MEMPHIS (July 25, 2020) – The Charlotte Independence earned a hard-fought point on the road after coming from behind two different times to remain in second place in the 2020 USL Championship Group G standings. Goals in the second half by midfielders Luke Haakenson and Valentin Sabella canceled out Memphis 901 FC's goals in each half and helped the Jacks reach four points in their first two matches.
"I would give our guys a lot of credit for battling back on a night when it wasn’t our best soccer night," said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries. "We struggled a lot of times to have the rhythm we wanted but we managed to comeback twice from a goal down."
Memphis struck first tonight, finding the net in the 16th minute through a well-timed cross and finish by midfielder Rafael Mentzingen and forward Brandon Allen. After intercepting an Independence pass, Mentzingen fired a left-footed cross into the penalty area towards Allen who tapped in the pass from four yards out to give the hosts the lead. Allen's goal helped Memphis enter the half with a one-goal advantage.
The second half began with a flurry of chances for the Independence. In the 51st minute, the Jacks found the equalizer through Haakenson who connected on forward Enzo Martinez's cross with a powerful header past Memphis goalkeeper Tim Howard . The goal for Haakenson was his first goal of the season since joining the Independence on loan from Nashville SC of MLS.
The hosts answered quickly in the 56th minute, as Memphis defender Rece Buckmaster pounced on an Independence mistake in the back, took one touch by defender Hugh Roberts, and fired a left-footed shot home to regain the lead for Memphis.
Jeffries turned to his bench in the second half, bringing on midfielders Sabella, Rey Ortiz, and Jake Areman. Pushing for the tying goal, the Jacks clawed their way back again, this time through one of Jeffries' substitutes, Sabella. The Argentina midfielder capped off a sensational solo run by making a Memphis defender miss at the top of the box before calmly placing the ball out of the reach of Howard to level to score in the 83rd minute.
After Sabella’s goal, the two teams traded chances in an intensifying end to the contest. Unable to find a winner, the match finished with both Group G opponents earning a point. With four points in two games, the Jacks sit in second place in the Group G standings.
MEMPHIS (July 25, 2020) – The Charlotte Independence earned a hard-fought point on the road after coming from behind two different times to remain in second place in the 2020 USL Championship Group G standings. Goals in the second half by midfielders Luke Haakenson and Valentin Sabella canceled out Memphis 901 FC’s goals in each half and helped the Jacks reach four points in their first two matches.
“I would give our guys a lot of credit for battling back on a night when it wasn’t our best soccer night,” said Independence head coach Mike Jeffries. “We struggled a lot of times to have the rhythm we wanted but we managed to comeback twice from a goal down.”
Memphis struck first tonight, finding the net in the 16th minute through a well-timed cross and finish by midfielder Rafael Mentzingen and forward Brandon Allen. After intercepting an Independence pass, Mentzingen fired a left-footed cross into the penalty area towards Allen who tapped in the pass from four yards out to give the hosts the lead. Allen’s goal helped Memphis enter the half with a one-goal advantage.
The second half began with a flurry of chances for the Independence. In the 51st minute, the Jacks found the equalizer through Haakenson who connected on forward Enzo Martinez’s cross with a powerful header past Memphis goalkeeper Tim Howard . The goal for Haakenson was his first goal of the season since joining the Independence on loan from Nashville SC of MLS.
The hosts answered quickly in the 56th minute, as Memphis defender Rece Buckmaster pounced on an Independence mistake in the back, took one touch by defender Hugh Roberts, and fired a left-footed shot home to regain the lead for Memphis.
Jeffries turned to his bench in the second half, bringing on midfielders Sabella, Rey Ortiz, and Jake Areman. Pushing for the tying goal, the Jacks clawed their way back again, this time through one of Jeffries’ substitutes, Sabella. The Argentina midfielder capped off a sensational solo run by making a Memphis defender miss at the top of the box before calmly placing the ball out of the reach of Howard to level to score in the 83rd minute.
After Sabella’s goal, the two teams traded chances in an intensifying end to the contest. Unable to find a winner, the match finished with both Group G opponents earning a point. With four points in two games, the Jacks sit in second place in the Group G standings.
Next on the Schedule: The Independence will travel to BBVA Field to take on Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday, August 5th at 8 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+.
Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
MEM – Brandon Allen (Rafael Mentzingen), 16th minute: Memphis midfielder Rafael Mentzingen pounced on a loose ball at the corner of the box and dribbled towards the end line where he fired a left footed cross into the penalty area. Mentzingen’s cross was met by forward Brandon Allen who tapped the pass in from two yards out to give the hosts the first goal of the match. CLT 0, MEM 1
CLT – Luke Haakenson (Enzo Martinez), 51st minute: From a set piece near the right corner flag, Enzo Martinez played a ball directly into the middle of the penalty area. An unmarked Luke Haakenson met Martinez’s cross in the six-yard box with a powerful header into the back of the net to level the score for the visitors. CLT 1, MEM 1
MEM – Rece Buckmaster, 56th minute: Brandon Allen looped a ball into the penalty area that was met by Independence defender Hugh Roberts. Roberts’ clearance fell to the feet of Memphis defender Rece Buckmaster who controlled the ball in the box, took one touch by Roberts and fired left footed shot from 8 yards out into the left side of the net. CLT 1, MEM 2
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Jake Areman), 83rd minute: Enzo Martinez beat a Memphis defender out on the right wing before sending a pass into the middle to Jake Areman. Areman played a one-time ball to an on running Valentin Sabella at the right corner of the eighteen. Sabella received the pass from Areman, cut inside on his left, beat one defender, made another defender miss at the top of the box and then hammered a left-footed shot low on the ground and into the net to tie the game for the final time of the evening. CLT 2, MEM 2
Match: Charlotte Independence at Memphis 901 FC
Date: July 25, 2020
Competition: USL Championship – Group G
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. local/8:30 p.m. ET
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 0 2 2
MEM 1 1 2
MEM – Brandon Allen (Rafael Mentzingen) 16th minute
CLT – Luke Haakenson (Enzo Martinez) 51st minute
MEM – Rece Buckmaster 56th minute
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Jake Areman) 83rd minute
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller; 22-Joel Johnson, 18-Aaron Maund, 3-Hugh Roberts; 21-Junior Etou, 15-Luke Haakenson (4-Jake Areman, 60), 27-Derek Gebhard (11-Valentin Sabella, 71), 23- Guido Vadala (7-Rey Ortiz, 60);19-Enzo Martinez (Capt.), 9-Dane Kelly
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 2-Shalom Dutey, 17-Clay Dimick, 17-Tresor Mbuyu
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
MEM: 1-Tim Howard; 19-Rece Buckmaster, 2-Mark Segbers, 5-Tristan Hodges, 3-Zach Carroll, 21-Duane Muckette,14-Rafael Mentzingen (70-Matthew Hundley, 55), 17-Michael Reed, 23-Leston Paul, 9-Keanu Marsh-Brown (11-Pierre Da Silva, 55), 29-Brandon Allen (26-Cal Jennings, 67)
Subs Not Used: 12-Jimmy Hague, 4-Liam Doyle, 6-Dan Metzger, 20- Joe Baxter
Head Coach: Tim Mulqueen
Stats Summary CLT/ MEM:
Shots: 10 / 17
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 8
Fouls: 16 / 17
Offside: 1/ 2
Misconduct Summary:
CLT – Junior Etou (caution) 37th minute
CLT – Dane Kelly (caution) 45+1 minute
MEM – Rece Buckmaster (caution) 56th minute
MEM – Michael Reed (caution) 90+2 minute
Officials:
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Star
Assistant Referee 2: Rebecca Luther
Fourth Official: Muhammad Hassan
Next on the Schedule: The Independence will travel to BBVA Field to take on Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday, August 5th at 8 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+.
Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
MEM – Brandon Allen (Rafael Mentzingen), 16th minute: Memphis midfielder Rafael Mentzingen pounced on a loose ball at the corner of the box and dribbled towards the end line where he fired a left footed cross into the penalty area. Mentzingen’s cross was met by forward Brandon Allen who tapped the pass in from two yards out to give the hosts the first goal of the match. CLT 0, MEM 1
CLT – Luke Haakenson (Enzo Martinez), 51st minute: From a set piece near the right corner flag, Enzo Martinez played a ball directly into the middle of the penalty area. An unmarked Luke Haakenson met Martinez’s cross in the six-yard box with a powerful header into the back of the net to level the score for the visitors. CLT 1, MEM 1
MEM – Rece Buckmaster, 56th minute: Brandon Allen looped a ball into the penalty area that was met by Independence defender Hugh Roberts. Roberts’ clearance fell to the feet of Memphis defender Rece Buckmaster who controlled the ball in the box, took one touch by Roberts and fired left footed shot from 8 yards out into the left side of the net. CLT 1, MEM 2
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Jake Areman), 83rd minute: Enzo Martinez beat a Memphis defender out on the right wing before sending a pass into the middle to Jake Areman. Areman played a one-time ball to an on running Valentin Sabella at the right corner of the eighteen. Sabella received the pass from Areman, cut inside on his left, beat one defender, made another defender miss at the top of the box and then hammered a left-footed shot low on the ground and into the net to tie the game for the final time of the evening. CLT 2, MEM 2
Match: Charlotte Independence at Memphis 901 FC
Date: July 25, 2020
Competition: USL Championship – Group G
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. local/8:30 p.m. ET
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 0 2 2
MEM 1 1 2
MEM – Brandon Allen (Rafael Mentzingen) 16th minute
CLT – Luke Haakenson (Enzo Martinez) 51st minute
MEM – Rece Buckmaster 56th minute
CLT – Valentin Sabella (Jake Areman) 83rd minute
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller; 22-Joel Johnson, 18-Aaron Maund, 3-Hugh Roberts; 21-Junior Etou, 15-Luke Haakenson (4-Jake Areman, 60), 27-Derek Gebhard (11-Valentin Sabella, 71), 23- Guido Vadala (7-Rey Ortiz, 60);19-Enzo Martinez (Capt.), 9-Dane Kelly
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 2-Shalom Dutey, 17-Clay Dimick, 17-Tresor Mbuyu
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
MEM: 1-Tim Howard; 19-Rece Buckmaster, 2-Mark Segbers, 5-Tristan Hodges, 3-Zach Carroll, 21-Duane Muckette,14-Rafael Mentzingen (70-Matthew Hundley, 55), 17-Michael Reed, 23-Leston Paul, 9-Keanu Marsh-Brown (11-Pierre Da Silva, 55), 29-Brandon Allen (26-Cal Jennings, 67)
Subs Not Used: 12-Jimmy Hague, 4-Liam Doyle, 6-Dan Metzger, 20- Joe Baxter
Head Coach: Tim Mulqueen
Stats Summary CLT/ MEM:
Shots: 10 / 17
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 8
Fouls: 16 / 17
Offside: 1/ 2
Misconduct Summary:
CLT – Junior Etou (caution) 37th minute
CLT – Dane Kelly (caution) 45+1 minute
MEM – Rece Buckmaster (caution) 56th minute
MEM – Michael Reed (caution) 90+2 minute
Officials:
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Star
Assistant Referee 2: Rebecca Luther
Fourth Official: Muhammad Hassan
