(Boyds, MD) The Charlotte Eagles played their eleventh game of the regular season on the road tonight facing the Real Maryland Monarchs. Joseph Kabwe scored the lone goal of the match to earn Charlotte a 1-0 victory over the Monarchs and maintain the top spot in the USL-2.
Charlotte got off to a great start in the match. Veteran defender Josh Rife and forward Rob Ssejjemba combined for a great chance in which Rife narrowly missed to the left of goal from 18 yards away.
Real Maryland responded immediately, and in the 5th minute a partial clearance led to Ronald Cerritos attempting a dangerous volley which was just deflected out for a corner.
In the 31st minute, Charlotte had another great chance as Ssejjemba got free for a header but missed just over the crossbar. Once again, Maryland countered as midfield catalyst Dennis Alas got free on the right side. Alas played a ball across the goal, just out of reach of the sprawling Perez at the far post.
The Eagles and Monarchs found themselves deadlocked, 0-0 at the halftime whistle after a fairly even performance in the first half.
Maryland came out playing very well in the 2nd half, and should have taken the lead in the 49th minute. Alas struck a ferocious free kick from the right side which was saved by Boss. The rebound fell right to Maryland defender Andy Kish who had the entire goal at his disposal but he put the ball over the crossbar.
The missed chance seemed to deflate the home side as Charlotte began to gain control of the game. A mistake in defense by Marcos Chantal almost gave them the lead in the 53rd minute, but Jorge Hererra missed his chance at goal with a miss-hit shot.
In the 65th minute, some lazy defending by Maryland, coupled with questioning positioning by goalkeeper Emilio Zelaya, allowed the always dangerous Dustin Swineheart in behind the defense. Swinehart struck his shot high and wide of the goal.
Charlotte finally broke through in the 73rd minute. Defender Ben Johnson took a long throw-in from the right side, finding Dustin Swinehart at the near post. Swinehart flicked the ball on to the far post for Joseph Kabwe. Kabwe, eight yards out from goal, blasted a shot past Zelaya to take the 1-0 lead.
Alas had one last chance to pull Real Maryland even in the 86th minute when he sent one of his trademark, blistering free kicks just wide of the goal from 35 yards away.
Maryland pushed forward for the remaining minutes, which left them exposed in defense, but Zelaya made several saves to keep the game at 1-0. Charlotte earned its eighth win of season and the Monarchs slumped to their fourth straight league defeat.
The Charlotte Eagles are right back in action on Tuesday night for another US Open Cup match. This time, in the second round the Eagles face the Charleston Battery of the USL-1 at Charleston. The winner of the match will go on to face 2006 and 2007 MSL Cup champion Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. Should the Eagles win, they will host the Dynamo in Charlotte on July 1st.
Scoring Summary
Charlotte, Joe Kabwe (assist Dustin Swineheart) - 73rd minute
Discipline Summary:
Caution: Charlotte, Brady Bryant (UB) - 8th minute.
Caution: Maryland, Ronald Cerritos (FRD) - 72nd minute.
Caution: Maryland, Higueras (UB) - 90th minute.
Shots: Charlotte (12) Maryland (8)
Saves: Charlotte (2) Maryland (5)
Fouls: Charlotte (14) Maryland (15)
Corners: Charlotte (5) Maryland (4)
