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Charlotte Independence Falls to Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-0 in Season Opener

May 1, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


ST. PETERSBURG - Charlotte Independence fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-0 Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, in what was the first match for both sides in 2021 USL Championship play. The club will continue Atlantic Division play Friday, May 14 against the Charleston Battery (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).

The Independence opened its campaign without veterans Enzo Martinez and Joel Johnson, as both players missed out on the Jacks' trip to St. Petersburg. The full Starting XI: Brandon Miller (GK), Thomas de Villardi (LWB), Kevin Riascos (CB), Hugh Roberts (CB), Christian Dean (CB), Clay Dimick (RWB), Junior Etou (CM), Brandt Bronico (CM), Jake Areman (LW), Irvin Parra (ST), Marcelo Palomino (RW).

The Independence traded early blows with the hosts, with Irvin Parra getting to the byline and finding Jake Areman in the middle of the box who's shot was deflected and went wide. Parra had another chance a few minutes later, getting on the end of a cross on the left but only to have his shot cut out and cleared. Despite numerous first-half chances at either end, both teams went into halftime locked 0-0.

In the second half, both teams battled for the opener, but ultimately it was the hosts that grabbed the game's first goal through a penalty kick by Sebastián Guenzatti in the 58th minute.

Trailing 1-0, Independence head coach Mike Jeffries turned to his bench, bringing on Tresor Mbuyu for Parra and Noah Paravicini for Thomas de Villardi in the 62nd minute. While the Independence found some dangerous moments in transition, the team struggled to threaten inside Tampa Bay's box. The Rowdies didn't back down and added to its lead in the 77th minute as Guenzatti scored his second of the evening.

The Rowdies capped the scoring - a curling a shot from inside the box past the outstretched arm of Brandon Miller in the Independence net by Leo Fernandes - in the 79th minute.

The two Atlantic Division opponents will meet again in a month as the Independence host the Rowdies on Saturday, June 5th at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

Next on the Schedule: The Independence will travel to Patriots Point Stadium to take on the Charleston Battery on Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+.

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