USL PRO Game Report
Friday, April 25, 2014
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Chicago Fire Reserves rallied from an early two-goal deficit as they defeated the Charlotte Eagles 3-2 on Friday night at Trans America Field at UNC-Charlotte. Juan Luis Anangono had a pair of goals for the Fire Reserves, including the game-winner, after the Eagles took the lead on goals by Zak Boggs and Jorge Herrera.
The game opened slowly in the first 10 minutes, but the Eagles opened up the scoring in the 12th minute when Matt Gold began a counter-attack from the Eagles defensive third and found Herrera, who sent a through-ball to a streaking Boggs in the right channel. The former New England Revolution forward hammered his finish past the Chicago's Kyle Reynish for the early lead.
The Eagles were quick to strike again when less than three minutes after the opening goal Herrera took a through-ball from Drew Yates and slotted it home in the 15th minute.
The game's first 20 minutes did not go as expected as the Fire Reserves started a number of regular starters due to the club's bye week in Major League Soccer. Chicago would get on the board in the 21st minute when Anangono put the Fire Reserves on the board as he slipped one past Charlotte goalkeeper Doug Herrick as he came out to intercept the shot.
The Fire Reserves struck again in first-half stoppage time to tie the game just beforethe break as Quincy Amarikwa was able to beat Herrick to a pass into the penalty area, and then coolly finished from the left side of the penalty area.
The second half started off slowly as well, but the Fire Reserves took their first lead of the game in the 54th minute when Anangono tallied his second goal of the night off an assist from Harry Shipp, which ended up being the match winner.
Charlotte had a myriad of chances late in the game. The best of those came in the 90th minute when Tyrone Hall had a header which was denied by Reynish, but the Fire Reserves would hold on and hand the Eagles their second defeat of the season.
The Eagles take a six-game road trip before returning to Queens Sports Complex on May 31st. Follow all of the Eagles away games LIVE at www.youtube.com/charlotteeaglessc and on Twitter at @CharlotteEagles.