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USL Charlotte Independence

Charlotte Independence Looks for Payback in USL Championship Group G Rematch against Birmingham Legion FC at the Sportsplex at Matthews

August 11, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


CHARLOTTE - Exactly one week to the day following the Independence's disappointing 4-1 defeat to Birmingham Legion FC, the side will get a chance at payback when it hosts Legion FC in a USL Championship, Group G rematch on Saturday, August 12th at the Sportsplex at Matthews. Independence-Legion FC kicks-off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, presented by Accuvision.

"It's great for us to be back at the Sportsplex at Matthews for three straight games," said Independence manager Mike Jeffries. "It's still early in the year and it's such a strange season because there are so few games early on but the guys are handling it well."

In their last match, the Independence earned one point in a 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery. Dane Kelly scored as the Independence hosted its first home match at the Sportsplex at Matthews in 294 days.

"The Charleston match was progress in terms of where we were a couple of days ago," said Jeffries. "To make the kind of progress that we have made has been more than what we've hoped for."

With five points in four games, Mike Jeffries' side currently sit in third place in the Group G standings but have two games in hand on Legion FC and Memphis 901 FC.

"I do feel like it's a decent step forward overall," stated Jeffries. "Only four games in, the guys feel like there's far more that we are capable of."

Legion FC have started the return to play season strong with 13 points in six games and currently sit in first place in Group G. Last time out, Tom Soehn's side defeated Atlanta United 2, 1-0, for their second win in a row and fourth in six matches.

The two Group G sides faced each other last Wednesday, August 5th at BBVA Compass Field, with the Independence dropping points for the first time this season in a 4-1 defeat.

"The guys will come out with something to prove against a Birmingham [Legion FC] team that beat us pretty handily a couple of days ago," said Jeffries. "Birmingham are a tremendous side that are a challenge to play through defensively and possess a lot of dynamic options in the attack."

LAST MATCH: The Charlotte Independence opened its campaign at home with a 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery. Dane Kelly scored as the Independence hosted its first home match at the Sportsplex at Matthews in 294 days.

With the team playing its second game in four days, Jeffries rotated his squad, making two changes to the starting lineup from last game. The match came to life after the half-hour mark as the Independence took the lead in the 38th minute of play when forward Dane Kelly curled a right-footed effort past Battery goalkeeper Phil Breno for the forward's second goal of the season and 79th in his USL career. The match would finish level at 1-1.

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Independence and Legion FC faced off last week on Wednesday, August 5th at BBVA Compass Field. The Independence dropped points for the first time this season in a 4-1 defeat to Legion FC as Neco Brett, Bruno Lapa and Brian Wright scored for the home side to give Birmingham a cushion atop the group.

Series History (W-L-D)

Independence Record vs. Birmingham Legion FC: (1-1-1)

Independence Home Record vs. Birmingham Legion FC: (1-0-0)

Independence Away Record vs. Birmingham Legion FC: (0-1-1)

2020 CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS: Lucas Hatsios, Brandon Miller, Austin Pack

DEFENDERS: Owen Barber, Clay Dimick, Shalom Dutey, Duke Lacroix, Aaron Maund, Dylan Mitchiner, Joel Johnson, Rey Ortiz, Hugh Roberts, Joey Skinner

MIDFIELDERS: Jake Areman, Junior Etou, Derek Gebhard, Kevan George, Luke Haakenson, Valentin Sabella, Oscar Ramsay

FORWARDS: Enzo Martinez, Tresor Mbuyu, Dane Kelly, Guido Valada

2020 BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC USL CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS: Ford Parker, Trevor Spangenberg, Matt Vanoekel

DEFENDERS: Alex Crognale, Razak Cromwell, Jonathan Dean, Mathieu Laurent, Jake Rufe

MIDFIELDERS: Boluwatife Akinyode, Anderson Asiedu, Eli Crognale, Daigo Kobayashi, Bruno Lapa, Mikey Lopez, Braxton Najib, Jaden Servania, Marcos Ugarte

FORWARDS: Neco Brett, Propser Kasim, Rudolf Mensah, Brian Wright

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

- Five players have scored for the Independence in the 2020 USL Championship: Dane Kelly (2), Derek Gebhard, Luke Haakenson, Enzo Martinez, Valentin Sabella (1)

- Two players have recorded at least one assist for the Independence this year: Martinez, Jake Areman (1)

- Independence forward Dane Kelly can become the first player in USL Championship history to score 80 career league goals. Kelly, who scored his 79th USL goal in a 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery, leads the Jacks in goals this season with two.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE: The Charlotte Independence professional soccer team joined the United Soccer League (USL) Championship as an expansion team in September 2014. An ownership group led by Jim McPhilliamy, the President & Managing Partner of Major League Lacrosse's Charlotte Hounds, acquired the USL franchise rights from the Charlotte Eagles. McPhilliamy and his investment group founded Queen City Sports Club with the goal of making Charlotte a better place to live through annual increases in both the quality and quantity of events that are provided for the community.

In the fall of 2018, Queen City Sports Club and the Charlotte Independence signed a 10-year lease to move to American Legion Memorial Stadium following a revitalization of the historic landmark set for the spring of 2021.

COMPETITION FORMAT: The 35 Championship's clubs will be divided into eight regionalized groups and are set to play 263 games over 13 weeks to decide which 16 teams will advance to the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, which will open in the second weekend of October.

Games completed prior to the season suspension in March will be counted and are included in the schedule.

The top two teams from each group in the regular season will advance to the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, producing a field of 16 teams overall in a regionalized single-elimination bracket. Group winners will be paired with Group runners-up in the Round of 16, with home advantage being determined by record for the remainder of the bracket.

- Click Here for the Jacks' 2020 USL Championship Schedule

- Click Here for the Complete Revised 2020 USL Championship Schedule

Every game of the 2020 USL Championship season will air on the ESPN family of networks, with broadcasts on ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ bringing all the excitement of the first league in the United States to return to play in home markets directly to homes across the United States.

For live match updates, follow @Independence on Twitter, or tune in as the match will air live on ESPN+.

Check out the Charlotte Independence Statistics

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