USL League One: Week Two
USL League One heads into Week Two and the expansion sides get a weekend off to recuperate after 90 minutes of ear-wrenching audio and an opening weekend derby. Familiar faces and old foes get stuck in as Richmond Kickers head to Greenville; Chattanooga Red Wolve open up their campaign against the NoCo Hailstorm; Tormenta look to retain their league toppers status when taking on Charlotte: Finally, the weekend finale is for the birds as Forward brings the Full Mingo to Omaha’s nest.
The 2022 USL League One Champions opened up their season with a 1-0 away win over a loaded North Carolina FC - while it was a great performance by the Champs and their defense is to be commended, NCFC fans should not be dismayed - it was the very first match of the regular season and they looked good in moments.
Opening weekend doldrum continued with a nil - nil between Charlotte Independence and Richmond Kickers despite having some of the league’s most exciting goal-scorers in the respective lineups. Golden Boot winner Emiliano Terzaghi and the legendary Dane Kelly couldn’t fill their boots and will have to go again this weekend.
League newcomers One Knox and Lexington SC finally gave us the bang we were looking for, and in ear-splitting fashion. An early penalty scored by Jimmie Villalobos got the One Knox sound system blaring Song 2 by Blur and the sounds of “whoo hoo” were reverberating through our tv speakers. Don Smart drew the visitors even on a second early peno for Lexington. Jake Keegan got One Knox’s second goal in the first half, the eventual winner, putting the expansion side at the top of the table for week one.
Results from Week One (March 17 - 18)
North Carolina FC 0 - 1 SG Tormenta FC
Charlotte Independence 0 - 0 Richmond Kickers
One Knoxville SC 2 - 1 Lexington SC
Saturday, March 18
Greenville Triumph vs Richmond Kickers - 4pm (PST) / 7pm (ET)
Chattanooga Red Wolves vs Northern Colorado Hailstorm - 4:30pm (PST) / 7:30pm (ET)
SG Tormenta FC vs Charlotte Independence - 4:30pm (PST) / 7:30pm (ET)
Sunday, March 19
Union Omaha vs Forward Madison - 12:00pm (PST) / 3:00pm (ET)
by Josh Duder