CINCINNATI – No. 3-seed FC Cincinnati hosts its first playoff game at Nippert Stadium as it welcomes the No. 6-seed Charleston Battery for an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal on Sunday afternoon, with the hosts aiming to build on an impressive regular season against one of the USL’s former champions. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: http://www.uslsoccer.com/game/show/15144037

FC Cincinnati news and notes

• Regular Season record: 16-6-8, 56pts

• Cincinnati posted the best record of any expansion club in the 2016 USL regular season, and as a result earned the East’s No. 3 seed for its first trip to the playoffs.

• FCC’s season was marked by numerous offseason highs, including taking victory in the inaugural edition of the River Cities Derby against regional rival Louisville City FC, and several highlight-reel moments.

• The club was also a resounding success off the field, as it set USL records for both single-game attendance - 24,376 on Sept. 17 against Orlando – and cumulative attendance for the season.

• Cincinnati announced on Monday that it had sold more than 15,000 tickets for Sunday’s game, which could see the club set a USL postseason record in its playoff debut.

Charleston Battery news and notes

• Regular Season record: 13-8-9, 48pts

• The Battery’s sixth consecutive appearance in the USL Cup Playoffs – a mark matched only by the Richmond Kickers – saw more ups than downs, but a loss in their final game saw the side take East’s No. 6 seed.

• Charleston was also dealt a major blow in the build-up to its final game of the season with the news that playmaker Justin Portillo would miss the remainder of the season with acute appendicitis.

• When at their best, the Battery showed flashes of being able to contend with anyone in the Eastern Conference, with the side one of only three to take victory against the New York Red Bulls II in the regular season.

• A pair of loanees shone brightly during the year for the club, with Montreal Impact forward Romario Williams leading the team in goals, and Atlanta United FC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis playing the majority of minutes between the sticks.

Key Players

• FC Cincinnati – F Sean Okoli: The former Seattle Sounders FC and New England Revolution forward played a key role leading the line for FCC in its inaugural season, and claimed the USL Golden Boot with 16 goals. Okoli’s combination of speed and strength, and ability to find space in the penalty area, will be key against an experience Battery backline led by center backs Shawn Ferguson and Taylor Mueller.

• Charleston Battery – M Maikel Chang: With the absence of Portillo from the lineup, the onus will fall even more on Chang to provide creativity in the final third for the Battery against a strong Cincinnati defense that conceded only 27 goals in the regular season. Chang had a breakout regular season with six goals and six assists, and will need to produce more of the same if Charleston is to earn victory on the road.

2016 Team leaders

• Goals: Cincinnati – Sean Okoli, 16; Charleston – Romario Williams, 10

• Assists: Cincinanti – Corben Bone, Omar Cummings, 5; Charleston – Maikel Chang, 6

Series Notes

• Charleston claimed the regular-season series between the teams with a 1-0-1 record, as a late goal by Williams on the opening weekend of the season gave the Battery a 1-0 win at MUSC Health Stadium. The teams then played to a 1-1 draw at Nippert Stadium on July 30 as Heviel Cordoves’ 70th-minute equalizer cancelled out Omar Cummings’ goal early in the second half.

Officials

• REF: Kevin Terry Jr

• AR1: Cory Richardson

• AR2: Maggie Short

• 4TH: Matthew Fotia

Game hashtag:

• #CINvCHS

Twitter social handles

• FC Cincinnati – @FCCincinnati

• Charleston Battery – @Chas_Battery