Independence to Host 2018 Liga MX Champions Santos Laguna
July 31, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release
Charlotte (NC) - The Charlotte Independence, a United Soccer League (USL) professional soccer team is proud to announce the club will face off with the current Liga MX Champions Club Santos Laguna S.A. de C.V. in an International Friendly Match on Wednesday, September 5th at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
Santos Laguna is reigning Champions of Liga MX Clausura in the top division of the Mexican Football Federation. A six-time League Champion, Santos Laguna is based out of Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico and plays home matches at Territorio Santos Modelo, home to Estadio Corona. Not only does the team average a league title once every five years -- the most of any Mexican club -- Santos Laguna holds the record for most goals scored in CONCACAF Champions League with 120.
"This game is a great opportunity for players to play a game against a top International club," said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "I am really happy for the organization and our players. It will be a day where we hope to get an incredible turnout and make it a really fun evening."
"We're looking forward to knowing Charlotte, which is a new territory for us, and using the international break to keep our competition level high by playing against the Charlotte Independence," said Santos Laguna Vice President of Football, Jose Riestra. "I have no doubt that we will return to Torreon with nothing but a positive experience."
Beyond the first-team's on-field success, Santos Laguna is the only club in Mexico as a two-time U17 and U20 title champion in the same tournament. Additionally, the club is celebrating 11 years of a social responsibility program called Guerreros de Corazón which involves weekly community engagement of the first-team and youth teams within their communities. Since 2015, Santos has held 20 charitable activities in the United States.
"We are very excited to play the current Mexican Liga MX Champion Santos Laguna," said Independence General Manager Tom Engstrom. "Santos Laguna is a highly respected club for both their work on and off the field. A game like this is important to us as we expand our profile in the community."
This will be the second international friendly hosted by the Independence after setting a franchise attendance record vs Swansea City AFC of the English Premier League in front of a sold-out crowd of July, 2016. The match will be the first International match hosted at the newly expanded Sportsplex at Matthews stadium.
Fans are invited to experience the Independence's International friendly match against Santos Laguna by purchasing tickets at charlotteindependence.com or by calling the front office at 704-206-1515.
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