Eagles Drop Close Game against Sacramento
July 14, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
Charlotte N.C. - The Charlotte Eagles hosted the Sacramento Republic FC for the first time in USL PRO history and the only meeting between the two teams in the regular 2014 season. Sacramento escaped Charlotte with all three points thanks to a Tommy Stewart first half goal.
The game started off quickly with shots coming for both teams but Sacramento proved to be the ones to open up scoring when Tommy Stewart collect a ball that wrong-footed Charlotte defender JJ Greer. Stewart was able to sneak past Bilal Duckett and slip a shot underneath Eagles goalkeeper Alec Kann to give the hosts the lead only 10 minutes in.
The Eagles kept pressure on and in the 22nd minute it seemed like the score would even out when Zak Boggs took a long pass to make a cross to the front of the net but nobody was there to force it into the net. In the 25th minute the Eagles got a free kick that went just wide of the post after being deflected by a Sacramento player.
Another opportunity presented itself when Boggs intercepted a Sacramento pass and was tripped at the top of the penalty area resulting in a free kick in the 27th minute. Jorge Herrera's cross found an unmarked Fred Sekyere but the Ghanaian midfielders header struck the post and was cleared by the Republic defense.
Coming back for the second half the game opened up as both teams found opportunities. Both Alec Kann for Charlotte and Jake Gleeson for Sacramento stood tall to keep the score 1-0. Kann made a couple of stops as the Republic offense tried to test him from distance, while Gleeson controlled his box well in dealing with Eagles' crosses.
Charlotte had some good pressure late in the game only to have their chances repelled by a stout Sacramento defense. The Eagles now head to Pittsburgh and Dayton for a Thursday, Saturday road trip. Sacramento returns home to host league-leaders Orlando City on Thursday, July 17th.
The Eagles will return home to host the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, July 26th at 7 pm here at Queens Sports Complex.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 14, 2014
- Eagles Drop Close Game against Sacramento - Charlotte Eagles
- Stewart Lifts Republic FC over Charlotte 1-0 - Sacramento Republic FC
- Match Preview: Sacramento Republic FC V Charlotte Eagles - Sacramento Republic FC
- Early Goals Lift Energy Past Riverhounds - USL
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