Charlotte Independence eased past Union Omaha 2–0 at home on Wednesday night in USL League One action, with goals from Souaibou Marou and Luis Alvarez securing all three points.
The first half was a physical affair. Charlotte's Reudd Manin picked up a yellow card in the 20th minute, setting an early tone. The hosts broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Marou finished off a chance created by Prince Saydee to make it 1–0. The game grew increasingly chippy from there — Union Omaha's Gabriel de Freitas was cautioned in the 41st minute, and Marou himself went into the book a minute later, meaning Charlotte's goalscorer would need to tread carefully for the remainder of the match.
Charlotte carried their lead into the break and extended it early in the second half. Alvarez doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute, giving the Independence some breathing room. Union Omaha struggled to generate a meaningful response, and the game settled into a controlled affair for the hosts. Late yellow cards for Matt Levy and Fabrice Ngah in stoppage time reflected Charlotte's willingness to see things out by any means necessary, but the result was never seriously in doubt.
Union Omaha rarely threatened and managed little going forward against a disciplined Charlotte side that did most of its damage before the hour mark.
The clean-sheet victory gives Charlotte Independence valuable points in the League One standings and continues a solid run of form on home turf.
USL League One