LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club is set to hit the road for North Carolina to face off with the Charlotte Independence in USL League One action. The contest is set to take place at 7 p.m. ET from American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Lexington SC (2-6-3, 9 points) is coming off a 2-1 victory at home in USL League One play over the Richmond Kickers. The win snapped a three-match skid for the Greens and marked the second league victory of the season as much of the club’s success has come during the USL Jagermeister Cup.
Charlotte Ind. (7-3-2, 23 points) is currently No. 2 in the USL League One table and tied on points with league leader Greenville Triumph SC. The Independence most recently recorded a road victory in Washington, defeating Spokane Velocity FC 4-2 in One Spokane Stadium.
TUNE IN:
- The match will be streaming live on ESPN+.
- For in-game content, follow Lexington SC on Twitter and Instagram.
- For in-game stats, head to the Match Center.
GAME NOTES
Lexington SC will be facing off with Charlotte Ind. for the fourth time in club history. Both clubs currently share a 1-1-1 record against the other with the most recent matchup coming on September 17, 2023, and ending in a 2-2 draw. Senegalese star Pierre Mané scored the lone LSC offensive goal while the second came by way of a Charlotte own goal. The Greens recorded their lone win over Charlotte on May 13, 2023, at home when Amal Knight made a daring penalty kick save to secure the three points after a weather delay.
Lexington SC has yet to face Charlotte during the 2024 season, making the league fixture the first of just two meetings the pair will have this season. While Charlotte’s success in league play is documented, the Independence also currently resides in second place in the East Division of the USL Jagermeister Cup, four points behind divisional leader Greenville Triumph SC. The Greens are currently second in the Central Division just behind Forward Madison FC.
Lexington SC has a new man in charge for the 2024 season with Darren Powell taking the reins for the club from interim head coach Nacho Novo. Sam Stockley, the club’s first gaffer, remains in his sporting director role, overseeing all men’s and boy’s soccer with the club.
In a correction from a prior note, the match against Charlotte will be the actual first match eligible for midfielder David Loera. Loera has not been eligible to be rostered since he appeared for the Greens against Greenville Triumph SC on March 29 and sustained an injury. Loera is expected to travel to North Carolina, making the contest the actual first game of the season in which both Loera and Michael Agboola are eligible to play for LSC, though the latter is not expected to travel.
Austin Pack is the man to watch for Charlotte. Regarded by many this season as one of the best goalkeepers in USL League One, Pack has earned numerous Goalkeeper of the Week awards and is second to only Chattanooga’s TJ Bush in saves this season. Pack has allowed just 15 goals in USL League One play this season, a figure that drops to 11 when discounting an uncharacteristic 4-1 thrashing courtesy of Union Omaha. With Pack having a knack for keeping balls out of the net, getting past him will be of the utmost importance if the Greens hope to escape Charlotte with points.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.