2018 Charlotte Independence season

The 2018 Charlotte Independence season was the club's fourth season of existence, and their fourth in the United Soccer League, the second tier of American soccer.

Charlotte Independence
2018 season
PresidentJim McPhilliamy
Head coachMike Jeffries
StadiumSportsplex at Matthews
U.S. Open CupSecond round
Highest home attendance3,312
(June 26 vs. Charleston)
Lowest home attendance982
(August 8 vs. Bethlehem)
Average home league attendance1,756
← 2017
2019 →

Background

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The Independence finished the 2017 season with a record of 13–9–10, finished 5th in the Eastern Conference, and 11th overall. In the 2017 USL Playoffs, Charlotte were bested in the first round by the Rochester Rhinos. Elsewhere, the Independence reached the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, losing 1–4 to NASL outfit, North Carolina FC.

Club

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Roster

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No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Brandon Miller   United States
3 DF Bilal Duckett   United States
4 MF Jake Areman   United States
6 MF Greg Jordan   United States
7 MF Yann Ekra   France
8 DF Kay Voser   Switzerland
9 FW Éamon Zayed   Libya
10 MF Jorge Herrera   Colombia
11 MF Mutaya Mwape   Zambia
12 GK Kainoa Likewise   United States
13 MF Kevan George   Trinidad and Tobago
14 DF Lee Jung-soo   South Korea
15 DF Calvin Doum   Cameroon
16 DF Bertrand Owundi (on loan from Minnesota United FC)   Cameroon
17 FW Cordell Cato   Trinidad and Tobago
18 GK Ben Beaury   United States
20 MF Ricardo Perez ([A])   Mexico
22 DF Joel Johnson   Liberia
23 MF Alex Martínez   Uruguay
25 DF Henry Kalungi   Uganda
27 MF Je-Vaughn Watson   Jamaica
29 FW Caleb Calvert ([A])   United States
31 DF Sam Vines ([A])   United States
33 DF Donnie Smith   United States
  1. ^
    Signed to first team contract with MLS affiliate Colorado Rapids.

Competitions

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Friendlies

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All times in regular season on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00)

  Win   Draw   Loss   Upcoming fixture

February 14 Preseason Atlanta United FC Charlotte Independence Marietta, Georgia
EST (UTC–5) Stadium: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground
Note: Closed door; match not publicized.
February 17 Preseason Charlotte Independence 5–3 Columbus Crew SC Charleston, South Carolina
EST (UTC–5) Duckett  
Martínez   (pen.)
Trialist  
Steedman  
Trialist  
Note: Closed door
February 25 Preseason Charlotte Independence 0–1 North Carolina FC Matthews, North Carolina
13:00 EST (UTC–5) Miller   Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
March 3 Preseason Atlanta United 2 2–4 Charlotte Independence Marietta, Georgia
EST (UTC–5) Trialist  
Herrera  
  (o.g.)
Doum  
Stadium: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground
March 10 Preseason Charlotte Independence 2–1 Old Dominion Monarchs Matthews, North Carolina
EST (UTC–5) Kronschwitz   Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
September 5 Midseason Charlotte Independence   0–3   Santos Laguna Matthews, North Carolina
19:30 EST (UTC–5) Report Martínez   60'
Rivas  
Cetré  
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews

USL Regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
9 North Carolina FC 34 13 8 13 60 50 +10 47
10 Ottawa Fury 34 13 6 15 31 43 −12 45
11 Charlotte Independence 34 10 12 12 44 57 −13 42
12 Tampa Bay Rowdies 34 11 8 15 44 44 0 41
13 Penn FC 34 9 10 15 38 47 −9 37
Source: 2018 USL standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
30 9 10 11 37 49  −12 37 7 6 3 23 19  +4 2 4 8 14 30  −16

Last updated: 25 September 2018.
Source: Matches

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
StadiumHHHAHHAHAAAAAHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAHHAAH
ResultWWDLLDLWWWWLDDDDLLWLLDLDLLWWDDDDWL
Updated to match(es) played on 14 October 2018. Source: Matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

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All times in regular season on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00)

  Win   Draw   Loss   Upcoming fixture

March 17 1 Charlotte Independence 4–1 Ottawa Fury FC Matthews, North Carolina
19:00 EST (UTC–5) Cato   41', 58'
George   45'
Herrera   67',   80' (pen.)
Porter   83' (o.g.)
Report Sito   64'
Oliveira   90+3'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,438
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
March 24 2 Charlotte Independence 2–0 Toronto FC II Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Herrera   18'
Calvert   42'
Johnson  70'
Report Spencer   22' Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,026
Referee: Javier Santos
March 31 3 Charlotte Independence 2–2 Atlanta United 2 Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Martínez   32'
Herrera   37', 85'
George   61'
Report Jung-soo   28' (o.g.)
Kunga   82'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,375
Referee: Daniel Gutierrez
April 7 4 Nashville SC 2–0 Charlotte Independence Nashville, Tennessee
8:30PM EDT Winn   24'
Mensah   90+1'
Report Duckett   12'
Johnson   89'
Stadium: First Tennessee Park
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
April 14 5 Charlotte Independence 0–2 North Carolina FC Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Martínez   7'
Smith   85'
Report Ríos   50'
Doue   59'
Fortune   61'
Lomis   86'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 2,264
Referee: Matthew Franz
April 28 6 Charlotte Independence 0–0 Indy Eleven Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
May 5 7 Charleston Battery 2–0 Charlotte Independence Charleston, South Carolina
7:00 EDT Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
May 12 8 Charlotte Independence 4–1 FC Cincinnati Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Cato   38'
Ekra   45+2'
Voser   57'
Zayed   87'
Report König   52' Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 2,314
Referee: Kevin Broadley
May 19 9 Charlotte Independence 2–1 Toronto FC II Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 987
Note: Originally scheduled to be played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.[1]
May 26 10 Richmond Kickers 1–3 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
7:00 EDT Stadium: City Stadium
June 2 11 Ottawa Fury FC 0–1 Charlotte Independence Ottawa, Ontario
7:00 EDT Reid   55'
Edward   90'
Report Ekra   83' Stadium: TD Place Stadium
Attendance: 5,693
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard
June 9 12 New York Red Bulls II 4–2 Charlotte Independence Montclair, New Jersey
7:00 EDT Stadium: MSU Soccer Park
May 26 13 Atlanta United 2 1–1 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
7:00 EDT Stadium: City Stadium
June 16 14 Charlotte Independence 1–1 Charleston Battery Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Mwape   79' Report   25' Higashi Stadium: Matthews Sportsplex
Attendance: 3,312
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
June 23 15 Richmond Kickers 1–1 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT Shriver   6' Report Cato   20'
George   63'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,364
Referee: Javier Santos Escobar
Note: Leigh Cowlishaw's final match as manager.
June 27 16 Charlotte Independence 2–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT (UTC−4) Herrera   57' (Cato)
Cato   64' (Herrera)
Johnson   86'   89'
Smith   90+2'
Report Gorskie   44'
Mkandawire   66'
Lachowecki   78'
Oduro   90'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,399
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
June 30 17 Bethlehem Steel FC 4–1 Charlotte Independence Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
5:00 PM EDT Nanco   10'
Moar   46'
Skundrich   72'
Herbers   80'
Mbaizo   90+2'
Report   11' Kalungi
  69' Watson
  83' Areman
  90+3' Herrera
Stadium: Goodman Stadium
Attendance: 2,346
Referee: Matthew Franz
July 7 18 Indy Eleven 2–1 Charlotte Independence Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 PM EDT Speas   62'
Mitchell   70'
Report Duckett   49'   77'
Herrera   50',   55'
Areman   90+2'
Martínez   90+3'
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
Attendance: 9,858
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
July 11 19 Charlotte Independence 1–0 Nashville SC Matthews, North Carolina
7:30PM EDT Johnson   15'
George   42'
Calvert   90+4'
Report   46' Akinyode
  74'Winn
  90+5' Pickens
  90+5' Woodberry
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,247
Referee: Kevin Broadley
July 18 20 FC Cincinnati 2–0 Charlotte Independence Cincinnati, Ohio
7:30 EDT Keinan   7'
Lasso   20'
Ledesma   67'
Welshman   87'
Report Duckett   28'
Zayed   65'
Voser   87'
Stadium: Nippert Stadium
Attendance: 25,251
Referee: Jon Freemon
July 21 21 Louisville City FC 4–1 Charlotte Independence Louisville, Kentucky
7:30PM McCabe   21'
Ilić   72' (pen.)
Lancaster   81'
Davis IV   87'
Report George   71'
Herrera  90'
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 8,006
Referee: Lorant Varga
July 28 22 Charlotte Independence 1–1 Penn FC Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Areman   47'
Herrera   56'
Zayed   64'
Duckett   90+1'
Report   62' Metzger
  72' Dennis
  90+5' Rezende
Stadium: Matthews Sportsplex
Attendance: 2,159
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
August 8 23 Charlotte Independence 0–3 Bethlehem Steel FC Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT George   35' Report   7' Chambers
  65' Real
  74' Holness
  89'   90' Skundrich
Stadium: Matthews Sportsplex
Attendance: 982
Referee: Amin Hadzic
August 18 24 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0–0 Charlotte Independence Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 EDT Report Jordan   10',   58'   Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 2,765
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
August 22 25 Charlotte Independence 0–3 Louisville City Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 PM EDT Mwape   90' Report Lancaster   13' (pen.), 29',   42'
Spencer   65'
Stadium: Matthews Sportsplex
Attendance: 2,189
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
August 25 26 North Carolina FC 6–2 Charlotte Independence Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT Steinberger   26', 51'   52'
Fernandes   36'
Miller   36'   49'
da Luz   69'
Ríos   72', 78'
Report George   24'   32'
Owundi   72'
Areman   85'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,195
Referee: Daniel Gutierrez
September 1 27 Charlotte Independence 1–0 Nashville SC Matthews, North Carolina
6:30PM CDT Watson   25'
George   53',   86'  
Jung-soo   81'
Report Winn   45'
Moloto   53'
Woodberry   67'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
September 8 28 Charlotte Independence 2–1 Richmond Kickers Matthews, North Carolina
19:00 EDT Zayed   5'
Areman   58'
Report Gonzalez   72'
Nascimento   83'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,175
Referee: Greg Dopka
September 19 29 Charleston Battery 1–1 Charlotte Independence Charleston, South Carolina
7:00 P.M. Rittmeyer   9'
Woodbine   80'
Mansaray   90+1'
Report Herrera   69' (pen)
Martínez   89'
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
September 22 30 Charlotte Independence 1–1 New York Red Bulls II Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM Jordan   15'
Johnson   33'
Report Aguinaga   54'
Cásseres   62'
Abang   70'
Ndam   90+2'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,608
Referee: Eric Tattersall
September 29 31 Charlotte Independence 2–2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Matthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Herrera   19'
Johnson   46'
Watson   77'
Zayed   86'
Duckett   90+2'
Report Parkes   4',   44'
Zemanski   90+3',   90+4'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,878
Referee: Mark Allatin
October 3 32 Penn FC 2–2 Charlotte Independence Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
6:30 PM EDT Venter   36'
Mkosana   44'
Calvano   74'
Baffoe   90'
Report Zayed   17',   28'
Johnson   87'
Kiffe   90'
Stadium: FNB Field
Attendance: 2,013
Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr.
October 6 33 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–2 Charlotte Independence St. Petersburg, Florida
19:30 EDT (UTC−4) Gorskie   75'
Taylor   80' (Guenzatti)
Vega   90+7'
Report Voser   26' (Zayed),   84'
Gebhard   32' (Cato)
Miller   82'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 7,709
Referee: Luis Guardia
October 13 34 Charlotte Independence 1–3 North Carolina FC Matthews, North Carolina
19:00 EDT Herrera   6',   7' Report Ríos   5',   87'
Smith   30'
Igbekoyi   73'
Miller   90+3'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,486
Referee: RefereeRamy Touchan

U.S. Open Cup

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May 16 Second round Charlotte Independence   1–3   Ocean City Nor'easters Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Herrera   58'
Martínez   84'
Report Gurrieri   4',   6'
Ndah   23'
Mompremier   44',   67'
Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 300
Referee: Eric Usher

References

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  1. ^ "Toronto FC II match moved to Charlotte". Toronto FC. May 15, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
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