Saturday, July 7, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles claimed back-to-back wins this weekend as they took a 1-0 victory against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night at Charlotte Christian Stadium. The victory was the Eagles fourth in a row as they continued their push to playoff contention, moving into seventh place in the USL PRO standings just three points behind the Richmond Kickers.
Charleston had the first opportunity in the 12th minute when Ryan Richter drilled a shot from just outside the penalty area. Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Reed read it well and was able to make the save. The Battery, who fell for the third consecutive contest, came out energetically after falling at home to the Eagles on Friday night, and Dane Kelly had his shot in the 29th minute also denied by Reed.
The Eagles would would take the lead in the 36th minute, however, as Cheyne Roberts crossed a ball into the penalty area and Darryl Roberts volleyed the ball into the net, putting the Eagles ahead 1-0. The goal was Darryl Roberts' team-leading fourth of the season, and the Eagles held the lead to the halftime break.
As the game wore on, it opened up at both ends. Charlotte came close to doubling its lead in the 71st minute as Jorge Herrera hit the post, and the Battery came close shortly afterwards on the counter-attack with a pair of shots, only for the Eagles to clear their lines. Charlotte hit the post again late in the contest, Christian Meza going close to this third goal for the club, but late on the Eagles needed some big saves from Reed, most notably to deny Jose Cuevas, to hold onto their victory.
The Eagles remain home next weekend as they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Charlotte Christian Stadium on Saturday night at 8 p.m. The Battery return home to host the Wilmington Hammerheads next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Blackbaud Stadium.