The Charleston Battery continued their undefeated start to the 2024 USL Championship season and knocked rival Louisville City FC from the ranks of the undefeated on Tuesday night with a 3-2 victory at Patriots Point that provided major entertainment before a sellout crowd on CBS Sports Network.

Here’s how the Battery moved to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

1. THREE-MAN MIDFIELD SET-UP DELIVERS

Before kickoff, we wondered whether it would be Chris Allan or Emilio Ycaza that accompanied Aaron Molloy in midfield for the Battery. In the end, it was both, and that wrinkle by Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann gave his side the edge in a dominant first half.

Charleston went behind in the ninth minute as LouCity’s Jorge González got free at the back post from a corner kick, but 84 seconds later the Battery were level with the midfield’s versatility on display. Taking advantage of a slip by a Louisville counterpart, Allan drove forward into the space in the left channel, and then after passing wide to Juan David Torres continued his run into the penalty area. MD Myers held up the cross and laid the ball back for Allan, whose shot hit the left post but rebounded to the alert Myers to finish.

In playing all three of his central midfielders, Pirmann allowed the Battery to outman LouCity in the middle of the park as Taylor Davila and Carlos Moguel Jr. were unable to come to grips with the game. Molloy was the fulcrum, as usual, recording a game-high 97 touches in the end, but Ycaza and Allan’s ability to both connect and win possession put Louisville on its heels. The Battery used their possession and ability in transition to keep the pressure on, and it was rewarded with a two-goal halftime lead.

2. MARKANICH COMES UP WITH THE GOODS, AGAIN

Nick Markanich has been maybe the most valuable player for the Battery in the attacking third so far this season, and while MD Myers had his best game for the Battery so far with a good finish and movement in the final third that was the case again. The 24-year-old bobbed in and out of the game while keeping himself in dangerous positions and after converting cooly from the penalty spot to level in the 22nd minute provided the best finish of the night just before the half-hour mark.

With Louisville’s back line out of position as the Battery moved play up the right side, Markanich held his position on the left half of the field. When Juan David Torres switched the play with a beautifully struck pass, Markanich did the rest, setting up a left-footed half-volley from the top-left edge of the penalty that flew into the top-right corner. Markanich now has five goals this season and continues to show the potential to go to the next level.

3. LOUCITY ADJUSTS, BUT BATTERY HOLD ON

Louisville City FC Head Coach Danny Cruz made the right adjustments at halftime, bringing on Elijah Wynder to play alongside Carlos Moguel Jr. and Taylor Davila in midfield and it immediately paid dividends as Wynder’s ball-winning ability turned the game and the territorial advantage in LouCity’s favor. Wynder won possession five times – tied for third in LouCity’s squad despite coming on at the break – and his presence free Davila up to exert his influence on the game.

Davila, in fact, pulled LouCity back into the contest seven minutes after the break when he was in the right spot to capitalize on Arturo Ordóñez’s flicked header from a corner kick, but as much as LouCity won the possession and territorial battle in the second half the Battery were still able to limit the big chances the visitors created. Louisville had 61.5 percent of possession in the second half and entered Charleston’s final third 38 times but were only able to muster 11 touches in the Battery penalty area. That was a testament to the Battery’s structure and resolve led by center backs Graham Smith and Leland Archer as they saw out an impressive home victory.