USL1: Linhares Strikes Late as One Knoxville SC Stuns Charlotte Independence

Staff Writer
7 days ago
2 min read

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The momentum from mid-week heroics carried into the weekend for One Knoxville SC. Following their historic upset of DC United, Knoxville returned to Covenant Health Park on Saturday night to secure a gritty 2–1 victory over the Charlotte Independence.

The evening began with a celebration of club loyalty, as veterans Dani Fernandez and Jordan Skelton were honored for reaching 100 appearances with the club. It ended with yet another late-game celebration thanks to the hottest foot in Knoxville: Kyle Linhares.

The Linhares Factor

For the second time in four days, Kyle Linhares proved to be the difference-maker. After clinching the shootout in Washington D.C., Linhares stepped up in the 88th minute of a deadlocked match.

The play began with Linhares heading a ball to Babacar Diene, who played a perfect return pass. Linhares slipped behind the Charlotte defense and slotted a composed finish past goalkeeper Matt Levy, securing the 2–1 lead and all three points for the home side.

"I could not be more pleased for the guys, the club, and the supporters," said Head Coach Ian Fuller, noting the difficulty of playing three matches in a single week.

Rookie Rise and Veteran Grit

With fatigue a major factor for the squad, rookie forward Eli Conway earned his first professional 90-minute shift and made an immediate impact. In the 13th minute, Conway chest-controlled a through-ball from Real Gill and fired a shot that deflected off the post and a Charlotte defender for an own goal.

"It’s pretty tiring, but it’s awesome," Conway said of his first full pro match. "I want it every game."

The match wasn't without its hurdles. One Knoxville had a chance to double their lead in the 28th minute, but leading scorer Denis Krioutchenkov saw his penalty kick saved. Charlotte capitalized on the shift in momentum, equalizing in the 34th minute via Souaibou Marou. It took a goal-line clearance from Finn McRobb in the 70th minute to keep the match level and set the stage for Linhares' eventual winner.

Match Statistics

Stat	One Knoxville SC	Charlotte Independence
Score	2	1
Goals	Manin (OG 13'), Linhares (88')	Marou (34')
Yellow Cards	2	2
Knoxville Milestone	Skelton/Fernandez	100 Appearances

Looking Ahead: A High-Stakes Road Trip

One Knoxville SC now embarks on a pivotal three-match road swing that spans two different cup competitions and league play.

USL Cup: Saturday, April 25 at FC Tulsa (USL Championship).
U.S. Open Cup (Round of 16): Wednesday, April 29 at Columbus Crew (MLS).

The club also celebrated a professional milestone for defender Will Perkins, the former Ohio State standout, who made his professional debut and earned the start, playing 74 minutes in the victory.