Goals by #8 Joel Johnson (8’), #10 Miguel Ibarra (20’) & #4 Nick Spielman (43’)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 12, 2023) – Three first-half goals for the Charlotte Independence and seven saves by #1 Austin Pack secured a 3-2 victory at home over South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday evening at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Jacks are on the road against Central Valley Fuego FC on Saturday, August 19 at 10:00 p.m. All away matches can be streamed for free with Bahakel Sports.
The Jacks nearly opened the scoring in the first five minutes with a trio of dangerous chances on goal. #11 Tresor Mbuyu received the ball on the left side from #10 Miguel Ibarra and forced a save from the Tormenta goalkeeper. The rebound landed at the feet of #8 Joel Johnson whose shot slammed off the crossbar back to #12 Brad Dunwell, but his header was saved.
Mbuyu and Johnson connected not long after for the opening goal in the 8th minute. Ibarra fed the ball to Mbuyu again on the left side, and Mbuyu crossed it to Johnson who slotted it into the far corner of the net. This marked the fourth-straight game that Charlotte scored in the first 20 minutes.
“We were good early in the game going forward,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. “We moved the ball well and were able to break them down.”
On the other side of the pitch, Pack saved a very direct shot from close range in the 18th minute before the offense took over again.
“Austin was fantastic tonight,” Jeffries explained. “He saved way too many plays when they were in clean in the box. That’s not good from our end defensively, and that’s an area to focus on for next week. Austin was huge. He’s been that way all year for us.”
It was quickly 2-0 in favor of the Independence with a counter attack in the 20th minute. #3 Hector Acosta launched a long ball up the field, and Ibarra chipped the goalkeeper to send a looping ball bouncing into the net. This was Ibarra’s first goal of the season and Acosta’s first assist of the season.
“I thought we were very good on counters, especially early, and they shifted their shape as a result,” Jeffries added.
The lead was cut in half in the 23rd minute as a shot from #7 Mukwelle Akale sailed in the top left corner of the goal.
“The team knows that we have to do better when we have a lead,” Ibarra commented. “Once we have the 2-0 lead, we need to keep going and keep playing how we know how to play. After this hard-fought game that we won, we need to learn from the mistakes and make sure that when we have a lead, we keep it.”
The Jacks earned three consecutive corner kicks near the end of the half, and the consistent pressure proved to be valuable. #4 Nick Spielman scored his second goal of the season with a header directly off the corner kick service by Johnson in the 43rd minute, giving the Independence a 3-1 lead.
Halftime: Charlotte Independence 3, South Georgia Tormenta FC 1.
Tormenta created a few dangerous chances early in the second half, but Pack stepped up with a pair of saves, including a heavy tip over the crossbar on a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 53rd minute.
“He brings a sense of security,” Spielman said of Pack. “When we get beat, we know we have a chance with him back there.”
Pack deflected another close-range shot in the 63rd minute, but Tormenta earned a penalty kick in the aftermath. #8 Pedro Fonseca slotted his shot to tighten the difference to 3-2.
The duo of Johnson and Mbuyu combined again in the second half looking for another goal, but Mbuyu’s shot was blocked out of bounds for a corner kick.
Charlotte continued attacking with threatening chances by substitutes #90 Khori Bennett, #56 Gabriel Obertan, and #2 Fabrice Ngah. Bennett forced a difficult save from the Tormenta keeper in stoppage time after he maneuvered past the final defender.
“We gritted it out at the end for sure,” Jeffries said. “When it came down to closing the game out, we managed it pretty well. I’m disappointed a little bit that we let them back into the game, but I thought we handled it well when it was 3-2.”
Fulltime: Charlotte Independence 3, South Georgia Tormenta FC 2.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence begin a three-game road stretch against Central Valley Fuego FC on Saturday, August 19 at 10:00 p.m. All away matches can be streamed for free with Bahakel Sports.
