Saturday, July 13, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles battled back to earn a 3-2 victory against the visiting Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday night at Queens Sports Complex. The Eagles now move into third place in the USL PRO standings with an 8-2-8 record and 32 points. Second-half goals from Jorge Herrera and Christian Meza were enough to secure the three points.
The Hammerheads struck first in the sixth minute as Daniel Steres took advantage of some miscommunication between Charlotte's defense and put the Hammerheads on top 1-0 early. The Hammerheads kept the offensive pressure and forced Eric Reed into a diving save on a corner kick.
The Eagles withstood the early Hammerheads pressure and equalized in the 31st minute as Paul Islas continued his impressive form for his new team. Islas, who joined the Eagles last month from the PDL's Fresno Fuego, took a through-ball and put the ball past an on rushing Troy Hernandez to level the score. The two teams traded possession for the remainder of the half, and the match went to the break tied 1-1.
Wilmington again pressured the Eagles at the start of the half and second half substitute Kyle Greig got on the end of Daniel Roberts' free kick to give Wilmington their second lead of the night in the 63rd minute.
Charlotte responded less than five minutes later as a Tommy Smith throw in was flicked to the back post by Fejiro Okiomah where Herrera was left alone, and his low shot tied the game 2-2. Herrera was in the middle of the game-winning goal for the Eagles as well as he took an excellent outlet pass from Samuel Asante and found Meza alone in front of the goal with six minutes to go to put the Eagles up 3-2.
The Hammerheads didn't quit and almost found the game-tying goal in stoppage time but their chance hit the crossbar and came back out. The Eagles were able to see out the remaining time, and extend their undefeated streak to nine games as it jumped past the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Charlotte will return home to face the Dayton Dutch Lions on Saturday, July 20th at 7 pm. Tickets are available on www.CharlotteEagles.com.