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Late Own Goal Earns ATL Point With Charlotte

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 06/13/18, 9:15PM EDT

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Long-range strike catches out Dykstra, forces Independence to settle for draw


Photo courtesy Karl L. Moore / ATL UTD 2

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — After leading for 73 minutes an own goal saw the Charlotte Independence give up a winning position, forcing them to settle for a 1-1 draw with ATL UTD 2 at Coolray Field on Wednesday night. The visitors wasted no time opening the scoring, taking advantage of a corner as a header from Kevan George was deflected and fell for a wide open Eamon Zayed, who was able to easily put it past ATL’s U.S. U19 international goalkeeper Justin Garces, who made his professional debut on the night. After conceding the hosts were determined to get hold of the ball and threaten the Charlotte goal and held the bulk of the possession for the rest of the half, but they couldn’t find an equalizer. The Independence came out strongly from the break, pushing to find a second, but struggled to effectively pressure Garces and put the game to bed. The hosts gradually got back into the match and took charge of possession but struggled to find the equalizer until a stunner in the 78th minute. From 30 yards out Shawn Nicklaw was able to hit a powerful shot out of the reach of Charlotte goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra that then rebounded off the post, off Dykstra’s back and into the back of the net. Garces kept the match level in the 83rd minute when a quick free kick caught out the Atlanta defense as Charlotte's Alex Martinez had space to cross for Jorge Herrera whose shot was well-saved. The hosts could have stolen all three points in the final minute when a free kick from U.S. U20 international Andrew Carleton found forward Devon Sandoval, but the powerful forward sent his effort onto the post allowing Charlotte to clear. Both teams worked hard late, but with so little time remaining neither side was able to produce the winner in an entertaining match.

Scoring
6’ – CLT – Eamon Zayed
79’ – ATL – Andrew Dykstra (Own Goal)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. The Charlotte Independence saw their four-game road run come to an end in this match, finishing with a 2-1-1 record. That brought their overall away record to 2-3-1, the team will no doubt be happy to return home on Saturday where it has a stronger 4-1-2 record.

  • 2. Yet again ATL UTD 2 failed to overcome a halftime deficit, having been behind at the break seven times this season. This was just the second time the Georgia side was able to get a point after being behind at halftime, bringing its record when behind at the half to 0-5-2.

  • 3. The most dangerous combination in the USL has been Jorge Herrera and Cordell Cato, with 12 goals between them. The pair were easily kept quiet, ending Cato’s run of goals at three in three matches, which proved a notable factor as the game ended all square.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Andrew Carleton, ATL UTD 2 — Active all night, Carleton was key in starting a number of passages of play for the hosts, creating four chances in the match and winning 11 duels.

Upcoming Games:
ATL UTD 2
vs. Ottawa Fury FC — June 16, 7p.m. ET, Coolray Field
Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery — June 16, 7:30p.m. ET, Sportsplex at Matthews

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