CHARLOTTE, NC – The Charlotte Independence look to climb back to the top of the league table when they visit the last place Richmond Kickers on Saturday. Here is all you need to know.
MATCH DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, September 19
Time: 6:00 PM
Who: Richmond Kickers
Where: City Stadium (Richmond, VA)
What We’re Wearing: The Independence will be dressed in their Liberty Kit.
Watch: ESPN+
SEASON STANDING
- Charlotte Independence
- USL League One: 16-5-5 (2nd Place – 53 points)
- Last Time Out: 1-1 draw @ AC Boise on Sept. 16
- Recent Form: WWLWD
- Richmond Kickers
- USL League One: 5-15-5 (17th Place – 20 points)
- Last Time Out: 5-2 loss @ Westchester SC on Sept. 16
- Recent Form: DLLDL
ALL-TIME SERIES
Charlotte has won both prior meetings this season: 2-1 in Richmond in the USL Cup on April 25, and 3-1 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in the league on July 25.
All-Time Record: 15-5-8
SO CLOSE TO HISTORY
With their goal on Wednesday against AC Boise, the Jacks have tied the single-season record for most goals in a single season with 61, a mark set by Union Omaha in 2023. They now need just one more to have the record to themselves.
GRITTY PERFORMANCE EARNS POINT IN BOISE
After a less than ideal start, the Jacks were able to show their resilience by capturing a gritty point on the road against AC Boise. Sega Coulibaly was shown his marching orders just 11 minutes in when he picked up his second yellow card, leaving the Jacks with 10 players for 80 minutes of match time. They held the Boise attack at bay until the 58th minute, when Dominic Gasso found Denys Kostyshyn at the back post who thumped his header home for a 1-0 lead. The Jacks countered quickly when they earned a free kick from an angle in the 62nd minute. Jon Bakero sent a ball through traffic that was deflected in by Reudd Mannin, tacking a 13th assist on Bakero’s record-breaking mark while knotting the match at one. A solid defensive performance headlined by Matt Levy’s eight saves kept the match tied as the 10-men Jacks earned a valuable point on the road.
JACKS ON FIRE
With their draw in Boise last night, the Jacks have now earned points in nine of their last ten league matches. This run has Charlotte sitting 2nd in the table, two points behind Omaha but the Independence have a game in hand while also holding a +4 advantage on goal differential.
SCOUTING RICHMOND
It has been a season to forget for the Kickers, as they currently sit bottom of the league with a 5-15-5 record and a -27 goal differential. Their last win was August 5 at home vs the New York Cosmos and they only have mustered two draws in six matches since then. However, they do own a perfectly balanced 4-4-4 record at home this season, using their home field advantage to earn 16 of their 20 league points at City Stadium.
Josh Kirkland paces the Richmond attack with six goals, while shot-stopper Yann Fillion sits third in the USL League One in saves with 83.
