Recap: One Knox finds a late goal to draw Charlotte Independence
One Knoxville SC came back to draw 1-1 against Charlotte Independence FC on Saturday night at Regal Stadium thanks to a late goal from defender Dani Fernandez.
This draw continues One Knox’s run of good form in the past five games. They are 3-1-1 with 10 of a possible 15 points claimed during that stretch, all after losing four in their previous five-game stretch.
The match took a while to find its rhythm as the teams played a goalless first half with a small amount of chances for goals. One Knox managed to outshoot the Independence five to two, and the sides combined for only a 0.29 xG with zero shots on target.
In the second half, One Knox began to put its foot on the gas pedal. They had 67.8% possession and 287 passes, which is double the number of passes that Charlotte had in the second 45 minutes.
Despite the statistical advantages, Charlotte was able to grab the first goal in the 66th minute. Midfielder Tresor Mbuyu found the ball off of a corner kick and shot it across the goal, which ricochetted off of defender Gabriel Claudio into the back of the net. The Independence led 1-0.
Right as it seemed Charlotte might escape with a road victory, One Knoxville won a free kick in the midfield to create the chance to equalize. Midfielder Angelo Kelly lofted an incredible ball into the box that Fernandez poked past the keeper to level the game at 1-1 in the 89th minute. It was Knoxville’s only shot on target all night.
While One Knox pressed in the final minutes and stoppage time, the game would end in a tie. Knoxville is now 1-1-0 against Charlotte this season.
This draw keeps One Knox in the playoff hunt with 32 points in 25 games, sitting them four points behind sixth-place Greenville Triumph FC for the final spot in the postseason.
One Knox’s next match will be on Friday, September 1st on the road against South Georgia Tormenta FC at 7:30 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.