Match Highlights here.
Christopher Jaime spoiled Andrew Hammersley’s return to goal by beating him with a blast to the upper right corener one minute into stoppage time, as Charlotte Independence held off torrential rain and a furious second half WSC comeback to win 5-4 Saturday night in Charlotte, clinching a playoff spot for the Jacks and sending WSC to a heartbreaking 22nd straight match on the road without a win (0-16-6).
The match was delayed by dangerous storms for almost an hour, and the scoring deluge started when WSC jumped out to a 2-0 lead, with Conor McGlynn netting his 11th of the season on a penalty in the 19th minute, and newly signed Jack Loura scoring his first career goal in minute 27. The scoring deluge then switched, as Joey Skinner got Charlotte on the board in the 31st minute, followed by Viggo Ortitiz’s equalized just a minute later and before the half ended a second Skinner score and another by Christy Manzinga right before the break to give Charlotte a 4-2 lead after the first 45.
The rain came on and off as the second half started, but Koen Blommestijn created a storm of his own, netting a brace just nine minutes apart (at 68’ and 77’) to knot the score. It looked like the match may have ended there, but the table leaders took advantage of six minutes of stoppage time to break the draw and send WSC to one of its toughest losses in its two seasons of existence.
The nine goals were the second most in a match in USL League One history, while the one goal loss dropped WSC to 0-9-3 against clubs holding a playoff position and 1-10 in one goal decisions.
WSC returns home to play Richmond Wednesday before a road match at NY Cosmos Saturday.
