MIAMI – A second-half goal by Adonijah Reid lifted Miami FC to a 2-1 victory against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday night at FIU Stadium as the hosts snapped the Independence’s two-game winning streak in a solid performance.

The game opened evenly as both sides looked to find a rhythm before the first chance of the night came to Miami’s Billy Forbes for a shot wide of the left post in the eighth minute. The Independence looked to create as well but couldn’t find a telling ball in the final third in the early going as Irvin Parra tried to find a connection on his own in attack. Miami grabbed the lead in the 23rd minute as he moved up the right flank and into the penalty area after dropping the ball wide to Forbes. The Turks & Caicos international flipped a pass back to McFarlane, and his low shot took a slight deflection before tucking into the left corner of the net.

Miami threatened again three minutes before halftime as Bolu Akinyode fired a long-range shot just wide of the right post, but the hosts settled for their one-goal lead at the break and then almost added to it early in the second half as McFarlane again broke forward and was found by Speedy Williams, only for his shot to the near post to be turned wide by Independence goalkeeper Brandon Miller.

After few clear chances before the break, however, the Independence hit back 12 minutes into the second half. After being awarded a free kick just outside the top of the penalty area, Jake Areman curled a shot over the defensive wall and in off the right post to level the score.

Miami also regained the lead with a free kick of its own with 18 minutes to go as second-half substitute Pierre Da Silva rang a shot off the inside of the left post from 30 yards that caromed back across the six-yard area and away to safety. Da Silva was in the middle as the hosts struck two minutes later, though, as Miller was caught off his line as a defender misplayed a ball to the top of the penalty area, allowing Da Silva to quickly lay off a pass to Reid for a chipped finish into the left corner of the net.

The hosts tried to add an insurance goal late on as Da Silva fired a shot that was comfortably saved by Miller, but Charlotte was unable to muster a final push for an equalizer as the hosts claimed their third win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ariel Martinez, Miami FC – Martinez was impressive on the ball throughout, completing 40 of 43 passes and winning 8 of 11 duels to help Miami control the tempo of the game in its victory.

Scoring Summary
MIA – Sean McFarlane (Billy Forbes) 23’
CLT – Jake Areman 57’
MIA - Adonijah Reid (Pierre Da Silva) 74’

Full Box Score