**Charleston brings the home swagger into this playoff-style showdown**, but Louisville's proven resilience in tight spots could make this a proper scrap. 🔥

Charleston's rolling with three wins in their last five at Patriots Point — that's fortress energy. Louisville, meanwhile, has been the draw kings lately (three in five), so don't expect either team to roll over easy.

Key storylines:

- **Charleston's attacking firepower** through **M. Berry**, **M. Foster**, and **D. Martínez** will test Louisville's back three, especially after the hosts went 2-0 and 1-0 in recent home wins
- **Louisville's defensive shape** — **K. Adams**, **S. Totsch**, and **B. Dayes** anchoring a 3-4-3 — needs to stay compact against the hosts' midfield press
- Head-to-head history slightly favors **Louisville City** (9 wins vs 4), but Charleston's current form is undeniable

Expected lineups:

- **Charleston Battery**: L. Zamudio, N. Messer, J. Akpunonu, G. Smith, L. Blackstock, E. Ycaza, J. Kelly, L. Kissiedou, D. Martínez, M. Foster, M. Berry
- **Louisville City FC**: H. Fauroux, K. Adams, S. Totsch, B. Dayes, J. Morris, A. McFadden, T. Davila, K. Lambert, R. Serrano, C. Donovan, M. Akale

Prediction:

**Charleston 2-1 Louisville**. Home form + attacking depth gives the Battery the slight edge, but Louisville's draw tendency keeps this tight. 📍