2026 US Open Cup Round 2: Viggo Ortiz’s late OT goal helps Charlotte Independence disarm Charleston Battery

Two wildly different halves saw USL League One side Charlotte Independence and USL Championship side Charleston Battery go into extra time before a late extra-time goal from Charlotte secured their spot in the next round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 3-2 win. 

The Jacks went up 2-0 with goals by Souaibou Marou in the 37^th minute and Luis Alvarez in the 58^th minute before the Battery came back with two of their own from Houssou Landry in the 70^th minute and Maalique Foster in the 77^th minute. But it was Viggo Ortiz, a former Charleston Battery player, scoring in the 119^th minute for Charlotte that broke the stalemate which led to the victory.

With the win, Charlotte advances to the Third Round where they will face a team from Major League Soccer. The Independence have faced MLS opposition three times in US Open Cup play but have only won once. That win came in their inaugural season in 2015 when they went on the road and upset the New England Revolution.

These teams have previously met at the US Open Cup in 2023, with Charleston winning 1-0 in Round 3 of the Open Cup. So far this year, the Charlotte Independence put up a strong 4-1 showing against debutante team Ristozi FC, while Charleston won 2-1 against the UPSL team Florida Badgers FC.

A fresh face contributed to the Jacks’ Cup run as Thabo Nare, one of two South Georgia Tormenta players that are on short-term contracts with the Independence (the other being Jonathan Nyandjo, who was subbed on in the 56^th minute). When asked about his time with the Independence, Nare was all smiles. 

“It was a little bit unexpected, but I signed a 25-day contract here about five days ago,” he said. Nare played the full game against Spokane Velocity FC in league play just one day after signing. “I didn’t expect to play as much as I have been, but honestly, I’m just excited to be back on the field with a good group of guys and a great coaching staff.” 

Marou scored the sole goal in the first half, a left-footed shot assisted by Alvarez in the 37^th minute. Unfortunately, his game was cut short by injury in the 56^th minute. Alvarez kept the momentum going, scoring as play resumed, with Enzo Martinez getting the assist. 

But Charleston Battery have overcome a 2-0 deficit this season already, and were ready to do it again. Landry slotted one in the bottom right of the net in the 70^th minute. This was quickly followed by an open-net goal walked in by Foster in the 77^th minute. It was the last goal either team saw in regular time.

Charleston’s Jeremy Kelly would earn his second yellow of the night in the eighth out of 13 minutes of stoppage time, forcing the Battery to go into extra time down a man. The two 15-minute halves might have felt like a slog, but neither team was willing to concede so easily. Each call was argued, players knowing that they couldn’t squander the possessions given to them, as the threat of a shootout lingered above them. 

It was Ortiz who brought much needed relief to Charlotte, who crowded the young forward after his shot made it in. 

“There are no words to describe how proud I am of this team and the fight we put out for 120 minutes,” said Charlotte’s captain, Clay Dimick. “Obviously, we went up 2-0 and it would have been nice to close it out 2-0, but to come back and get scored on twice, it shows that our mentality is everything this year.”

They’ll need that mentality to continue their undefeated status this season in league and cup play. Riddled with injuries, the Jacks are missing several key players. Head coach Mike Jeffries said that his players, “have a good spirit and we’ll fight through whatever.”

Charlotte will continue to the Round of 32, scheduled for the week of April 14-15. They will travel for their next USL League One game on Friday, April 3 against New York Cosmos. Charleston Battery will travel for their next game as well on Saturday, April 4 against Louisville City FC.