CHARLOTTE, NC – Charlotte Independence scored three goals late to complete a miraculous comeback in the USL League Final, defeating AC Boise 4-2 at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
The hosts found themselves down a goal on two separate occasions, but used the same late game magic they rode to winning their Players’ Shield to complete the double with three late goals in front of a raucous crowd at the Sportsplex. The energy in the stands never wavered after Boise pulled ahead in the 76th minute, and those fans were sent into hysterics by Joey Skinner’s equalizer and Souaibou Marou’s go-ahead tally and insurance marker that brought the Independence their first USL League One championship in club history. Marou’s two goals in the waning moments of the match completed his hat trick, which marked the second time this season the striker bagged a hat trick in a trophy-clinching match for the Jacks.
The match was the first championship game the city has hosted in 45 years and it did not disappoint. Over 3,300 Charlotte faithful came to the Sportsplex and created a passionate environment fit for a final.
It was clear from the get-go the Jacks were looking to get off to a quick start in front of their rowdy home support. After a barrage of set pieces, Skinner had the game’s first shot on target, forcing goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewar to parry away from 25 yards.
Charlotte continued to dominate play early and narrowly missed opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. Prince Saydee and Jon Bakero completed a pretty give-and-go on the edge of the area, and the winger Saydee fired on his left, just missing the bottom corner of the far post.
Against the run of play, Boise grabbed the opener in the 33rd minute. The visitors started to come in waves and after Charlotte couldn’t relieve the pressure, Blake Bodily put a cross in perfect position for former Jack Moshobane to nod home from the goal’s doorstep.
Charlotte somehow didn’t equalize in the 40th minute. The play started from a trademark Christopher Jaime run, motoring into the penalty area from the midway line. He laid off to Saydee, who cut back finding Bakero. The Player of the Year’s shot was saved by Kliewar, and the Boise goalkeeper made an array of saves right after on Skinner and Marou to deny the hosts.
Boise came inches from doubling the lead on the final play of the first half. Jake Dengler placed a perfect cross on Denys Kostyshyn’s head, who left Matt Levy rooted to his spot, but fortunately for the Independence, he directed marginally wide and the two teams headed to the locker rooms with everything to play for in the second half.
After a trio of corners from Bakero, Saydee again tested Kliewar in the 55th minute. The corner richocheted out of the box to the awaiting winger, who took a touch before blasting, forcing the goalkeeper into a leaping save.
Charlotte finally broke through in the 58th minute. A sustained spell of possession found captain Clay Dimick out wide, and the outside back whipped in a cross that Skinner glanced into Marou’s path. The forward finished with a diving header to draw Charlotte level and send the fans into ecstasy.
Boise had a glorious chance to recapture the lead four minutes later. Bodily placed a perfect ball into the path of Nick Moon, who after some contact from Skinner, was one-on-one with Levy, but placed his one-time effort past the post.
Boise retook the lead in the 76th minute. Thomas Amang used his strength to fight off Javen Romero and take it to the endline. His cutback deflected off Reudd Manin, who had taken up the center back position for only seconds after an injury to Sega Coulibaly, and found the back of his own net to give Boise the lead with 14 minutes and added time to play.
But as they have all year, Charlotte would not die. A ball lifted into the box found Jefferson Amaya’s head, and it fell onto Skinner’s head to loop home.
And the greatest goal in club history came two minutes later. Skinner barreled forward, beating two men before sliding it in front. It never reached Stefano Pinho, but it did find Marou to backheel through Kliewar’s legs. The Sportsplex erupted as the Independence inched closer to bringing home the championship.
Charlotte was not done there, as five minutes later Jaime pushed the issue on the break. He laid the ball off for Marou in the box who lifted his shot above Kliewar with the first touch to cap off his MVP performance by completing his hat trick and putting up two.
Minutes later, the final whistle blew and the crowd roared with delight as the Independence became the fifth team in USL League One history to complete the double, knocking off AC Boise 4-2 for the first USL League One championship in club history.
POST-GAME SOUND
Head Coach Mike Jeffries on what was so special about this team:
“What’s special about the group is the willingness to work, an immense belief in each other, and the willingness to play the game and try and push the boundaries in attack and just find ways to win. We never feared being down, we never feared trying to protect the lead, and we just found different ways to get results throughout the year.”
Jeffries on becoming a champion:
“It’s huge, I haven’t digested it yet. It’s unbelievable, it’s just a special moment obviously and something I’ll never forget.”
Clay Dimick on the depth of the squad helping to lead the comeback:
“I think a big part of it is who we can bring off the bench and how deep our team is. We saw it all year long. You don’t find that in USL League One that often. So to see it all come to fruition… you know you have a chance when you have those guys.”
Jon Bakero on the mentality of the squad in late game situations:
“It’s been like this all year. There’s been multiple times when we’ve been down in the 85th, and I think we knew that if we took our chances we were going to win. It’s just a special group of guys.”
