ORLANDO, Fla. (July 27, 2017) - Following a two week break, Orlando City B (5-6-7, 22 points) will travel to South Carolina to face the Charleston Battery (10-4-6, 36 points) on Saturday, July 29. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at MUSC Health Stadium.
The match will be streamed at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“[Charleston is] at the top of the league for a reason. They’re a very, very good team. They’ve got Justin Portillo in the midfield, he’s a very good passer of the ball. Romario Williams, who we expect to come back from the national team, he’s the hottest striker in the USL. We’re under no illusions about how difficult is going to be,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “Having said that, they’re now four games without a win. They’re not undefeatable.”
On July 13, Orlando City B closed its three-game homestand with a 1-1 draw against I-4 Derby rival Tampa Bay Rowdies. Danny Deakin recorded his first goal as a Lion and his first as a pro when he slotted home the equalizing penalty kick in the 96th minute.
2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round picks Hadji Barry and Richie Laryea are tied with rookie Albert Dikwa for the team lead with three goals apiece. Pierre Da Silva is tied for second in the league with six assists and Earl Edwards, Jr. is fifth in the league with 50 saves.
OCB is 4-4-1 on the road this season, while Charleston is 7-1-3 at home. OCB enters the match on a four-game unbeaten run while the Battery are winless in their last four matches.
The Battery are coming off a 2-2 draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Charleston took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Miles Robinson scored and Maikel Chang equalized in the 84th minute.
Williams leads the Battery with 14 goals in 15 appearances and is expected to be available for selection following his stint with the Jamaica national team at the Gold Cup. Portillo leads the team with six assists.
This is the first meeting of the season between these two clubs. In 2016, 1-0-2 against Charleston, including a 2-1 win and 0-0 draw at MUSC Health Stadium. They will meet again on Sept. 23 in Orlando.
The Lions return home on Wednesday, Aug. 2 when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
