TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 11 of the 2024 regular season with Charlotte Independence forward Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr. named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with a brace against Chattanooga.
After going down 2-0 through a Mayele Malango brace inside 10 minutes, Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr. guided the Jacks to a massive come-from-behind victory through his 10th and 11th goals of the season across all competitions. The 26-year-old scored in the 57th and 86th minute to confirm his third brace of the season and help Charlotte take the all-time series lead against the Red Wolves at 3-2-2.
"First of all, I want to thank God for this recognition," said Obregón, Jr. "I also want to thank the coaching staff and my teammates because without them this wouldn't be possible. It shows that we're heading in the right direction as a team and I'm extremely happy to be an important part of the team's success. Looking forward to continuing personal and team success for the rest of the season."
"Even when we went down 2-0, we slowly took control of the game, started to have possession, got some chances and were pretty effective," said Charlotte Head Coach Mike Jeffries. "At 2-0, [Chattanooga] had the one chance at the end of the first half, but by and large, we limited what they were able to do with the ball. When we came out in the second half, I thought we upped the level enough to make it difficult, and we got a few good goals out of it."
In total, all eight clubs that participated in Week 11 earned representation on the Team of the Week, with Charlotte, Northern Colorado, Madison and Richmond placing multiple starters on the Team of the Week.
COACH - Mike Jeffries, Charlotte Independence: The longtime Independence coach led his Jacks to a 4-2 victory against Chattanooga after falling behind by a pair of goals within the first 10 minutes. Charlotte's six points won from losing positions now ties the club for most in the regular season.
GK - Bernd Schipmann, Forward Madison FC: One of two goalkeepers to maintain a clean sheet, Schipmann recorded three saves to help extend Madison's unbeaten streak to seven. The former Philippines international's 0.90 goals conceded below expected and 1.10 goals added value were the most among goalkeepers in Week 11, per American Soccer Analysis.
D - Guilherme França, Richmond Kickers: The two-time NAIA Men's Soccer All-American defender scored his first professional goal in Richmond's 1-1 draw in Fresno. In the seventh match of his debut professional season, França completed 83% of his passes, won eight duels, registered five clearances, recorded five recoveries and completed four long passes.
D - David García, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: After knocking Northern Colorado out of the 2023 USL League One Playoffs with North Carolina FC a season ago, the Spanish defender tallied his second goal of the season with the Hailstorm. In Northern Colorado's 2-1 victory against Knoxville, García recorded the dramatic match-winner in stoppage time, seven clearances, five duels won and completed 79% of his passes.
D - Mitch Osmond, Forward Madison FC: Osmond guided the 'Mingos to their league-leading fourth clean sheet of the season with a 93% passing completion rate, seven duels won, six completed long passes, four clearances, four recoveries and a week-high four tackles won in his side's national television debut on Saturday.
D - Anton Sorenson, Charlotte Independence: The Philadelphia Union Homegrown product registered his first goal contribution for Charlotte, providing the assist on his side's second goal of the match. The 21-year-old former United States youth international completed 79% of his passes, created four chances, won four duels and completed four long passes.
M - Luis Álvarez, Charlotte Independence: Constructing what's been easily the most productive season of his young career, the Honduras youth national team prospect tallied one goal, one assist, an 81% passing accuracy rate, four recoveries, three accurate crosses, three chances created and three duels won.
M - Patrick Langlois, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: The former Newcastle Jets man registered his first goal contribution for the Hailstorm, providing an assist on Bruno Rendón's goal in the second minute. The 24-year-old also contributed with an 85% passing completion rate, completed four long balls, won four duels and created a pair of chances.
M - Bruno Rendón, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: Quite possibly the most in-form player across the entire country, Rendón scored his seventh goal across his last six matches two minutes into the Hailstorm's contest against Knoxville. The Cuban added eight duels won, two shots on target and two fouls won.
M - Maxi Schenfeld, Richmond Kickers: In his first match back in Fresno since leaving Central Valley for Richmond over the offseason, Schenfeld registered the first assist with his new side to help the Kickers to a 1-1 draw. The 31-year-old USL League One veteran added seven recoveries, seven duels won, three clearances, three accurate crosses and two fouls won.
F - Mayele Malango, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: The former Malawi international tallied his fourth and fifth goals across his last five matches through his second brace of the season on Friday. In addition to his 10-minute brace, Malango also completed 79% of his passes and added four duels won.
F - Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr., Charlotte Independence: Obregón, Jr. bagged his 10th and 11th goals of the season across all competitions in Charlotte's comeback victory against Chattanooga. The Honduran also contributed with a 90% passing accuracy, three completed long passes, three duels won, one chance created and a league-leading six shots on target. Obregón, Jr.'s 1.06 goals scored above expected led all players, according to American Soccer Analysis.
BENCH: Lalo Delgado (NCO), Jake Dengler (TRM), Kharlton Belmar (CLT), Alfredo Midence (CV), Gabriel Obertan (CLT), Dembor Benson (CV), Kempes Tekiela (KNX)