Madison Escapes Charlotte With a Draw
Despite a dominating performance, Charlotte could not convert chances
Charlotte Independence and Forward Madison faced off for the first time in the 2025 season on a chilly Friday night.
Charlotte dominated possession and shots for most of the first half, but struggled with quality finishes. A would-be goal from Christian Chaney was called back as off side, and Madison keeper Wallace Lapsley made an outstanding save on a close-range shot from Alfredo Midence. A half that looked like it should have been a multi-goal effort by the hosts ended with a scoreless draw.
Madison would finish the first half with no shots on target and just one shot overall, while Charlotte had seven shots with three on target.
A largely uneventful second half finally broke through in the 83rd minute when Charlotte’s Luis Álvarez stole a pass in the midfield and drove forward largely unchallenged. Álvarez sent a screamer of a shot from outside the box that went to the right of a diving Lapsley.
However, Madison would strike back just five minutes later, when Damia Viader sent a free kick into the box. The ball went off of the head of Timmy Mehl, and then off the head of Nazeem Bartman into the net.
The match ended with a 1-1 draw, with neither side moving up in the standings.
Match Notes
Attendance: 685
Madison was without Garrett McLaughlin, the league’s second leading goal-scorer of all time due to a lower body injury.
Charlotte’s regular center back Mike DeShields and left back and capitan Jake Crull also missed the match for undisclosed reasons.
It was Christian Chaney’s first match against Forward Madison since departing in the off season after playing there for the last two seasons. He finished the match with X minutes, X shots and XXX
Charlotte forward Miles Rice appears to have departed the club after his 25 day contract expired. Rice had three appearances with the club.
Madison midfielder Laurie Bell also departed after his 25 day contract expired after making a single appearance in the Open Cup.
Bernd Schipmann has yet to make an appearance for Forward Madison, a season after making 34 starts.
Goals
CLT: Álvarez, 83’
MAD: Bartman, 88’ (Mehl)
Discipline
CLT: Luis Álvarez - Yellow, 7’
MAD: Michael Chilaka - Yellow - 16’
MAD: Wallace Lapsley - Yellow, 26’
CLT: Christian Chaney - Yellow, 26’
CLT: Rafael Jauregui - Yellow, 38’
MAD: Timmy Mehl - Yellow, 43’
CLT: Pele Ousmanou - Yellow, 63’
CLT: Bachir Ndiaye - Yellow, 68’
MAD: Ferrety Sousa - Yellow, 75’
CLT: Omar Ciss - Yellow, 85’
CLT: Jon Bakero - Yellow, 88’
MAD: Jose Carrera-Garcia - Yellow, 90+1
MAD: Matt Glaeser (bench) - Yellow, 90+2
MAD: Matt Glaeser (bench) - Red, 90+2
Injuries/Absences/Scratches
CLT: Mike DeShields (undisclosed)
MAD: Garrett McLaughlin (lower body), Adrien Graffin (upper body), Jake Crull (undisclosed), Bernd Schipmann (undisclosed)