USL Academy Signing, #35 Blake Pope, with the game-winning assist in his 2nd career start.
USL Academy Signing, #35 Blake Pope, with the game-winning assist in his 2nd career start.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 23, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence defeated the Charleston Battery by a score of 3-0 in their final home match at the Sportsplex at Matthews before making their move to the new American Legion Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, July 7. Before grand-re-opening night, the Jacks will face Miami FC (Saturday, June 26) and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Saturday, July 3) on the road. Watch both games on ESPN+.
“First, it’s nice for us to bounce back after a game I think we all felt wasn’t a good performance on our end,” stated Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “It’s nice to come in with confidence to a new game, and an important one, because it’s against a rival and a team in our division that we're competing against for playoffs. I think coming into Miami we’re going to be taking an assessment of where guys are physically. These stretches are difficult on players for various reasons. I don’t think the guy’s confidence waivers, but I do feel like it’s always nice to go into a road trip coming off a good win."
A good win it was. Your Charlotte Independence applied the pressure early with a couple quick combinations in midfield. It was #13 Brandt Bronico who played a through ball to #35 Blake Pope. Pope served a low cross into the box finding the foot of #29 Dane Kelly. He took the strike first-time and blew it past Charleston Goalkeeper, #1 Joe Kuzminsky. USL Academy signing Blake Pope earned his first assist on the play in only his second start of the season.
“It’s amazing,” stated Pope. “Obviously the team helped along the way, made the switch run with Dane and then Brandt played me a through ball and I just took it in. I found Dane on the top of the 18 and he finished it off. It’s obviously great to get my first assist, looking for my first goal next, but uphill from here and just looking forward to the next game."
The Independence backline played a strong first half limiting the Battery’s chances to just a couple of free kicks. The Independence held on to the 1-0 lead going into halftime.
There were no substitutions made by the Jacks to start the half. Charleston Battery’s #6 Robbie Crawford got the first strike on goal in the 62nd minute, but the attempt missed wide right. As the half played on, the Jacks continued to apply the pressure in the attacking third.
In the 74th minute, #9 Irvin Parra took a strike that hit the arm of a Battery defender resulting in a penalty kick for the Jacks. #8 Marcelo Palomino stepped up to take the kick and, with authority, struck an upper 90 shot past Kuzminsky.
Four minutes of extra time proved to be just enough for #10 Valentin Sabella to step on the pitch and make his mark. In the 94th minute, Kelly played a nice, easy ball across the top of the box where Sabella was there, waiting to strike. His left-footed shot stunned the Battery goalkeeper and put the Independence up 3 goals to none for the win. The Jacks earned their fourth clean sheet on the night as they looked back on what was quite a momentous journey at the Sportsplex.
“It’s a little nostalgic for me, we’ve been here a long time,” stated Jeffries. “I enjoy the facility and we’ve had some really good moments that stand out here. I think there’s a lot that’s hard to leave. I think Memorial stadium has been the focal point of our organization really since day one, and I’m looking forward to it like everyone. We feel it’s going to be a great venue for us and hope to continue with the same quality of play. It’s a move that we’ve been waiting on for quite a while.”
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence will travel to Miami, F.L. to face off against The Miami FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Saturday, June 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET). Watch on ESPN+.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 23, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence defeated the Charleston Battery by a score of 3-0 in their final home match at the Sportsplex at Matthews before making their move to the new American Legion Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, July 7. Before grand-re-opening night, the Jacks will face Miami FC (Saturday, June 26) and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Saturday, July 3) on the road. Watch both games on ESPN+.
“First, it’s nice for us to bounce back after a game I think we all felt wasn’t a good performance on our end,” stated Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “It’s nice to come in with confidence to a new game, and an important one, because it’s against a rival and a team in our division that we’re competing against for playoffs. I think coming into Miami we’re going to be taking an assessment of where guys are physically. These stretches are difficult on players for various reasons. I don’t think the guy’s confidence waivers, but I do feel like it’s always nice to go into a road trip coming off a good win.”
A good win it was. Your Charlotte Independence applied the pressure early with a couple quick combinations in midfield. It was #13 Brandt Bronico who played a through ball to #35 Blake Pope. Pope served a low cross into the box finding the foot of #29 Dane Kelly. He took the strike first-time and blew it past Charleston Goalkeeper, #1 Joe Kuzminsky. USL Academy signing Blake Pope earned his first assist on the play in only his second start of the season.
“It’s amazing,” stated Pope. “Obviously the team helped along the way, made the switch run with Dane and then Brandt played me a through ball and I just took it in. I found Dane on the top of the 18 and he finished it off. It’s obviously great to get my first assist, looking for my first goal next, but uphill from here and just looking forward to the next game.”
The Independence backline played a strong first half limiting the Battery’s chances to just a couple of free kicks. The Independence held on to the 1-0 lead going into halftime.
There were no substitutions made by the Jacks to start the half. Charleston Battery’s #6 Robbie Crawford got the first strike on goal in the 62nd minute, but the attempt missed wide right. As the half played on, the Jacks continued to apply the pressure in the attacking third.
In the 74th minute, #9 Irvin Parra took a strike that hit the arm of a Battery defender resulting in a penalty kick for the Jacks. #8 Marcelo Palomino stepped up to take the kick and, with authority, struck an upper 90 shot past Kuzminsky.
Four minutes of extra time proved to be just enough for #10 Valentin Sabella to step on the pitch and make his mark. In the 94th minute, Kelly played a nice, easy ball across the top of the box where Sabella was there, waiting to strike. His left-footed shot stunned the Battery goalkeeper and put the Independence up 3 goals to none for the win. The Jacks earned their fourth clean sheet on the night as they looked back on what was quite a momentous journey at the Sportsplex.
“It’s a little nostalgic for me, we’ve been here a long time,” stated Jeffries. “I enjoy the facility and we’ve had some really good moments that stand out here. I think there’s a lot that’s hard to leave. I think Memorial stadium has been the focal point of our organization really since day one, and I’m looking forward to it like everyone. We feel it’s going to be a great venue for us and hope to continue with the same quality of play. It’s a move that we’ve been waiting on for quite a while.”
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence will travel to Miami, F.L. to face off against The Miami FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium on Saturday, June 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET). Watch on ESPN+.