All eight sides matched up in week seven had one big commonality: all played midweek in the US Open Cup against USL Championship teams. This means none of the teams had the advantage of rest, and all went through the same roster management tactics. Some fared better than others.
Union Omaha 0-0 Charlotte Independence
Attendance: 2,461
Rashid Nuhu and Austin Pack won the last two USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year awards. So far this year, they’re both vying for another one, and nothing demonstrates that more than each walking away with a clean sheet when facing each other. Nuhu saved six, Pack saved four and the teams walked away with a point each in the table. Each side’s defense certainly helped, with a combined XG of 0.31 in the first half.
There will be no redemption just yet for Omaha for the similar 0-0 draw the sides took into extra time and penalties (won 5-4 by Charlotte) in the 2023 playoff semifinals. But Omaha remains undefeated in three matches this season, and now 17 regular season matches going back to August 19th of last season.
Charlotte continues to show it is still among the league powerhouse sides this season. Even better, midfielder Omar Ciss returned to the roster, subbing in late, after missing a few recent matches with an injury scare. Last week’s addition of Noah Pilato just means the depth on this squad is now even better. Miguel Ibarra and Gabriel Obertan continue to sit out, but the team seems to be recovering just fine without them, and could turn into an unstoppable force upon their return.
Omaha will wait until Wednesday May 1st for its next match, a first round Jägermeister Cup matchup with Northern Colorado Hailstorm. Charlotte will have its first round matchup on Saturday at Tormenta.
Roster Report
Charlotte’s Fabrice Ngah left the match early, replaced by Anthony Sorenson. Shalom Dutey, Ibarra and Obertan did not appear on roster due to injury.
Omaha’s Ryen Jiba exited the match at halftime, replaced by Adam Aoumaich.
Richmond Kickers 0-2 Spokane Velocity
Spokane goals: Romain Métanire, 32′ (Collin Fernandez); Andre Lewis 72′ (Pierre Reedy)
Attendance: 5,368
Richmond ended up being one of those sides that did not fare well with the busy schedule, missing multiple key players, including two who appeared midweek, Adrian Billhardt and Dakota Barathan. Consequently, Richmond’s bench depth was heavily reliant on academy and teenage professionals.
Spokane hasn’t let a busy road stretch slow them down, going from Lexington to Las Vegas and to Richmond in the span of eight days. With a nearly full strength roster, there were no problems playing in front of a packed City Stadium. Dominating first half possession, Romain Métanire struck first for Spokane, taking a pass from Collin Fernandez past a stumbling Maxi Schenfeld, sending a shot into the top corner of the net. Both of Métanire’s goals this season have come against Richmond.
Richmond dominated second half possession, but were constantly shut down by a cohesive Spokane defense. In the 72nd minute, Spokane added another when Pierre Reedy drove around several Richmond defenders on the left side, sending a cross that was sent into the net from just outside the box by Andre Lewis, his first goal in the regular season. The assist was Reedy’s second in the regular season.
Richmond will face off against Greenville Triumph on Saturday in its opening match of the Jägermeister Cup. Spokane will host Fuego in its first round matchup.
Roster Report
Adrian Billhardt and centerback veteran Dakota Barnathan missed the match. Striker Emiliano Terzaghi and centerbacks Nathan Aune and Gui Franca have yet to appear this season. Winger Toni Pineda also sat out another match.
Chattanooga Red Wolves 1-1 Northern Colorado Hailstorm
Chattanooga goal: Ropapa Mensah, 40′ (Mayele Malango)
Northern Colorado goal: Ethan Hoard, 90+9′ (Isidro Martinez)
Attendance: 3,447 (sellout)
Chattanooga finally made its home debut after two postponements due to pitch issues. The visitors had no shortage of chances in the first half, but could not quite land a goal on eight shots. However it was Chattanooga who struck first, when Hailstorm keeper Lalo Delgado misplayed a save attempt on Mayele Malango, who was able to chip the ball to Ropapa Mensah to send the ball into an open net. It was Mensah’s fourth goal of the regular season, and sixth in all competitions.
Northern Colorado again peppered Chattanooga keeper TJ Bush with shots in the second half, with the final shot of the match finding its way barely across the line for an equalizer. An Isidro Martinez corner kick in the 98th minute found the head of Ethan Hoard in the scramble, sending both sides home with a point.
Roster Report
Chattanooga’s Omar Gómez left the match in the 31st minute with Jamil Roberts taking over. Roberts was then subbed off at the half in favor of Declan Watters.
Northern Colorado’s Billy King missed another league match, after appearing on the roster midweek during the US Open Cup. King has only appeared in one of the team’s four league matches this season, and was subbed off at halftime in the US Open Cup match against Tulsa.
South Georgia Tormenta 0-3 Greenville Triumph
Greenville goals: Castro, 33′; MacKinnon, 80′ (Scarlett), MacKinnon, 85′ (Zakowski)
Attendance: 667
The first leg of the 2024 Peach States Derby kicked off on a somewhat chilly, post-rain Sunday night in Statesboro. A fairly even first half saw three saves by Greenville’s Gunther Rankenburg and one by Tormenta’s Ford Parker. However Parker stumbled on what should have been a second easy save (possibly due to the wet conditions), dropping the ball in front of Leo Castro who promptly put it in the net.
In the second half, Lyam MacKinnon had a goal called off due to being offsides, but just minutes later made up for it, shooting the ball through multiple Tormenta defenders, and past Parker. It was his fourth of the year, and he added a fifth on a breakaway minutes after that one. With the brace, MacKinnon now leads the league in goals, passing Ropapa Mensah.
Tormenta will host Charlotte on Saturday in the first round of the Jägermeister Cup, while Greenville will host Richmond.
Roster Report
Brandon Fricke (leg), Mohamed Saye (knee) and Sebastian Velasquez (hamstring) missed the match for Greenville. Saye has yet to appear this season. Centerback Daniel Wu got his first season start at centerback.