USL League One News

Goals by #90 Khori Bennett (45+’) & Omar Ciss (62’)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 23, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence earned its 10th home win of the USL League One season with a 2-0 victory over Forward Madison FC on Saturday evening at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Jacks are back at home against One Knoxville SC on Saturday, September 30 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

“Right now, everyone is in playoff mode,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries explained about the importance of this match. “Either you’re fighting to solidify a better position or you’re fighting to make the playoffs, so every game for all the teams has a lot of intensity, and it’s what you get at the end of the season. I think we rose to the occasion today which was nice.”

Most of the offense for the Jacks in the opening half stemmed from corner kicks. #8 Joel Johnson unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area that went just high of the goal following a corner in the 20th minute. In the 33rd minute, #11 Tresor Mbuyu passed the ball to #10 Miguel Ibarra along the endline where he challenged the keeper, earning another corner.

#1 Austin Pack made his first save of the match in the 35th minute after a through ball found #18 Francis Baptiste dribbling towards goal.

“They’re a good team, they move the ball really well and are one of the best possession teams in the league, if not the best,” Jeffries added. “I thought we gave a little too much space in the beginning, and they were finding gaps. Later in the first half and in the second half, we closed down the spaces and made it a lot harder to play between lines and cause us trouble. We did a good job of keeping them in front of us and limiting the chances they got.”

As halftime approached quickly, the Independence took the lead in an unexpected manner in stoppage time. Johnson lifted a ball to #7 Avionne Flanagan who flicked a header into space in the center of the pitch. A Madison defender’s attempted clearance immediately bounced off the head of #90 Khori Bennett and sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net. 

“It was huge, and the timing of the goal was fantastic,” Jeffries commented. “We finally had a good possession and were obviously very fortunate on the finish of the play, but before the finish, we had good movement and a decent ball behind with guys running off of it. We got a break obviously, but it was good to get and gave us a little confidence going into halftime.”

Halftime: Charlotte Independence 1, Forward Madison FC 0.

Around the hour mark, Charlotte created multiple chances. Flanagan was weaving through defenders but unable to strike at goal. Obertan sent a threatening low cross into Mbuyu whose shot deflected out of bounds.

Moments later, Mbuyu played a dangerous pass to #6 Omar Ciss running unmarked at the top of the penalty area, and Ciss took advantage of the opportunity and put Charlotte up 2-0 in the 62nd minute. This was Ciss’ second goal and Mbuyu’s fourth assist of the season.

Pack kept the momentum in Charlotte’s favor with an outstretched diving save in the 75th minute. The defense held strong for the ninth clean sheet of the season.

“We’ve been training like this for a while now, so getting a clean sheet is really important,” defender #3 Hector Acosta said. “When we all work together, we can accomplish this.”

With this win, the Independence remained undefeated against Forward Madison in the overall series history.

“Getting this win was important knowing where we are in the table,” Acosta stated. “It was another step forward we needed in getting a playoff spot.”

Full time: Charlotte Independence 2, Forward Madison FC 0.

“The home atmosphere was really good, and we really needed it, especially this game,” Ciss expressed. “We need a lot of people to come support us in the next game, too.”

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence are home again on Saturday, September 30 at 5:00 against One Knoxville SC at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Tickets start at $12.

Goals by #56 Gabriel Obertan (33’) & #9 Dane Kelly (72’)

LEXINGTON, K.Y. (September 17, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence added another point to the season total with a 2-2 tie against Lexington SC on Sunday evening at Toyota Stadium. The Jacks are back home against Forward Madison FC on Saturday, September 23 at 5:00 p.m. for Latin Heritage Night. Tickets start at just $12 here.

#7 Avionne Flanagan was off to the races for the Jacks’ first chance of the night in the 11th minute, streaming down the left side and beating a defender on the way towards goal, but his shot sailed high of the target. 

As he has done all year, #1 Austin Pack displayed more goalkeeping heroics, earning his 100th save of the season on a penalty kick taken by #32 Ates Diouf. Pack’s league-leading effort maintained the deadlock in the 24th minute. 

“It was a huge save, and it kept us in the game,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries said about Pack’s penalty kick stop. “We felt like we were coming into the game, feeling good, and then the penalty almost came out of nothing, so it was a huge save and definitely helped give a confidence boost to the guys.”

Lexington continued to threaten on offense as #14 Khalid Balogun fired a shot off the goalpost in the 31st minute and #77 Nico Brown sent one just over the crossbar off of the rebound.

On the other end, #56 Gabriel Obertan put Charlotte in the lead in the 33rd minute with his third goal of the season. #6 Omar Ciss passed the ball to Obertan in space where he turned towards goal and surprised the goalkeeper with his shot from 25 yards away from net. 

The Independence tried to take advantage of counterattacks in the closing minutes of the first half as Lexington was pressuring on offense. #90 Khori Bennett challenged goalkeeper #13 Amahl Knight outside of the penalty area in the 45th minute, and Obertan ran onto a long ball inside stoppage time. 

Halftime: Lexington SC 0, Charlotte Independence 1. 

Pack was called into action again in the 58th minute after Lexington took a quick free kick at the edge of the penalty area and Pack made a diving save to clear the danger. 

Only moments later, Lexington tied the score with a goal by #25 Pierre Mane. Diouf hit a shot off the crossbar which landed in the path of Mane, allowing him to head it into the back of the net. Lexington carried the momentum following the tying goal and took the lead in the 67th minute after #8 Joel Johnson hit the ball in his own net while trying to clear a dangerous cross.

“There were plays we could have handled a little better,” Jeffries explained. “We knew coming into the second half that Lexington was going to push with everything. We thought we’d be able to manage it and get chances on counters. Unfortunately, we conceded off the rebound and off an own goal. I do give the guys a lot of credit. We didn’t put our heads down, and we pushed the game really hard after that and managed to get the equalizer.”

Six minutes after entering the match as a substitute, #9 Dane Kelly got on the scoresheet to tie the game in the 72nd minute. #5 Kaelon Fox misplayed a pass back to his goalkeeper Knight, and Kelly had no issue beating the goalkeeper with a curling shot. 

Kelly had the chance to score a second in the 82nd minute, but Knight made an outstretched save to send the ball out for a corner kick. In the aftermath of a Lexington corner kick in the 90th minute, #14 Luis Alvarez carried the ball down the field with Kelly in support, but the Lexington defense was able to track back to clear the danger before the Independence struck again. 

“I do feel like points were left on the field,” Kelly added. “This was a winnable game for us, but not giving away all three points was good for us, especially on the road.”

The Jacks played out the final few minutes to secure the tie and another point in the USL League One Standings. Charlotte will look to clinch a playoff spot in one of the upcoming games.

“As a team, it shows character to come back and get the point on the road,” Pack commented.

Full time: Lexington SC 2, Charlotte Independence 2.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence will face Forward Madison FC at home on Saturday, September 23 at 5:00 p.m. It is Latin Heritage Night at American Legion Memorial Stadium, and tickets start at just $12 here. 

Goals by #11 Tresor Mbuyu (68’), #90 Khori Bennett (81’), & #14 Luis Alvarez (90’)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 9, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence claimed a rain-filled victory, 3-0, over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday evening at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Jacks are on the road against Lexington SC on Sunday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. All away games can be live streamed for free on Bahakel Sports. 

Head Coach Mike Jeffries provided his overall thoughts following the match saying, “It was great to get the win and good to be back home after that road trip. I thought the first half they put us under a bit of pressure, but we held our own and had a couple decent chances. I thought the second half we managed the game really well. We changed the tempo with a couple quick adjustments, and we were on the front foot for most of it. It was great to get a really nice goal from Avionne and Tresor and the second one to wrap it up. The weather delay was a frustration, but the guys handled it very professionally.”

After a quiet 10 minutes to open the match, #90 Khori Bennett beat a defender to land directly in front of goal with just the goalkeeper to beat. Before Bennett got a shot off, a Chattanooga defender ran in to block the shot. 

On the other end, the Red Wolves fired a dangerous chance off the post in the 20th minute, but the game remained scoreless. 

Bennett had another threatening chance in the 26th minute with a shot barely saved by the goalkeeper’s leg out for a corner kick. 

#1 Austin Pack made a crucial save in the 45th minute, tipping a powerful shot over the crossbar, in the final moments before halftime. 

Halftime: Charlotte Independence 0, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 0. 

As the rain began to downpour in Charlotte, the Jacks continued attacking. #11 Tresor Mbuyu found the breakthrough in the 68th minute after a pass from #7 Avionne Flanagan from the left side of the pitch. 

“We wanted to be the team that was least impacted by the rain, and ultimately, I think we held it together and stayed together throughout the environment,” Flanagan explained.

The lead was nearly doubled as #9 Dane Kelly made a sliding effort on a cross in the 72nd minute, but his shot landed just wide.

All of Bennett’s hard work paid off when he scored in the 81st minute off a free kick by #8 Joel Johnson. The free kick was redirected by a Chattanooga defender into the path of Bennett who struck the ball into the top of the goal netting. 

“I had a point to prove to myself that I’m capable of doing it,” Bennett said of his first start in over a month. “Getting chances is something that I do well. I wish I could have capitalized on a few more of the ones that I had, but getting one today for me was important for my confidence and for the team obviously for us to win today.”

It was almost two goals for Bennett as the Jacks earned a penalty kick in the 88th minute. Bennett, who scored a penalty kick in the previous game, had his attempt saved by #12 Carlos Avilez. 

Less than a minute later, the match was suspended due to lightning in the area. After a delay of over an hour, the match resumed for the final few minutes of play.

With his first goal of the season, #14 Luis Alvarez sealed the win with the third goal of the night for the Independence. Kelly and Alvarez took on a single Chattanooga defender, and Kelly found Alvarez wide open and able to send a ball into the far side of the goal. 

“I felt like they had more of the possession and more of the statistical chances but we actually had a few good looks in the first half,” Jeffries commented. “The second half was a little more level, and I thought that we pushed the game and forced some plays.”

Full time: Charlotte Independence 3, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 0.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Charlotte Independence will face Lexington SC on the road on Sunday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. All away games can be live streamed for free on Bahakel Sports. 

Goals scored by #56 Gabriel Obertan (62’) & #90 Khori Bennett (PK – 77’)

WINDSOR, C.O. (September 3, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence faced a tough road match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, falling 4-2, on Sunday evening at Future Legends Field. The Jacks are home for the first of three games in September on Saturday, September 9 against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. First kick is set for 7:00 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Visit charlotteindependence.com for ticket information.

After the game, Head Coach Mike Jeffries summarized his thoughts on the performance, “Terrible start, and we had to battle to recover from it. Really difficult night to concede twice immediately after getting ourselves back in the game, so it’s disappointing on those ends. Overall, from the standpoint of how we played, there’s certainly a lot of good moments and things we did well. I thought we actually showed a lot of character at the end in fighting, but at this point in the season, to make some of the mistakes we did is tough to swallow.” 

The Hailstorm opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a goal by #9 Trevor Amann who was unmarked at the top of the penalty area and caught #1 Austin Pack wrongfooted with a shot across goal. 

The best chance of the first half for the Independence came in the 24th minute as #12 Brad Dunwell lofted a ball near the penalty arc towards #3 Hector Acosta. He headed the ball into the path of #8 Joel Johnson, but Johnson’s shot was drilled just past the far post. 

Charlotte increased the offensive pressure as the first half played on, taking more of the possession from Northern Colorado, but nothing was aimed on target. 

Halftime: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 1, Charlotte Independence 0. 

Less than two minutes into the second half, Acosta made a crucial sliding save to block a shot from #66 Noah Powder inside the penalty area. 

On the other end of the pitch, #11 Tresor Mbuyu earned a free kick just outside the penalty area, and #6 Omar Ciss’ shot grazed across the top netting of the goal, just inches away from evening the score. Outside backs #7 Avionne Flanagan and Johnson tried to connect in the 55th minute with a looping cross which landed out of bounds from Flanagan looking for Johnson.

The Jacks found the much-needed goal through #56 Gabriel Obertan in the 62nd minute. Flanagan chipped the ball to Johnson inside the penalty area who passed it back to Obertan for a neat finish into the side of the goal. 

The energy was quickly lost as the Hailstorm retook the lead in the 64th minute off of an own goal by Pack as he had trouble handling a shot from #22 Stefan Lukic.

“We worked so hard to get the goals we got, and we need to do better at maintaining them once we score,” #10 Miguel Ibarra commented.

Charlotte continued to battle on offense and earned a penalty kick in the 76th minute when #90 Khori Bennett was fouled. After winning the opportunity, Bennett calmly slotted his kick into the left side, sending the Hailstorm goalkeeper diving the wrong direction.

Just as quickly as the Independence tied the score, the Hailstorm retook the lead again in the 79th minute. Powder sent a blistering shot into the back of the net from outside the penalty area, making it 3-2. 

“We have to make a real commitment to being strong and actually pushing the game after we get a goal, and I thought we ended up sitting back, and in those few minutes, allowed them to dictate the game,” Jeffries added.

The Jacks brought on multiple substitutions and continued to create chances on offense looking for another game-tying goal. The Independence utilized as many long throw-ins and corner kicks as possible to break through the Hailstorm defense. Northern Colorado tacked on another goal in the dying moments of stoppage time to seal the win for the hosts, 4-2.

“I think it was a bit of an unfair end after making the effort to tie the game twice, but that’s football,” Johnson shared. “I think we did our best to win, we’ll stick with that, and look forward to playing the next game at home.”

Full time: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 4, Charlotte Independence 2. 

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence return home to face Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday, September 9 for Great Clips Family Soccer Weekend. First kick is set for 7:00 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Visit charlotteindependence.com for ticket information.

Goal by #11 Tresor Mbuyu (66’)

KNOXVILLE, T.N. (August 26, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence were forced to settle for a 1-1 tie against One Knoxville SC on Saturday evening at Regal Soccer Stadium after allowing a tying goal from the hosts in the 89th minute. The Jacks will hit the road again to face Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Sunday, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. All away matches can be streamed for free with Bahakel Sports. 

When asked about the game overall, Head Coach Mike Jeffries said, “We put a lot into the game. I thought we played very well and very disciplined. It was a very good road game. We manufactured a goal, but we also had some very good chances in the second half. We need to close these games out. That was a disappointing way to end the game.”

After most of the first 20 minutes was played in the midfield, #11 Tresor Mbuyu logged the first shot of the game for the Independence after a pass inside the penalty area from #56 Gabriel Obertan near the endline. 

The majority of Knoxville’s offense in the first half came in the form of free kicks around the penalty area, but none of the shots brought goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack into action. 

“We did very well keeping our shape,” Jeffries explained. “They had a fair amount of possession, but they never really were able to penetrate and cause us trouble. Their couple of chances came off of dead balls. Defensively, we cut off passing lanes and made it difficult for them to break us down.”

Neither team recorded a shot on target, and there were only six shots combined between the two sides in the first half.

Halftime: One Knoxville SC 0, Charlotte Independence 0.

In the 52nd minute, Mbuyu broke away down the left side with one defender to beat and crossed it to #12 Brad Dunwell unmarked in the center of the field, but Dunwell’s shot went directly into the hands of the One Knox goalkeeper. 

A corner kick in the 65th minute created chaos in the penalty area, and the Jacks continued to pressure the Knoxville defense and win contested balls. Mbuyu took possession on the right side of the penalty area and played the ball into the center which was deflected into the back of the net by Knoxville defender #55 Gabriel Claudio. 

“We came out in the second half and worked hard to close the game out,” Mbuyu commented. “Everyone was doing their job trying to help the team.” 

Just four minutes after entering the match as a substitute, #90 Khori Bennett had a breakaway chance of his own, but his shot was saved out the endline by the Knoxville goalkeeper. 

With the only shot on target for the hosts, #8 Angelo Kelly-Rosales scored a late equalizer in the 89th minute stemming from a set piece near midfield. 

“It was a very tactical game, and the team defended well the whole game,” Pack said. “It was unfortunate to break down in the last few minutes. We feel we could have gotten out of the game with three points but now we have to regroup and prepare for a very important game in Colorado.”

Full time: One Knoxville SC 1, Charlotte Independence 1.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence are on the road again next weekend against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. First kick is set for Sunday, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. All away matches can be streamed for free with Bahakel Sports.