CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After a week off, the Charlotte Independence have dropped three points behind the USL Eastern Conference-leading Louisville City FC. On Saturday they will attempt to close that gap as they welcome an Ottawa Fury FC that is in major need of a road victory to boost its playoff hopes for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: WCCB (CLT), Rogers TV (OTT)
Charlotte Independence news and notes
Current record: 13-5-8, 47pts
The Independence come into this match after a week off following their 3-0 win against the Richmond Kickers on Sept. 2.
After Jaime Siaj opened the scoring after just three minutes Enzo Martinez scored two in the second half with a penalty and a stoppage time goal to seal the victory.
Martinez’s brace saw him win the USL Player of the Week award for the third time this season, and also moved him level with Reno 1868 FC's Dane Kelly in the race for the USL Golden Boot with 16 goals this season.
Charlotte has only lost once in its last 17 matches to move into second place in the Eastern Conference. It can clinch a playoff berth on Saturday night with a victory and either a loss or a draw by FC Cincinnati or Orlando City B in their respective contests on Saturday night.
Charlotte has only lost once since moving to its new home at the SportsPlex at Matthews, a 3-2 defeat to Toronto FC II on August 26th.
Ottawa Fury FC news and notes
Current record: 7-9-10, 31pts
Fury FC played to a 1-1 draw with the Rochester Rhinos last Saturday night at Capelli Sport Stadium to remain outside the top eight in the USL Eastern Conference.
Ottawa notched a second-half equalizer when Steevan Dos Santos scored from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, but Fury FC was made to work to retain that draw after Gerardo Bruna was given a second yellow card with two minutes to play.
Fury FC has yet to take victory under interim Head Coach Julian de Guzman, and sits in 12th place in the USL Eastern Conference, five points back of eighth-place Orlando City B with six games to go.
Dos Santos' has scored eight goals this season for Fury FC to lead the team. His next goal will be the Cape Verde forward's 30th in the USL regular season and playoffs in his career.
Series Notes
Squads
Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Dennis Castillo, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Luke Waechter, Ashani Fairclough, Donnie Smith; M: Zev Taublieb, Callum Ross, Jun Marques Davidson, Yann Ekra, David Estrada, Lewis Hilton, David Spies; F: Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj, Enzo Martinez, Caleb Calvert, Jacob Bender
Ottawa – GK: Callum Irving, David Paulmin, Andrew MacRae; D: Eddie Edward, Kyle Venter, Shane McEleney, Andrae Campbell, Onua Obasi, Aron Mkungilwa, Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, Ramon Martin del Campo; M: Jonathan Barden, Ryan Williams, Jamar Dixon, Jimmy-Shammar Sanon, Lance Rozeboom, Sergio Manesio; F: Steevan Dos Santos, Carl Haworth, Sito Seoane, Tucker Hume, Azake Luboyera, Adonijah Reid
Discipline
Charlotte – Suspended: Alex Martinez
Ottawa – Suspended: Gerardo Bruna; Accumulation warning: Sergio Manesio, Shane McEleney
Officials
REF: MARK KADLECIK
AR1: Jordan Davis
AR2: Ryan Graves
4TH: George Frey
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Charlotte Independence – @CLTIndependence
Ottawa Fury FC – @OttawaFuryFC
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