2018 Charlotte Independence season

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 →

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.

Background

Main article: 2017 Charlotte Independence season

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

Roster

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.
    2.

Competitions

Friendlies

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 United States 0–3 Mexico Santos Laguna Matthews, North Carolina
19:30 EST (UTC–5) Report Martínez 60'
Rivas
Cetré 		Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews

USL Regular season

Main article: 2018 USL season

Standings

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

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

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 Yellow card 45'
Herrera Yellow card 67', 80' (pen.)
Porter 83' (o.g.)		 Report Sito 64'
Oliveira Yellow card 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'
JohnsonYellow card 70'		 Report Spencer Yellow card 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 Yellow card 32'
Herrera 37', 85'
George Yellow card 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 Yellow card 12'
Johnson Yellow card 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 Yellow card 7'
Smith Yellow card 85'		 Report Ríos 50'
Doue Yellow card 59'
Fortune Yellow card 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 Yellow card 55'
Edward Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 86' Yellow-red card 89'
Smith Red card 90+2'		 Report Gorskie Yellow card 44'
Mkandawire 66'
Lachowecki Yellow card 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 Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Yellow card 11' Kalungi
Yellow card 69' Watson
Yellow card 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 Yellow card 49' Yellow-red card 77'
Herrera 50', Yellow card 55'
Areman Yellow card 90+2'
Martínez Yellow card 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 Yellow card 15'
George 42'
Calvert Red card 90+4'		 Report Yellow card 46' Akinyode
Yellow card 74'Winn
Yellow card 90+5' Pickens
Yellow card 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 Yellow card 67'
Welshman Yellow card 87'		 Report Duckett Yellow card 28'
Zayed Yellow card 65'
Voser Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 47'
Herrera 56'
Zayed 64'
Duckett Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Yellow card 62' Metzger
72' Dennis
Yellow card 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 Yellow card 35' Report 7' Chambers
Yellow card 65' Real
74' Holness
89' Yellow card 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 Yellow card 10', Yellow card 58' Red card 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 Yellow card 90' Report Lancaster 13' (pen.), 29', Yellow card 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' Yellow card 52'
Fernandes Yellow card 36'
Miller Yellow card 36' 49'
da Luz 69'
Ríos 72', 78'		 Report George 24' Yellow card 32'
Owundi Yellow card 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 Yellow card 53', Yellow card 86' Red card
Jung-soo Yellow card 81'		 Report Winn Yellow card 45'
Moloto Yellow card 53'
Woodberry Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 80'
Mansaray Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Herrera 69' (pen.)
Martínez Yellow card 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 Yellow card 33'		 Report Aguinaga Yellow card 54'
Cásseres Yellow card 62'
Abang 70'
Ndam Yellow card 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 Yellow card 46'
Watson Yellow card 77'
Zayed 86'
Duckett Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Parkes 4', Yellow card 44'
Zemanski Yellow card 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 Yellow card 74'
Baffoe Yellow card 90'		 Report Zayed 17', 28'
Johnson Yellow card 87'
Kiffe Yellow card 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 Yellow card 75'
Taylor 80' (Guenzatti)
Vega Red card 90+7'		 Report Voser 26' (Zayed), Yellow card 84'
Gebhard 32' (Cato)
Miller Yellow card 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', Yellow card 7' Report Ríos 5', 87'
Smith Yellow card 30'
Igbekoyi Yellow card 73'
Miller 90+3'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 1,486
Referee: RefereeRamy Touchan

U.S. Open Cup

Main article: 2018 U.S. Open Cup
May 16 Second round Charlotte Independence North Carolina 1–3 New Jersey Ocean City Nor'easters Matthews, North Carolina
7:30 EDT Herrera 58'
Martínez Yellow card 84'		 Report Gurrieri 4', 6'
Ndah Yellow card 23'
Mompremier 44', Yellow card 67'		 Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Attendance: 300
Referee: Eric Usher

References

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