2020 Charlotte Independence season

The 2020 Charlotte Independence season is the club's sixth season of existence, and their sixth in the USL Championship (USLC), the second tier of American soccer. This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USLC Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[1]

Charlotte Independence
2020 season
PresidentJim McPhilliamy
Head coachMike Jeffries
StadiumSportsplex at Matthews
USLConference: TBD
USL PlayoffsTBD
U.S. Open CupSecond round

Review

Pre-season

In December, the club and Mecklenburg County broke ground on renovations to American Legion Memorial Stadium that will upgrade the facility and create a home ground for the Independence through a ten-year lease, with the opening scheduled for Spring of 2021.[2] In January, the club announced that they were retaining seven players from the previous year's roster,[3] while also acknowledging that longtime club presence Alex Martínez would not be among the returnees.[4] Later signings in January included a Congolese midfielder with Ligue 2 experience at AS Béziers (Junior Etou),[5] the 2017 USLC Golden Boot winner Dane Kelly,[6] as well as two rookies (Oscar Ramsay and Casey Penland) from the team's Invitational Combine.[7]

Acquisitions continued apace in February as the club signed a veteran defender (Duke Lacroix),[8] a UNC Charlotte alum with Championship goalkeeping experience (Austin Pack),[9] and a former loanee winger (Derek Gebhard).[10] The club then announced the signing of two of the club's academy players, (Owen Barber) and (Joey Skinner), to professional contracts.[11] A player with U-15 USMNT experience, Rey Ortiz, was brought in from FC Cincinnati on a season-long loan.[12] The next addition was Guido Vadalá, a 23-year-old forward with first-team experience at Argentinian club Boca Juniors.[13]

On the minus side, the club announced the retirement of veteran Charlotte forward Jorge Herrera.[14]

March

Charlotte began their 2020 campaign with a 2–1 victory on the road versus Sporting Kansas City II.[15]

Club

Current roster

As of March 4, 2020[13]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Austin Pack  United States
2 Defender Shalom Dutey  Togo
3 Defender Hugh Roberts  United States
4 Midfielder Jake Areman  United States
5 Defender Casey Penland  United States
6 Defender Jack Maher (on loan from Nashville SC)  United States
7 Midfielder Rey Ortiz (on loan from FC Cincinnati)  United States
9 Forward Dane Kelly  Jamaica
11 Midfielder Valentin Sabella  Argentina
13 Midfielder Kevan George  Trinidad and Tobago
14 Defender Duke Lacroix  United States
15 Midfielder Luke Haakenson (on loan from Nashville SC)  United States
17 Defender Clay Dimick  United States
19 Forward Enzo Martínez  Uruguay
20 Midfielder Oscar Ramsay  New Zealand
21 Midfielder Brunallergene Etou  Congo
22 Defender Joel Johnson  Liberia
23 Forward Guido Vadalá  Argentina
27 Midfielder Derek Gebhard  United States
32 Forward Tresor Mbuyu  DR Congo
33 Goalkeeper Brandon Miller  United States
34 Defender Owen Barber ([A])  United States
35 Defender Joey Skinner ([A])  United States
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract
    2.

Competitions

Exhibitions
February 12 Preseason 1Tormenta FC2–4Charlotte IndependenceColumbia, South Carolina
5:00PM EDT Vinyals  (Mayr-Fälten)
Micaletto  (pen.)		 Report  (pen.)


 Stadium: SCUFC Monticello Road Soccer Center
February 15 Preseason 2Charlotte Independence1–1North Carolina FCMatthews, North Carolina
2:00PM EDT Report Miller  7' Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
February 19 Preseason 3Charlotte Independence0–0Stumptown AthleticMatthews, North Carolina
11:00AM EDT Report Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
February 22 Preseason 4Greenville Triumph SC0–2Charlotte IndependenceGreenville, South Carolina
7:00PM EDT Report Stadium: Alumni Stadium
February 29 Preseason 5Atlanta United FCCancelledCharlotte IndependenceMarietta, Georgia
2:00PM EDT Report Stadium: Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta Training Ground

USL Championship
Main article: 2020 USL Championship season

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Saint Louis FC 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 3 Conference Quarterfinals
2 Indy Eleven 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 3
3 Charlotte Independence 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
4 Louisville City FC 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
5 Charleston Battery 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
Updated to match(es) played on March 8, 2020. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots

Match results

On December 20, 2019, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule, creating the following fixture list for the early part of Charlotte's season.[1]

March 8 1Sporting Kansas City II1–2Charlotte IndependenceKansas City, Kansas
5:00 PM EDT (UTC–5) Maher  19' (o.g.)
Čuić  79'		 Report Johnson  15'
Gebhard  25'
Kelly  30',  85'		 Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 691
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
March 14 2Charlotte IndependenceP–PPittsburgh Riverhounds SCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[16]
March 21 3Charlotte IndependenceP–PNew York Red Bulls IIMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[16]
April 3 4 Southern DerbyNorth Carolina FCP–PCharlotte IndependenceCary, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[16]
April 11 5Charlotte IndependenceP–PCharleston BatteryMatthews, North Carolina
6:00 PM Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[16]
April 18 6Charlotte IndependenceP–PIndy ElevenMatthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[17]
April 25 7Tampa Bay RowdiesP–PCharlotte IndependenceSt. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[17]
May 6 8Loudoun United FCP–PCharlotte IndependenceLeesburg, Virginia
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Segra Field
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[17]
May 9 9Charlotte IndependenceP–PHartford AthleticMatthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Extension of original suspension to May 10 on advice of CDC[17]
May 13 10Charlotte IndependencevCharleston BatteryMatthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
May 23 11Atlanta United 2vCharlotte IndependenceKennesaw, Georgia
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
May 30 12Memphis 901 FCvCharlotte IndependenceMemphis, Tennessee
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: AutoZone Park
June 6 13Saint Louis FCvCharlotte IndependenceFenton, Missouri
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Toyota Stadium
June 12 14Charlotte IndependencevNorth Carolina FCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
June 20 15Philadelphia Union IIvCharlotte IndependenceChester, Pennsylvania
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Subaru Park
June 24 16Charlotte IndependencevBirmingham LegionMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
June 27 17Charleston BatteryvCharlotte IndependenceCharleston, South Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
July 1 18Miami FCvCharlotte IndependenceMiami, Florida
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium
July 4 19Charlotte IndependencevMemphis 901 FCMatthews, North Carolina
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
July 11 20Indy ElevenvCharlotte IndependenceIndianapolis, Indiana
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
July 25 21Pittsburgh Riverhounds SCvCharlotte IndependencePittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TBD EDT Stadium: Highmark Stadium
July 29 22Charlotte IndependencevMiami FCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
August 8 23Charlotte IndependencevAtlanta United 2Matthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
August 15 24Charlotte IndependencevLouisville City FCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
August 22 25Hartford AthleticvCharlotte IndependenceEast Hartford, Connecticut
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Rentschler Field
August 29 26New York Red Bulls IIvCharlotte IndependenceMontclair, New Jersey
TBD PM EDT Stadium: MSU Soccer Park
September 5 27Charlotte IndependencevSaint Louis FCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
September 12 28Charlotte IndependencevLoudoun United FCMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
September 16 29Birmingham Legion FCvCharlotte IndependenceBirmingham, Alabama
TBD PM EDT Stadium: BBVA Field
September 19 30North Carolina FCvCharlotte IndependenceCary, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
September 26 31Charlotte IndependencevTampa Bay RowdiesMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
October 3 32Louisville City FCvCharlotte IndependenceLouisville, Kentucky
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
October 10 33Charlotte IndependencevPhiladelphia Union IIMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
October 17 34Charlotte IndependencevSporting Kansas City IIMatthews, North Carolina
TBD PM EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews

U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, the Independence will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[18]

April 7 Second roundCharlotte Independence P–P Stumptown AthleticMatthews, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Sportsplex at Matthews
Note: Match postponed due to coronavirus pandemic[19]

References
  1. "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. "Mecklenburg County Host American Legion Memorial Stadium Ground Breaking Ceremony". Charlotte Independence. December 16, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  3. "Independence Announce Initial Roster Moves for 2020". Charlotte Independence. January 16, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  4. "Thank you, Alex". Charlotte Independence. January 16, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  5. "Etou Enforces Independence Midfield". Charlotte Independence. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  6. "Independence Pick Up Championship All-Time Leading Scorer". Charlotte Independence. January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  7. "Invitational Rookie Duo Signed to Independence". Charlotte Independence. January 24, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. "Independence Scoop Speedy, Championship Leftback". Charlotte Independence. February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  9. "UNC Charlotte Standout Bolsters Independence". Charlotte Independence. February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  10. "Independence Return Former Loan Midfielder". Charlotte Independence. February 11, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. "Pro Teams Signs Independence SC Players". Charlotte Independence. February 24, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  12. "Independence Receive MLS Rookie from FC Cincinnati". Charlotte Independence. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  13. "Boca Juniors Product Added to Independence". Charlotte Independence. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  14. "Jorge Herrera Retires". Charlotte Independence. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  15. "Recap: Sporting KC II takes 2-1 loss to Charlotte Independence in season opener". sportingkc.com. March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  16. "USL Championship Temporarily Suspends Play". uslchampionship.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  17. "USL Championship Extends Temporary Suspension of Season". uslchampionship.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  18. "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  19. "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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