Goals were scored by #29 Dane Kelly and #9 Irvin Parra.
Goals were scored by #29 Dane Kelly and #9 Irvin Parra.
CHARLOTTE, NC (July 31, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies tonight by a score of 2-0 in their first win at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Charlotte Independence are on the road next week to face Loudoun United FC on Friday, August 6 at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Watch on ESPN+.
#29 Dane Kelly made his return to the starting lineup tonight after recovering from injury. He wasted no time and found the ball at his feet in just the 2nd minute of play. He drove into the box and made some cuts but was taken down by the Rowdies defender.
In the 29th minute, #19 Enzo Martinez made his way down the right side of the pitch. He put a low ball across the box at the feet #56 Sylvain Marveaux. His shot soared high above the crossbar.
Independence Goalkeeper #33 Brandon Miller came up with a big save in the 42nd minute off a shot from Tampa Bay which kept the score all tied up at 0-0 going into halftime.
"We felt like we had a very good half especially defensively,” stated Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “We actually felt as the first half wore on, that we started to push in their end and get decent half chances. I felt like we could continue that. During halftime we talked about changing shape and how we wanted to deal with Tampa and what they had to offer. It was great that we got off on a good foot. I think for the first minute we sort of had half chances and we were able to get at them and obviously the goal came pretty early so that was a huge confidence boost for us."
The Jacks came out in the second half looking to push the game. In the 47th minute, Martinez won the ball in the center of the park. He passed it up field to Kelly who took on one defender and slipped the shot past Rowdies Goalkeeper #1 Evan Louro.
"First of all it felt good to get that goal,” stated Kelly. “Like I said, we have been struggling the last three or four games. I know that the team depends on me to score goals, so my mentality was to go out there, work hard and try to score a goal."
#9 Irvin Parra scored the second goal of the night for the Independence with a left-footed strike. His goal came off an assist from the head of #2 Kevin Riascos. The final score: CLT 2 – TBR 0.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence are back on the road next week to face Loudoun United on Friday, August 6 at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Watch on ESPN+.
CHARLOTTE, NC (July 31, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies tonight by a score of 2-0 in their first win at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Charlotte Independence are on the road next week to face Loudoun United FC on Friday, August 6 at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Watch on ESPN+.
#29 Dane Kelly made his return to the starting lineup tonight after recovering from injury. He wasted no time and found the ball at his feet in just the 2nd minute of play. He drove into the box and made some cuts but was taken down by the Rowdies defender.
In the 29th minute, #19 Enzo Martinez made his way down the right side of the pitch. He put a low ball across the box at the feet #56 Sylvain Marveaux. His shot soared high above the crossbar.
Independence Goalkeeper #33 Brandon Miller came up with a big save in the 42nd minute off a shot from Tampa Bay which kept the score all tied up at 0-0 going into halftime.
“We felt like we had a very good half especially defensively,” stated Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “We actually felt as the first half wore on, that we started to push in their end and get decent half chances. I felt like we could continue that. During halftime we talked about changing shape and how we wanted to deal with Tampa and what they had to offer. It was great that we got off on a good foot. I think for the first minute we sort of had half chances and we were able to get at them and obviously the goal came pretty early so that was a huge confidence boost for us.”
The Jacks came out in the second half looking to push the game. In the 47th minute, Martinez won the ball in the center of the park. He passed it up field to Kelly who took on one defender and slipped the shot past Rowdies Goalkeeper #1 Evan Louro.
“First of all it felt good to get that goal,” stated Kelly. “Like I said, we have been struggling the last three or four games. I know that the team depends on me to score goals, so my mentality was to go out there, work hard and try to score a goal.”
#9 Irvin Parra scored the second goal of the night for the Independence with a left-footed strike. His goal came off an assist from the head of #2 Kevin Riascos. The final score: CLT 2 – TBR 0.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence are back on the road next week to face Loudoun United on Friday, August 6 at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Watch on ESPN+.
