Longtime rivals Wilmington Hammerheads and Charleston
Battery will compete against each other for the second time this season. In the
most recent meeting between the two clubs, Charleston won 2-1.
The last Battery game was this Wednesday, and the last
Hammerheads game was last Wednesday. Depending
on how you look at it, this could be viewed as an advantage for either club.
The Wilmington side hasn’t played a match in over a week, but that allows for
getting rusty. The Charleston side has played a match this week (and many
regular starter were included in the starting lineup), but that could leave key
players fatigued.
The Open Cup match between Charleston and NASL side Ft.
Lauderdale Strikers (i.e. the aforementioned match Charleston played Wednesday)
resulted in a total of five goals. The Strikers took the lead in the 6th minute. Although Charleston equalized, Ft. Lauderdale responded with another
goal. The USL club entered the second half of the game trailing 1-2, and,
despite several shots from both teams, the score stood for most of the game. Between the 77th and 80th
minutes Charleston scored twice resulting in a 3-2 victory.
Similarly, in four of the ten USL games Charleston has
played, the Battery was either loosing or level with its opponent at half time
and went on to either win or equalize by the end of the match. Although it
does not happen often enough to call it a pattern, it is a trend worth noting.
In three of the eight games played by the Hammerheads, the club was either
winning or level in the first half and lost the lead in the second.
This season has been drastically different for Charleston
and Wilmington. Until losing 1-0 to FC Montreal on May 14th, the
Battery was undefeated. Aside from a 3-0
victory against New York Red Bulls on April 12th, the Hammerheads
have not won matches. Currently, Charleston is 2nd in the Eastern Conference
table and Wilmington is 11th.
Based on nothing more than my recollection and opinion, I
believe the Hammerheads are pressing closer and closer to many victories. In
the past few matches, I’ve been seeing purposeful plays and maneuvers that
really seem to be working. The Hammerheads have been drawing rather than losing
recently. In the club’s last USL game, the Hammerheads tied Rochester Rhinos
1-1. In the Open Cup match against Chattanooga FC, the Hammerheads lost in
penalties. The players seem to be getting comfortable in their respective roles,
and I think all of that effort is going to come to fruition pretty soon.
Will soon end up being tomorrow?
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