If giving up points in crazily stupid fashion on a regular basis wasn’t enough to deal with, the Legion’s next three games are over an 8-day period (thanks to the weather earlier in the season) and are against 3 of the top 4 teams in the league. When you have only 9 games left to make up an 11-point gap between you and the playoffs, that is, to put it mildly, less than ideal. Even worse, the team you start it all off against is on a 10-day break…
The most important part
…the Charleston Battery in fact last played Wednesday, September 2nd, losing 1-2 to Hartford Athletic. That was in large part due to losing regular starting left back Nathan Messer to a double yellow in the 60th minute followed by a dumb penalty giveaway. Messer has started all but 3 of the team’s 27 games this season and was subbed on in the remaining 3, so his absence will be noted.
Thus the team will as a whole be rested when the game is played (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+) if a little short on the roster. The game will of course also be notable for being the first Championship game ever played at the team’s Dunnavant Valley facility, the second coming fast on its heels next Wednesday.
Messer’s absence is important for another huuuge reason. Back in March up at Patriots Point the Battery beat the Legion 3-2. Yes, that’s right the now utterly infamous scoreline. Moreover, not only did the Three Sparks blow a 2-goal first-half lead (on goals scored just 2 minutes apart) but the winning goal was scored in second-half stoppage time. Off a corner kick. Taken by Nathan Messer.
That loss was not nearly as rough as the recent 2-3 losses, if only because the equalizing goal was an extremely iffy PK awarded against Phanuel Kavita (who had been sent off in his previous outing against the Battery in the final game of 2025). It came in a stretch of outrageous refereeing calls against the Legion and it hurt, but at least it did not seem like a disastrous performance.
Nonetheless, it was points dropped, which has become the story of the season really. And now the Legion is faced with a situation in which it has to get a result against a very strong opponent tomorrow, another one Wednesday (New Mexico United) and a third one next Saturday (the Tamapa Bay Rowdies). If the Three Sparks can generate 5 points from these 3 games (and that’s assuming the two Dunnavant Valley games actually get played this time – there are more storms in the forecast tonight and tomorrow) that would be a massive boost to the playoff hopes.
But that’s a big ask and one that seems out of reach for a team that has consistently underperformed for, let’s face it, nearly 3 seasons now.
The Battery will be wanting the points as well. Although they are 2nd in the East, they are holding on to that position by their fingernails. They have a 2-point lead over Detroit City (who the Legion also have yet to play) but the Michiganders have a game in hand. The already-playoff-bound Rowdies are effectively out of reach with a 9-point lead, so second place is as good as it gets for either team.
Even so, they have been a tad erratic lately. In addition to the Hartford loss they also lost 1-3 to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in August. The 3 wins in the last 5 games were over Loudoun United (1-0), The Miami FC (5-0) and the Las Vegas Lights (2-0). All clean sheets and one big margin of victory, but none of those teams are exactly powerhouses. The Battery are not invincible by any means and with a key defensive piece missing, are arguably somewhat less so right now.
Of the 3 teams the Legion faces in this tough stretch, the Battery are the weakest (by a hair). Thus, this becomes yet another must-win game. And, hopefully, an entertaining show for the first-ever Shelby County crowd.
Best of the rest
In a viciously unlucky quirk of scheduling, this weekend’s Championship action starts tonight with 2 games. Not that big a deal until you note that one of them features the two losers from Tuesday’s USL Cup semi-finals (the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and San Antonio FC). Talk about rubbing it in. Other than that game and the other Friday game (New Mexico United v. Indy Eleven), all games are Saturday evening. Further, all 3 of our picks from Saturday are directly up against the Legion game and so are principally for keeping track of rather than viewing. All are critical to the Legion’s hopes.
New Mexico United v. Indy Eleven (Friday, 8:30pm, ESPN+)
Not only is this a chance to check out the Legion’s next opponent, it is against a team that needs to drop points. Which also happens to be the Legion’s previous opponent. A New Mexico win seems very much on the cards; they are top of the Western Conference with 2 games in hand over El Paso Locomotive. Indy are 7th in the East but only by virtue of tiebreakers. After last week’s draw they remain 11 points ahead of the Legion, so a chance to narrow that gap is key.
Sporting JAX v. Rhode Island FC (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
Indy is tied with Rhode Island (who they beat 1-0 to earn the tiebreak advantage; they play again at the end of the month). Since the Legion beat Rhody twice, they have secured the tiebreaker, which makes them somewhat easier to catch. Sporting JAX is 4 points adrift of the Legion and has played 2 additional games. But with 2 wins in the last 3 games they are rising high. Relatively speaking. If they can make it 3 wins from 4 games it would be massive.
Brooklyn FC v. The Miami FC (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
The New Yorkers are 2 points back of the Legion; Miami is up by 5. But Miami has played 2 more games than both teams. The Legion and Brooklyn still have to play twice. Thus a Brooklyn win, even if it puts them ahead of the Three Sparks, would actually be very helpful. A draw would be pretty good, possibly preferable. They have 1 win between them over the past 5 games, Brooklyn getting a 4-1 decision over JAX.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds v. Loudoun United (Saturday, 6:00pm, ESPN+)
Not that I ever want the Riverhounds to win, but I do want Loudoun to lose. They are 2 points better than the Legion at the moment on one more game. The Legion and Loudoun do play here in October, so if the gap can be overcome this week that gives the good guys a big advantage. Moreover, Pittsburgh is 4th in the East and needs to keep an edge over Louisville City. Right now they are 2 points up, but have played more games than anyone except Monterey Bay. Who don’t count.
Back in the Old Country
Birmingham City had a week to forget. On Sunday the Blues drew 2-2 with local rival Wolves, coming from behind twice on a Jay Stansfield goal and an own goal. Then on Tuesday they lost 1-2 at Norwich City after having been denied the early lead when newcomer Liam Millar was judged offside despite being well onside. Birmingham’s only goal in the game was scored by Carlos Vicente. The results knock the team back down to 15th, with a record of 1-1-4.
That leaves Chris Davies’ job very much in danger barring a dramatic turnaround. That will have to come as soon as Saturday as the Blues travel to Derby County (6:30am, Paraount+). Derby are 22nd and are managed by John Eustace, who was fired by Birmingham City in 2023 when the team was looking to hire Wayne Rooney in a very ill-advised decision.
The Lasies got a rough introduction to the WSL, losing 1-3 to defending champions Manchester City. This week will be no easier as they face Liverpool (Sunday, 8:00am, Paramount+). The Reds are top of the table after whipping Charlton Athletic 4-0. The two teams will play again later this month in the group stage of the Women’s League Cup.
