MATHEWS, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence said farewell to the Sportsplex at Matthews on Wednesday night with a 3-0 victory against rival the Charleston Battery as Dane Kelly recorded a goal and assist to lead the side to victory in its final game before its move to its new 10,000-seat downtown stadium in July.

The Independence made an ideal start, taking the lead in just the sixth minute. A driving move upfield by Brandt Bronico through midfield saw the veteran find Blake Pope in space on the right, and the USL Academy signing delivered a perfectly-placed cross for a first-time strike by Dane Kelly that flew into the net for the 91st regular-season goal of his Championship career.

The hosts had another chance seven minutes later as Marcelo Palomino fired a long-range free kick that was saved by Charleston’s Joe Kuzminsky, while Kelly got on the end of a ball over the top by Irvin Parra in the 19th minute that forced another save before Palomino’s chance on the rebound was blocked to safety by Battery defender Erik McCue.

The Battery’s first real chance arrived on the half-hour mark as Angelo Kelly played Stavros Zarokostas in down the left flank from where the Greek forward cut into the penalty area but sent his shot from a narrow angle just high and wide of the top-right corner of the net. Charleston had another late chance as pressure led to the ball finding Robbie Crawford, but his shot was blocked away to safety to keep the Independence on top at the break.

Charleston looked to apply more pressure as the second half began, and it almost paid off in the 61st minute as Zarokostas cut a ball from the left side of the penalty area back to Crawford, whose first-time shot went just wide of the right corner. With 15 minutes to go, however, the Independence were awarded a penalty kick as Charleston defender Leland Archer blocked a shot with his arm, and Palomino converted with a powerful shot to the top-left corner of the net from the spot.

The visitors tried to get back into the game quickly as Joel Bunting sent a curling shot from the top of the penalty area toward the left corner, only for Brandon Miller to get across comfortably to save. Charlotte then almost added a third with four minutes remaining as Kelly was unable to control his header at the back post after a good delivery from the left by Parra, but in stoppage time Valentin Sabella curled home a finish to the left corner to wrap up all three points for the hosts in their curtain call at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dane Kelly, Charlotte Independence – Kelly recorded one goal, one assist and had three shots and two key passes while completing 20 of 25 passes and winning 7 of 11 duels to lead his side to a solid bounce-back victory.

Scoring Summary
CLT – Dane Kelly (Blake Pope) 6’
CLT – Marcelo Palomino (Penalty Kick) 75’
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Dane Kelly) 90+4’

Full Box Score