Match Day Information
Location: Tormenta Stadium, Statesboro, GA
Reported attendance: 1,001
Weather: 70F, cloudy, post-rainstorm
Match Notes – Tormenta FC
It was a homecoming that went from bad to worse for the defending champions. The match was delayed by weather, star defender Jake Dengler left the match early with an injury and defender Preston Kilwien exited on a second yellow in the 52nd minute leaving the club with ten men.
After Mukwelle Akale’s equalizer in the waining minutes of the first half gave the club some hope, they conceded goals in the 60th and 83rd minutes to fall 1-3.
Formation: 4-4-2
Absent from the roster: Arthur Bosua (ACL), Matheus Cassini, Kazaiah Sterling (head)
Goalkeeper Pablo Jara once again got the captain’s armband.
Academy product Renzo Andreucetti got the callup with Matheus Cassini scratched for an undisclosed reason. The 19-year-old did not appear in the match.
Striker Kazaiah Sterling remains out with a head injury and is not expected to appear until week four at the earliest.
Mukwelle Akale once again started in the front and provided the equalizer with a first-half extra-time free kick. The attacking midfielder has two goals in two matches.
Star defender Jake Dengler left the match with an apparent injury in the 13th minute.
Defender Preston Kilwien received two yellows, the second of which was called for delay of the match, forcing his removal in the 52nd minute. He will miss the next match with the subsequent red card. Midfielder Pedro Fonseca picked up his second yellow in as many matches.
Tormenta FC had an additional three shots on target, all of which were saved by Charlotte keeper Austin Pack.
Yellow cards: Kilwien (24′, 52′), Fonseca (34′), Akindele (71′)
Red cards: Kilwien (52′)
Tormenta FC Substitutions
IN: DF Derek Nembhard 13’
OUT: DF Jake Dengler (injury)
IN: MF Chris Heckenberg 56’
OUT: FW Kingsford Adjei
IN: MF Pedro Fonseca 66’
OUT: MF John Murphy
IN: FW Elijah Ama 66′
OUT: Mukwelle Akale
Next match: Tormenta FC will try to regroup in week 3, hosting Hailstorm FC on April 1
Match Notes – Charlotte Independence
Charlotte Independence made a few adjustments after their 0-0 draw with Richmond and found the back of the net three times against a Tormenta side that could not get it together.
Formation: 4-4-2
Absent from the roster: Amin Ibrahim, Carson Talboys (injury)
Hector Acosta returned after serving a match suspension held over from a red card received in the first round of the 2022 playoffs.
Dane Kelly made his first appearance in the starting 11, before being replaced by Khori Bennett in the 69th minute.
Avionne Flanagan made his season debut as a substitution in the 79th minute.
Charlotte Independence Goals: Brad Dunwell (6′, Dane Kelly assist); Shalom Dutey (60′); Khori Bennet (83′, Joel Johnson assist)
Yellow cards: Ciss (30′), Dunwell (68′)
Charlotte Independence Substitutions
IN: DF Nick Spielman 55′
OUT: DF Hector Acosta
IN: MF Luis Alvarez 68′
OUT: MF Miguel Ibarra
IN: FW Khori Bennett 69′
OUT: FW Dane Kelly
OUT: MF Brad Dunwell 69′
IN: MF Bachir Ndiaye
OUT: FW Gabriel Obertan 79′
IN: MF Avionne Flanagan
Next Match: Charlotte Independence visits Richmond Kickers in a rematch of week 1 on April 1