Charlotte Independence win streak extends to five games

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE

The Charlotte Independence ran their win streak to five matches and unbeaten string to eight with a 5-1 result at FC Naples on June 3. The Jacks are third in USL League One with 20 points, a point behind One Knoxville SC.

The good times continue for Charlotte Independence.

The Jacks, who extended their winning streak to five league matches with a 5-1 result June 3 at FC Naples in Florida, are unbeaten in eight games. The four-goal margin of victory matched their largest of the season and moved Charlotte (6-2-2, 20 points) to third place in the USL League One table, a point behind One Knoxville SC (6-2-3). Midfielder Luis Alvarez continued led the way for the Jacks with a brace while midfielders Prince Saydee and Jon Bakero along with forward Souaibou Marou tallied for the second straight match. 

“This group in the locker room and on the field is something special,” said midfielder Christopher Jaime, who added a pair of assists. “Everyone works for each other, and we have that special bond that’s showing on the pitch right now. You see it in the football we’re playing and the celebrations after the goals.”

The Jacks wasted little time jumping in front. Saydee curled a left-footed blast into the top corner off a free kick opportunity for a 1-0 advantage 13 minutes in. Charlotte doubled the lead in the 31st minute when Jaime beat a Naples defender to open space for a pass to Marou, who added the finish.

The Jacks added Alvarez’s goal from 20 yards out to push Charlotte’s bulge to 3-0 at intermission.

“The first goal comes from pressure, winning the ball, and getting a shot off near the top of the box,” Jacks coach Mike Jeffries said. “Then it’s a fantastic free kick from Prince. It was a great way for us to start and gave us a big confidence boost. The next two goals came at a time when, in some ways, the first half was fairly even in terms of movement and possession, but we were very dangerous when we got our chances. It’s a really good pass from Jaime to Souaibou after a great turn in midfield, and then some excellent individual effort and a quality finish from Souaibou. 

“The third goal also comes from pressure and forcing a mistake. We turn it into a counterattack and get a good finish. Walking into halftime up 3-0 obviously felt very good, but we tried to remind the group that Naples had pushed us and done a good job in stretches as well.”

Clay Dimick earned his seventh goal contribution in the last five matches early in the second half when he gathered a Saydee pass for a cross through the box to Alvarez, who put all three of his shots on goal, for the finish.

“To be honest, I am very happy with the great season I am having,” Alvarez said. “I hope to keep it up —to continue scoring goals and providing assists to my teammates. We are doing a great job as a team, and we hope to keep it that way.”

Said Jeffries: “[Alvarez] covers so much ground on the field and has a tremendous work rate defensively. Even today, some of his chances came from pressure. On one of his goals, he helps create the play, then makes a hard run into the box to finish it. I think he’s putting himself in dangerous spots more often than he was previously, especially in the areas where goals are scored. His finishing has improved as well. He’s worked on that part of his game, and you can see a marked difference in his ability to strike the ball and finish chances.”

Bakero capped Charlotte’s onslaught in the 71st minute when he gathered a pass for the finish and 5-0 advantage. FC Naples averted a clean sheet on Hudson Gay’s first professional goal in the 79th minute. 

Next up for the Jacks is league leader Union Omaha June 10 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Charlotte is 3-0 at home in USL games.

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