Charlotte Independence Win in Stoppage-Time Thriller
Marou’s late goal caps off a thrilling 3–2 victory at home in a must win for Charlotte.
The Charlotte Independence kept their playoff hopes alive in dramatic fashion on Saturday night, edging AV Alta FC 3–2 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. In a match that had everything including early goals, momentum swings, and a stoppage-time winner. Charlotte showed resilience when it mattered most, with substitute Souaibou Marou delivering the decisive goal in the dying seconds.
Charlotte entered the game under pressure, sitting in the final playoff spot and in desperate need of three points. Despite having won just one of their previous seven matches, the Independence came out with urgency and intensity from the opening whistle. Their aggression paid off early.
In the 25th minute, midfielder Jon Bakero opened the scoring with a composed finish, giving Charlotte the early advantage. Bakero continued to dictate play from the midfield, and just ten minutes later, he was at the heart of the action again. A perfectly timed cross from Bakero found Christian Chaney, who rose above his defender to head the ball home in the 35th minute, doubling the lead to 2–0.
It looked like Charlotte might cruise into halftime with a comfortable cushion, but AV Alta responded just before the break. In the 42nd minute, they pulled one back to make it 2–1, capitalizing on a brief lapse in Charlotte’s defense. That goal seemed to spark the visitors, who carried their momentum into the second half.
Coming out of the locker room, AV Alta dominated possession and began to dictate the tempo, forcing Charlotte to absorb pressure. The equalizer came in the 58th minute after a well
constructed attack that sliced through the Independence back line, leveling the score at 2–2.
With the match hanging in the balance, the Independence tried to regain control. Head coach Mike Jeffries made several tactical adjustments, including bringing on Marou to inject fresh energy into the attack. Charlotte began to push forward again, creating several dangerous opportunities in the final 15 minutes.
In the 87th minute, Anthony Sorenson came agonizingly close to restoring Charlotte’s lead. His driven shot from the top of the box narrowly missed the far post, leaving fans holding their breath.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, it looked as though Charlotte might have to settle for a frustrating draw. But the Independence had one final surge left in them. A long throw-in deep in AV Alta’s half was flicked on by Chaney inside the box, and substitute Souaibou Marou was in the perfect spot to pounce. The forward struck the ball cleanly into the back of the net, sending the home crowd into absolute pandemonium.
Moments later, the referee blew the final whistle, sealing a massive 3–2 victory for Charlotte in one of their most thrilling finishes of the season.
The result not only keeps the Independence in playoff contention but also serves as a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Charlotte will look to build on this momentum when they host the Chattanooga Red Wolves this Friday in their final home match of the year at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
