Charlotte Independence wins in US Open Cup 

LAURA STROUD

Charlotte Independence players celebrate after a goal in their 3-2 win against Charleston Battery at the Sportsplex in Matthews on March 31, 2026. The Independence advanced to the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Viggo Ortiz is delivering big results for Charlotte Independence.

The midfielder’s latest exploit was a game-winning goal in the 118th-minute that pushed the Jacks to a 3-2 win against Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open. Ortiz, ironically, joined Charlotte via offseason transfer from Charleston. 

“It means a lot,” said Ortiz, who also saved a point for Independence with a goal against Westchester SC in the season opener. “This game meant so much to me, and to be able to beat my former team and show them what I could do is a blessing.”

Charlotte moves on to the third round against an MLS opponent to be determined Thursday at 9 a.m.

Souaibou Marou and Luis Alvarez also scored for Charlotte, which crafted a 2-0 advantage before the Battery rallied to force extra time.

“I’m so happy for the guys,” Jacks coach Mike Jeffries said. “We put so much into it. I thought, obviously, we came out and weathered the storm at the beginning as we thought we’d have to. It was great to get the first goal, and then the second goal – both with two really good counterattack type plays.?When it went to 2-2, I give the guys credit. A lot of teams would have just folded, and you could see the momentum was going against us. We hung in and battled through it and got back into the game.”

Charlotte Independence defender Javen Romero moves upfield during the Jacks' 3-2 win against Charleston Battery in second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Matthews.

Charlotte broke on top with Marou’s goal in the 37th minute, set up by Alvarez’s assist. The Jacks doubled their lead in the 58th minute on Alvarez’s finish, but Charleston was far from finished. Houssou Landry finished at the near post in the 70th, followed by Maalique Foster’s equalizer into an empty net.

Jeremy Kelly earned his second yellow card in stoppage for an automatic ejection that left Charleston down a player.

Ortiz settled matters when he sprinted by a Charleston defender on the wing for a right-footed strike into the corner.

“To win an Open Cup match with two minutes before the end of the second overtime against your old team is a huge plus. He’s come in, he’s done his work. I think he was maybe disappointed not to have started the game tonight, but he came into it with a good mentality, and we always knew he was capable of making a play.”

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