Eagles battle Flames to a soggy 3-2 Charolette win
July 17, 2004 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
(Charlotte, NC) - The Charlotte Eagles hosted the Westchester Flames of the Northern Division tonight at a rainy Waddell Stadium. The match carried on through heavy rain, and two lightning delays before finally being ended short in the 72nd minute with the Eagles winning 3-2.
Charlotte got a dangerous scoring opportunity five minutes into the match. Ishmael Mintah split the defense with a pass through to Jacob Coggins. Coggins hit a low, hard shot which was saved by Westchester goalkeeper Ben Kartzman. The Flames got the first goal of the match, just six minutes in. Costea Decu got the unassisted goal, speeding down the right side. Decu drilled a low shot to the bottom left corner, beating Eagles goalkeeper Trevor Upton.
In the 29th minute Ishmael Mintah got the equalizing goal. Dustin Swinehart drove down the left flank and crossed to Ishmael Mintah. Mintah blasted a shot from 20 yards out beating Kartzman to the left. In the 33rd minute, Juan Munoz-Airey took a tough angle shot through the congested box and grazed the post just wide. Eagles goalkeeper Trevor Upton game up big in the 35th minute, when defender Josh Rife lost his footing at the sideline. Evaud Thompson, on the break hit a hard shot the was swallowed up by Upton on the diving save. The first half ended with the teams tied at one. The Eagles outshot the Flames 9-4 in the half.
The Eagles pressed hard at the start of the second half. In the 44th minute Dustin Swinehart took the quick throw in, finding Coggins. Coggins controlled and shot from inside the eighteen under pressure from Kartzman. Kartzman made a finger tip save to keep the score tied. Five minutes later Dustin Swinhart, in the middle, found Ishmael Mintah on the run to goal. Mintah shot a bullet just under the dive of Kartzman to take the lead. In the 63rd minute Kevin O'Brien fed a long ball into the Westchester end for forward Patrick Daka. Daka scored for the 3-1 lead as the thunderstorms and heavy rains rolled in.
The match was stopped for weather at the 63rd minute. After about an hour and fifteen minutes the game resumed. In the 69th minute Gomez made a hard shot on goal from the top of the Eagles 18 yard box. Eagles' goalkeeper Trevor Upton made a diving save, but rebounded out. Evaud Thompson got to the rebound and scored to pull within one goal of Charlotte. The game was again stopped in the 72nd minute as more lightning struck, and after further delay it was finally ended short, with the Eagles winning 3-2. The Eagles record improves to 12-2-1 for 37 points.
The Eagles and Lady Eagles return to home field action on Saturday, July 24th for the last doubleheader of the 2004 season, and the Lady Eagles last regular season match. The Lady Eagles will host the Carolina Dynamo Women at 5:30 pm followed by the Eagles game at 8:00 pm. The Eagles will host Southern Division rival and defending Pro Soccer League Champions, the Wilmington Hammerheads. There's sure to be awesome fun to go with the awesome soccer, including the Zoom Sports soccer field, Family Fun Zone, halftime contests, and Live music from S.L.A.M. House.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 17, 2004
- Rough Riders overcome Islanders 3-2 in OT - Long Island Rough Riders
- Eagles battle Flames to a soggy 3-2 Charolette win - Charlotte Eagles
- Lady Eagles hold on for 5-4 win - Charlotte Eagles
- City Islanders Fall in Overtime - Penn FC
- Flames take win in first leg of weekend trip - Westchester Flames
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