Both opposing goals were scored from dead ball plays
KNOXVILLE, T.N. (June 17, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence notched just the third league loss of the season against One Knoxville SC, 2-0, on the road on Saturday evening as the opposing side capitalized on a direct free kick and penalty kick. The Jacks will travel to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC next Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. Fans can live stream all Charlotte Independence away games for free on Bahakel Sports.
After facing just the second shutout loss of the season, Head Coach Mike Jeffries explained his thoughts on the team’s performance, “We weren’t sharp enough in the beginning of the game, and it felt like we gave away too many half-chances on counters. Even the goal came off of us having to defend a counter. It was a really frustrating game for us in that we weren’t bad in terms of our possession, but we weren’t effective enough in the final third creating chances. We didn’t manage them well enough on counters.”
The Independence held the majority of the possession in the first 10 minutes, but a counter attack by Knoxville in the 12th minute almost resulted in a goal for the hosts as #12 Callum Johnson’s shot landed just wide of the left post.
#1 Austin Pack kept the score level with a save in the 20th minute on a shot from #16 James Thomas, standing unmarked in the right side of the penalty area.
A quick throw-in from #7 Avionne Flanagan in the 26th minute found #11 Tresor Mbuyu running to the touchline, and Mbuyu earned a corner with a shot towards goal. One Knox threatened on the counter attack again after the corner, but Flanagan covered the center of the penalty area well to send the ball out of danger.
Knoxville opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a direct free kick from outside the penalty area by #11 Frank Ross, powered into the upper left corner.
The Jacks nearly answered two minutes later as #17 Clay Dimick played a through ball to #8 Joel Johnson on the edge of the endline. Johnson crossed it to the center, finding the head of #10 Miguel Ibarra, but goalkeeper #1 Sean Lewis tipped the effort over the crossbar.
In the 43rd minute, Flanagan earned a free kick in a threatening spot just outside the top of the penalty area, but #6 Omar Ciss could not keep his shot on frame. This was the Jacks’ last dangerous attack before the break.
Halftime: One Knoxville 1, Charlotte Independence 0.
Charlotte started quickly in the second half as Ciss found Johnson streaming down the field in the 47th minute, sending Johnson in on goal before a defender knocked the ball away.
“We had most of the ball, but we didn’t find the back of the net,” Ciss explained. “We need to be more creative, play simple, and support our teammates with and without the ball.”
The fortune quickly turned back in Knoxville’s favor as Ross slotted a penalty kick in the 51st minute to double the host’s lead.
“I thought we never really got a chance to get back in the game,” Jeffries commented. “The penalty call put us pretty far behind the 8-ball.”
Ibarra served a promising cross into a crowded penalty area towards the head of Johnson off a free kick in the 58th minute. Johnson redirected the ball to #4 Nick Spielman, but his header landed on the top of the net, out of bounds.
The Jacks continued attacking as Flanagan and Mbuyu connected again down the left side in the 62nd minute. After beating a few defenders, Mbuyu played the ball backwards to Ciss whose first-touch shot hit off the side netting.
“We didn’t let the events on the field dictate how we wanted to play,” Flanagan said. “After each goal we gave up, we continued to fight until the final whistle, and that’ll come in handy during this middle stretch of the season.”
Two substitutes combined for a dangerous attempt on goal in the 79th minute as #56 Gabriel Obertan played a through ball to #9 Dane Kelly whose shot was met by a sliding save by the Knoxville goalkeeper. Kelly continued the pressure with a shot in the 82nd minute, looking to beat the goalkeeper at the near post, but Lewis made the save.
“They’re a very good defensive team, and it made it tough on us after conceding the first goal,” Jeffries added. “I don’t think we quite got the final passes right, and I thought we were just a little slow in some of our decisions in terms of moving the ball and making plays in the final third.”
The Independence attacked until the end as Johnson directed a strike just wide of the right post in the 90th minute, searching for a takeaway in the defeat.
Full time: One Knoxville SC 2, Charlotte Independence 0.
“We need to maintain a good mentality coming off of playing three games at home and then a break,” Jeffries said. “I think we need to get into a mentality of being really strong defensively on the road and building from there.”
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence are on the road again to face Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. Fans can live stream all Charlotte Independence away games for free on Bahakel Sports.
