RBNY II halts Independence, 2:0
September 13, 2019 (Official Game Summary)
Jared Stroud notched a goal and assist as Red Bulls II took a three-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference with victory against the Independence at MSU Soccer Park.
The Red Bulls II had the first big chance of the game in the 13th minute when Stroud had a shot denied by Independence goalkeeper Brandon Milller. Two minutes later, a Charlotte turnover in midfield allowed Chris Lema to set up Mathias Jorgensen for a breakaway finish and the Dane's ninth goal of the season.
Charlotte's first chance came in the 27th minute, when Jorge Herrera's shot from 20 yards was easily saved by New York goalkeeper Evan Louro. The Independence had a late chance in the first half on a header by Vincent Sabella that Louro got across to handle as it approached the left corner. Charlotte almost leveled just after halftime as Herrera was played into space after a turnover, but Louro came off his line quickly to turn wide the Colombian's low effort.
Jorgensen tried to add his second of the night just before the hour-mark only for Miller to get down and save on a shot to the left corner. The Independence almost found an equalizer with 21 minutes to go as a deep cross from then right fell to Brendan McDonough, but the defender wasn't quite able to turn his finish on target from the left side of the six-yard area.
Stroud then went close to doubling Red Bulls II's lead with a low shot from 20 yards that Miller parried. Jorgensen forced Miller to turn a volley over the crossbar after a clever through-ball by Lema. With seven minutes to go, Stroud produced the insurance goal for the hosts with a beautiful shot from 25 yards that picked out the top-right corner of the net and sealed the victory.
|
