MATTHEWS, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence took their first league victory against North Carolina FC on Wednesday night at the Sportsplex at Matthews as Rey Ortiz’s second-half goal proved the difference in a 1-0 victory for the hosts.

The victory was the Independence’s first overall against NCFC since 2015, when the teams met in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round.

With second place on the line in Group G, both sides opened well, and North Carolina went close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Steven Miller headed his partially blocked cross into the center of the penalty area to Marios Lomis, who created space with his first touch and fired a low shot that was well saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Brandon Miller.

Luke Haakenson almost struck for the hosts two minutes later as he worked his way through a pair of defenders at the top of the penalty area, but NCFC goalkeeper Alex Tambakis anticipated the opportunity well and came off his line to smother Haakenson’s shot. Brandon Miller was then called on again on the half-hour mark to produce a big save as Hadji Barry fired a powerful shot toward the bottom-right corner, but the teams went to the halftime break scoreless as both defenses held the upper hand overall.

The Independence almost struck less than a minute into the second half when Dane Kelly found possession near the top of the penalty area and had a shot that took a deflection and looped over Tambakis but came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety by NCFC’s defense.

Just before the hour mark, though, Charlotte found the breakthrough. Kelly chased down a pass by Valentin Sabella into the left corner of the attacking third, and dug out a cross to the top of the penalty area for Rey Ortiz, who controlled with his first touch and then fired home a spectacular finish on the volley into the left corner of the net from 20 yards.

Ortiz went close again as the Independence charged forward on a counterattack in the 71st minute that saw Kelly find Sabella for a pass into the right channel for Ortiz that he sent just wide of the left post. Two minutes later NCFC had a chance to equalize, but Robbie Kristo was unable to get enough power on his header after a free kick by Ben Speas, allowing Brandon Miller to save comfortably.

Kristo proved the main threat for the visitors in the closing stages, and had a long-range effort saved as well with two minutes to go. North Carolina had one final chance to steal a point at the death as Manny Perez fizzed a low cross through the six-yard area only for DJ Taylor to miss out on applying the final touch, and second later the final whistle blew to give the Independence a historic victory.

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Brandon Miller, Charlotte Independence – Miller posted a five-save shutout overall, including a key early stop to keep the game level, as the Independence earned a valuable victory to their playoff push.