Sarasota, FL (October 3, 2026) – Stefano Pinho’s late-game heroics take center stage once again as the Jacks earned a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Paradise in Florida on Saturday night, snapping Sarasota’s seven-match unbeaten streak.
The Independence drew first blood when Jon Bakero linked up with Souaibou Marou in the 17th minute for an early Charlotte lead. The Paradise equalized through Sander Roed in the 24th minute, and jumped ahead in the 65th through a Jonathan Bolanos finish. However, the Jacks kept up their recent trend of late-game dramatics when Marou equalized in the 89th followed by Pinho scoring the game-winner in stoppage time to earn all three points from a wild affair in Sarasota.
The hosts created the first danger of the match in the 9th minute when they earned a free kick just outside of the right corner of the box. Anderson Rosa passed it short to Roed, who touched it back to Rosa. Rosa took a dribble before unleashing a low-driven shot through traffic that stung the near post before being cleared.
The Independence responded with a chance of their own when nice combination play led the ball to Javen Romero on the right flank. Romero cut inside before sending a diagonal ball to Bakero at the back post, but Bakero’s point-blank header was saved by Alex Sutton.
Sarasota believed they had found the opener in the 16th minute, when by Aaron Walker found Bolanos in behind with a splitting through ball. Bolanos found the back of the net, but it was called back for offsides.
Less than a minute later, the Jacks broke the ice. Bakero sent a corner from the left side towards the near post, where an on-running Marou flicked a header past Sutton for an early 1-0 lead. The assist was Bakero’s 15th on the season and the 24th USL League One assist of his career.
The Paradise responded just seven minutes later to knot things up. Jefferson Amaya’s under-hit back-pass was stolen by Ethan Bryant who drove towards the goal box before Levy came out to the edge of the box to contest him. Bryant slid the ball over to Roed who finished in between two Jacks defenders for his fifth goal in three matches.
Sutton was forced into another great save in the 29th minute, when Joey Skinner’s cross from the left side found Marou at the far post. Marou rifled his header on frame, but Sutton was quick to react to punch it high.
In the 40th minute, lady luck was almost on the Jacks’ side when Bakero found Clay Dimick inside of the box. Dimick tried to square it but it deflected off of a Paradise defender and took a weird arc that almost saw it tuck itself underneath the crossbar if not for the outstretched arms of a diving Sutton pushing it high.
The first twenty minutes of the second half were relatively uneventful until Sarasota jumped in front in the 65th minute. Freshly subbed on Emiliano Terzaghi caught the Independence out in transition and played a weighted ball to Bolanos in behind. Bolanos rounded Matt Levy and calmly finished in the empty net to put the Paradise up 2-1.
Prince Saydee almost equalized within minutes of coming on with some solo magic in the 80th minute. Saydee shuttled the ball down the pitch on the right side before cutting inside and unleashing a rocket from the edge of the box that nailed the crossbar and caromed away.
Sarasota nearly doubled the lead twice five minutes later, but Levy came up with two massive stops to keep the Jacks within range. First, he denied a point-blank Terzaghi shot at the near post, but the rebound bounced back to the USL1’s all-time leading goalscorer. Terzaghi danced around before blasting an attempt right at Mathis Guffroy’s hand to earn a penalty. Rosa stepped up to take the spot kick and stutter-stepped before shooting left, but Levy fought it off to keep the Independence within one.
Two minutes later, the Jacks pulled it back to level terms. Viggo Ortiz pushed the issue in transition and sent a perfect through ball to Marou, who timed his run perfectly. Marou darted into the box and chipped Sutton for his 14th goal on the season to tie things at two a piece.
A week after rescuing a point against Fort Wayne with a late goal, Pinho showed his clutch gene once again. Skinner sent a low-driven cross from the left flank that met Pinho on the near corner of the six. Pinho set his feet and redirected the shot with his left boot inside of the far post to give the Jacks a 3-2 lead in stoppage time that they would hold onto for the win. Pinho has four goals this season, all coming in the 89th minute or later. All four have also either been tying or go-ahead tallies.
The win pulls the Jacks within one point of Union Omaha, who currently leads the race for the Player’s Shield. Also with the win, the Independence have clinched hosting rights for the first round of the playoffs.
The Jacks continue their push for the Player’s Shield on Saturday, October 10 when the New York Cosmos come to Matthews Sportsplex for the home regular season finale. Join us for Oktoberfest and an entertaining night of soccer. You can buy your tickets here.
POST-GAME SOUND
Stefano Pinho on his ability to score vital goals in clutch moments:
“I think it comes down to experience, staying calm, and trusting my instincts. I’ve been in a lot of high-pressure moments throughout my career, and I just try to stay focused and make the right play. I’m grateful to God for this moment and for giving me the opportunity to be in these situations. All the glory goes to Him.”
More quotes to come…
