Eagles Travel to Harrisburg Looking to Get Back on Track
August 5, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
Charlotte, NC - The Charlotte Eagles are traveling to Harrisburg, PA for a USL PRO game on Wednesday, August 7th. The Eagles are searching for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive against the 3rd place Harrisburg City Islanders.
Charlotte dropped their second contest in a row last Friday, August 2nd against the first place Richmond Kickers. Kickers midfielder Joseph Ngwenya scored the game's lone goal in the 72nd minute off a Nate Robinson cross and Andrew Dykstra recorded his ninth shutout on the season. The tense 1-0 Kickers victory was more of a defensive struggle than the previous match the two teams played, a 3-3 draw with two goals coming in the final minute of the game.
The Harrisburg City Islanders are coming into Wednesday's game off a 2-2 draw against the LA Blues on Saturday, August 4th. The City Islanders are currently sitting in 3rd place behind Richmond and Orlando and have already secured their place in the playoffs. Harrisburg jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Lucky Mkosana and Stephen Basso but the Blues fought back and secured the draw with two second half goals by George Davis IV and Matt Fondy.
Mkosana's goal was his 10th on the season which is only one behind the team leader, Sainey Touray. The two City Islanders are currently only behind Pittsburgh's Jose Angulo 12 goals for the league lead. Goalkeeper Nicholas Noble has played in every match so far for Harrisburg and his 13 wins are the most in USL PRO so far this season.
In the previous matchup between these two teams, the City Islanders got off to a quick start with a Cris Hernandez set piece goal in the 6th minute. Aaron Wheeler scored again in the 18th minute off of a Yann Ekra feed to make it 2-0, Wheeler added a penalty in the 22nd minute to give the visitors a quick 3-0 lead. Charlotte was caught on the counter attack in the 89th minute as Jimmy McLaughlin took a pass from Sainey Touray and made it 4-0 for the City Islanders.
Charlotte is currently in a four-way tie for 5th place with the Dayton Dutch Lions, Los Angeles Blues and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The top eight teams make it into the playoffs where the top four teams will host a home playoff game. The Eagles only have four games left and with three of them being on the road, Charlotte will have to improve on their 2-1-6 road record and earn as many points as they can to move up the standings.
The match will be broadcast on USLNation.com so be sure to stop by on Wednesday!
Charlotte will return home on Saturday, August 10th to face Antigua Barracuda FC in the regular season home finale. This game will also serve as Camper Appreciation Night, any summer camper who wears their 2013 Eagles Camp t shirt can participate in Camper Appreciation Night. For more details and to purchase tickets visit www.CharlotteEagles.com
Keep that Orange Flag Flying High and we'll see you on Wednesday at USLNation.com!
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 5, 2013
- Call To Action: Attend August 6 & 9 County Meetings - Orlando City SC
- Orlando City Plays VSI Tampa Bay Wednesday - Orlando City SC
- Battery End Kickers' Undefeated Streak - USL
- Eagles Travel to Harrisburg Looking to Get Back on Track - Charlotte Eagles
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