Charlotte Independence — Hartford Athletic: 2:4, USL League One Cup
USL League One Cup
Charlotte IndependenceW29 Aug · Home Alta · 5:0W3 Sep · Home Portland Hearts of Pine · 3:2L6 Sep · Away Union Omaha · 0:2W13 Sep · Home Westchester SC · 5:4D17 Sep · Away Boise · 1:1W19 Sep · Away Richmond Kickers · 2:1
2:4
Finished
Kick-off was
BST
Hartford AthleticW3 Sep · Away Charleston Battery · 2:1D6 Sep · Away Detroit City · 1:1W9 Sep · Home Colorado Springs · 2:1W13 Sep · Home Tampa Bay Rowdies · 3:1W16 Sep · Home Sporting JAX · 2:0D20 Sep · Away Las Vegas Lights · 1:1
In the USL League One Cup game on 13 August 2026, Hartford Athletic beat Charlotte Independence 2:4.
Match report
Hartford Athletic secured a 4-2 victory over Charlotte Independence in the USL League One Cup quarter-finals at the stadium on 12 August 2026. The away side took control early, with S. Anaku finding the net twice in the opening half. Charlotte had won their previous four league matches but could not match the visitors' attacking output on this occasion.
Anaku opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before adding a second just before the half-hour mark. He was substituted in the 39th minute, replaced by fellow striker A. Obalola, who immediately made his mark. Obalola scored in the 52nd minute and another unnamed player followed in the 53rd. The third Yellow Card appeared when J. Bakero received a booking in the 26th minute.
Charlotte pushed for a reply but Hartford's defence held firm. A. Williams found the net in the 67th minute for the visitors, while M. Guffroy converted in the 72nd minute alongside an own goal from J. Scarlett. Another unnamed goal came in the 73rd minute before R. Manin added a fifth in the 85th minute. Multiple substitutions were made by both sides in the second half, with Charlotte bringing on three players in the 62nd minute alone.
Before the match, Charlotte sat fifth in the table with 12 points from four games, while Hartford occupied ninth place with nine points. The hosts had won all four of their league fixtures, including victories over Greenville Triumph and One Knoxville. Hartford had suffered only one defeat in their opening four matches, a loss to Loudoun United.
The result leaves Hartford with a strong position in the competition. Charlotte's perfect league record ended in cup competition, while the visitors demonstrated why they are considered dangerous away from home. The quarter-final defeat will be a disappointment for those in the Charlotte camp, who had been on a strong run in the regular season.
Prepared from match data
HT🟨16' S. Anderson — Yellow card⚽22' S. Anaku — Goal🟨26' J. Bakero — Yellow card⚽36' S. Anaku — Goal⇄39' S. Anaku — Substitution⚽52' A. Obalola — Goal⚽53' Goal⇄54' S. Anderson — Substitution⇄54' B. Makangila — Substitution⇄54' E. Samadia — Substitution⇄56' B. Makangila — Substitution⇄56' S. Anderson — Substitution⇄57' E. Samadia — Substitution🟨60' A. Siaha — Yellow card⇄62' L. Alvarez — Substitution⇄62' J. Amaya — Substitution⇄62' J. Skinner — Substitution⇄63' J. Skinner — Substitution⇄63' J. Amaya — Substitution⇄63' L. Alvarez — Substitution⇄63' J. Bakero — Substitution⚽67' A. Williams — Goal⚽72' M. Guffroy — Goal⚽72' J. Scarlett — Own goal⚽73' Goal⇄74' A. Obalola — Substitution🟨75' S. Coulibaly — Yellow card⚽85' R. Manin — Goal🟨90+6' A. Diz — Yellow card
