Louisville City FC Defeats Charleston Battery 2-0 to Reach USL Final

Louisville City FC secured a 2-0 victory against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs at Patriots Point, earning a trip to the league final.

Ray Serrano and Manny Perez scored in either half as the fourth-seeded visitors produced a stalwart defensive performance to defeat the second-seeded Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. The result sends Louisville City to the 2026 USL Championship Final with a chance at a record-setting third league crown.

The Battery came out on the front foot and carved out a pair of good early chances.

Louisville took the lead in the ninth minute.

In the 67th minute, the visitors doubled their advantage.

Charleston pressed to find a way back into the game, and with just under 10 minutes remaining, Laurent Kissiedou fired a first-time finish off a half-clearance that bounded into Schewe’s arms.

Kissiedou fired a long-range effort in stoppage time after Schewe had punched clear a cross from the center of his penalty area, but the goalkeeper got back to make the follow-up save. The stops allowed the visitors to hold on and claim their fifth Eastern Conference title.

The Battery held a 21-6 advantage in shots and more than 70 percent of possession but were unable to capitalize.

Goalkeeper Ryan Schewe made six saves in the shutout, including two early stops before Serrano’s opening goal.

The visitors also recorded 50 clearances—led by 17-year-old Brandon Dayes with a team-high 10—and blocked eight shots to seal the result.