June 8, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Charlotte Independence News Release
RICHMOND, Va. – The Charlotte Independence earned a 0-1 road victory in the USL Jägermeister Cup against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday evening at City Stadium. The Jacks are back at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Purchase tickets at charlotteindependence.com/tickets.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams played a quiet opening 15 minutes as neither side recorded a shot. #8 Joel Johnson helped keep the score even with a crucial sliding tackle in the penalty area before the Richmond attacker could shoot. The Kickers notched three shots in just a couple plays around the 20-minute mark, but none of them were accurate enough to test goalkeeper #1 Austin Pack.
Play continued to circulate through the midfield for the remainder of the first half. Richmond’s other promising attack was halted by another sliding block by an Independence defender, this time by #4 Nick Spielman.
In the only allotted minute of first half stoppage time, Charlotte’s #29 J.C. Obregón Jr. scored the game-winning goal. The striker passed the ball to #14 Luis Alvarez who maneuvered through many Richmond defenders in the penalty area before passing the ball across the face of goal to Obregón Jr. unmarked for an easy goal.
Halftime: Richmond Kickers 0, Charlotte Independence 1.
The Jacks were off to a quick start in the second half as Obregón Jr. hit a volley towards goal while turning in the 46th minute, but the goalkeeper deflected it away from the frame. The Roos flipped the field and had a dangerous chance which Pack secured with a close-range diving save.
Charlotte’s defense was certainly busy as Pack was forced into another diving save. This time, the ball bounced backwards toward goal, and #17 Clay Dimick made a sliding goal-line save to narrowly keep the ball from crossing the line.
Alvarez and Obregón Jr. continued connecting as the Jacks thought the lead was doubled in the 74th minute, but the offside flag was raised against Obregón Jr.
The second half was an intense battle between the two sides that will play each other three more times this season. Charlotte withstood heavy pressure from the Kickers, including multiple corner kicks in stoppage time and a powerful shot which was blocked by Pack’s face.
Fulltime: Richmond Kickers 0, Charlotte Independence 1.
IN THE NUMBERS:
#29 J.C. Obregón Jr. scored his ninth goal of the season in…