Louisville City Blanks Charleston to Reach Final
Louisville City FC beat the Charleston Battery 2-0 in the USL Championship Eastern Conference final.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Soccer
Ray Serrano and Manny Perez scored for Louisville City FC as it defeated the Charleston Battery 2-0 before a crowd of 5,422 at Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point. Louisville City will face the winner of New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic FC in the USL Championship title match next weekend.
Why it matters
The win sends Louisville City to the USL Championship final, its next step in the playoffs. For Louisville fans, it marks a chance to compete for the league title.
Charleston had the ball nearly 70 percent of the time in the first half and took 14 corner kicks to Louisville's one, yet Louisville City won 2-0. Charleston's Graham Smith had a goal in the 57th minute disallowed by the referee, and the outcome of the title match remains undecided.
The players
Louisville City FC
Louisville City FC is a professional soccer club based in Louisville, Kentucky, that plays in the USL Championship.
Charleston Battery
The Charleston Battery is a professional soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, that plays in the USL Championship.
The details
Louisville City took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on a goal by Ray Serrano, assisted by Chris Donovan. Manny Perez made it 2-0 in the 68th minute, assisted by Zach Duncan, after a Charleston goal was disallowed earlier in the second half.
Timeline
Nov. 14: Louisville City defeated Charleston 2-0 in the Eastern Conference final.
Nov. 15: New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic FC are scheduled to play.
Next weekend: Louisville City FC faces the winner of that match in the USL Championship title match.
Season Trajectory
Louisville City's 2-0 win sends it to the USL Championship final, a stage where it can secure the league title. Charleston reached the conference final for the third time in four years under coach Pirmann and falls short of the championship match.
Louisville City's place in the final shapes the USL Championship title race that fans can follow next weekend. Anyone tracking the club's playoff run can check the final's kickoff time and broadcast details once the opponent is set.
The takeaway
Louisville City's win shows that a team can win a playoff match on fewer shots and possession when it converts its chances. Readers following the league can watch how the title match unfolds next weekend.
What happens next
Louisville City FC will face the winner of New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic FC in the USL Championship title match next weekend.
Further reading
For more on the club's season, see Soccer coverage of Louisville City FC.
