:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64075514/i_2H3PsQQ.0.jpg)
Charleston Battery vs Swope Park Rangers
(#CHSvSPR)
When: Saturday, June 22, 6:30 PM CT
Where: MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina
How to Watch: ESPN+ ($4.99/month or 49.99 annually)
Swope Park Rangers, winless in their last seven matches, hit the road Saturday night for a game with the Charleston Battery.
The Battery are managed by Mike Anhaeuser, who’s side sit eighth in the Eastern Conference in Anhaesuer’s fourteenth season as manager. Charleston is led in scoring by Zeiko Lewis and Ian Svantesson, who have four goals each.
The Battery are coming off a good result after getting a point on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who lead the USL Championship with 30 points after 15 matches. The Rangers will look to get their first win since May 6, when they took down Louisville City FC, but SPR enter the match after a 2-0 loss to North Carolina FC last weekend.
The Rangers will look to be better defensively, specifically in the opening quarter of an hour as they have allowed three goals in the last three games. The Rangers can’t afford to give up an early goal.
The Rangers will need contributions from leading goal scorer, Felipe Hernandez, who has found the back of the net five times. Camden Riley, the 45th overall pick of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City, has logged more than 1,000 minutes with the Rangers this season.
Here is my Predicted XI:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16446952/545C6615_4A1C_4FC3_A965_D234E5E76855.jpeg)
John Pulskamp will likely return in goal with Eric Dick getting the start last time out and Adrian Zendejas starting in Sporting’s Open Cup disaster. Alexander and Mark Segbers will continue to rack up minutes as the two speedy wingbacks with Camden Riley and Kaveh Rad the center back pairing. Wan Kuzain will his third consecutive start since returning from injury in the midfield with Rassambek Akhmatov and Felipe Hernandez floating in front. Two new additions to the front three of Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, Wilson Harris, and Ayyoub Allach. A total of five changes from last weekend’s loss.
Charleston are a pretty balanced team, so a draw would be a positive result for a struggling Swope Park Rangers.