CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence play host to the New York Red Bulls II at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Saturday night with a chance to move one step closer to clinching a place in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs after an emphatic victory in their last outing. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The @Independence (14-9-4, 46pts) recorded four goals in the opening 20 minutes of their last outing on the way to a 5-1 victory against Loudoun United FC that saw five different players find the net and both Brandt Bronico and Sylvain Marveaux record a goal and assist. The night was also marked by the 30th regular-season assist for Enzo Martinez, who in the process became only the third player all-time to reach 40 goals and 30 assists in the Championship’s regular season. After Martinez’s landmark, the spotlight could now turn to Dane Kelly on Saturday with the Jamaican forward having recorded goals in back-to-back games to reach 97 regular season tallies for his career. Already the Championship’s all-time goalscoring leader, Kelly is within reach of becoming the first player to reach 100 goals, and has scored five times in seven prior contests against the Red Bulls II in his career.

@NYRBII (5-16-6, 21pts) is undefeated in its last three outings as it returns to Charlotte for the second time this season, though, with the side having played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Loudoun United FC on September 30 in its last outing at MSU Soccer Park. Both Luther Archimede and Matias Jorgensen found the net for the hosts in the second half as they rallied from an early two-goal deficit to earn a point after Omar Sowe had recorded his team-leading seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot in the first half. New York’s attack remains one of the more aggressive in the league with 361 shots on the season – good for sixth in the league – and 120 on target, and the side will have positive memories from its last visit to face the Independence when second-half goals by Sowe and Austin Brummett led the side to a 3-2 victory at Memorial Stadium. The Independence are undefeated in their last seven home games since that result, though, and are coming into form at the right moment to potentially make a postseason run.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Charlotte Independence 65%, Loudoun United FC 15%, Draw 20%

Most Recent Lineups

Charlotte Independence (3-4-3): Austin Pack; Kevin Riascos, Hugh Roberts, Christian Dean; Joel Johnson, Brandt Bronico, Enzo Martinez, Jake Areman; Sylvain Marveaux, Dane Kelly, Gabriel Obertan

New York Red Bulls II (4-4-2): AJ Marcucci; Mandela Egbo, Emir Tombul, Juan Castillo, JC Cortez; Cameron Harper, Sam Williams, Kyle Zajec, Jeremy Rafanello; Omar Sowe, Luther Archimede

Discipline

Charlotte Independence – None

New York Red Bulls II – Suspended: Michael Knapp; Caution Accumulation Warning: Mandela Egbo, Joey Zalinsky