The two teams either side of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference will be in action on home turf on Wednesday night as Week 19 of the 2022 USL Championship regular season opens with a pair of contests that also feature a New Mexico United side looking to make a move in the Western Conference.

Here’s a look ahead to the action.

Miami FC vs. Charleston Battery

Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: MIA 61%, CHS 17%, Draw 22%

The Lowdown: Miami FC will look to rebound from a loss last time out as it tries to solidify its place in the top seven of the Eastern Conference against a Charleston Battery side that enters on a four-game losing streak and is getting close to must-win territory to find a way back into the playoff race with less than half a season remaining. Miami fell 4-1 on Saturday night against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium as Callum Chapman-Page scored a late consolation after a difficult overall outing. The result saw Miami’s lead in seventh place drop to two points in the Eastern standings ahead of FC Tulsa, but the hosts could be hopeful of securing their second win of the month against a Battery side that has been held scoreless in its last two outings. Charleston fell 3-0 to Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night at Patriots Point to remain in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, 15 points back of Miami with 16 games to go in the regular season. Having previously claimed a 4-0 victory on the road at Patriots Point earlier this season behind a pair of goals from Othello Bah, Miami will try to complete a season sweep while looking to continue a four-game undefeated streak in the series overall that has seen the side win three and draw one since midway through the 2021 season.

Spotlight Players
Miami FC – Joaquin Rivas: The El Salvador is looking for a breakthrough after three appearances for his new club. This matchup could offer the ideal chance for Rivas to bag his first goal and some confidence to build on.

Charleston Battery – AJ Paterson: The Grenada international will be looking for a more positive performance on Wednesday night after winning only 4 of 10 duels against Birmingham as Charleston looks to tighten up defensively.

FC Tulsa vs. New Mexico United

Venue: ONEOK Field
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: TUL 29%, NM 45%, Draw 26%

The Lowdown: FC Tulsa will try to build on an important victory last time out as it plays host to New Mexico United in the first meeting between the clubs since 2019 following Tulsa’s move to the Eastern Conference, and the first since an offseason trade between the teams that sent Brian Brown to Tulsa and former United States international Jerome Kiesewetter to New Mexico. Both of those players found the net in their respective clubs’ most recent outings as Brown scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory for Tulsa against Atlanta United 2 on Saturday night at ONEOK Field. The Jamaican forward scored with 11 minutes to go despite the hosts being down to 10 men after Ronald Rodriguez was sent off for his second cautionable offense early in the second half. The victory moved Tulsa within two points of Miami FC for the seventh and final playoff place in the East, and the hosts will be hoping to replicate a 2-1 victory when United last visited ONEOK Field three years ago. Kiesewetter, meanwhile, opened the scoring for New Mexico as it was held to a 1-1 draw by Rio Grande Valley FC this past Saturday at Isotopes Park after the Toros scored a 90th-minute equalizer to dash United’s hopes of consecutive victories. New Mexico is undefeated in its last three outings, however, and sits with at least two games in hand on the three teams directly above it in the standings, meaning victory in Tulsa could propel the side toward a potential top-three spot in the coming weeks.

Spotlight Players
FC Tulsa – JJ Williams: The powerful center forward had five shots, and three on target, as he looked to add to his eight goals this season against Atlanta and could prove a handful for New Mexico’s defensive unit.

New Mexico United – Neco Brett: The Jamaican striker was held without a shot against Rio Grande Valley FC and has been held without a goal for the past four games after notching five goals so far this campaign.