How both the Charleston Battery and Phoenix Rising can win the 2023 USL Championship title game.
The Phoenix Rising's 2023 postseason campaign has been an absolute Cinderella story, winning three times on the road and three times taking down a higher seed. Now, they have their biggest test yet as the look to claim their first-ever USL Championship final trophy.
Charleston, meanwhile, are in familiar territory. They are four-time USL champions and are looking to add a fifth in their 31st year as an organization, but their first in the USL Championship division.
The Battery are in their first final since 2012, where they claimed victory, while Rising competed there in 2018, falling just short. Now, both teams are looking to add to the trophy case in Sunday's Championship game.
GOAL takes a look at how each team got to the final and where a potential victory may lie for each respective side.
USL ChampionshipThe road warriors: How Rising have overcome adversity to make the final
Despite endng their regular season campaign winless in five matches, Rising have pulled off the unthinkable, and have made it to USL Championship final with three-straight postseason road wins. Phoenix, the no. 6 seed, knocked off favorites San Diego Loyal 4-3 in an Extra-time thriller in game one of the playoffs, and followed it with a round two victory over Orange County SC.
Emil Cuello's 116th-minute goal in Extra-time secured advancement for Rising once again, with their second-straight hectic playoff match capped off by a winner with minutes to spare before penalties.
The most stunning result of the playoffs so far, though, was their 2-1 semifinal victory over Sacramento Republic FC. They leveled the game in the 80th minute, but stoppage-time in regulation saw them secure a berth in the final courtesy of Cuello once again.
Now, the Cinderella story of the playoffs are looking to make it four road wins in four matches, when they head to Charleston.
AdvertisementUSL ChampionshipThree-straight home playoff wins: How the Battery made the final
The Battery began the playoffs in stunning fashion, battering Indy Eleven 5-0 in the opening game. The No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference followed it up with a brilliant 2-1 victory over Birmingham Legion in the quarterfinals, where Derek Dodson's 68th minute winner secured them a semifinal berth.
The Semifinals saw them host No. 5 seed Louisville City, where the home side dominated the entire match in a 2-1 victory. City earned a goal back in second-half stoppage, but the Battery deservedly advanced to the final courtesy of goals from Augustine Williams and Arturo Rodriguez.
Now, on the heels of three-straight home playoff victories, the Battery have one more game at Patriots Point before they can potentially lift the USL Championship trophy.
USL ChampionshipHow the Rising can win their first title
Winning on the road is never easy, but once you figure it out, it seems to stick. That's where the Rising are at right now, too. The pressure isn't on them, it's on the home side who have won three-straight on their own turf. Knowing you're an underdog and knowing that you're at a disadvantage in nearly every scenario can sometimes work in your favor – because soccer isn't just about the physical game, it also focuses on the mental and intellectual sides of it as well. If they play their game and relieve themselves of worry, the levels are instantly even.
As for performance on the pitch, it's all about feeding their current playoff-run hero Emil Cuello. He's come off the bench twice to win games for Rising during this heroic stretch, so one would expect him to get the nod come Sunday.
The 26-year-old Argentine is as confident as they come at the moment, but if he isn't utilized from the start, keep an eye on regular season goalscoring sensation Danny Trejo – who found the back of the net 17 times during their campaign.
USL ChampionshipWhat Charleston need to do to earn a fifth club-championship
Three-straight home playoff wins AND you get to host the final? The Battery are living the dream.
However, they cannot overlook their advantages and come in overconfident. The Rising are in incredible road form, and the only time the two sides met this season was on opening day; a 1-1 draw.
For the Battery, though, it's all about feeding the playmakers who are in-form. Augustine Williams led them in scoring during the regular season and has found the back of the net twice this postseason, while Emilio Ycaza also has found the back of the net twice during the three-match span.
Patriots Point has been a fortress for the Battery this season, and they've won six of their last seven on their home turf. If the Battery can utilize their home support and their goal-scoring form to their advantage, they have a chance to list their fifth club-title and first-ever USL Championship trophy.