RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, June 30, 2016) – The oldest rivalry in American professional soccer history continues this Saturday, July 2 when the Richmond Kickers (5-5-5) battle the Charleston Battery (8-4-3). The match will be broadcast live from MUSC Health Stadium through the league’s official Match Center, uslsoccer.com/match-center, at 7:30 p.m.
Rivals for over two decades, Saturday’s match marks the 57th meeting between the Kickers and the Battery with all-time series record deadlocked at 24-24-8.
The two clubs last met in the postseason when the Battery edged the Kickers with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory in the 2015 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Scoreless through regulation, the Kickers took the lead two minutes into the first overtime period on an own goal but Charleston avenged the defensive mistake with two goals in five minutes in the second period, courtesy of Dane Kelly and Forrest Lasso.
Saturday’s match kicks off a three-game road stand for the Kickers following a scoreless draw against Bethlehem Steel FC last week at City Stadium. Despite outshooting the Steel 14-6, the Kickers could not elude goalkeeper Samir Badr who posted eight saves to deny the Kickers at home.
Charleston is coming off a pair of back to back wins, most recently shutting out Toronto FC II, 1-0, on the road. Controlling the match from the onset, the Battery’s offensive pressure paid off when Romario Williams capitalized on a rebound to claim all three points in the 79th minute.
The Kickers and the Battery swap home field advantage on Wednesday, August 17 before concluding the three game series at City Stadium on Saturday, September 17.
In the meantime, the Kickers travel to take on the Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday, July 8 and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Thursday, July 14 before returning to City Stadium to host Swansea City of the world famous English Premier League on Saturday, July 16. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
