ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Charlotte Independence, playing their final game at Winthrop University’s Eagle Field, closed their tenure at the venue with a 2-2 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday. Charlotte defender Dennis Castillo provided a second-half brace within a five-minute span to lead the host side. That put the Independence up, but Keith Savage would find an 83rd-minute equalizer for the Rowdies to split the points. Tampa Bay actually had a chance to win it with the final attempt of the match in stoppage time, but Tamika Mkandawire hit the right post in a dramatic final stretch. The Rowdies’ George Hristov opened the match with a penalty kick conversion. Charlotte moves to 3-2-3 (12 points) overall and 1-1-2 at home, while Tampa Bay is now 6-3-4 (22 points) overall and 1-2-3 on the road. Charlotte will play its home matches at the new Sportsplex at Matthews, starting on June 17 when the club welcomes the Harrisburg City Islanders.

Scoring:
25’ – TBR – Georgi Hristov (penalty)
51’ – CLT – Dennis Castillo (Donald Smith)
56’ – CLT – Dennis Castillo
83’ – TBR – Keith Savage (Michael Nanchoff)

• #CLTvTBR: Full match and Opta box score

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Colorado Rapids loanee and Independence defender Dennis Castillo had a memorable second half with his first two goals of the season to rally the host side. The right back is rarely an offensive spotlight among a roster that includes Jorge Herrera and brothers Enzo and Alex Martinez, but Castillo stepped up in the scoring department Sunday. Both tallies were superb – a 51st-minute, low-driven header off of Donald Smith’s corner kick from the right, followed by a blazing shot from the right side of the box in the 56th minute after the Rowdies’ defense partially cleared the Independence’s initial surge. 

• 2. The Rowdies were limited to only one shot on frame in the first 45 minutes. That one chance resulted in the sixth goal of the season for Georgi Hristov. It was a situation that the Independence could have avoided as Henry Kalungi took down Leo Fernandes on the left side of the box when he didn’t need to make a risky lunge. Tampa Bay took advantage with Hristov attempting the PK in the 25th minute. Hristov had a hesitating approach and Independence goalkeeper Cody Mizell was already cheating to his left before the shot. Hristov slotted the opposite direction into the left of the frame for a 1-0 advantage. With the late equalizer by Keith Savage from 14 yards out, he helped the Rowdies move to 5-1-2 when scoring the game’s first goal.

• 3. The opening half was peppered with near scoring chances for the Independence. Charlotte’s Lewis Hilton nearly had a goal in the 33rd minute. Whether the intention was to cross or shoot, Hilton’s delivery eluded Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens and caromed off of the left post. The Independence’s width was effective, whether it was Enzo Martinez dribbling his way into the box or his brother Alex Martinez with a couple chances from the left side. Unfortunately for Charlotte, the host side couldn’t find the back of the net in that opening stretch. The Independence found better fortune in the second half, though.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Dennis Castillo, Charlotte Independence – The right back came through with two second-half goals to rally Charlotte past a tough Rowdies side.

Upcoming Games:
Charlotte Independence at Louisville City FC – June 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, Slugger Field
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Rochester Rhinos – June 10, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium