Early Score Ends in Draw for Eagles
Published on July 18, 2010 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Eagles News Release
The Eagles came out strong to start the game. In just the 4th minute, Leo Gibson drew two defenders and the goalkeeper, Brian Levey, as he chased down a long ball to the top of the 18. Gibson turned his back to the goal while fighting off the defenders for the ball which gave him a perfect view of Jorge Herrera streaking towards goal from behind. Gibson laid the ball off for Herrera who curled it into the back of the net before the retreating Levey had a chance to save.
Maryland retaliated in the 26th minute with a curler on the ground from Joel Senior that found the back of the net from 20 yards out. After battling for possession 40 yards out, Senior ran straight down the middle before he left Corbin Waller with little chance to reach the shot as the ball hit the post to bounce in.
The first half ended even at 1-1 but the Eagles led in possession and in shots, 9 to 6. Aside from Senior's goal-scoring run, the backline played flawlessly and both strikers, Gibson and Alves, had two shots for the Eagles.
Chris Lemons came on fresh in the second half, coming on for Alves. Within the first five minutes, he already had two long shots at goal.
In the 53rd minute, Juan Guzman took the ball down the left side before dropping off to Luke Williams. His cross found Herrera at the far post, but Williams was cited for offside by the head referee.
After avoiding the dark and ominous clouds for most of the night, the rain finally came in the 54th minute. Miguel Ferrer seemed unaffected by the downpour as he took multiple shots early in the 2nd half which helped the Eagles continue to dominate possession.
In the 69th minute, Leo Gibson fired a shot toward goal but it was right to quick-thinking Brian Levey's hands who punched it right back to Gibson. The follow-up shot didn't trouble the keeper after the bounce landed too high for Gibson to connect cleanly.
Maryland regained their composure soon after as John Raus's cross nearly found David Bulow who would have surely had a goal if he had reached the ball in time. Nicholas Paterson had a beautiful free kick in the 79th minute that was headed to the near upper 90 but Corbin Waller knocked the shot straight down and picked up the rebound.
Herrera picked up a foul in the box in the 81st which lead to Gustavo Bentos taking the ensuing penalty. Bentos lined up and shot right, beating the keeper but skidding just wide of the post to keep the score level at 1-1.
The Eagles outshot Maryland, but Brian Levey kept the ball out of goal for the final 86 minutes. Miguel Ferrer nearly had one goal and an assist to Ben Page in the final minutes with long shots, but Levey denied the opportunities.
Coach Mark Steffens said after the game, "I wanted to start the game with a quick goal and high pressure, but once we got that goal, we should have continued fighting for another score."
The Eagles next regular season game will be this coming Friday, July 23rd against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds who trail the Eagles by only two points with one game in hand.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 18, 2010
- Hounds Draw Islanders - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Early Score Ends in Draw for Eagles - Charlotte Eagles
- Lady Eagles Battle for First Place Ends in Loss - Charlotte Eagles
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