USL PRO Game Report
Saturday, May 3, 2014
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Arizona United Soccer Club defeated Charlotte Eagles 2-1 and extended their undefeated match streak to three on Saturday night at the Peoria Sports Complex in front of 2,755 spectators. Kadeem Dacres and Bradlee Baladez found the back of the net for United before Jorge Herrera pulled a goal back for the Eagles.
Arizona enjoyed a strong first half, and scored its first goal as halftime approached. A ball played to defender Matt Kassel along the right wing from midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo sprung a United counter-attack in the 42nd minute. Kassel cut inside a defender and curled in a cross with his left foot. The ball bounced around in the penalty area before it fell to Dacres, who hammered in his first professional goal in only his second start of the season to give United a halftime lead.
After the restart, United continued to assert its dominance, and its persistence paid off in the 64th minute when defender Scott Morrison sent a cross into the penalty area from a free kick. The ball was headed to the back post by a Charlotte defender, where an unmarked Bryan Gallego waited. He took a touch and sent in a low cross through the six-yard area that was redirected into the back of the net by Baladez for his first goal of the season.
The two-goal deficit sparked new life into Charlotte as they looked more assertive over the final 20 minutes. The Eagles cut Arizona’s lead in half in the 76th minute when an aggressive attack up the middle of the pitch saw a ball that was deflected over Arizona United SC’s back line after a 50-50 challenge, and into empty space. Herrera ran up, collected the loose ball, and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Evan Newton.
Charlotte continued to force possession into Arizona ’s half in the final 15 minutes, but some timely saves by Newton and clever clearence by DelPiccolo in the dying seconds allowed United to hold onto the 2-1 lead as the final whistle blew.
Arizona United SC will take their three-match undefeated streak on the road this upcoming weekend as they face Richmond Kickers on Friday, May 9 before heading to Pennsylvania to take on Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday, May 10. Charlotte continues its west-coast road trip on Monday as they visit the LA Galaxy II at the StubHub Center Track Stadium.