A hat trick by the Charlotte Independence’s Enzo Martinez, along with missed chances when trailing, foiled Louisville City FC’s bid Saturday night for a return to first place in the USL Eastern Conference standings.
An MVP candidate in 2016, Martinez scored twice in the first half and again in the second to secure a 3-1 result at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, N.C.
Either side would have moved to the top of the table with a victory following the Charleston Battery’s defeat earlier Saturday. The Independence, now on an 11-game unbeaten streak, made the most of the opportunity on an uncharacteristic night for LouCity.
“We’ve completely dominated the game, but we lifted off at really key moments,” said coach James O’Connor. “They could’ve had four attacks and scored three goals. The goals were, from their standpoint, they’re going to be really pleased. But from our standpoint, we really need to be better than to concede goals like that.
“…We’ve been given a very harsh lesson tonight, because we played some good football, but at the end of the game we’ve been beaten. We need to be better and stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Martinez slipped behind the defense —one that had allowed just 17 goals in 18 games entering the weekend — for an 11th-minute goal. A poor touch in LouCity’s defensive half set up Martinez’s second. second scoring strike.
Then momentum turned.
Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye managed an answer in the 48th minute, finishing a ball played through from teammate Niall McCabe for his first USL goal of the year. There were other chances as well, including Kaye’s touch on goal in the 67th minute saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Cody Mizell. Forward Cameron Lancaster headed the rebound, and the Independence managed to clear that shot off the line as well.
“I had a talk with (coaches) James O’Connor and Daniel Byrd and they told me what I needed to do — work behind the ball, get behind the ball when I don’t have it and bring more intensity to the game,” Kaye said. “I realized when I came in that I had an opportunity to change the game, and that’s what I wanted to do. I was in a good position on the goal and scored, but I think as a team and for me, myself, we could have done much better.”
Ultimately, LouCity didn’t find the back of the net again, and its efforts pushing players up led to a dangerous Charlotte counter. Martinez completed his hat trick in the 80th minute before booked for a second yellow card — and sending off — for leaving the field in celebration.
By then, it was too late in the going for LouCity to pull even while up a man.
“I feel like we played really well,” said midfielder Guy Abend. “We had control over the game. But we made some critical mistakes that cost us, and it just feels like we missed a big opportunity tonight.”
Forward Luke Spencer used his size to hold up possession and saw multiple looks at the face of goal. Oscar Jimenez put both his shots on target, and Abend had a try from distance sail over the bar.
The final stats read with familiarity. LouCity out-shot the Independence by a 13-7 margin. Charlotte only put three shots on goal; all of them went in. And possession was held 58 percent of the time by the visitors.
That was even after facing some adversity. In the 27th minute, captain and midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo called for an early substitution. O’Connor elected to rest Brian Ownby, one of LouCity’s most prolific attackers, and winger George Davis IV missed a second consecutive game on his way back from a minor knee tweak.
“I think we’re a short team for a reason,” Abend said. “Every player can be put in every position pretty much. Our subs — take Luke for example last week — come in and impact the game. Mark did the same today. I feel like everyone’s pretty much on the same level, and they show it on a weekly basis.”
Squad management will be key this week before LouCity gets a visit from rival FC Cincinnati, a matchup between teams in playoff positions. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Slugger Field.
Game Summary
Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Louisville City FC
Date: August 5, 2017
Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews
Kickoff: 7:05pm
Attendance: 2,648
LouCity Man of the Match: Mark-Anthony Kaye
Scoring
Charlotte Independence (2, 1, 3)
Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)
Goals
Charlotte Independence
11’ Enzo Martinez (assisted by Callum Ross)
44’ Enzo Martinez
80’ Enzo Martinez (assisted by Donald Smith)
Louisville City FC
48’ Mark-Anthony Kaye (assisted by Niall McCabe)
Lineups
Charlotte Independence: Cody Mizell, Smith, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Henry Kalungi, Callum Ross, David Estrada (David Spies- 76’), Jun Marques Davidson, Lewis Hilton (Yann Ekra- 59’), Enzo Martinez, Alex Martinez (Luke Waechter- 90’+6)
Subs not used: Kainoa Likewise, Ashani Fairclough, Jaime Siaj, Casey Townsend
Head coach: Mike Jeffries
Louisville City FC: Tim Dobrowolski, Paco Craig, Sean Totsch, Tarek Morad, Kyle Smith, Guy Abend, Paolo, DelPiccolo (Mark-Anthony Kaye- 27’), Luke, Spencer (Cameron Lancaster- 62’), Niall McCabe (Richard Ballard- 71’), Devon “Speedy” Williams, Oscar Jimenez
Subs not used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Sean Reynolds, Brain Ownby, Ilijia Ilic
Head coach: James O’Connor
Discipline
Charlotte Independence
1’ Enzo Martinez – Yellow Card
65’ Henry Kalungi – Yellow Card
68’ Alex Martinez – Yellow Card
80’ Enzo Martinez – Second Yellow Card
Louisville City FC
40’ Kyle Smith – Yellow Card
68’ Devon “Speedy” Williams – Yellow Card
68’ Paolo DelPiccolo – Yellow Card
75’ Paco Criag – Yellow Card
90’+ Mark-Anthony Kaye – Yellow Card
Stats
Charlotte Independence / Louisville City FC
Shots: 7 / 13
Shots on target: 3 / 5
Possession: 41.7% / 58.3%
Passes: 379 / 510
Corners: 1 / 8
Fouls: 14 / 18
Officials
Referee: Christopher Spivey
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Barnes
Assistant Referee 2: John Rush
4th Official: Benjamin Ellis
