CHARLESTON, S.C. – A second-half goal by Derek Dodson lifted the No. 3 seed Charleston Battery to a 2-1 victory against No. 7 seed Birmingham Legion FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs as the Battery returned to the final four in the postseason for the first time in 10 years.

The Battery took the initiative early, and off their fourth corner kick in the opening 17 minutes the hosts found the breakthrough as Fidel Barajas’ delivery was headed home by Emilio Ycaza for his second goal in as many playoff games. Legion FC came into the game as the half went on, however, and leveled four minutes before the break when Prosper Kasim headed home from close range after a good cross by Tyler Pasher from the left.

Charleston went close to regaining the lead early in the second half when Augustine Williams hit the crossbar with a header before Juan Sebastian Palma sent the rebound over. The Battery regained the lead in the 68th minute, however, when Nick Markanich seized on an attempted clearance that caromed his way, and his shot deflected off teammate Derek Dodson in the six-yard area to find the net, which proved enough for the hosts to secure a place in the Eastern Conference Final.

Three Things That Mattered

1. The Charleston Battery have continued to reset expectations at every stage this season, and while the side was pegged back late in the first half by Birmingham Legion FC at Patriots Point it simply went ahead and reset and produced an outstanding second half in which it carried more of the threat and was rewarded with the sort of goal that arrives at the most opportune times. Derek Dodson has been a key addition this season – during the first half, he was often available as an outlet on the right with space to maraud forward – but there was very little he knew about the biggest goal he’s scored in the Battery’s colors as Nick Markanich’s shot pinballed into the net. At this time of year, though, no-one in Charleston’s locker room will care how it happened, just that it did.

2. Emilio Ycaza and Chris Allan have maybe been the undervalued pieces that have held the Battery’s structure together in its surge up the standings, but with his second goal in as many playoff games, Ycaza continued to shine on Saturday while Allen was his usual consistent self in the center of midfield. In addition to his goal, Ycaza flew all over the midfield, making 12 recoveries and four interceptions and winning a team-high 13 of 20 duels. Allen, meanwhile, served as the metronome that kept things moving alongside his teammate, completing 44 of 50 passes while making seven recoveries. The duo has been excellent in both postseason victories so far, and figure to be key again next Saturday.

3. Birmingham Legion FC gave itself a glimmer of hope with how it ended the first half when it seemed to get a measure of the game and started created pressure that led to Prosper Kasim’s equalizer in the 41st minute. When the Battery raised their level in the second half, however, Legion FC couldn’t quite find another gear to match them. The visitors had only six shots after the break, none of which tested Battery goalkeeper Trey Muse, and aside from a flurry of chances around the hour-mark off a corner kick, Legion FC just didn’t quite have the attacking spark they had a week ago, which spelled the end of their season.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Game

Emilio Ycaza, Charleston Battery – Ycaza put in another sterling shift in midfield after scoring the opening goal, completing 39 of 48 passes, winning 11 of 16 duels and recording 12 recoveries in an outstanding display.

Scoring Summary
CHS – Emilio Ycaza (Fidel Barajas) 17’
BHM – Prosper Kasim (Tyler Pasher) 41’
CHS – Derek Dodson 68’

Full Box Score

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