Goals by #21 Rayan Djedje (15’) and #9 Dane Kelly (22’)
WINDSOR, C.O. (July 5, 2023) – The Charlotte Independence waited out a 90 minute weather delay before falling 3-2 to Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on the road on Tuesday, July 4. The Jacks return home for the first time in over a month on Sunday, July 9 to take on Lexington SC at 7:00PM.
The Independence took a two-goal lead in the first half but could not hold on for the victory. Two goals are the most Northern Colorado has conceded in a single game at home this season after only allowing one in the previous four home matches.
“I thought the guys showed a great mentality to come out from a weather delay,” Head Coach Mike Jeffries explained about the circumstances. “We started on the front foot and managed the game really well for the first 30 minutes. The own goal was really unfortunate and maybe turned the tide of the game a little bit, and then to concede the second one right after that really hurt us.”
It was a back and forth start as both sides were attacking. In the 9th minute, the Independence won a header off a Hailstorm goal kick, sending #11 Tresor Mbuyu sprinting down the left side towards goal. His cross along the face of goal was cleared out of danger.
The Jacks struck first in the 15th minute with #21 Rayan Djedje’s second goal of the season off a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.
It was quickly 2-0 in the 22nd minute as a throw-in from #17 Clay Dimick around midfield bypassed Mbuyu into the path of #9 Dane Kelly who fired a shot into the back of the net.
“Coming out of the weather delay to start the game, we were mentally ready and started on the front foot going 2-0 up,” Dimick said. “We need to put that same mentality and performance together for a full 90 minutes, which we are more than capable of.”
An own goal directly off a corner kick in the 38th minute provided Northern Colorado a lifeline before halftime. The score was tied in the 43rd minute after #9 Trevor Amann slotted a penalty kick.
“We conceded really soft goals and allowed them to get back in the game without really having to break us down,” Jeffries commented.
Halftime: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2, Charlotte Independence 2.
Neither team threatened seriously in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the Hailstorm took the lead 3-2 in the 70th minute with a corner kick served by #14 Arthur Rodgers off the head of Amann.
The Independence made multiple substitutions in the second half looking for something different in the lineup, but Northern Colorado limited the offensive pressure by the Jacks.
“I think we took our foot off the pedal and allowed them back into the game,” Kelly shared.
In the dying seconds of stoppage time, #1 Austin Pack headed an attempt toward goal off a corner kick, but it was deflected away by the defense.
Full time: Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 3, Charlotte Independence 2.
“We gave away a two goal lead and got nothing out of a performance we put a lot into,” Jeffries said.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: The Charlotte Independence return home to American Legion Memorial Stadium to face Lexington SC on Sunday, July 9 at 7:00PM. Tickets are available at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/charlotteindependence/buytickets/.
