CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence will open their new home at the Sportsplex at Matthews when they play host to the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2sxp4V6 | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2ojzd6s | Broadcast: WCCB (CLT)
Charlotte Independence news and notes
Current record: 3-3-4, 13pts
The Independence enter their new permanent home on a three-game winless streak after playing to a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati last Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.
Alex Martinez opened the scoring for the visitors against FCC, but an equalizer by Justin Hoyte just before halftime left the teams all square.
Charlotte will be without standout forward Enzo Martinez for Saturday’s game due to suspension after his red card late against Cincinnati.
The Independence went 1-1-2 in their opening four home games of the season.
Harrisburg City Islanders news and notes
Current record: 2-5-4, 10pts
The City Islanders were defeated 1-0 by Ottawa Fury FC last Saturday night at TD Place in their most recent league outing, extending the club’s winless streak to eight games.
Harrisburg has scored only three goals in the past five games, and has been held scoreless three times in that span.
Midfielder Jonny Mendoza found the net for the City Islanders on Wednesday night, but it proved only a consolation as the Philadelphia Union took a 3-1 win in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
A draw or a loss on Saturday will see the City Islanders match their longest winless streak in the 2016 USL regular season.
Series Notes
Squads
Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Bilal Duckett, Dennis Castillo, Jared Odenbeck, Henry Kalungi, Donald Smith, Ashani Fairclough, Joel Johnson, Austin Yearwood, Luke Waechter; M: Callum Ross, Lewis Hilton, Zev Taublieb, Yann Edkra, David Spies, David Estrada, Alex Martinez, Jun Marques Davidson; F: Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj, Jacob Bender
Harrisburg – GK: Nick Noble, Brandon Miller, Sean Lewis; D: Griffin Libhart, Travis Brent, Tiago Calvano, Lee Nishanian, Jake Bond, James Thomas, Abass Mohammed, Chris Hill, Shawn McLaws; M: Manolo Sanchez, Mouhamed Dabo, Jonathan Mendoza, Paul Wilson, Rasheed Olabiyi, Danny DiPrima, John Grosh; F: Aaron Wheeler, Michael Olla, Cardel Benbow, Ropapa Mensah, Pedro Ribeiro, Fredrick Opoku
Discipline
Charlotte – Suspended: Enzo Martinez; Accumulation warning: Callum Ross
Harrisburg – None
Officials
REF: DUSTIN THORNE
AR1: Ryan Graves
AR2: Hicham El Bariqi
4TH: Chris Zuerner
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Charlotte Independence – @CLTIndependence
Harrisburg City Islanders – @City_Islanders