CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It was an opener where the defenses were front and center, but Louisville City FC mustered one final attempt to gain the victory.

Cameron Lancaster’s right-footed free kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time was the difference as Louisville defeated the Charlotte Independence 1-0 on Saturday at the Ramblewood Soccer Complex.

Lancaster placed a perfect shot toward the upper left corner of the frame. Independence goalkeeper Cody Mizell got a piece of it, but the ball went inside the net and the City players celebrated in unison on the final kick of the match.

Prior to that highlight, Louisville goalkeeper Scott Goodwin also made a clutch play – a massive penalty kick save in the 75th minute to keep the match scoreless. Charlotte’s Caleb Calvert was tackled in the box to earn the opportunity, and Jorge Herrera attempted the PK. Herrera’s right-footed shot headed toward the right side, and Goodwin stretched to his left to turn the shot away.

That defensive theme was evident from start to finish. Harrisburg’s Alex Martinez threatened the Louisville net early with a fourth-minute shot that forced Goodwin into making a sprawling save to his right to surrender a corner kick.

In the 22nd minute, Louisville newcomer George Davis IV struck from approximately 25 yards out – a laser that was heading toward the lower left of the frame. Mizell dove to his right and was able to get a glove on the ball to parry it away for a City corner kick.

Charlotte missed a perfect opportunity to gain a goal before halftime when Calvert’s 44th-minute shot from point-blank range sailed just over the crossbar. The two sides went into the break 0-0.

Yann Ekra created an impressive scoring chance for the Independence in the 67th minute with his attack from midfield. Calvert wound up with a shot and Goodwin saved with his back foot as he slid, but the play was nullified because Calvert had been ruled offside.

Louisville (1-0-0, 3 points) gears up for its home opener on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls II. Kickoff from Louisville Slugger Field is at 3 p.m. ET. Charlotte (0-1-0, 0 points) stays at home to face the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday at the Ramblewood Soccer Complex (7 p.m. ET).