#22 Chrsitian Fuchs scored his first goal of the season with the Jacks.
#22 Chrsitian Fuchs scored his first goal of the season with the Jacks.
BIRMINGHAM, A.L. (September 26, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence fell 2-1 this evening at BBVA Field against Birmingham Legion FC. Your Jacks are on the road again Thursday, September 30 to face Atlantic Division opponent, Hartford Athletic. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Watch on ESPN+.
Possession was back and forth early with both teams stringing together passes and finding their rhythm within the match. Your Jacks got on the scoreboard first after back to back corner kicks were awarded in the 16th minute. #8 Marcelo Palomino put a service into the near post and found the head of #22 Christian Fuchs. He flicked it up and over the Birmingham Legion FC Goalkeeper, #1 Matt Van Oekel. Fuchs scored his first goal of the season and your Jacks took the early lead, 1-0.
“I’m very happy to have scored my first goal for the club,” stated Fuchs. “It’s always a special moment in a player’s career. We are on a good way. There will always be hick-ups along the road, but the most important is not to lose focus and keep pushing forward. We are looking up in the table and focusing on the games ahead. We have it in our own hands to make it into the playoffs and will try our best to achieve this goal.”
Later in the half, the Independence lost possession in the midfield which led to several passes in and around the box by the Birmingham offense. It was #1 Neco Brett who ultimately took the shot and found the lower left corner of the net. The score was tied going into halftime, 1-1.
The Charlotte Independence back line did well in the second half to hold off some early chances by Birmingham with #3 Hugh Roberts making a big tackle in the 53rd minute to break up a counter attack at the top of the box.
#32 Gabriel Obertan entered the match in the 54th minute and just ten minutes later found his first look at goal. He collected the ball inside the box and took a strike across frame, but missed just wide.
Birmingham Legion FC scored their second goal of the night in the 70th minute when #12 Eli Crognale took a chance at a shot from distance. The ball dipped over Independence Goalkeeper, #1 Austin Pack, and into the back of the net.
Your Jacks had one final look at goal in the 83rd minute off a cross from #12 Adam Armour which flew just high over the head of #29 Dane Kelly. The final score, BHM 2 – CLT 1.
“We put a lot into the game, so obviously very disappointed not to get anything out of it,” stated Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “We started pretty well, it was great to get the early goal, but we hurt ourselves with a mistake on the equalizing goal. I felt like it was just a really hard fought battle throughout. We had good chances, good half chances but didn’t finish. They also were able to push the game and they made a play that made the difference. I thought we pushed really hard to get back to 2-2, but we weren’t able to quite do it. So, a tough night and we have to move on to the next one.”
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Your Jacks are on the road again Thursday, September 30 to face Atlantic Division opponent, Hartford Athletic. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Watch on ESPN+.
BIRMINGHAM, A.L. (September 26, 2021) – The Charlotte Independence fell 2-1 this evening at BBVA Field against Birmingham Legion FC. Your Jacks are on the road again Thursday, September 30 to face Atlantic Division opponent, Hartford Athletic. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Watch on ESPN+.
Possession was back and forth early with both teams stringing together passes and finding their rhythm within the match. Your Jacks got on the scoreboard first after back to back corner kicks were awarded in the 16th minute. #8 Marcelo Palomino put a service into the near post and found the head of #22 Christian Fuchs. He flicked it up and over the Birmingham Legion FC Goalkeeper, #1 Matt Van Oekel. Fuchs scored his first goal of the season and your Jacks took the early lead, 1-0.
“I’m very happy to have scored my first goal for the club,” stated Fuchs. “It’s always a special moment in a player’s career. We are on a good way. There will always be hick-ups along the road, but the most important is not to lose focus and keep pushing forward. We are looking up in the table and focusing on the games ahead. We have it in our own hands to make it into the playoffs and will try our best to achieve this goal.”
Later in the half, the Independence lost possession in the midfield which led to several passes in and around the box by the Birmingham offense. It was #1 Neco Brett who ultimately took the shot and found the lower left corner of the net. The score was tied going into halftime, 1-1.
The Charlotte Independence back line did well in the second half to hold off some early chances by Birmingham with #3 Hugh Roberts making a big tackle in the 53rd minute to break up a counter attack at the top of the box.
#32 Gabriel Obertan entered the match in the 54th minute and just ten minutes later found his first look at goal. He collected the ball inside the box and took a strike across frame, but missed just wide.
Birmingham Legion FC scored their second goal of the night in the 70th minute when #12 Eli Crognale took a chance at a shot from distance. The ball dipped over Independence Goalkeeper, #1 Austin Pack, and into the back of the net.
Your Jacks had one final look at goal in the 83rd minute off a cross from #12 Adam Armour which flew just high over the head of #29 Dane Kelly. The final score, BHM 2 – CLT 1.
“We put a lot into the game, so obviously very disappointed not to get anything out of it,” stated Charlotte Independence Head Coach, Mike Jeffries. “We started pretty well, it was great to get the early goal, but we hurt ourselves with a mistake on the equalizing goal. I felt like it was just a really hard fought battle throughout. We had good chances, good half chances but didn’t finish. They also were able to push the game and they made a play that made the difference. I thought we pushed really hard to get back to 2-2, but we weren’t able to quite do it. So, a tough night and we have to move on to the next one.”
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Your Jacks are on the road again Thursday, September 30 to face Atlantic Division opponent, Hartford Athletic. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Watch on ESPN+.
