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Gameday Report: June 8, Week 14

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/08/19, 7:15PM EDT

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NCFC halts Rowdies' unbeaten start; Republic FC hands New Mexico first home loss

Two goals from Dre Fortune helped North Carolina FC hand the Tampa Bay Rowdies their first loss of the season in a 3-1 victory on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Elsewhere in the East, Callum Irving's stoppage-time penalty save helped Ottawa Fury FC extend its unbeaten streak to seven games with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, while the Charleston Battery, Hartford Athletic and Louisville City FC earned wins on home turf.

In the West, Sacramento Republic FC moved into the playoff places by handing New Mexico United its first home loss of the season, while San Antonio FC rallied from two goals down to defeat Reno 1868 FC 3-2 at Toyota Field. Elsewhere, El Paso Locomotive FC and Real Monarchs SLC earned decisive home victories and 10-man Orange County SC rallied for a 1-1 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field.  

 

Las vegas lights fc (1) v orange county sc (1)

LAS VEGAS – Despite playing with 10 men for an entire half, Orange County SC rallied to earn a point against Lights FC. The visitors had the first chance of the evening fall to them as Michael Seaton worked his way down the left flank and forced a save from Las Vegas goalkeeper Thomas Olsen with a tight-angle shot from close range. The hosts opened the scoring with six minutes remaining in the first half as Javan Torre’s pass to Irvin Parra beat the offside trap and Lights FC’s leading scorer tucked the ball past Patrick McLain from a narrow angle. Orange County’s task got even harder in first-half stoppage time as Joe Amico was sent off for violent conduct away from the play. The two teams traded chances just after halftime as Parra played Preston Tabort Etaka through on goal, but the forward couldn’t convert from a narrow angle in the 50th minute. OCSC had the ball in the back of the net two minutes later, but Daniel Crisostomo was ruled to be in an offside position when he volleyed home from the top of the box after Harry Forrester’s initial free kick had struck the Las Vegas wall. However, the visitors would find their equalizer from a long-throw routine in the 70th minute as the initial pass was flicked on and Leonardo rose highest inside the six-yard box to head past Olsen. Tabort Etaka though he had restored Lights FC’s advantage two minutes later when he slotted a curling finish into the bottom-right corner, but the linesman raised his flag for offsides. McLain made a strong save in stoppage time to keep out a potential own goal and Orange County carved out one last chance in the 96th minute but Liam Trotter skied his shot with just Olsen to beat as the two sides settled for a point apiece.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Leonardo, Orange County SC – The defender scored the equalizing goal, completed 85 percent of his passes and made five recoveries to help OCSC pick up a hard-fought point at Cashman Field.

 

fresno fc (1) v okc energy fc (1)

FRESNO, Calif. – For the second time this week, Deshorn Brown helped Energy FC battle back for a road point. Fresno started off the game brightly and was rewarded in the eighth minute when Jemal Johnson fired an unstoppable left-footed blast from 30 yards out past OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi and into the bottom-right corner. The two sides traded chances shortly after the opener as Energy FC’s Alexy Bosetti dribbled past a defender and tested Fresno goalkeeper CJ Cochran from distance with a left-footed effort, before Qudus Lawal just missed the target with a back-post header after getting under Juan Pablo Caffa’s left-wing cross. Fresno had a good chance to double its advantage seven minutes before halftime as Lawal produced a good bit of hold-up play to send Arun Basuljevic through on goal, but Laurendi stood tall to keep out his high and hard shot. The Energy FC goalkeeper made another strong save to deny Johnson again six minutes after halftime as the Fresno forward cut inside a defender and rifled another left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area. The hosts were made to pay for their inability to kill the game off in the 78th minute when Brown controlled Omar Gordon’s right-wing delivery and found the bottom-left corner with a right-footed shot to earn his side a point.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jemal Johnson, Fresno FC – Johnson scored a stunning goal, recorded five shots in total and completed 88 percent of his passes to help Fresno earn a point at Chukchansi Park.

 

real monarchs slc (5) v rio grande valley fc (3)

HERRIMAN, Utah – The Monarchs used a strong offensive performance to power past RGVFC. The home side got things going in the 13th minute when Douglas Martinez chested down Ricardo Avila’s cross-field pass and chipped RGVFC goalkeeper Michael Nelson. The Monarchs extended their lead to three with two goals in quick succession as Josh Heard capitalized on a corner kick by tapping home from close range before Maikel Chang beat Nelson at his near post with a low, left-footed drive from just outside the penalty area. The Toros started to mount a comeback on the hour-mark as they executed a short corner kick routine to perfection with Robert Coronado crossing from the left and Michael Salazar rising highest at the back post to head past Monarchs goalkeeper Andrew Putna. Chang turned provider with 14 minutes remaining as he danced around defenders at the top of the area and expertly slid a through ball to Martinez, who found the bottom-right corner for his second goal of the night. RGVFC gave itself a glimmer of hope in the 83rd minute as Carlos Small headed home Isidro Martinez free kick, but Noah Powder’s dipping and swerving free kick flew past Nelson with two minutes to go to essentially seal the game. Small did strike a second time for the visitors with an acrobatic volley in stoppage time, but it was too late to rescue the damage done at the other end.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Douglas Martinez, Real Monarchs SLC – Martinez recorded two goals and an assist as the Monarchs matched their highest-scoring performance of the season against RGVFC.

 

new mexico united (0) v sacramento republic fc (3)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A brace from Cameron Iwasa helped Republic FC hand United its first home loss of the season. The visitors had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute after Justin Schmidt fouled Iwasa in the box and the forward slotted his spot kick into the bottom-right corner to give Sacramento an early advantage. New Mexico nearly found its equalizer six minutes after halftime as Austin Yearwood’s left-wing cross found Kenny Akamatsu at the back post and the midfielder rifled a right-footed shot off the near post. Between the sticks, Josh Cohen was probably worried again two minutes later when Santi Moar cut in from the left wing and fired at goal, but the Republic FC goalkeeper got behind the ball and then pounced on it in traffic before United could get to the rebound. Sacramento doubled its lead with 13 minutes remaining after New Mexico thought it had cleared its lines from a free kick but midfielder Ray Saari pinged a pass to the back post and Matt Mahoney headed home from the right side of the six-yard box. The visitors put the game on ice in the 90th minute when Drew Skundrich set up Iwasa with a nifty cutback before the forward placed the ball into the top-right corner to seal the three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC – Iwasa scored a pair of goals to help Republic FC earn a much-needed road victory and move into the playoff positions.

 

el paso locomotive fc (3) v la galaxy ii (0)

EL PASO, Texas – Two goals from Jerome Kiesewetter powered Locomotive FC past the 10-men Galaxy II. El Paso nearly got things started in the 21st minute as Louis Herrera fired a beautiful curling effort from outside the box, but Galaxy II goalkeeper Justin vom Steeg just got his fingertips to the ball to keep it out of the top-right corner. The hosts continued to apply the pressure as Nick Ross tried a similar curling effort from just inside the penalty area 17 minutes later but saw his effort bounce back off the post. Locomotive FC finally got its opener with two minutes remaining in the first half as James Kiffe’s low, left-wing cross found Kiesewetter streaking in front of his defender and the forward tucked his first-time shot just inside the near post. The way back for the Galaxy II got even harder 10 minutes after the break as Brian Iloski was sent off after a powerful late challenge on El Paso midfielder Richie Ryan. The hosts took their time killing the game off but did so in the end as Kiesewetter volleyed home his second of the night from close range with three minutes remaining and Omar Salgado curled a left-footed shot into the corner a minute later to give Locomotive FC a convincing victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jerome Kiesewetter, El Paso Locomotive FC – Kiesewetter continued his fine run of form with two more goals as Locomotive FC defeated the 10-men Galaxy II at Southwest University Park.

 

austin bold fc (2) v portland timbers 2 (2)

AUSTIN, Texas – Portland battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point in Austin. Bold FC had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 15th minute as a mishandle from T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh fell right at the feet of Kris Tyrpak, but last weekend’s hat-trick hero fired the rebound over the crossbar with the goal gaping. The hosts recovered to take the lead just four minutes later as André Lima headed Tyrpak’s left-wing cross over the outstretched arm of McIntosh and into the roof of the net. Austin continued to apply the pressure as Sonny Guadarrama struck the crossbar in the 24th minute before setting up Tyrpak for a lunging header at the back post to give his side a 2-0 lead nine minutes later. The Timbers 2 responded two minutes before halftime as Eryk Williamson played a give-and-go with Foster Langsdorf before dispatching a powerful right-footed shot past Bold FC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. His opposite number McIntosh kept Portland in the game with a pair of big saves shortly after the break to deny Josue Soto’s shot from distance and Tyrpak in a one-on-one break. The visitors equalized with nine minutes remaining as Todd Wharton deflected a lazy pass into the path of Langsdorf, who saw his initial shot saved but Wharton followed up to fire home the rebound to level the contest. Kleber forced on last solid save out of McIntosh with two minutes remaining as the hosts pushed for a winner, but the sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Kris Tyrpak, Austin Bold FC – Tyrpak scored a goal, added an assist and recorded five shots in total to help Austin earn a home point against the Timbers 2.

 

san antonio FC (3) v reno 1868 fc (2)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – San Antonio battled back from two goals down to beat 1868 FC at Toyota Field. The hosts had the first chance of the game from an indirect free kick inside the penalty area, but Jack Barmby couldn’t find the target with a rising left-footed effort. 1868 FC capitalized on that missed opportunity in the ninth minute when Corey Hertzog produced a sublime first time finish to Raul Mendiola’s chipped pass to lob SAFC goalkeeper Matt Cardone from just inside the box for his 50th career regular-season goal. Reno doubled its advantage eight minutes later when 15-year-old Cade Cowell became the second-youngest goalscorer in league history when he intercepted a pass inside the SAFC penalty area and picked out the bottom-right corner with a right-footed finish. Mendiola could have made it three with a volley from close range just before the half-hour mark, but instead it was the hosts that got themselves back into the game right before halftime as Ever Guzmán headed Kai Greene’s right-wing cross past Matt Bersano to cut the deficit in half. SAFC midfielder Ethan Bryan struck the post with a long-range shot in the 56th minute but then saw another effort five minutes later squeeze past Bersano after Reno had failed to clear its lines from a corner kick. Just over 60 seconds later, San Antonio was in the lead as Barmby played Jose Gallegos in on goal and the substitute cut inside his defender before firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Cardone made the lead stand up from there, denying Daniel Musovski’s volley from a long throw-in routine with 10 minutes to play as San Antonio picked up a much-needed three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jack Barmby, San Antonio FC – The midfielder recorded an assist, made seven key passes and completed 72 percent of his passes overall to help San Antonio to an impressive comeback victory.

 

Memphis 901 fc (0) v indy eleven (3)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Eleven eased to victory against 901 FC at AutoZone Park. The visitors opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark as Kenney Walker’s long ball found Thomas Enevoldsen on the left wing and the forward created a yard of space between him and his defender before expertly curling a right-footed shot off the post and into the bottom-right corner for his third league goal of the season. Memphis nearly responded three minutes later as Wesley Charpie got behind the Indy defense and squared the ball for Elliot Collier, who skied his first-time shot from the center of the area. Kim Do-Heon doubled the Eleven’s lead seven minutes after halftime from free kick as his low, right-footed effort caught a big deflection on its way past 901 FC goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell. Indy extended its advantage to three just before the hour-mark when Dane Kelly got behind the Memphis defense and unselfishly squared the ball across to Tyler Pasher, who took a touch before sweeping the ball into the open side. Collier tested Eleven goalkeeper Evan Newton with a tight-angle shot shortly after the goal and Jochen Graf forced another stop with a header moments later, but Memphis couldn’t get on the scoreboard as it saw its unbeaten run come to an end.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Kenny Walker, Indy Eleven – Walker assisted on the game-winning goal, completed 81 percent of his passes and won all six of his duels as the Eleven cruised to victory in Memphis.

 

colorado springs switchbacks fc (3) v tacoma defiance (0)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Switchbacks earned their second straight victory at home against the Defiance. The visitors created the first strong chance of the game as Antonee Burke-Gilroy fired Justin Dhillon’s cutback towards the bottom-left corner, but Colorado Springs goalkeeper Andre Rawls produced a superb diving stop to keep it out. The hosts went on to take the lead in the 23rd minute as Jordan Burt blocked the clearance of Defiance goalkeeper Trey Muse and blasted the ball into an empty net from close range for his second goal in as many games. Colorado Springs continued to apply the pressure as Saeed Robinson struck the crossbar with a shot in the 37th minute and Mike Seth’s header forced Muse into an acrobatic save seven minutes later as the hosts settled for a one-goal lead at the break. The Switchbacks doubled their lead from a short corner kick routine in the 71st minute as the ball found its way to Logan Dorsey inside the six-yard box and his volley caught a deflection on its way past Muse. The home side compounded Tacoma’s misery with three minutes remaining when Seth played Ish Jome through on goal and he beat Muse with a powerful near post finish to seal the victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ish Jome, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Jome won 6 of 7 duels, made three key passes and scored to ice the game late on as the Switchbacks won for the second straight weekend.

 

Tampa Bay Rowdies (1) v North carolina fc (3)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – North Carolina handed the Rowdies their first loss of the season at Al Lang Stadium. The hosts fired a warning shot to their visitors in the 15th minute when Dominic Oduro flashed a long-range effort just wide of Alex Tambakis’ left-hand post. North Carolina took the lead four minutes later as Nazmi Albadawi fed a pass to Dre Fortune, who made no mistake with a curling finish past Rowdies goalkeeper John McCarthy and into the bottom-right corner. Tambakis made a huge save in the 23rd minute to deny Sebastian Guenzatti from six yards out and Juan Tejada just dragged the rebound effort wide. NCFC doubled its advantage three minutes after halftime as Donovan Ewolo dribbled past Pape Diakite and squared the ball for Fortune to power home from close range. The Rowdies cut the deficit in half just six minutes later when Tarek Morad’s long ball played Zach Steinberg in on goal and the midfielder expertly chipped Tambakis to get his side back in the contest. Tampa Bay controlled the play after the goal as Oduro struck the crossbar from set-piece routine in the 66th minute before Guenzatti and Antoine Hoppenot tested the NCFC keeper in the following minutes. However, it was North Carolina that got the crucial next goal as McCarthy couldn’t quite keep out Steven Miller’s curling effort with 13 minutes remaining as the visitors put an end to the Rowdies’ 13-game unbeaten run.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dre Fortune, North Carolina FC – Fortune scored two goals – including the eventual game-winner – and completed 77 percent of his passes as NCFC handed the Rowdies their first loss of the season.

 

charleston battery (3) v birmingham legion fc (1)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Battery used a pair of second-half goals to push past Legion FC. The home side came close to opening the scoring after a quarter of an hour as Angelo Kelly-Rosales skimmed the crossbar with an impressive sidewinding volley from 25 yards out. Legion FC’s Razak Cromwell tested Battery goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky with a free kick in the 24th minute, but it was the Battery that took the lead a minute later as Kotaro Higashi expertly played Romario Piggott behind the Birmingham defense and forward picked out the bottom-left corner with a tidy finish. Piggott forced another save out of Legion FC goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel in the 39th minute but it was Birmingham that would respond just before halftime as Brian Wright rose highest to reach a right-wing cross and directed his header across goal for Mikey Lopez to tap in from close range. The Battery took the lead from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining as Arthur Bosua coolly converted from 12 yards after being fouled in the area by Legion FC defender Mathieu Laurent. AJ Paterson should have killed the game off for the Battery in the first minute of stoppage time but shot tamely at Van Oekel in a one-on-one situation. The substitute made amends two minutes later as his deflected shot from the top of the box found its way past the Birmingham goalkeeper to secure Charleston’s victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Arthur Bosua, Charleston Battery – Bosua scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot, made three key passes and won 11 of 22 duels in Charleston’s bounce-back win over Birmingham.

 

Pittsburgh riverhounds sc (2) v ottawa fury fc (2)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Callum Irving’s stoppage-time penalty save helped Fury FC pick a point in Pittsburgh. The visitors provided most of the attacking intent in a first half devoid of many clear-cut chances, but it was the Hounds that took the lead into the break after scoring with their first shot on target. In the 34th minute, left midfielder Ryan James provided an inch-perfect cross to the back post and Kevin Kerr was on hand to beat Irving with a powerful low header that just crept inside the post. Pittsburgh had a good opportunity to double its lead five minutes after halftime as Neco Brett got on the end of Daniel Rovira’s cross in the center of the box but headed wide of the target. Brett made amends in the 62nd minute though, as Robbie Mertz slid the Jamaican forward through on goal and he made no mistake with a right-footed finish past Irving. Ottawa was back in the game four minutes later when Thomas Vancaeyezeele fouled Mour Samb in the box and Wal Fall stepped up to coolly convert the penalty kick to cut his side’s deficit in half. Fury FC got a little bit of luck to equalize just three minutes later as Aidan Daniels’ shot from distance squirmed past Pittsburgh goalkeeper Austin Pack and just over the goalline. The Hounds had a chance to snatch a winner from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Thomas Meilleur-Giguère fouled Christian Volesky in the penalty area, but Irving saved Brett’s effort as Fury FC held on for a point.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Callum Irving, Ottawa Fury FC – Irving stopped Neco Brett’s penalty kick in stoppage time and made six saves in all to help Ottawa extend its unbeaten streak to seven games.

 

Louisville City FC (2) v Loudoun United FC (1)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville held off Loudoun for its second consecutive victory at Slugger Field. The hosts wasted no time in getting an early advantage as Magnus Rasmussen expertly controlled Taylor Peay’s right-wing cross and found the side-netting with a side-foot finish with just 57 seconds on the clock. The Louisville midfielder nearly doubled his tally in the 25th minute when he received Napo Matsoso’s cutback in the center of the box and fired a left-footed shot at goal, but Loudoun goalkeeper Calle Brown did well to get a palm out to stop the initial effort as well as Matsoso’s attempt at the rebound. The hosts did get their second goal before halftime however, as Sean Totsch was the first to arrive at the near post to meet Oscar Jimenez’s in-swinging corner kick and poked the ball home from close range. Loudoun started the second half brightly and cut the deficit in half in the 49th minute when Griffin Yow dribbled down the left wing before cutting in and firing an unstoppable curling strike past Louisville goalkeeper Ben Lundt into the top-right corner from 22 yards out. Rasmussen nearly help put the home side out of sight in the 70th minute as he nutmegged a defender on the left flank before crossing for Niall McCabe, who struck the post with a right-footed shot from about 12 yards out. George Davis IV came close to getting Louisville’s third goal five minutes later but just pulled his shot wide from the center of the box after Matsoso found him in some space. The hosts struck the post again in the 86th minute through substitute Sunny Jane but it wouldn’t matter as they hold on for all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Magnus Rasmussen, Louisville City FC – The midfielder scored in the opening 60 seconds of the match, attempted nine shots in total and made five key passes in Louisville’s 2-1 win.

 

hartford athletic (2) v saint louis fc (1)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Substitute Philip Rasmussen’s 84th-minute penalty helped Hartford to victory over Saint Louis. The visitors had the first quality chance of the game in the 16th minute when Paris Gee cut in from the left flank and fired a right-footed shot that was acrobatically punched to safety by Athletic goalkeeper Frederik Due. Saint Louis took the lead from the resulting corner kick when Matt Bahner produced a stunning first-time finish from 25 yards out, curling a poor Hartford clearance off the inside of the post and into the top-left corner. The home side responded in the 27th minute when Harry Swartz redirected Wojciech Wojcik’s left-wing cross past Jake Fenlason to even the contest with his second goal in as many weeks. Swartz probably should have doubled his tally five minutes before halftime when Sebastian Dalgaard turned his defender inside out on the wing and squared the ball, but the midfielder couldn’t redirect his volley on target. The two sides struggled to create many clear-cut chances in the second half, but Hartford was handed a golden opportunity to take the lead with five minutes remaining when Bahner tripped Dalgaard in the box and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Rasmussen stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, dispatching his effort past Fenlason into the top-left corner to give the Athletic all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Sebastian Dalgaard, Hartford Athletic – Dalgaard drew the eventual game-winning penalty, completed all six of his dribbles and won 14 of 20 duels to help Hartford to its second win of the season.

 

swope park rangers (0) v charlotte independence (0)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Rangers and Independence settled for a scoreless draw at Children’s Mercy Park. After a relatively quiet start to the proceedings, the Independence started to carve out some quality chances just before the half-hour mark. Dominic Oduro volleyed Abdoulie Mansally’s chipped pass just wide in the 26th minute and moments later Niki Jackson rifled a right-footed effort that had Rangers goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas rooted to the spot but bounced back into play off the crossbar. Swope Park was given a golden chance to take the lead five minutes before halftime when Charlotte center back Hassan Ndam was adjudged to have fouled Ayyoub Allach in the penalty area, but Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller came to his rescue as he guessed the right way and got his hands to Camden Riley’s spot kick. The visitors probably should have taken the lead a minute before halftime as Enzo Martinez attracted attention at the top of the box and slid in Zyen Jones, who fired his left-footed effort over the frame of the goal. The second period of play was devoid of many clear cut chances, but did feature a moment of controversy in the 76th minute when Mansally curled a free kick over the wall and past Zendejas from 25 yards out but the referee ruled the goal out because Jorge Herrera was adjudged to be in an offside position despite seemingly not affecting the play. That proved to be as close as either side would come to getting on the scoresheet as the Rangers and Independence settled for a point apiece.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Brandon Miller, Charlotte Independence – Miller stopped a first-half penalty kick and produced five saves in all as Charlotte kept a clean sheet for the second time in three games.

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