The Jim McGuinness era is officially underway in Charlotte, but a determined Indy Eleven spoilt the party at Sportsplex at Matthews. Louisville City FC also picked up its first win of the season, but the two-time defending USL Cup champions had to earn it against ATL UTD 2.

KENNESAW, Ga. – Substitute Abdou Mbacke Thiam headed home from close range in the 72nd minute to get Louisville City FC back to winning ways against ATL UTD 2. The home side carried most of the play in the first half, but it was Louisville that created the two most dangerous chances as Luke Spencer forced goalkeeper Alec Kann into a pair of smart saves just before the break. Andrew Carleton nearly gave Atlanta the lead shortly after the hour mark with a curling right-footed effort that looked destined for the top corner until LouCity goalkeeper Ben Lundt pushed it wide with an acrobatic save. Louisville took the lead three minutes later when Thiam rose highest at the near post to nod Brian Ownby’s left-wing cross past Kann and the two-time defending USL Cup champions used their experience to see the game out from there without surrendering a clear-cut chance late on.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Brian Ownby, Louisville City FC – When Louisville needed a little bit of quality to find a winner, Ownby delivered with an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Thiam to help his team pick up its first victory of the season.

MATTHEWS, N.C. – After letting a lead slip last weekend at Saint Louis FC, Indy Eleven held its nerve to pick up their first victory of the season against the Charlotte Independence. Macauley King put the visitors on the board 12 minutes into his professional debut when he beat Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller at his near post with a slicing right-footed effort. The Eleven doubled their lead three minutes later after Miller made an initial point-blank save to deny Eugene Starikov, but Tyler Gibson eventually found the rebound and smashed it into the roof of the net. Thomas Enevoldsen joined Gibson in netting his first goal for the Eleven, directing a side-footed volley past Miller from Kenney Walker’s 69th-minute corner to give Indy a three-goal cushion. Charlotte made it interesting late on, however, as Dominic Oduro headed home in the 73rd minute and Andrew Gutman followed suit 10 minutes later. The home side just couldn’t find a third as Afrim Taku’s effort from outside the box was as close as Charlotte came to snatching a late point.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Macauley King, Indy Eleven – King impressed on both ends of the field in his professional debut, scoring the Eleven’s opening goal, providing the cross that led to Gibson’s second and making a goal-saving slide tackle to deny Enzo Martinez just before the break.