Orlando City B vs. Charleston Battery: Match Preview and How to Watch

After three straight draws at home, Orlando City B (5-6-7, 22 points) will hit the road to face the Charleston Battery (10-4-6, 36 points) who currently sit at the top of the USL’s Eastern Conference table. OCB enters this game on a four-game unbeaten run where the young Lions beat the Rochester Rhinos away, then returned home to draw FC Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Following their I-4 Derby match-up with the Rowdies, the young Lions had a two-week break before traveling up to South Carolina this weekend.

The Battery ended a two-game losing streak Wednesday night when they drew the Riverhounds in Pittsburgh, 2-2. The conference leaders have now gone four games without a win, having recorded their last victory on July 1 against the Rowdies.

This will be the first time that these two squads will face off this season. Last year, they faced each other three times, with OCB going 1-0-2. The teams played to scoreless draws on April 1 in Melbourne, FL, and on July 13 in Charleston. The April draw was notable because it was OCB’s first ever USL point and the young Lions had to play a man down for much of the second half. OCB won 2-1 in the second meeting overall and first in Charleston — also down a man. That time the young Lions went a man down before halftime after Tyler Turner was sent off in first half stoppage time.

Notable for tonight’s game is the possible return of Jamaican striker Romario Williams. The former Orlando City U-23 striker started and played 90 minutes for the Reggae Boyz in their 2-1 defeat to the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final Wednesday night. He’s also the current USL Golden Boot leader with 14 goals this season. OCB right back Zach Ellis-Hayden will be another player to watch as he currently sits on four yellow cards, one away from a one-game suspension.

Most Recent Lineups

Orlando City B (July 13 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies): Earl Edwards, Jr.; Zach Ellis-Hayden, Fernando Timbo, Seb Hines, Leo Pereira; Paul Clowes, Austin Martz, Tony Rocha, Lewis Neal; Hadji Barry, Richie Laryea.

Charleston Battery (July 26 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds): Alex Tambakis; Skylar Thomas, O’Brian Woodbine, Taylor Mueller, Miles Robinson; Justin Portillo, Quinton Griffith, Tah Anunga, Maikel Chang; Ricky Garbanzo, Neveal Hackshaw.

How to Watch

The 7 p.m. kickoff from MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, SC, can be streamed from the official USL YouTube page or at orlandocitysc.com/live. For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @TheManeLand on Twitter.