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USL1 Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club Earns Second Win of Inaugural Season After Key Penalty Save, Bests Charlotte Independence 1-0

May 13, 2023 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Lexington Sporting Club News Release


Lexington Sporting Club celebrates win
Lexington Sporting Club celebrates win
(Lexington Sporting Club)

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - A second half goal from Khalid Balogun and late heroics from Amal Knight helped Lexington Sporting Club earn the second win of its inaugural season in a 1-0 final against Charlotte Independence at Toyota Stadium.

The win brings the Club's record to 2-4-1 (7 points), standing at 11th place in the league standings. The loss dropped Charlotte Independence to 3-2-4 (13 points), standing at second in the league.

"That's what this game does. It's such a beautiful game and it can take you from the highest of highs to the lowest low and back to the highest high in a matter of seconds," head coach Sam Stockley said. "We honestly felt we were hard done at Chattanooga where we dominated the game and we had a difficult 90 seconds that cost us. Today it evens out. I couldn't be more proud of the team, the staff and the club. (It's) just a wonderful moment for us to be able to get three points. The season carries on but we'll enjoy this one tonight."

The home team entered the game after an off week that came after a 3-1 loss to Chattanooga Red Wolves on the road.

With rain on the horizon, 2,288 fans packed into Toyota Stadium, with Lexington putting the pressure on early with six shots on target in the first half compared to Charlotte's one. Unfortunately for Lexington, Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack racked up several impressive saves.

Despite the effort, both clubs entered the halftime break 0-0 with Lexington SC holding the expected goals percentage lead at 0.70 - 0.26.

Coming back out in the second half, Charlotte Independence seemed reinvigorated, but the home side refused to back down, with both teams trading blows on opposite ends of the pitch.

Following the club debut for Senegalese national Pierre Mané, Balogun became the first player in Lexington SC history to score two goals in the same season when he got one past Pack off an assist by Owen Green in the 78th minute.

A smooth finish was not in the cards for the lads in green however, as lightning in the area forced a complete stoppage with under 10 minutes left to play.

Things would get even more dramatic in the final minute of extra time when Lexington's Kaelon Fox was shown a red card in the box, giving the Independence a penalty kick, but a stellar save by Knight kept the home side in front with the final whistle blowing seconds after.

"That's the culture that we have at this football club, we're going to give everything we've got for each other," Stockley said. "I believe if we do we'll have a very good chance of being successful at the end of the year."

"I've been training really well and I've been trusting my training," Knight said. "I got my opportunity tonight to come in and do my thing and I really felt good. I'd been making saves all night, so I knew going into the penalty I had to help out the team and that's what I did. I came up big and thank God we got three points"

Charlotte Independence controlled 56.4% of the possession in the loss and had a higher expected goals percentage at 2.1 - 1.17.

Next up for Lexington SC is a road trip to Richmond to face the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, May 20. The club will then return home on May 27 for a rematch against the league rival One Knoxville SC.

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Lexington Sporting Club celebrates win
Lexington Sporting Club celebrates win
   



United Soccer League One Stories from May 13, 2023


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