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USL Charlotte Independence

Late Dane Kelly Goal Earns Charlotte Independence 1-1 Draw with Group G Leaders Birmingham Legion FC

August 12, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charlotte Independence News Release


CHARLOTTE (August 12, 2020) - The Charlotte Independence got an 82nd minute goal from Dane Kelly to secure a 1-1 draw with USL Championship Group G leaders Birmingham Legion FC.

With the draw, the Independence remains in third place in the Group G standings and will meet Memphis 901 FC for a second time this season to conclude a three-game homestand this weekend. Kickoff for the rematch at the Sportsplex at Matthews is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 15. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Wednesday's match presented a rematch against Group G leaders Legion FC after the visiting team defeated the Independence 4-1 in the Jack's second game of the season.

Independence head coach Mike Jeffries did not make any changes to the starting XI that tied the Charleston Battery 1-1 in its third match of the season but was forced to make an early change as midfielder Derek Gebhard went down with an injury and was replaced by FC Cincinnati loanee Rey Ortiz in the 27th minute.

The match began as a tug of war with first Charlotte and then Legion FC gaining spells of possession. The Jacks' best chance of the first half came in the 10th minute when Gebhard picked out Kelly after beating his defender one-v-one and whipping a cross through the six-yard box. Making a run to the middle of the box, Kelly tried to connect with Gebhard's cross with a left-footed volley and hit his effort just outside the left post as the Jacks ultimately generated 9 shots, five on target.

"I thought we played well throughout a tough night with all of the stoppages," said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries. "We managed the game well, both offensively and defensively."

"We are gutted about the result and know that we need to manage the end of the game better. It's really disappointing to give up a goal and lose out on two points."

The Jacks started the second half well as the two teams traded chances pushing for a winner. In the 80th minute, Legion FC midfielder Anderson Asiedu received his second yellow card of the match and the visitors were forced to play the final ten minutes down a man.

Jeffries turned to his bench for fresh legs in the 80th minute, bringing on attacker Guido Vadala and midfielder Luke Haakenson.

Moments later, the Jacks continued to push for a goal and was rewarded in the 82nd minute when Kelly found the back of the net off a header by Haakenson. The goal was Kelly's third of the season and the 80th of his USL career, the first in the league's history to reach that figure.

On the other end, Legion FC pushed numbers forward, including netminder Matt Vanoekel, for a corner kick in stoppage time. A deflected ball fell perfectly for Legion FC midfielder Mikey Lopez who drilled home an equalizer for the visitors in the 93rd minute.

Next on the Schedule: The Independence finish a three-game stretch at the Sportsplex at Matthews against Group G opponent Memphis 901 FC on Saturday, August 15th at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+. The match against Memphis will be the second meeting between the Group G opponents this year.

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GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

CLT - Dane Kelly (Luke Haakenson), 82nd minute: Enzo Martinez played a ball into the top of the box to Luke Haakenson who headed a ball straight down to an on running Dane Kelly inside the area. Kelly took a couple of touches, turned and fired a right-footed shot from six yards out and into the left corner net. CLT 1, BHM 0

BHM - Mikey Lopez, 93rd minute: Off of a corner kick, Legion FC goalkeeper Matt Vanoekel connected with a header at the back post and sent the ball into the middle of the box. Inside the six-yard box, Mikey Lopez collected the loose ball and fired a right-footed shot beyond the reach of Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller to tie the match. CLT 1, BHM 1

Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Birmingham Legion FC

Date: August 12, 2020

Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews

Competition: USL Championship

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

CLT 0 1 1

BHM 0 1 1

CLT: Dane Kelly (Luke Haakenson) 82nd minute

BHM: Mikey Lopez 90th minute

LINEUPS:

CLT: 33-Brandon Miller; 3-Hugh Roberts, 4-Duke Lacroix, 18-Aaron Maund, 22-Joe Johnson 4-Jake Areman (15-Luke Haakenson), 11-Valentin Sabella(23-Guido Vadala), 21-Junior Etou, 27-Derek Gebhard (7-Rey Ortiz), 9-Dane Kelly (32-Tresor Mbuyu), 19-Enzo Martinez(captain)

Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 17- Clay Dimmick, 20-Oscar Ramsey

Head Coach: Mike Jeffries

BHM: 1-Matt Vanoekel(captain), 18-Trevor Spangenberg, 21-Alex Crognale, 30-Razak Cromwell, 24-Jonathan Dean, 22-Mathieu Laurent, 3-Boluwatife Akinyode, 6-Anderson Asiedu, 12-Eli Crognale(13-Jake Rufe), 8-Bruno Lapa( 2-Marcos Ugarte), 5-Mikey Lopez, 10-Propser Kasim(17-Jaden Servania), 14-Rudolf Mensah(11-Neco Brett), 7-Brian Wright(20-Braxton Najib)

Subs Not Used: 0- Ford Parker, 16- Daigo Kobayashi

Head Coach: Tom Soehn

Stats Summary CLT/ BHM:

Shots: 14 / 11

Shots on Goal: 8 / 6

Saves: 5 / 7

Corner Kicks: 4 / 7

Fouls: 8 / 12

Offside: 1/ 2

Possession: CLT - 50.7%, BHM - 49.3%

Misconduct Summary:

BHM - Mikey Lopez (caution).................4th minute

BHM - Eli Crognale (caution)................46th minute

CLT - Junior Etou (caution)....................52nd minute

BHM - Prosper Kasim (caution)..............56th minute

BHM - Anderson Asiedu (caution)............68th minute

BHM - Anderson Asiedu (caution/red card) 80th minute

Officials:

Referee: John Matto

Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Graves

Assistant Referee 2: Caleb Fearing

Fourth Official: Joshua Escobar

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