Charlotte Derby brings professional soccer sides together

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Idan Toklomati (left) and his Charlotte FC mates will play Charlotte Independence in the US Open Cup today at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews.

Brandt Bronico knows about competing for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Charlotte.

In 2021, he played with then-USL Championship side Charlotte Independence in the nation’s oldest soccer tournament. Tonight, he’ll be with Charlotte FC for the first Charlotte Derby at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on Paramount+.

“I think it's going to be just a really cool experience,” Bronico said. “You know, super unique. We haven’t gotten a chance to play them and Open Cup as we haven’t (drawn) them in the past, but I still have a really good relationship with [Independence coach] Mike Jeffries and [defender] Clay Dimick. I’m looking forward to competing against them and challenging them in Open Cup.”

Both sides are competing for the same trophy, but there’s more than an opportunity to advance to the round of 16. The Independence are looking for bragging rights against a higher-level side from the same city. That isn’t lost on Bronico, who became friends with Dimick over his lone season with the Jacks and share a fondness for mullet haircuts.

“As an MLS side, it’s not our first time playing against a lower-league side,” he said. “We know what to expect. We want to advance in the Open Cup. The Open Cup is a big tournament for us, a good opportunity to go for another trophy, so it’s just about playing our game and staying true to ourselves.”

Independence (1-1-1 USL League One) last played April 3 – a 3-2 loss at NT Cosmos in which the Ajmeer Spengler converted three penalty kicks into goals. Independence midfielder Viggo Ortiz continues his hot start to the season with a goal – the first-year player’s third in as many matches. After the derby, the Jacks travel to One Knox Saturday for the first of three straight road games.

Charlotte FC (3-2-2 in MLS), which will play four matches in 11 days, including three straight MLS road matches, will have its depth tested starting against Independence. Everyone is healthy and eligible to play, including wing Wilfried Zaha, who missed last week’s 2-1 loss to Nashville SC due to yellow card accumulation. 

“We will rotate a little bit,” Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith said. “But we said at start the season we’re taking it the competition seriously as we did last year, but we’ve got respect for our position as well.”

Bronico wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My second year in Chicago, we got to the semifinals of Open Cup and got knocked out by Philly,” he said. “I’ve been close to getting to the final of an Open Cup but haven’t quite got there yet. It’s a historic tournament in the United States, and something that I want to win for sure and want to go compete for, so we’re taking it serious and the guys are ready.”

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