Independence Finally Avenge their 2023 Playoff Loss to NCFC in First Match of USL Cup
Charlotte's 1-2 victory in the first match of the 2025 Jägermeister Cup brings the all-time record in the Dogwood Derby level at 9-9-3.
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The opening match of the 2025 USL Cup in North Carolina started with high-intensity, end-to-end action, and a Man of the Match performance from the Charlotte Independence’s Luis Álvarez on top of a goal from striker Christian Chaney secured the 1-2 away victory over North Carolina FC in the second meeting between the teams this April.
“I think games like this help us to piggyback off this win into the next game and the ones after that,” said Chaney after the match. “We are figuring out our identity and we are going to fight until there is no more fight left and no matter what the outcome is, we are going to stick together.”
USL League One’s Independence and the USL Championship’s NCFC are both playing in Group 5 of the tournament, also called the Jägermeister Cup for sponsorship reasons.
The longtime rivals didn’t cross paths in 2024, but entered 2025 with eight wins a piece in the “Dogwood Derby” after NCFC defeated the Independence in the finals of the 2023 League One playoffs. Earlier this month, NCFC travelled to Mecklenburg County to win the first rematch in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, scoring three goals in seven minutes after the Independence took the lead early in the first half.
This weekend in Cary, the Jacks took the lead again, and with a two goal advantage were able to hold on until the final whistle.
With the win, Charlotte starts the USL Cup in second place in Group 5 (behind Louisville City SC), while North Carolina FC starts out in fourth place in the six-team group. The first place team in each of the six groups advances to the knockout round, along with two wild cards. While USL Championship teams like NCFC did not compete in the cup last year, Charlotte FC advanced to the knockout round, losing to Forward Madison in the 2024 USL Cup Semifinals.
2025 USL Cup - Group 5
North Carolina FC vs. Charlotte Independence
Friday, April 25
7:00 PM EDT
WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, NC
Final Score: 1-2
North Carolina FC Goals
Oalex Anderson 27’ (Assist: Maldonado)
Charlotte Independence Goals
Christian Chaney 10’ (Assist: Ciss)
Luis Álvarez 25’ (Penalty)
Red Card
Mikey Maldonado 86’
Soccer Sheet’s Man of the Match
Luis Álvarez
Three Goals in an Action-Packed First Half
Video: NCFC midfielder Mikey Maldonado launches a cross into the area.
NCFC lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation (later shifting into a 5-2-3 shape), utilizing Rafa Mentzingen and Patrick Burner as wingbacks and playing a lone striker up top, Oalex Anderson Jr. Their starting XI featured Trevor Mulqueen in goal; a backline of Burner, Bryce Washington, captain Conor Donovan, Justin Malou, and Mentzingen; a midfield of Mikey Maldonado and Louis Perez; with Pedro Dolabella, Adam Luckhurst, and Anderson leading the attack.
Meanwhile, Charlotte lined up in a classic 4-2-3-1 formation. Matt Levy started in goal, with Fabrice Ngah, Nick Spielman, Javen Romero, and captain Clay Dimick forming the back four. Luis Álvarez and Bachir Ndiaye anchored the midfield, with Anton Sorenson, Omar Ciss, and Rafael Jauregui supporting lone striker Christian Chaney.
Early on, Álvarez served as the creative outlet for Charlotte, often dropping deeper into midfield in a traditional number 9 role. At the same time, Anderson was actively seeking to continue his fine form and get on the scoresheet.
Not even ten minutes into the game, Ciss found Chaney with a perfectly weighted through ball, and Chaney finished with composure — catching the North Carolina defenders completely off guard. It was a moment the NCFC backline would surely wish they could take back.
Now trailing, NCFC began chasing the game, and in the 15th minute, came agonizingly close to an equalizer when Maldonado struck the woodwork with a free kick.
In the 23rd minute, disaster struck for NCFC as Perez fouled Charlotte’s Ndiaye inside the penalty box. Álvarez stepped up to the penalty spot with a calm run-up, burying his shot into the bottom corner to double Charlotte’s lead.
Video: Charlotte Independence Midfielder Luis Álvarez converts a penalty and “skips” a traditional celebration.
At 2-0, it appeared the Jacks had a firm grip in the Dogwood Derby match, but NCFC answered quickly. Just three minutes later, Maldonado chipped a beautiful ball over the top to Anderson, who took a sublime first touch to bait the keeper before slotting home to bring North Carolina back into the match.
Strategic Shift
After gaining their two-goal cushion, Charlotte Independence executed a clear tactical shift: dropping into a low block, staying compact centrally, and slowing the game down whenever possible. Their aim was simple: frustrate NCFC, limit spaces between the lines, and grind out the result.
“I thought we managed the game fairly well and didn’t let them get in behind us as much,” said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries. “We were under a lot of pressure with crosses and we definitely picked up better in the box than we did a week ago. Towards the end of the game, we did a much better job of keeping the ball and then killing the game with a little bit of possession.”
Video: North Carolina FC Head Coach John Bradford speaks with Soccer Sheet after the match.
This forced NCFC to spread their play wide, relying heavily on crosses and aerial duels to break down Charlotte’s compact setup. Players like NCFC’s Anderson were tasked with controlling difficult balls, while North Carolina worked to create chances through width rather than direct central attacks.
North Carolina FC head coach John Bradford told Soccer Sheet that Charlotte’s stalwart defense required his side to be disciplined in each possession they had.
“The way they set up defensively was a [deeper line],” said Bradford. “We created chances in a lot of possessions that we had, but we weren’t good enough in front of goal.”
At halftime, NCFC made their first change, bringing on Evan Conway for Luckhurst to add fresh attacking energy.
Meanwhile, Charlotte adjusted as well. In the 68th minute, Ngah and Ciss made way for Alfredo Midence and Christopher Jaime, ensuring the Jacks maintained fresh legs defensively and in midfield.
NCFC responded with double substitutions of their own in the 73rd minute, as Jaden Servania replaced Burner and Rodrigo Da Costa came on for goalscorer Anderson. The score remained the same as it had since NCFC got one back in the first half.
As the match wore on, Triston Hodge replaced captain Donovan in the closing minutes to provide more stability at the back. Despite NCFC’s relentless pressure, Charlotte’s disciplined defending held firm. Their low block forced North Carolina into low-percentage chances, often from crosses rather than from clear-cut opportunities.
Tensions Boil Over
With the Independence keeping a lid on the match, an explosion - one way or the other - became inevitable.
“When that team plays all block, they don’t give too much space in between the lines,” NCFC forward Pedro Dolabella told Soccer Sheet after the match. “Many times we were able to put crosses in, but we weren’t able to get in front of their first defender.”
Brazilian midfielder Rafa Mentzingen agreed.
“[The] hardest thing in a game is to break a team in a low block,” Mentzingen told Soccer Sheet.
Video: Tensions boil over after NCFC’s Mikey Maldonado is sent off.
The match hit its boiling point in the 85th minute when Maldonado lunged into a heavy tackle on Álvarez. Maldonado, catching none of the ball, was shown a direct red card, sparking a heated argument between players. After the commotion settled, play resumed with Charlotte maintaining their advantage - in both men and goals.
Charlotte then closed out the match smartly, with Matt Levy and Christian Chaney each picking up yellow cards for “professional fouls” as their time-wasting tactics burned the clock in the final minutes
When the final whistle blew, the Jacks claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory, finally exacting revenge on North Carolina FC in a match that showcased their defensive composure and tactical discipline.
At the same time, NCFC showed resilience, adapting their style to try and break down a stubborn block by utilizing the width of the pitch and forcing Charlotte into numerous aerial duels.
Men of the Match (MOTM)
Moayad: Luis Álvarez (Independence) and Rafa Mentzingen (NCFC)
Álvarez was brilliant on the night. Beyond his composed penalty finish, he felt like the beating heart of Charlotte’s performance — frequently dropping deep to link play and kickstart attacks. He was directly involved in both of Charlotte’s goals: first, lobbing the ball to Bachir Ndiaye (who was fouled, leading to the penalty) and second, starting the move that ended with Omar Ciss assisting Christian Chaney’s opener. Álvarez was also the player fouled by Maldonado, leading to NCFC’s red card. His defensive work rate was outstanding for a striker, consistently participating in the team's pressing efforts. His complete performance made him the clear choice for MOTM.
Mentzingen was NCFC’s brightest spark on the night. His creativity from the wing was crucial in generating attacking opportunities, even if he didn’t end up on the scoresheet. His off-the-ball movement, persistence, and efforts in trying to stretch Charlotte’s low block made him NCFC’s standout performer. Defensively, he also impressed, battling Álvarez and initially stifling Charlotte’s creativity until game circumstances forced him higher up the pitch. Though the result didn’t go NCFC’s way, Mentzingen’s contribution was instrumental in keeping them competitive throughout the night.
Sam: Christian Chaney (Independence)
Though Chaney is a big guy, he’s had even bigger shoes to fill, replacing Golden Boot contender Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr. at striker. Friday’s match showed his ability to disrupt a match with an early goal, and provide intensity up front. By being able to go the full 90 in this match, he allowed Coach Jeffries to bring more creative and defensive options onto the pitch and remain flexible with strategy in different phases of the game.
Honestly, this was a tough choice for me as goalkeeper Levy effectively dealt with 17 shots from NCFC, making five saves on six on-target shots. Can’t disagree with Moayad on the importance of Álvarez, however, and the penalty was icing on the cake of a great performance.
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