Tuesday, April 23, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Eagles fought back from an early 1-0 deficit to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Orlando City in Tuesday night USL PRO action at Queens University Stadium. Nate Thornton's 90th-minute equalizer earned Charlotte a draw and allowed it to stay undefeated at 1-0-2. Orlando City moved one point ahead of the Los Angeles Blues atop the USL PRO standings at 3-1-1.
The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the physical contest, with a well-placed corner from Winger Luke Boden finding an unmarked Dom Dwyer in the box for the header and goal in the eighth minute. Dwyer, who’s currently on loan from Orlando’s Major League Soccer affiliate Sporting Kansas City, whipped his conversion into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The goal was Dwyer’s third of the regular season, which ties him for team and league bests with Midfielder Jamie Watson.
Orlando City continued to create several chances in the first half, though the Eagles put some pressure on the Lions late in the half. Shaun Francis forced a diving save by Lions goalkeeper Sean Kelley in the 29th minute, and Thornton found Christian Meza who put the Eagles' best chance in the first half just wide of the post in the 37th minute.
Charlotte came out of halftime with a more active attack, putting pressure on the Orlando backline. Christian Ramirez tested Kelley in the 63rd minute mark but sent his shot just over the bar. The Eagles kept the pressure up and forced a number of saves from Kelley as the second half wore on.
Charlotte finally capitalized in the closing minutes of play. A long ball by an Eagles defender found Thornton near goal, and a costly defensive miscommunication allowed him to weave around Kelley and easily slot home the equalizer in the 90th minute.
The Eagles will be back in action against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Queens Sports Complex at 7 p.m. Friday, while the Lions are back home at 7:30 p.m. Saturday to face the Dayton Dutch Lions at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl.