TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 10 of the 2025 regular season, with Charlotte Independence forward Souaibou Marou named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with a game-winning perfect hat trick off the bench against Westchester SC.
With Charlotte trailing Westchester by a pair of goals at the half, former Cameroon international Souaibou Marou entered as a substitute as the second half kicked off in WSC's inaugural League One home match. Starting in the 57th minute, Marou constructed an improbable 32-minute hat trick to help the Jacks erase a two-goal deficit and emerge victorious in the back-to-back matches.
Marou's hat trick - the first of his professional career - marked the first time in League One history a substitute has recorded a hat trick. Additionally, the 24-year-old Cameroonian's hat trick was the 25th in league history and just the third perfect hat trick through League One's six and a half seasons.
"I am so moved and very happy to represent the Charlotte Independence, and it's thanks to the whole team because we work so closely together," Marou said after the victory. "We are so proud, especially since we were losing 2-0, and we will continue to work harder to get to the top of the standings."
"Obviously, fantastic performance," Charlotte Head Coach Mike Jeffries said of Marou. "The movement that he showed in the box is one of his strengths, and it got him in for the goals. Very, very clever, always trying to free himself, and a good presence in the box to finish when he gets in those areas.
"We felt like we needed some of the qualities that he could bring facing the game. The box presence, the runs in behind, stretching the game a bit; I thought he came in and did those things, so I am proud of him and happy for him. To come in the second half and bang three goals home is quite a credit."
GK - Javier Garcia, Texoma FC: In his first League One start and second with Texoma this season, Garcia became the first goalkeeper to hold AV ALTA FC scoreless at Lancaster Municipal Stadium. The 27-year-old's four saves helped Texoma tally its first League One clean sheet.
D - Jake Crull, Forward Madison FC: The veteran League One defender scored his first of the season, a long-range screamer which helped the 'Mingos escape Knoxville with a point. The Austrian finished with six clearances, three duels won, three completed long passes, two accurate crosses and one chance created.
D - Sebastian Cruz, AV ALTA FC: In his sixth consecutive League One start, the former Sporting Kansas City Academy standout helped AV ALTA FC to its third clean sheet of the season with four recoveries, four accurate long balls, three duels won, three clearances, two chances created, two completed crosses, two tackles won and a 79% passing accuracy rate against Texoma FC.
D - Samuel Owusu, Union Omaha: Owusu scored the first goal of his Omaha career on Saturday, the Owls' first at Werner Park on the season. The Ghanaian defender also recorded 11 accurate long passes, four duels won, three clearances, two fouls won and an 85% passing accuracy rate.
M - Luis Álvarez, Charlotte Independence: The 2024 USL League One All-League First Team midfielder continued his hot start to the season, helping the Jacks to a big 3-2 comeback victory against Westchester with six duels won, four chances created, four accurate long balls, three shots on target, three fouls won, three recoveries, two tackles won and a 67% passing accuracy rate.
M - Conor McGlynn, Westchester SC: McGlynn's third league goal of the season was Westchester's first at home, as the Middle Village, N.Y. native totaled an 82% passing accuracy rate, six completed long passes, three duels won, two clearances, two interceptions and two recoveries against Charlotte.
M - Alfredo Midence, Charlotte Independence: The Lexington loanee provided the assist on Souaibou Marou's 89th-minute winner on the road against Westchester on Saturday. The defending USL League One Young Player of the Year finished with an 83% passing accuracy rate, eight duels won, five completed long balls, four recoveries, four successful dribbles, three accurate crosses and three fouls won.
M - Stavros Zarokostas, One Knoxville SC: Zarokostas provided the assist on Nico Rosamilia's opener at Covenant Health Park before ending his day with 11 duels won, five recoveries, four tackles won, two shots on target, two completed dribbles, two clearances and two fouls won.
F - Joe Gallardo, Union Omaha: In his 75th appearance with Union Omaha, Gallardo bagged his second goal of the season to help the Owls finish level with Portland. The former USL Championship and USL League One title-winner registered five duels won, two shots on target, two completed crosses, two recoveries, two fouls won and an 86% passing accuracy rate.
F - Souaibou Marou, Charlotte Independence: Through only 45 minutes of second-half action, the former Cameroon international bagged a perfect hat trick to power Charlotte to a huge 3-2 comeback victory on the road against Westchester. Marou also completed 100% of his passes, placed four shots on target and won one duel on only 10 touches.
F - Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr., Westchester SC: In his first match against Charlotte since leaving for Westchester over the offseason, the Honduras international recorded the 12th multi-goal-contribution match of his professional career with a goal and an assist against the Independence. Through 88 minutes, Obregón, Jr. provided eight duels won, four fouls earned, two shots on target, two recoveries and an 85% passing accuracy rate.
Coach - Mike Jeffries, Charlotte Independence: The veteran coach bested his former assistant, Dave Carton, as Charlotte overcame a two-goal deficit for the second consecutive week to tally a 3-2 road victory in Westchester's first League One home match.
Bench - James Sneddon (RIC), Derek Waldeck (SPK), Gabriel Cabral (TRM), Osvaldo Lay (AV), Nico Rosamilia (KNX), Azaad Liadi (POR), Anuar Peláez (SPK)