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Matchday Report: Charlotte Cruises to Victory against Battery

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 05/14/21, 9:04PM EDT

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First road win in Charleston for Independence sees Parra score twice for visitors

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charlotte Independence took their first road victory against the Charleston Battery on Friday night as they earned a 3-0 win to spoil Charleston’s home opener at Patriots Point. The victory was also the Independence's first against its regional rival since the 2016 regular season as they took revenge for their elimination in the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs by Charleston in their last meeting a year ago.

The Battery almost got off to a flying start through Stavros Zarokostas in the third minute as the Greek forward picked up possession on the left side and cut in on his right foot before firing a shot that caromed off the inside of the right post and out. The woodwork would serve in favor of the Independence, however, as nine minutes later a free kick by Jake Areman from 25 yards rang the underside of the crossbar and rebounded out, allowing Marcelo Palomino to put home the rebound from close range for Charlotte’s first goal of the season.

The Independence didn’t take long to add to their lead either as Thomas de Villardi made an overlapping run down the left flank and delivered a cross to the back post that Irvin Parra headed back across goal into the left corner of the net. The Battery worked to try and cut into the lead before halftime, and Zarokostas went close again five minutes before halftime as he fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area that Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller parried to safety, preserving his side’s two-goal advantage.

Charlotte got an early chance to add to its lead in the second half, too, as Junior Etou was brought down in the penalty area between defenders, and Parra made no mistake from the spot with a low shot to the bottom-left corner of the net in the 49th minute.

The Battery tried to find a way back into the game in the final half-hour, and both Geobel Perez forced a save with a long-range effort that was saved by Miller before AJ Paterson fired a shot over the crossbar off a half-cleared ball into the penalty area. DZ Harmon also fired a long-range effort that was saved by Miller with seven minutes to go, but the Independence were never truly in danger of letting their lead slip as they claimed a notable road victory for their first win of 2021.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Irvin Parra, Charlotte Independence – Parra scored a pair of goals for the visitors to lead the Independence to their first win in Charleston in club history.

Scoring Summary
CLT
– Marcelo Palomino 12’
CLT – Irvin Parra (Thomas de Villardi) 18’
CLT – Irvin Parra (Penalty Kick) 49’

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