CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence are into the USL Cup Playoffs but are looking rebound from a two-game losing streak as they play host to FC Cincinnati on Friday night in a key game for both clubs at the Sportsplex at Matthews. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: CW (CIN)

Charlotte Independence news and notes

• Current record: 13-7-9, 48pts

• The Independence come into this match following a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday at Al Lang Stadium to conclude a tough week on the road.

• Charlotte conceded in the 33rd minute and despite 13 shots could not find an equalizer against a strong Rowdies defense.

• The loss was a second straight for the Independence, and their third match in a row without a win, which has seen the Charleston Battery move within a point of second place with three games to go in the regular season. 

• The Independence will return to the USL Cup Playoffs for a second consecutive season next month, and with a win on Friday they would move closer to a first home playoff game in club history.

FC Cincinnati news and notes

• Current record: 10-9-10, 40pts

• FC Cincinnati rallied to earn a 2-2 draw with Saint Louis FC last Saturday night as it came back from a two-goal deficit thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer.

• Midfielder Corben Bone scored in the 70th minute to pull Cincinnati back into the match before Danni Konig equalized on a penalty kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to keep the side in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

• Cincinnati's undefeated streak is now at five games, but the team is still nine points from clinching a place in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs. 

• FCC has only won two matches away from home this season, earning a draw in each of its past two road outings ahead of Friday's trip to Charlotte.

Series Notes

• The rivals for the Queen Cities Cup played to a 1-1 draw in the first meeting this season on June 10 at Nippert Stadium, which kept the all-time series level at 1-1-1.

Squads

• Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Dennis Castillo, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Sam Vines, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Luke Waechter, Ashani Fairclough, Donnie Smith; M: Zev Taublieb, Callum Ross, Jun Marques Davidson, David Estrada, Lewis Hilton, Dennis Tchinde, David Spies; F: Yann Ekra, Caleb Calvert, Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj, Enzo Martinez, Jacob Bender

• Cincinnati – GK: Mitch Hildebrandt, Dan Williams, Dallas Jaye; D: Matt Bahner, Tyler Polak, Harrison Delbridge, Pat McMahon, Austin Berry, Garret Halfhill, Justin Hoyte, Sem de Wit, Mele Temguia, Josu; M: Aodhan Quinn, Kenney Walker, Paul Nicholson, Aaron Walker, Corben Bone, Jimmy McLaughlin, Marco Dominguez, Kevin Schindler; F: Kadeem Dacres, Djiby Fall, Danni König, Kyle Greig, Andrew Wiedeman

Discipline

• Charlotte – Accumulation warning: Donald Smith

• Cincinnati  – Accumulation warning: Austin Berry

Officials

• REF: BARDHYL PASHAJ

• AR1: Benjamin Wooten

• AR2: Javier Rodriguez

• 4TH: John Rush

Game hashtag:

• #CLTvCIN

Twitter social handles

• Charlotte Independence - @CLTIndependence

• FC Cincinnati - @FCCincinnati