CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence will try to rebound from their heaviest loss of the season on Thursday night at Eagle Field, but will face a strong challenge from a New York Red Bulls II side that is coming off a solid victory this past weekend. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
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Charlotte Independence news and notes
Current record: 1-2-2, 5pts
The Independence fell to a 4-0 defeat against the Rochester Rhinos in their last outing on April 29. The defeat was the largest regular-season loss in the club’s history, surpassing a 3-0 loss to the Richmond Kickers in 2015.
All eight of the regular-season defeats the Independence suffered in the 2016 season were by one goal margins.
Charlotte sits tied for third in the USL with a passing accuracy rate of 79 percent, but has recorded a league-fewest 48 shots in its five games so far this season.
Thursday’s game is the Independence’s penultimate contest at Eagle Field before it moves into its new permanent home at the SportsPlex at Matthews on June 17 against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
New York Red Bulls II news and notes
Current record: 3-2-2, 11pts
The Red Bulls II earned a 3-1 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders in their most recent outing on Saturday afternoon as Brandon Allen scored twice from the penalty spot.
Allen has now scored 25 goals in the USL regular season and postseason combined since his first professional start kicking off the 2016 season.
New York will be without Douglas Martinez, who notched his first goal for the club in Saturday’s win, after Martinez’s selection to Honduras’ U20 World Cup squad.
The Red Bulls II open a busy week on Thursday night, with the club set to return home to Red Bull Arena on Sunday night to face the LA Galaxy II for the first time.
Series Notes
Squads
Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Bilal Duckett, Henry Kalungi, Austin Yearwood, Donnie Smith, Joel Johnson, Luke Waechter, Jared Odenbeck, Dennis Castillo; M: Jun Marques Davidson, Yann Ekra, Jacob Bender, David Estrada, Zev Taublieb, Lewis Hilton, David Spies, Alex Martinez, Callum Ross; F: Enzo Martinez, Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj
New York – GK: Rafael Diaz, Evan Louro, Ryan Meara, Xavier Kennedy; D: Connor Lade, Justin Bilyeu, David Najem, Tim Schmoll, Kevin O'Toole, Hassan Ndam, David Abidor, Michael Murillo; M: Dan Metzger, Arun Basuljevic, Florian Valot, Andrew Tinari, Ben Mines, Vincent Bezecourt, Kazu Shigenobu, Omir Fernandez; F: Derrick Etienne Jr., Zeiko Lewis, Alex Muyl, Brandon Allen, Zach Ryan, Junior Flemmings
Discipline
Charlotte – None
New York – None
Officials
REF: DANIELLE CHESKY
AR1: Benjamin Wooten
AR2: Jordan Davis
4TH: Gregory Brigman
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Charlotte Independence – @CLTIndependence
New York Red Bulls II – @NYRBII
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