Battery needs win, help to reach playoffs

Miami loss could prove fatal to postseason hopesToday's Game

Miami loss could prove fatal to postseason hopesToday's Game

There are must-win games and then there's the predicament the Charleston Battery is in heading into tonight's match with the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Charleston, which advanced to the semifinals of last year's USL First Division playoffs, will not only need to beat Puerto Rico, but then must hope the expansion Carolina RailHawks, a 5-0 loser to Minnesota on Thursday, lose their final game on Saturday at California.

Charleston (8-14-5, 29 points) and Carolina (7-12-8, 29 points) are currently tied for ninth place in the USL First Division. However, Carolina owns the tiebreaker between the two teams, having swept the three-game season series with the Battery. Miami FC (9-15-4, 31 points) finished its season last week and currently holds down the final playoff spot.

But a win by either Charleston or Carolina would be enough to move past

Miami FC in the standings. A win is worth three points, while a tie is worth one point in the USL First Division standings.

"You can throw out any cliche you want," said Charleston Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser. "We have to beat Puerto Rico. A tie isn't going to help us, so if we don't take care of business against Puerto Rico we're done. Obviously, we're going to need some help to get into the playoffs, but first we need to beat Puerto Rico and that's where our focus is right now."

Three weeks ago, Charleston controlled its playoff destiny. Before heading out on a three-game West Coast road trip, the Battery was in sixth place and making the playoffs appeared to be a mere formality.

All that changed on the West Coast. During a span of four days, the Battery lost matches to Portland (1-0, Aug. 23), Vancouver (1-0, Aug. 25) and Seattle (1-0, Aug. 26).

"Honestly, we didn't play that badly when we went out West," Anhaeuser said. "We were very solid defensively in all three matches and that was against three of the best teams in the league. We were just a bit unlucky and didn't finish our chances when we had them."

After not scoring a goal in four straight matches, the Battery jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Miami FC last Sunday. However, Miami FC came roaring back in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 win.

"We pushed forward early and we got two goals and appeared to be in total control of the match," Anhaeuser said. "I think we just relaxed a little bit in the second half. We made a couple of mistakes defensively and the ball ended up in the back of our net. We just lost focus and it killed us."

The Battery is 0-2-1 against the Islanders this season, including a 0-0 draw back in early July at Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery has had modest success at home compiling a 5-4-4 mark.

"The weather was terrible when we played them at our place," Anhaeuser said. "It rained almost all game and the ball took some strange bounces. We feel pretty good about the match because we have them at home. We've been a pretty good home team all season."

The Battery will be without midfielders Ian Fuller (ankle) and Mike Richardson (knee). However, striker Byron Alvarez, who leads the team with eight goals, and midfielder Lazo Alavanja, who has two goals and five assists, will be back in the lineup after missing last week's game with injuries.

"Obviously, having Byron and Lazo back in the lineup is going to help," Anhaeuser said. "We're going to have to play sound defensively and finish our chances when we get them."

Reach Andrew Miller at 937-5599 or apmiller@postandcourier.com.

Who: Puerto Rico vs. Charleston

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Blackbaud Stadium

Records: Puerto Rico, 10-8-9 (39 points); Charleston, 8-14-5 (29 points)

TV: Fox Sports Soccer Channel

Tickets: 971-4625