MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (Interstat) — The Charleston Battery opened its USL Championship season with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix Rising on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Patriots Point.

The match defied a pregame projection that favored Phoenix with a 58% win probability. Charleston’s Andrew Booth broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 60th minute, scoring after entering as a 16th-minute substitute. Phoenix’s Danny Trejo Del Rio answered in the 74th, assisted by substitute Gabriel Torres, but the equalizer was not enough.

Armando González opened the scoring for Phoenix in the 35th. The game was contentious, featuring eight yellow cards, including five for Phoenix players. The result leaves Charleston 1-0-0 and Phoenix 0-1-0 in league play.