April 1, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Charlotte Independence News Release
RICHMOND, V.A. – The Charlotte Independence rose victorious over the Richmond Kickers 1-2 on Saturday night at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia. The Jacks remain unbeaten in three games. Next, they’ll face North Carolina rivals NCFC for the first time in the 2023 USL League One season. That match kicks off on Saturday, April 8 at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
“I thought we started slowly,” Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. “I thought our first goal got us into the game, fantastic goal and fantastic play. We kind of manufactured the second goal, and from that point on I thought we held onto the game pretty well.”
Goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack made an immediate impact on the match with a save in the 12th minute. #91 Owayne Omar Gordon for the Kickers received a pass from #32 Emiliano Terzaghi inside the Jacks 18-yard box. Gordon took the right-footed shot, and Pack, diving to his right, made a key block to keep it level.
Charlotte Independence Captain #17 Clay Dimick scored his first professional goal in the 12th minute to put the Jacks on the board first. After a high-pressing attack by Richmond, Charlotte broke in transition and found #6 Omar Ciss. Ciss passed to Dimick who pushed it up field to forward #11 Tresor Mbuyu. Mbuyu played a pass into and #9 Dane Kelly who laid it off to Dimick continuing his run into the box. First time, he hit the strike into the bottom right corner of the goal.
“This was a huge result for us early in the season,” Dimick said. “We knew it was going to be a fight and we were up for it. This team showed we can grind out a win in a tough environment and that’s always a good sign.”
The Jacks gained more confidence and started to press later in the half. Mbuyu put in a quality, low cross to #56 Gabriel Obertan. He took the shot from outside the 18-yard box. It curled towards the right side of the goal but was saved by Richmond’s keeper.
Minutes later, Richmond attacked from the wing and served a cross into Charlotte’s box to find Gordan. He headed the ball into the left side of the net past goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack and leveled the score, 1-1.
Just before half, the Independence high press forced the Kickers to make two big turnovers. First, it was Obertan who cut off a pass. He found Ciss at the penalty spot who missed wide. Then, it was Obertan who had the look at goal but was unable to…