MONTCLAIR, N.J. (July 15, 2017) – New York Red Bulls II (6-10-3, 21 points) scored two late goals within a span of less than five minutes, but dropped their third consecutive match, 3-2, to the Charlotte Independence, Saturday at MSU Soccer Park.
The Independence (9-3-4, 31 points) came into Saturday’s match riding a club-best five game winning streak and opened the match with a goal in the 21st minute off a set piece from the foot of Jorge Herrera. As the first half hit stoppage-time, Charlotte doubled their lead sending a ball across the face of the goal which NYRB II defender Hassan Ndam redirected into his own net for a 2-0 lead.
Charlotte added a third in the 53rd minute of the match with Enzo Martinez finishing off a counterattack assisted by Herrera.
NYRB II got on the board in the 82nd minute as David Najem scored his first career goal for New York with a left-footed strike past Charlotte’s Cody Mizell.
Red Bulls II Junior Flemmings, who was substituted in in the 61st minute, cut the deficit to one just two minutes later. Flemmings got his head on a Vincent Bezecourt corner kick and inched it over the line.
With four minutes of added time, New York looked for the equalizer but the comeback fell short.
NYRB II next welcome Toronto FC II to MSU Soccer Park Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
New York: Louro; Powder, Abidor, Ndam, Najem; Basuljevic (Junior Flemmings, 61st minute), Bezecourt, Metzger; Valot (Zeiko Lewis, 93rd minute), Martinez, Etienne, Jr. (Zaire Bartley, 61st minute)
Charlotte: Mizell; Yearwood, Kalungi, Duckett, Johnson;Martinez, A, Davidson, Ross (Callum Hilton, 69th minute), Estrada; Herrera (Casey Townsend, 81st minute); Martinez, E (Yann Ekra, 69th minute)
Scoring
New York: Najem 82’ 1 (unassisted), Flemmings 85’ 5 (Bezecourt assist)
Charlotte: Herrera 21’ Ndam (OG) 46’ E. Martinez 53’
Discipline
New York: Ndam 20’ Abidor 51’
Charlotte: Johnson 64’ Estrada 92’
