ST. PETERSBURG (May 1, 2021) – Charlotte Independence fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-0 Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, in what was the first match for both sides in 2021 USL Championship play. The club will continue Atlantic Division play Friday, May 14 against the Charleston Battery (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
The Independence opened its campaign without veterans Enzo Martinez and Joel Johnson, as both players missed out on the Jacks’ trip to St. Petersburg. The full Starting XI: Brandon Miller (GK), Thomas de Villardi (LWB), Kevin Riascos (CB), Hugh Roberts (CB), Christian Dean (CB), Clay Dimick (RWB), Junior Etou (CM), Brandt Bronico (CM), Jake Areman (LW), Irvin Parra (ST), Marcelo Palomino (RW).
The Independence traded early blows with the hosts, with Irvin Parra getting to the byline and finding Jake Areman in the middle of the box who’s shot was deflected and went wide. Parra had another chance a few minutes later, getting on the end of a cross on the left but only to have his shot cut out and cleared. Despite numerous first-half chances at either end, both teams went into halftime locked 0-0.
In the second half, both teams battled for the opener, but ultimately it was the hosts that grabbed the game’s first goal through a penalty kick by Sebastián Guenzatti in the 58th minute.
Trailing 1-0, Independence head coach Mike Jeffries turned to his bench, bringing on Tresor Mbuyu for Parra and Noah Paravicini for Thomas de Villardi in the 62nd minute. While the Independence found some dangerous moments in transition, the team struggled to threaten inside Tampa Bay’s box. The Rowdies didn’t back down and added to its lead in the 77th minute as Guenzatti scored his second of the evening.
The Rowdies capped the scoring – a curling a shot from inside the box past the outstretched arm of Brandon Miller in the Independence net by Leo Fernandes – in the 79th minute.
The two Atlantic Division opponents will meet again in a month as the Independence host the Rowdies on Saturday, June 5th at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
Next on the Schedule: The Independence will travel to Patriots Point Stadium to take on the Charleston Battery on Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+.
Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ST. PETERSBURG (May 1, 2021) – Charlotte Independence fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-0 Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, in what was the first match for both sides in 2021 USL Championship play. The club will continue Atlantic Division play Friday, May 14 against the Charleston Battery (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
The Independence opened its campaign without veterans Enzo Martinez and Joel Johnson, as both players missed out on the Jacks’ trip to St. Petersburg. The full Starting XI: Brandon Miller (GK), Thomas de Villardi (LWB), Kevin Riascos (CB), Hugh Roberts (CB), Christian Dean (CB), Clay Dimick (RWB), Junior Etou (CM), Brandt Bronico (CM), Jake Areman (LW), Irvin Parra (ST), Marcelo Palomino (RW).
The Independence traded early blows with the hosts, with Irvin Parra getting to the byline and finding Jake Areman in the middle of the box who’s shot was deflected and went wide. Parra had another chance a few minutes later, getting on the end of a cross on the left but only to have his shot cut out and cleared. Despite numerous first-half chances at either end, both teams went into halftime locked 0-0.
In the second half, both teams battled for the opener, but ultimately it was the hosts that grabbed the game’s first goal through a penalty kick by Sebastián Guenzatti in the 58th minute.
Trailing 1-0, Independence head coach Mike Jeffries turned to his bench, bringing on Tresor Mbuyu for Parra and Noah Paravicini for Thomas de Villardi in the 62nd minute. While the Independence found some dangerous moments in transition, the team struggled to threaten inside Tampa Bay’s box. The Rowdies didn’t back down and added to its lead in the 77th minute as Guenzatti scored his second of the evening.
The Rowdies capped the scoring – a curling a shot from inside the box past the outstretched arm of Brandon Miller in the Independence net by Leo Fernandes – in the 79th minute.
The two Atlantic Division opponents will meet again in a month as the Independence host the Rowdies on Saturday, June 5th at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
Next on the Schedule: The Independence will travel to Patriots Point Stadium to take on the Charleston Battery on Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN+.
Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
Match: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charlotte Independence
Date: May 1, 2021
Venue: Al Lang Stadium
Competition: USL Championship
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
Match: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charlotte Independence
Date: May 1, 2021
Venue: Al Lang Stadium
Competition: USL Championship
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 0 0 0
TBR 0 3 3
TBR – Sebastián Guenzatti (Penalty) 58th minute
TBR – Sebastián Guenzatti (Forrest Lasso) 77th minute
TBR – Leo Fernandes (Guenzatti) 79th minute
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 0 0 0
TBR 0 3 3
TBR – Sebastián Guenzatti (Penalty) 58th minute
TBR – Sebastián Guenzatti (Forrest Lasso) 77th minute
TBR – Leo Fernandes (Guenzatti) 79th minute
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller(captain); 2-Kevin Riascos (5-Shalom Dutey, 88'), 3-Hugh Roberts, 17-Clay Dimick (35-Blake Pope, 78'), 88-Christian Dean, 4-Jake Areman, 6-Junior Etou, 13-Brandt Bronico, 14-Thomas de Villardi (11-Tresor Mbuyu, 62'), 8-Marcelo Palomino, 9-Irvin Parra (21-Noah Paravicini, 62')
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
TBR: GK: 1-Evan Louro; 5-Jordan Scarlett, 3-Forrest Lasso, 33-Aarón Guillén, 23-Jordan Doherty (4-Lewis Hilton, 45'), 22-Sebastian Dalgaard (11-Leo Fernandes, 65'), 2-William Conner Antley (21-Dayonn Harris, 86'), 27-Laurence Wyke, 8-Zach Steinberger (29-Matthew Srbely, 86'), 10-Steevan Dos Santos (17-Jordan Adebayo-Smith, 86'), 13-Sebastián Guenzatti(captain)
Subs Not Used: 56-Raiko Arozarena, 16-Max Lachowecki
Head Coach: Neill Collins
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller(captain); 2-Kevin Riascos (5-Shalom Dutey, 88′), 3-Hugh Roberts, 17-Clay Dimick (35-Blake Pope, 78′), 88-Christian Dean, 4-Jake Areman, 6-Junior Etou, 13-Brandt Bronico, 14-Thomas de Villardi (11-Tresor Mbuyu, 62′), 8-Marcelo Palomino, 9-Irvin Parra (21-Noah Paravicini, 62′)
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
TBR: GK: 1-Evan Louro; 5-Jordan Scarlett, 3-Forrest Lasso, 33-Aarón Guillén, 23-Jordan Doherty (4-Lewis Hilton, 45′), 22-Sebastian Dalgaard (11-Leo Fernandes, 65′), 2-William Conner Antley (21-Dayonn Harris, 86′), 27-Laurence Wyke, 8-Zach Steinberger (29-Matthew Srbely, 86′), 10-Steevan Dos Santos (17-Jordan Adebayo-Smith, 86′), 13-Sebastián Guenzatti(captain)
Subs Not Used: 56-Raiko Arozarena, 16-Max Lachowecki
Head Coach: Neill Collins
Stats Summary TBR / CLT:
Shots: 7 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 18
Offside: 2 / 3
Stats Summary TBR / CLT:
Shots: 7 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 18
Offside: 2 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
TBR – Zach Steinberger (caution) 35th minute
CLT – Jake Areman (caution) 40th minute
TBR – Sebastian Dalgaard (caution) 54th minute
CLT – Hugh Roberts (caution) 84th minute
Officials:
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referee: Brooke Mayo
Assistant Referee: Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
Misconduct Summary:
TBR – Zach Steinberger (caution) 35th minute
CLT – Jake Areman (caution) 40th minute
TBR – Sebastian Dalgaard (caution) 54th minute
CLT – Hugh Roberts (caution) 84th minute
Officials:
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referee: Brooke Mayo
Assistant Referee: Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
