CHARLESTON, S.C. – An early goal by Nick Markanich led the Charleston Battery to a 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Patriots Point on Saturday night, sending the defending Eastern Conference title holders through in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

The Battery will play host to the winner between Detroit City FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Patriots Point next weekend.

After a positive opening, the Battery jumped into an early lead through Markanich’s 29th goal of the campaign and third in the postseason for his career. The Championship’s Golden Boot winner produced a brave diving header that turned home an in-swinging cross by Arturo Rodriguez from the left that found the bottom-left corner of the net.

Charleston threatened again nine minutes before halftime when Jackson Conway received possession at the top of the penalty area before curling a turning shot just wide of the left post, but soon after the Hounds had their best chance to level of the half. Bertin Jaquesson found space on the left and his low cross found Danny Griffin as he arrived in the penalty area, only for Charleston’s Aaron Molloy to make a sliding block to deny the chance.

Molloy quickly moved back into his playmaker role as his raking 50-yard pass found Juan David Torres in space for the hosts, and the Colombian threaded a cross-field pass to set up Rodriguez as he broke in alone in the left side of the penalty area only for his first-time shot to the far post to be turned wide by Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick.  

The Hounds’ Golden Glove winner was called on again 11 minutes into the second half when a through-ball by Torres played Markanich into the right side of the penalty area for a low shot that was smothered by the shot-stopper.

Pittsburgh then tried to get back on level terms and went close with 20 minutes to go when the Battery were unable to clear cleanly, allowing the Hounds to find Robbie Mertz inside the penalty area. Mertz slipped a pass to Danny Griffin to shoot, but his effort was blocked by a scrambling Battery defense. Charleston was able to hold firm defensively late on, however, and while a late chance for MD Myers to ice the game in stoppage time went astray, the hosts saw out a hard-fought victory.

Three Things that Mattered

1. NICK MARKANICH IS INEVITABLE: With the Golden Boot and single-season goalscoring record earned, the final two outings of the regular season weren’t the sharpest for Nick Markanich, but as he did a season ago when the playoffs arrived, he once again became a gamechanger to give the Battery the goal they needed to get past a tough Pittsburgh defense. The finish itself was a classic, bravely taking on a diving header at full stretch to get to the ball ahead of an attempted clearance by his marker to put away a great delivery by Arturo Rodriguez. After bagging a pair of goals in the postseason last year, the 24-year-old seems primed for another big November.

2. SACRIFICING TO WIN: The early goal set up the game for the Battery, who claimed their 14th home win of the season in the USL Championship with the result, but the second part of the game came via the way the team was prepared to sacrifice defensively to keep the Hounds at bay. Pittsburgh had its fair share of chances to level, but of the 12 shots the visitors managed, half were blocked by the Battery. Aaron Molloy’s first-half denial of Danny Griffin as he arrived late in the box, and the same player being closed down by Jay Chapman in the second half were emblematic of the effort Charleston showed in its own half and showed the desire the side has to get back to the Championship Final again.

3. HOUNDS CAN’T CLOSE: Pittsburgh entered the postseason with momentum and confidence but the visitors were unable to find the finishing that had put them into this position when it mattered most. Bertin Jaquesson and Edward Kizza were both lively in the final third, but the only time either forced Battery goalkeeper Adam Grinwis into a save was with the former’s tame effort from the top of the penalty area late in the first half. This was a season of growth for the Hounds after their offseason departures, and if they can maintain a strong core of their lineup, there will be serious potential next season, but this year ended like 2023 on a down note.

USL Championship.com Player of the Game

Arturo Rodriguez, Charleston Battery – The attacking playmaker delivered a beautiful assist on the Battery’s early goal and notched two chances created and one shot on target overall while also winning 6 of 10 ground duels.

Scoring Summary
CHS – Nick Markanich (Arturo Rodriguez) 8’

Full Box Score