Charlotte Independence Fall to New York Red Bulls II on the Road, 3-1
June 17, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release
MONTCLAIR, N.J. - The Charlotte Independence fell 3-1 to New York Red Bulls II tonight at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, New Jersey. The Jacks return home on Wednesday, June 23 to face the Charleston Battery at the Sportsplex at Matthews. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM (ET).
The Jacks brought the energy early on in the attack earning three corner kicks in the first five minutes of the game. Services from #8 Marcelo Palomino and #4 Jake Areman were cleared away by the New York Red Bulls II (NYRB) defense. The Independence got caught in transition when an initial shot by NYRB #58 Roald Mitchell was saved on the goal line. The rebound found the feet of #36 Jeremy Rafanello who took a right-footed shot that slid past Independence GK, #33 Brandon Miller. NYRB took the lead 1-0.
In the 16th minute, a cross from #17 Clay Dimick found the feet of the USL Championship's regular season leading goal scorer, #29 Dane Kelly. The shot was blocked by a sliding NYRB defender. The Independence trailed 0-2 after another shot from Rafanello slipped through the hands of Miller and trickled over the goal line. The Independence closed the half with two corner kick opportunities, but could not capitalize.
"We needed to do a better job in the second half, win our 50/50 battles and try to score an early goal," stated Independence Forward, Dane Kelly. "Our focus (for the second half) was to play better than we did in the first half and to get goals to win the game."
The Jacks made two substitutions to start the second half bringing on #9 Irvin Parra and #14 Thomas de Villardi. The team started to gain some momentum in the 55th minute when Dimick found Kelly, on the run again, down the right sideline. Kelly took the shot from distance, attempting to chip it over NYRB GK, #88 Luca Lewis. The shot just missed over the crossbar. The NYRB scored again in the 62nd minute off a low shot from Mitchell.
The Independence trailed 3-0, when a handball in the box led to a penalty kick for the Jacks in the 69th minute. Kelly stepped up to take the shot and placed it nicely into the lower left corner of the net. One goal would not be enough for the Independence tonight, but it was a hard fought battle on both sides of the pitch. The final score, New York Red Bulls II 3 - Charlotte Independence 1.
"Disappointed tonight, we knew it was going to be difficult having played a couple days ago and traveling. We weren't sharp enough in the first half and they were able to punish us on the mistakes. The goals, credit to them, but we didn't really give ourselves much of an opportunity. In the second half we came out with good intensity, and even at 3-1, I felt like we had some pretty good half chances."
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence will return home to the Sportsplex at Matthews for the final time before the grand re-opening of the new American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Jacks will take on the Charleston Battery on Wednesday, June 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM (ET).
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