Independence leapfrogs Tormenta after 3-2 win
Entertaining contest in the Queen City sees host take its chances
The Charlotte Independence beat off the challenge of South Georgia Tormenta FC, Sunday afternoon, winning 3-2 at American Legion Memorial Stadium, with goals from Christian Chaney, Bachir Ndiaye, and Jon Bakero.
Chaney scored after only 9 minutes, pouncing on a series of ping-pong deflections in the box to finish. The chance came off a wonderful cross from Bakero. A second was almost added on 23 minutes, but the assistant referee judged Luis Alverez’s finish offside. Pity, as the move and finish were sublime football.
Although Tormenta dominated possession (63%-37%), both sides were equal in terms of shots (13) and shots on target (4). The visitors just weren’t as productive in finding the net as their hosts. Their goalkeeper, former Independence shot-stopper Austin Pack, was forced into some important saves. Tormenta did have a few chances in the first half, but none of their shots hit the target.
Immediately after half-time, South Georgia got back into the game. Ndiaye knocked down Niall Reid-Stephen at the back post and referee Joe Surgan awarded the spot-kick. Englishman Mason Tunbridge duly stepped up and buried his penalty into the top corner for his fifth goal of the season.
Charlotte retook the lead on 61 minutes through Ndiaye who smashed in an Anthony Sorenson pass from close range. Tormenta boss Ian Cameron will have been furious to see his defenders allow the hosts to stroll into the box unchallenged.
The Independence extended its lead in the 73rd minute when Bakero headed home a Clay Dimick cross to make it 3-1.
Tormenta got another goal back late in the game. Left back Gabriel Alves’ cross found Sebastian Vivas, who headed in their second and make it a nail-biting finale at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The hosts would see out the game and nab the 3-2 win.
A second league win of the season for Charlotte and a third defeat for Tormenta. Charlotte next heads to Cary to take on North Carolina of the USL Championship in the Jägermeister Cup. For South Georgia Tormenta, they face the tricky visit of Greenville Triumph in the same Cup.
Box Score
Charlotte Independence - South Georgia Tormenta FC
USL League One
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium | Charlotte, NC
Final Score: Charlotte Independence 3-2 South Georgia Tormenta FC
Attendance: 705
Referee: Joe Surgan
Scoring summary:
9': C. Chaney (CLT)
48': M. Tunbridge (TOR) - pen
61': B. Ndiaye (CLT)
73': J. Bakero (CLT)
88': S. Vivas (TOR)
Discipline:
45+3’: A. Walker (TOR) - foul, yellow card
49': J. Romero (CLT) - foul, yellow card
Man of the Match: Jon Bakero (CHA)
Line-ups:
Charlotte Independence (4-4-2): Matt Levy; Anton Sorenson (72’ Fabrice Ngah), Javen Romero, Nick Spielman, Clay Dimick (C); Jon Bakero (87’ Pele Ousmanou), Luis Álvarez, Bachir Ndiaye (81’ Souaibou Marou), Rafael Jauregui; Alfredo Midence (45’ Omar Ciss), Christian Chaney (87’ Juan David Moreno)
Subs not used: Drew Romig, Iván Bonus, Nathan Gray, Christopher Jaime
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
Tormenta FC (4-4-2): Austin Pack; Gabriel Alves, Thabo Nare, Callum Stretch, Oscar Jimenez; Aaron Walker (C) (75’ Joseph Perez), Gabriel Cabral, Alon Drey (75’ Conor Doyle), Mason Tunbridge (75’ Handwalla Bwana); Yaniv Bazini (65’ Sebastian Vivas), Niall Reid-Stephen (65’ Jonathan Nyandjo)
Subs not used: Sam Jones, Jackson Kasanzu
Head Coach: Ian Cameron
Next Games
• April 25th, 19:00 (ET): North Carolina FC v Charlotte Independence, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC (USL Jägermeister Cup)
• April 26th, 19:30 (ET): South Georgia Tormenta FC v Greenville Triumph SC, Tormenta Stadium, Statesboro, GA (USL Jägermeister Cup)