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USL New York Red Bulls II

Red Bulls II Rally to Win, Spoil Charlotte's Downtown Opening

July 7, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New York Red Bulls II News Release


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The New York Red Bulls II rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 3-2 victory against the Charlotte Independence on Wednesday night, spoiling the grand opening for the hosts of the newly-renovated $41 million American Legion Memorial Stadium in downtown Charlotte as Omar Sowe notched a goal and assist to counter Dane Kelly's two goals for the Independence.

Having taken victory when the sides first met this season, the Red Bulls II almost grabbed the lead in the fifth minute as Sowe broke out on a breakaway in the fifth minute, firing a low shot to the left corner that produced a fine kick-save by Charlotte's Brandon Miller. A couple of minutes later Miller was called on again to make a point-blank save as a good move by New York resulted in Jake LaCava delivering a low cross through the penalty area from the left to Serge Ngoma, whose effort from the top of the six-yard area was just turned wide.

The early chances for the visitors paid off in 13th minute as Jeremy Rafanello became the first player to score at renovated Memorial Stadium. A ball forward by Joe Zalinsky to the top of the penalty area was met by a cushioned header by Sowe, which set up Rafanello to control and shoot low into the right corner of the net.

The Independence replied just six minutes later as Clay Dimick lifted a ball over the top that sent Kelly in behind the New York defense, and the Jamaican lifted a looping finish over the advancing goalkeeper from around 30 yards out that bounced into the vacant net.

New York twice had the chance to regain the lead around the half-hour mark with both opportunities falling to LaCava. The first saw a good pass by Ngoma release LaCava into the penalty area, only for his shot to go wide of the right post, while a minute later he broke forward as the ball broke kindly into his path and fired a low shot that Miller saved.

Kelly notched his second goal of the night four minutes before halftime though, as Brandt Bronico's chipped ball into the left side of the penalty area was intercepted by a Red Bulls II header but only sent the ball in the Jamaican's direction. Kelly juggled twice, keeping the ball off the ground, and the unleashed a left-footed finish to the bottom-right corner of the net.

The Jamaican had a chance at completing a hat trick in first half stoppage time as a ball into Irvin Parra pinballed off two defenders and into Kelly's path, but his shot was saved by New York's Luca Lewis to keep it a one-goal game at halftime.

The visitors opened the second half positively and went close to pulling level as Rafanello fired a long-range effort that was smothered by Miller. Charlotte's Valentin Sabella had a similar chance that was parried away by Red Bulls II goalkeeper Luca Lewis a few minutes later, but with 20 minutes to go the Red Bulls II pulled level as Sowe powered home a finish into the left corner of the net after a neat pass by LaCava allowed him to continue his run into the penalty area in space to shoot.

LaCava almost put New York three minutes later as he cut past a defender in the right side of the penalty area but was denied by a fine save by Miller. With 11 minutes to go, however, Austin Brummett fired home a finish from close range after a scramble in the Charlotte penalty area that saw Nico Nee denied twice before laying a pass back that Brummett put away.

Charlotte had a chance to hit back in the 84th minute as Jordan Bender was slipped a pass by Marcelo Palomino that allowed him to break into the left side of the penalty area for a low shot to the near post that was parried wide by Lewis. Palomino then clipped the woodwork in the final minute as he held play in after a corner kick but saw his shot hit the outside of the left post and go wide. There would be no late goal for the hosts, however, as the Red Bulls II saw out the remaining time to take all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Omar Sowe, New York Red Bulls II - Sowe notched a goal and assist, had three shots and four key passes while also completing 20 of 25 passes overall in a dynamic attacking performance for the visitors.

Scoring Summary

NY - Jeremy Rafanello (Omar Sowe) 13'

CLT - Dane Kelly (Clay Dimick) 19'

CLT - Dane Kelly 41'

NY - Omar Sowe (Jake LaCava) 70'

NY - Austin Brummett (Nico Nee) 79'

Check out the New York Red Bulls II Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 7, 2021


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