While USL League One side Charlotte Independence and MLS NEXT Pro team Carolina Core FC have only met in preseason matches prior to the 2025 US Open Cup, the tension on the field was that of storied rivals that had something to prove. A hectic start saw goals on each side after only ten minutes on Tuesday night, but the game was pulled into extra time before the game winner by Souiabou Marou in the 93rd minute.
Mike Jeffries, head coach of the Charlotte Independence, has spent a lot of time in and around the US Open Cup. Tuesday’s 2-1 extra time win was the 17th time in his career that he has led a team to the next round of the competition, which is tied for 10th most of any coach in the Modern Era (1995-present).
“I love the Open Cup, because it’s fun, and I’ve been on both sides of the coin, being the underdog with the amateur team and trying to figure out how to get a result, and then also being the favorite in a game, or being an MLS club that’s expected to win some of the games,” said Jeffries.
With this mindset, it’s easy to see the intensity that Jeffries instills in players season after season with the club.
An unfortunate goalkeeping error by Andrew Pannenburg led to an early lead by the Independence, with Luis Alvarez scoring easily on an empty net in only the 2nd minute of the game. Carolina Core responded numerous times over the next few minutes, most notably with a blocked shot on goal in the 7th minute. So it’s no wonder that they were able to equalize in the 10th minute with a goal from Josuha Rodriguez, assisted by Derek Cuevas. A grueling pace was set for the rest of the half, both teams urging each other to get ahead once more.
As the second half began the tone on the field seemed more subdued, with less urgency seen from both teams. There were plenty of shots taken, each player itching for that winning goal, with a free kick in the 58th minute giving Carolina Core their most clear cut chance. But no goals were given, and extra time loomed in Matthews, N.C.
In almost a repeat of the beginning of the game, the deciding goal was scored within the first three minutes of extra time. Souaibou Marou, in his first season with the team, made the angles work for him and brought Charlotte Independence one step closer to the next round of the Cup. All they had to do was survive the remainder of the extra time, and Carolina Core wasn’t going to make it easy for them. Tensions rose, tempers flared, and after a few small scuffles, the final whistle blew.
Independence Captain Clay Dimick was proud of his teammates’ performance.
“The team did everything you could ask from them,” said Dimick. “Mentality was the biggest thing we wanted to harp on going into this game and from minute one to minute 120 the mentality was there. is a way to see how far you can go … the players, the staff, we believe that we have a lot of quality and can play with teams in the higher divisions than us, and it’s a good chance to showcase that.”
With the win, Charlotte wins back-to-back extra time games to advance to Round 3 which is scheduled for the week of April 15-16. Tuesday’s win marked the first time they have elimated a pro team in the Open Cup without the use of penalty kicks since the club’s inaugural season in 2015. That year, Charlotte upset the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL (now North Carolina FC) and the New England Revolution (MLS) to reach the Fifth Round. The only pro team Charlotte has eliminated since then was last year when they beat Rhode Island FC (USL Championship) 5-4 in a PK shootout after a 4-4 draw.
Charlotte Independence will compete in the next round of the Open Cup, which is scheduled for the week of April 15-16. In regular league play, they will visit Greenville Triumph on Saturday. Carolina Core will have their home opener for the MLS NEXT Pro season this Saturday against NYCFC II.