | L | W | L | W

Past meetings (results are for Charleston)

The Battery are 2–1–0 all-time against Tampa Bay, 1–0–0 at home and 1–1–0 away. (Rowdies entered the USL in 2017 from the NASL)

2017: W | W | L

The DrewOnTarget #DefendCharleston Prediction

The Battery will need to dig deep with Saturday being their third game this week. However, with the 3–0 win from Tuesday night still fresh on everyone's mind and the Battery’s home field advantage back in full affect, expect to see a slugfest with the Battery getting a crucial three points at the final whistle.

Final score: 2–1 Battery. #UpTheBattery

Game info

Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28th, MUSC Health Stadium.

USL Match Center

Broadcast: MyTV Charleston and online with ESPN+

Referee: Ismir Pekmic

ARs: Jose Da Silva, Benjamin Jackson III

Fourth: Michael Shealy

Game Hashtag: #CHSvTBR

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!