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GAMEDAY REPORT: Independence Strike Twice to Get Past Memphis

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/02/20, 10:53PM EDT

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Miller’s early penalty save key as Haakenson tallies again in 2-0 victory against 901 FC

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Charlotte Independence got a key early penalty save by Brandon Miller, while Luke Haakenson scored his third goal in as many games against Memphis 901 FC this season to lead their side to a 2-0 victory at AutoZone Park on Wednesday night.

Following the opening minutes of the contest, between 7:00 and 8:46 of the match, players from both sides came together at the center circle, united against racism, and in support of equality, diversity and compassion.

After a lightning delay had pushed back kickoff, Memphis opened brightly and twice threatened inside the opening five minutes. Just over a minute in a through-ball into the right side of the penalty area gave Mark Segbers the chance to cross, and his delivery reached Rece Buckmaster, only for the shot to go well over the crossbar. A minute later, a spilt cross by Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller gave Rafa Mentzingen a big chance to finish, but he shot over as well.

After that moment of shakiness, however, Miller came up big when it mattered most for the visitors after Memphis was awarded a penalty kick in the seventh minute after Mentzingen was brought down in the area by Enzo Martinez. 901 FC’s Keanu Marsh-Brown stepped up, but his shot to the right corner was denied by Miller’s diving save that saw him control the rebound and keep the game scoreless.

Miller came up big again in the 26th minute as he tipped a shot by 901 FC’s Duane Muckette just wide of the left post. Those proved even more important five minutes later when the visitors took the lead as Jake Areman’s corner kick from the right was directed into his own net by Marsh-Brown, who saw the ball deflect off him into the right corner.

The goal seemed to lift the Independence, and in first-half stoppage time they doubled their lead. Luke Haakenson turned his marker in the wet conditions on the left and moved into the penalty area, where he created space for a right-footed shot that tucked inside the far corner of the net to make it a two-goal halftime lead.

The game then entered its second lightning delay during the break, but after the game resumed Charlotte threatened again in the 64th minute when Areman slid Haakenson through centrally, only for Memphis goalkeeper Tim Howard to palm his low shot to the right corner away. Memphis’ Jose Baxter almost pulled a goal back for the hosts with eight minutes to go as he fired just wide of the left post, while Haakenson hit the woodwork two minutes later as he got on a near-post delivery of a corner by Areman from the right for a headed finish off the crossbar.

Charlotte would see out the remaining minutes, however, to maintain its lead over North Carolina FC for second place in the Group G standings ahead of a key showdown between the club’s this Saturday night.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Brandon Miller, Charlotte Independence – Miller came up with a key early penalty save as part of his five-save shutout to earn the Independence a huge road victory in their quest for the postseason.

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