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Charlotte Independence Falls 4-1 Home to Birmingham Legion FC in Group G Clash

August 29, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


CHARLOTTE - The Charlotte Independence fell 4-1 to Birmingham Legion FC at the Sportsplex at Matthews in its tenth match of the 2020 USL Championship season

"Very disappointed," said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries. "We made too many simple mistakes and put ourselves in a hole."

"We started the second half well, pushed the game, forced Birmingham to make a decent amount of saves, but it just wasn't good enough from us tonight."

Legion FC held the better of attack in the early going, methodically building up in possession as well as jumping on any Independence miscues to spring into transition, but it was the Independence that carved out the first real chance on goal in the 21st minute. Clay Dimick, starting in his first game of the 2020 season for the Jacks, took the ball in stride on the right wing from Enzo Martinez before unleashing a cross from a few yards outside the box to Rey Ortiz, but Legion FC netminder Parker Ford was able to make a comfortable save.

Five minutes later, however, it was Legion FC with a 1-0 lead as Jaden Servania wriggled free of the Independence defense before curling a left-footed shot beyond the reach of Jacks 'keeper Brandon Miller. A few minutes over the half-hour mark, Neco Brett converted a Kasim Prosper cross to give Birmingham a 2-0 lead.

Emerging from halftime down 2-0, the Independence began brightly, yet it was Legion FC adding to its lead in the 49th minute when the Bruno Lapa picked off a pass, drove to the top of the box and found Brett inside the box for the 3-0 lead. Moments later, Legion FC were reduced to ten men when midfielder Eli Crognale received his second yellow card of the evening.

The Independence didn't go down without a fight and carved out multiple chances to get on the board. A header from Hugh Roberts in the 64th minute forced Ford to make a stunning save in the top left corner. With the Jacks still looking to cut into the lead, substitute Guido Vadala fired a blistering effort that went just over the crossbar in the 72nd minute.

In the intervening moments between the Independence's chances, Birmingham scored a fourth on a counter attack in the 83rd minute as Brian Wright capped off the move to put Legion FC out of sight.

Still not going down without a fight, the Jacks pulled a goal back in the 85th minute as Dane Kelly connected on a corner kick by Valentin Sabella to reduce the deficit. The goal was Kelly's fifth of the season and the 82nd of his USL career.

"We went from earning a shutout [against North Carolina FC] where we were really, really solid, to tonight where we were completely open," added Jeffries. "We will have to get back to the basics of how we want to defend before we go up against a good Memphis [901 FC] team on Wednesday."

With the loss, the Independence remain in second place in the Group G standings, five points clear of North Carolina FC.

Next on the Schedule: The Independence heads to Memphis, Tennessee to tackle Group G opponent Memphis 901 FC at AutoZone Park. The game will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Date: August 29, 2020

Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews

Competition: USL Championship

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

CLT 0 1 1

BHM 2 2 4

BHM: 17-Jaden Servania.................................26th minute

BHM: 11-Neco Brett ...................................... 33rd minute

BHM: 11-Neco Brett ...................................... 49th minute

BHM: 7- Brian Wright......................................83rd minute

CLT: 9- Dane Kelly........................................ 86th minute

LINEUPS:

CLT: CLT: 33-Brandon Miller; 3-Hugh Roberts, 14-Duke Lacroix, 18-Aaron Maund(90-Christian Chaney, 74'), 17- Clay Dimick, 4-Jake Areman(23- Guido Vadala, 68'), 7-Rey Ortiz(11- Valentin Sabella, 68'), 15-Luke Haakenson(32-Tresor Mbuyu, 74'), 21-Junior Etou(20-Oscar Ramsey, 86'), 9-Dane Kelly, 19-Enzo Martinez(captain)

Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 22-Joel Johnson

Head Coach: Mike Jeffries

BHM: 0- Ford Parker; 3-Boluwatife Akinyode, 5-Mikey Lopez, 21-Alex Crognale(4- Josh Bauer, 84'), 24-Jonathan Dean; 6-Anderson Asiedu, 8-Bruno Lapa(16- Daigo Kobayashi, 61'), 10-Propser Kasim(13-Jake Rufe, 84'), 12-Eli Crognale, 11-Neco Brett(7-Brian Wright, 66'), 17-Jaden Servania(30-Razak Cromwell, 84')

Subs Not Used: 1-Matt Vanoekel, 2-Marcos Ugarte,

Head Coach: Tom Soehn

Stats Summary CLT/ BHM:

Shots: 17 / 11

Shots on Goal: 9 / 6

Saves: 3 / 2

Corner Kicks: 8 / 3

Fouls: 13 / 13

Offside: 1 / 1

Misconduct Summary:

BHM: (caution) 21-Alex Crognale.............. 24th minute

BHM: (caution) 12-Eli Crognale ............... 42nd minute

BHM: (2nd caution; red card) 12-Eli Crognale .......... 58th minute

BHM: (caution) 6-Anderson Asiedu .......... 63rd minute

CLT: (caution) 21-Junior Etou...................82nd minute

Officials:

Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

Assistant Referee: Justin Howard

Assistant Referee: Colin Ashley

Fourth Official: William Steffen

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