Friday, June 21, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Eagles earned a 1-0 victory against visiting VSI Tampa Bay FC in USL PRO action on Friday night. Charlotte’s Sergio Villasenor scored in the 74th minute and goalkeeper, Eric Reed, recorded his fifth shutout of the season.
The Eagles controlled the offensive pressure early on as Jorge Herrera found Fejiro Okiomah, but his header missed the mark. Okiomah was active from set pieces all night but never found the back of the net. Herrera took a Christian Ramirez back-heel pass in the 11th minute, but his shot didn’t beat VSI Tampa Bay’s Alex Horwath and the match remained scoreless. Samuel Asante kept the pressure on the Tampa Bay defense as he dribbled around Sean Reynolds, but again his shot was denied by Horwath.
Mauricio Salles had Tampa Bay’s best chance of the first half, but his header was deflected out for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick the ball found Shawn Chin at the top of the box, but his shot sailed high and wide. Late in the first half Herrera again found Okiomah on the corner kick, only for the defender’s header to go off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Salles started the second half with some excitement as his attempted bicycle kick was handled by Eric Reed, but it was Charlotte's second-half substitutes Tommy Smith and Sergio Villasenor who combined for the game’s only goal in the 74th minute. Villasenor took possession on the left wing and played a ball to Smith, who played a nice give-and-go back to Villasenor, who was able to flick the ball over an onrushing Horwath.
A few minutes later Charlotte almost added a second goal as Brady Bryant, returning from a knee injury, took the ball from the midfield and sent a rocket just high of the Tampa net. The one goal would prove to be enough, however, as Charlotte won its second consecutive game.
Charlotte’s victory moves them past Dayton, which plays in Phoenix later on Friday night, into a tie for sixth place with Los Angeles. The Eagles' record now stands at 5-2-5. The Eagles now travel to Wilmington to take on the Hammerheads on Saturday night at 7:30 pm.
Keep that Orange Flag Flying High and be sure to tune in to USLNation.com tomorrow night to catch the Eagles and Hammerheads!